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Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Comparison

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Nikon L31

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon L31
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Ricoh GR Digital IV

10 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CCD Sensor

Ricoh GR Digital IV
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Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and GR Digital IV, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Ricoh. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Ricoh GR Digital IV is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Ricoh GR Digital IV was launched in September 2011. As you can see, GR Digital IV is 4 years older than L31. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon L31 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-01-14
  • 16MP - 1/2.3' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 160g. 96 x 59 x 29 mm

Ricoh GR Digital IV Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-09-15
  • 10MP - 1/1.7-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 28 mm f1.90 Prime Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 190g. 109 x 59 x 33 mm
  • Replaced Ricoh GR Digital III Compare

Ricoh GR Digital IV was replaced by Ricoh GR. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Ricoh GR vs Ricoh GR Digital IV
Ricoh GR vs Nikon Coolpix L31

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L31 over Ricoh GR Digital IV
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 10 MP 60% more pixels
Weight
160 g vs 190 g 30 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 28mm 2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 28mm 102 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 1× more flexible focal coverage
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Ricoh GR Digital IV over Nikon Coolpix L31
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.230k dots vs 230k dots 434% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
390 shots vs 200 shots 190 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
1.90 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
1.90 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
4.16µm2 vs 1.76µm2 136% larger pixel area
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK GR Digital IV PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon L31 has external dimensions of 96 x 59 x 29 mm (3.78 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz) (including batteries). Ricoh GR Digital IV has external dimensions of 109 x 59 x 33 mm (4.29 x 2.32 x 1.3″) and weighs 190 g (0.42 lb / 6.70 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV. Nikon L31 is 13mm narrower and 4mm thinner than Nikon L31 but they have the same height of 59mm.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV.
Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L31 is significantly lighter (30g ) than the Ricoh GR Digital IV which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Ricoh GR Digital IV provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh GR Digital IV's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon L31's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Ricoh GR Digital IV has a 10.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Nikon L31's sensor provides 6MP more than Ricoh GR Digital IV's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the L31 and GR Digital IV sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV Cameras


As seen above, Ricoh GR Digital IV has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Nikon L31. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Ricoh GR Digital IV features a 28 mm F1.9 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Nikon L31's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Ricoh GR Digital IV's 28mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, GR Digital IV's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 102mm longer reach than the Ricoh GR Digital IV. However, with a max aperture of f1.90, Ricoh GR Digital IV is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31
GR Digital IV
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon L31 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Street Photography

GOOD
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.90
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Sports Photography

POOR
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
130 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
160g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
190g
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh GR Digital IV for Landscape Photography

POOR
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon L31 and Ricoh GR Digital IV scores compare:

Nikon L31
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #105 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1132 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Ricoh GR Digital IV
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #43 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #482 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Ricoh GR Digital IV is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon L31 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon L31. Otherwise, Ricoh GR Digital IV is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Ricoh GR Digital IV
Ricoh GR Digital IV
CHECK PRICE

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Ricoh GR Digital IV vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Brand Nikon Ricoh
Announced 2015-01-14 2011-09-15
Body Type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3' 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×) 28 mm (1×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F1.9
Macro Focus Range 10cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m 3.00 m
External Flash
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 640 x 480
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 190g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 109 x 59 x 33mm
Battery Life 200 shots 390 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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