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Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Comparison

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Ricoh WG-6

20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Ricoh WG-6
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Nikon S31

10 MP | 1/2.9″ (4.96 x 3.72 mm) CCD Sensor

Nikon S31
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Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing WG-6 and S31, two Waterproof cameras from Ricoh and Nikon. Ricoh WG-6 was introduced to market in February 2018 and Nikon S31 was launched in June 2013. As you can see, S31 is 5 years older than WG-6. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Ricoh WG-6 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-21
  • 20MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 246g. 118 x 66 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Ricoh WG-5 GPS Compare

Nikon S31 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-21
  • 10MP - 1/2.9-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 29-87 mm Zoom Lens
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 185g. 105 x 65 x 42 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Ricoh WG-6 over Nikon Coolpix S31
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 10 MP 100% more pixels
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
1.040k dots vs 230k dots 352% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
340 shots vs 260 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 29mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
140mm vs 87mm 53 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5x vs 3× more flexible focal coverage
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
CHECK WG-6 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S31 over Ricoh WG-6
Weight
185 g vs 246 g 61 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
vs 5.50 faster lens at tele
CHECK S31 PRICE

Common Strengths of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon Coolpix S31
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon Coolpix S31
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
2.70" vs 2.70" Small display
Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31: 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 Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Ricoh WG-6 has external dimensions of 118 x 66 x 33 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 1.3″) and weighs 246 g (0.54 lb / 8.68 oz) (including batteries). Nikon S31 has external dimensions of 105 x 65 x 42 mm (4.13 x 2.56 x 1.65″) and weighs 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31. Nikon S31 is 13mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Ricoh WG-6 but it is also 9mm thicker.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31.
Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S31 is significantly lighter (61g ) than the Ricoh WG-6 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

WG-6
S31
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

WG-6
S31
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh WG-6's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon S31's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31: Sensor Comparison

Ricoh WG-6 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Nikon S31 has a 10.0MP 1/2.9-inch (4.96 x 3.72 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Ricoh WG-6's sensor provides 10MP more than Nikon S31's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the WG-6 and S31 sensor size comparison.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 Cameras


As seen above, Ricoh WG-6 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Nikon S31. 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.

Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31 Lens Specs Comparison

Ricoh WG-6 features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5x zoom lens whereas Nikon S31 features a 29-87 mm 3× zoom lens.

Ricoh WG-6 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon S31. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f, Nikon S31 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Ricoh WG-6 has 53mm longer reach than the Nikon S31. However, with a max aperture of f, Nikon S31 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WG-6
S31
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WG-6
S31
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WG-6
S31
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WG-6
S31
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 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.

Ricoh WG-6 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon S31 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Small 1/2.9″ (4.96 x 3.72 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
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

Ricoh WG-6 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S31 for Street Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f
29 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.9″ (4.96 x 3.72 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S31 for Sports Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
9 Focus Points
Read the details
Environmental Sealings
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
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
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
87 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S31 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
246g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
185g
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.9″ (4.96 x 3.72 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 42mm
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon S31 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Environmental Sealings
29 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.9″ (4.96 x 3.72 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Ricoh WG-6 vs Nikon S31: 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 Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31, 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 Ricoh WG-6 and Nikon S31 scores compare:

Ricoh WG-6
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #67 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #539 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Nikon S31
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #324 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #995 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Ricoh WG-6 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon S31 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Ricoh WG-6.

Ricoh WG-6
Ricoh WG-6
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CHECK PRICE

Nikon S31
Nikon S31
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon S31 vs Ricoh WG-6 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh WG-6 Nikon Coolpix S31
Brand Ricoh Nikon
Announced 2018-02-21 2013-06-21
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3 1/2.9-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 4.96 x 3.72 mm
Area 28.07mm2 18.45mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 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 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5x) 29-87 mm (3×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 no lens
Macro Focus Range 1cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.70"
Resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.50 m (with Auto ISO) n/a
External Flash
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Supports FlashAir SD cards None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 246g 185g
Dimensions 118 x 66 x 33mm 105 x 65 x 42mm
Battery Life 340 shots 260 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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