Nikon L820 vs Nikon S3100

On this page, we are evaluating the Nikon L820 and Nikon S3100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Nikon. The resolution of the L820 (16MP) and the S3100 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L820 was released 24 months after the S3100 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon L820 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S3100 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the L820 scores vs the S3100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix L820 & Nikon Coolpix S3100. The complete galleries are available at Nikon L820 Gallery & Nikon S3100 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon L820 offers physical measurements of 111mm x 76mm x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") along with a weight of 470 grams (1.04 lbs) and the Nikon S3100 has proportions of 94mm x 58mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L820 and Nikon S3100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the L820 vs the S3100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L820 and S3100 is 72 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the L820 and S3100.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon L820 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher L820 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.