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Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II

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

Sony RX100 II
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Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and RX100 II, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II is a Large Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Sony RX100 II was launched in June 2013. There is 19 months difference between L31 and RX100 II so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger L31, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-27
  • 20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 100 - 25600)
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 281g. 102 x 58 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Compare

Sony RX100 II was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III vs Nikon Coolpix L31

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
160 g vs 281 g 121 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 28mm 2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 100mm 30 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 3.6x more flexible focal coverage
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II 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
Tiltable Flash
Yes vs No Bounce built-in flash off the ceiling
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
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
1.229k dots vs 230k dots 434% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
350 shots vs 200 shots 150 more frames with a single charge
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
15.0m vs 3.6m 11.4m 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
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK RX100 II PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
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-RX100 II
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 38 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.51″) and weighs 281 g (0.62 lb / 9.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II. Nikon L31 is 6mm narrower and 9mm thinner than Sony RX100 II but it is also 1mm taller.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II.
Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II 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 (121g ) than the Sony RX100 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II 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

Sony RX100 II's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon L31's 2.7" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II.


Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 RX100 II has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the L31 and RX100 II sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 II features a 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lens.

Nikon L31 has 2mm wider coverage than the Sony RX100 II. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Sony RX100 II is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 30mm longer reach than the Sony RX100 II. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Sony RX100 II is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

L31
RX100 II
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II 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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Optional External Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II 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
Compact Body
281g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 RX100 II, 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 RX100 II 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 RX100 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #36 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #316 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 II
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Sony RX100 II vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2015-01-14 2013-06-27
Body Type Ultracompact Large sensor compact
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 160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 10cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (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 Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
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 281g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 102 x 58 x 38mm
Battery Life 200 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 67
DxO Color Depth not tested 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 483
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