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Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 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 WG-M1

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

Ricoh WG-M1
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Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon L31, which was introduced in January 2015 is a Ultracompact camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3' sensor whereas Ricoh WG-M1, which was introduced in September 2014 is a Waterproof camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3' sensor. There is only 4 months difference between L31 and WG-M1 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 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 WG-M1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-09-12
  • 14MP - 1/2.3' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 800
  • Mount
  • 1.50" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 190g. 66 x 43 x 89 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L31 over Ricoh WG-M1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 14 MP 14% more pixels
Max ISO
1.600 vs 800 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 1.5 1.2 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
230k dots vs 115k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Weight
160 g vs 190 g 30 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs mm 130 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 1× more flexible focal coverage
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Ricoh WG-M1 over Nikon Coolpix L31
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Battery Life
350 shots vs 200 shots 150 more frames with a single charge
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Wide
mm vs 26mm 26 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.76µm2 14% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK WG-M1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Ricoh WG-M1
Max Continuous Shooting
fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Ricoh WG-M1
In-body Image Stabilization
Digital only vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
1.50" vs 1.50" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 115k dots Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1: 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 WG-M1 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 WG-M1 has external dimensions of 66 x 43 x 89 mm (2.6 x 1.69 x 3.5″) 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 WG-M1. Ricoh WG-M1 is 30mm narrower and 16mm shorter than Nikon L31 but it is also 60mm thicker.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1.
Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 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 WG-M1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of WG-M1, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to L31.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon L31's 2.70" LCD screen is slightly larger than Ricoh WG-M1's 1.5 screen.

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


Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1: 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 WG-M1 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the L31 and WG-M1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 Cameras


Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Ricoh WG-M1 has 14% larger pixel area (2.01µm2 vs 1.76µm2) compared to Nikon L31, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Ricoh WG-M1 features a F2.8 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 WG-M1's mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, WG-M1'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 130mm longer reach than the Ricoh WG-M1. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Ricoh WG-M1 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31
WG-M1
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Ricoh WG-M1 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 WG-M1 for Portrait Photography

POOR
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
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
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

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Ricoh WG-M1 for Street Photography

POOR
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
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
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

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Ricoh WG-M1 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
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Wireless Connection
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
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Focus Points
mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Ricoh WG-M1 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
Compact Body
190g
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 89mm
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh WG-M1 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
Environmental Sealings
mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Ricoh WG-M1: 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 WG-M1, 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 WG-M1 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 WG-M1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #256 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #892 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Ricoh WG-M1 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon L31 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Ricoh WG-M1
Ricoh WG-M1
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Ricoh WG-M1 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Ricoh WG-M1
Brand Nikon Ricoh
Announced 2015-01-14 2014-09-12
Body Type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1/2.3'
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 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×) no lens
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 10cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 1.50"
Resolution 230k dots 115k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 10.0 fps
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 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 190g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 66 x 43 x 89mm
Battery Life 200 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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