Nikon L31 vs Sony W510 Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Nikon L31

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

CHECK PRICE

Change

Sony W510

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Nikon L31 vs Sony W510 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the L31 and the W510, two Ultracompact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon L31 was introduced to the market in January 2015 and Sony W510 was launched in January 2011. As you can see, W510 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 the Nikon L31 and Sony W510 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 W510 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-01-06

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

26-104 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

- 640 x 480 video resolution

119g. 96 x 54 x 20 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon L31 and Sony W510 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Related Blog Posts

Top 10 Lightest Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2023
The Most Rented Compact Cameras in 2022
New Sony Camera Coming on March 29th
DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
Sony A7 IV Firmware Update v2.0 adds support for Creators App
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off

**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-W510

Internal Storage	17MB vs None	Extra built-in storage
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele	130mm vs 104mm	26 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	5× vs 4×	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	3.6m vs 2.3m	1.3m longer range
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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 over Nikon Coolpix L31

In-built Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Max ISO	3.200 vs 1.600	100% higher Max ISO
Weight	119 g vs 160 g	41 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.20	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 6.50	faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2	32% larger pixel area

CHECK W510 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510

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	2.70" vs 2.70"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	6.50 vs 5.90	Slow lenses at tele

Nikon L31 vs Sony W510: 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 W510 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 W510 has external dimensions of 96 x 54 x 20 mm (3.78 x 2.13 x 0.79″) and weighs 119 g (0.26 lb / 4.20 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and the Sony W510.

Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Sony W510 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and Sony W510.

Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Sony W510 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony W510 is significantly lighter (41g ) than the Nikon L31 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, 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

Nikon L31 and Sony W510's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 2.70 inches.

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

Nikon L31 vs Sony W510: 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 W510 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Below you can see the L31 and W510 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Sony W510 Cameras

Nikon L31 and Sony W510 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 Sony W510 has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm² 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 Sony W510 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Sony W510 features a 26-104 mm F2.8-5.9 4× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 26mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Sony W510 is faster than Nikon L31 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 26mm longer reach than the Sony W510. However, with a max aperture of f5.90, Sony W510 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31

W510

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Sony W510 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Sony W510 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 W510 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

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
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

Sony W510 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

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony W510 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
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 Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
104 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Sony W510 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
119g
Body Thickness 20mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony W510 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

26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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

Nikon L31 vs Sony W510: 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 W510, 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 W510 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 W510

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #99 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1117 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Sony W510 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L31	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
Brand	Nikon	Sony
Announced	2015-01-14	2011-01-06
Body Type	Ultracompact	Ultracompact
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CCD
Size	1/2.3'	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
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	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	26-130 mm (5×)	26-104 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F3.2-6.5	F2.8-5.9
Macro Focus Range	10cm	4cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.70"	2.70"
Resolution	230k dots	230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/1600s
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	2.30 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	n/a	1.0 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	119g
Dimensions	96 x 59 x 29mm	96 x 54 x 20mm
Battery Life	200 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction