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Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill 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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Sigma DP2 Merrill

15 MP | APS-C (24 x 16 mm) CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor

Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and DP2 Merrill, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sigma. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Sigma DP2 Merrill is a Large Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Sigma DP2 Merrill was launched in February 2012. As you can see, DP2 Merrill is 3 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill 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

Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-08
  • 15MP - APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 50 mm f2.80 Prime Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 4.0fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 330g. 122 x 67 x 59 mm
  • Replaced Sigma DP1 Merrill Compare

Sigma DP2 Merrill was replaced by Sigma DP3 Merrill. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Nikon Coolpix L31

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 15 MP 6% more pixels
Weight
160 g vs 330 g 170 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 50mm 24 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 50mm 80 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill over Nikon Coolpix L31
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
920k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
CHECK DP2 Merrill PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
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
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill: 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill 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). Sigma DP2 Merrill has external dimensions of 122 x 67 x 59 mm (4.8 x 2.64 x 2.32″) and weighs 330 g (0.73 lb / 11.64 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill. Nikon L31 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 26mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 30mm thinner than Sigma DP2 Merrill.

Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill.

Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill.
Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill 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 (170g ) than the Sigma DP2 Merrill which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Sigma DP2 Merrill 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

Sigma DP2 Merrill'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 Sigma DP2 Merrill: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Sigma DP2 Merrill has a 15.0MP APS-C (24 x 16 mm ) sized CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor and features Dual TRUE II engine processor.

Below you can see the L31 and DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill Cameras


As seen above, Sigma DP2 Merrill has a 13.7x 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Sigma DP2 Merrill features a 50 mm 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill's 50mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, DP2 Merrill'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 80mm longer reach than the Sigma DP2 Merrill. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Sigma DP2 Merrill is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
DP2 Merrill
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Sigma DP2 Merrill 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

Sigma DP2 Merrill 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
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Sigma DP2 Merrill for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
50 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sigma DP2 Merrill 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
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Focus Points
50 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Sigma DP2 Merrill 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
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
330g
Body Thickness 59mm
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sigma DP2 Merrill 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
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
50 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill: 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill, 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 Sigma DP2 Merrill 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
Sigma DP2 Merrill
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #52 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #669 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Sigma DP2 Merrill 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, Sigma DP2 Merrill is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
CHECK PRICE

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Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sigma DP2 Merrill
CHECK PRICE

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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Brand Nikon Sigma
Announced 2015-01-14 2012-02-08
Body Type Ultracompact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Size 1/2.3' APS-C
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 24 x 16 mm
Area 28.07mm2 384.00mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4704x3136
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 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×) 50 mm (1×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 10cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 920k 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 4.0 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 720 640 x 480
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 330g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 122 x 67 x 59mm
Battery Life 200 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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