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Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 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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Sony RX10

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony RX10
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Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 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 Sony RX10, which was introduced in March 2014 is a Large Sensor Superzoom camera with a 20.0MP 1-inch sensor. There is only 10 months difference between L31 and RX10 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 the Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 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

Sony RX10 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-03-20
  • 20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80 - 25600)
  • 24-200 mm F2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 813g. 129 x 88 x 102 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sony RX10 was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II vs Nikon Coolpix L31

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 compare 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
160 g vs 813 g 653 g lighter
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 over Nikon Coolpix L31
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
Max ISO
12.800 vs 1.600 700% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.290k dots vs 230k dots 460% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
420 shots vs 200 shots 220 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 26mm 2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
200mm vs 130mm 70 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
8.3× vs 5× more flexible focal 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
Flash Coverage
10.2m vs 3.6m 6.6m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 1.76µm2 230% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK RX10 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Continuous Shooting
fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 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). Sony RX10 has external dimensions of 129 x 88 x 102 mm (5.08 x 3.46 x 4.02″) and weighs 813 g (1.79 lb / 28.68 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and the Sony RX10. Nikon L31 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 33mm narrower, 29mm shorter and 73mm thinner than Sony RX10.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and Sony RX10.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Sony RX10.
Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 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 (653g ) than the Sony RX10 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

L31
RX10
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

L31
RX10
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of the RX10, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the L31.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony RX10's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon L31's 2.7" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Sony RX10 LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Nikon L31 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to RX10.


Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Sony RX10 has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Below you can see the L31 and RX10 sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX10 has a 4.1x 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 Sony RX10 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Sony RX10 features a 24-200 mm F2.8 8.3× zoom lens.

Sony RX10 has 2mm wider coverage than the Nikon L31. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Sony RX10 has 70mm longer reach than the Nikon L31. At f2.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
RX10
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

L31
RX10
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

L31
RX10
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

L31
RX10
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Sony RX10 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

Sony RX10 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
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Sony RX10 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX10 for Sports Photography

GOOD
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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
200 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f2.80
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Sony RX10 for Daily Photography

GOOD
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
Environmental Sealings
8.3X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
813g
Body Thickness 102mm
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX10 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX10: 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 Sony RX10, 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 Sony RX10 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
Sony RX10
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #210 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Sony RX10 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, Sony RX10 is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Sony RX10
Sony RX10
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Sony RX10 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2015-01-14 2014-03-20
Body Type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 116.16mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 125 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×) 24-200 mm (8.3×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 10cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 1,290k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 1,440k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.7x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/3200s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m 10.20 m
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 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 813g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 129 x 88 x 102mm
Battery Life 200 shots 420 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 69
DxO Color Depth not tested 22.9
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.6
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 474
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