Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300 Comparison

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Nikon P300

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Casio EX-ZR300

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

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Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Casio. Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Casio EX-ZR300 was launched in May 2012. There is 12 months difference between P300 and EX-ZR300 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger EX-ZR300, especially in sensor tech.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon P300 has a 12.0 MP and Casio EX-ZR300 has a 16.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon P300 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-05-31

12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 160 - 3200

24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

7 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

189g. 103 x 58 x 32 mm

Casio EX-ZR300 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-05-22

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

24-300 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

Unknown continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

1000fps High-Speed Video

205g. 105 x 59 x 29 mm

Nikon P300 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix P310. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix P310 vs Nikon Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310 vs Casio Exilim EX-ZR300

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P300 over Casio Exilim EX-ZR300

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution	922k dots vs 461k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Weight	189 g vs 205 g	16 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 3.00	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	6.5m vs 4.7m	1.8m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²	32% larger pixel area

Reasons to choose Casio Exilim EX-ZR300 over Nikon Coolpix P300

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Battery Life	500 shots vs 240 shots	260 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 100mm	200 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12.5× vs 4.2×	more flexible focal coverage

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Casio Exilim EX-ZR300

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Sensor-shift	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Casio Exilim EX-ZR300

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
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
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300: 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 P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon P300 has external dimensions of 103 x 58 x 32 mm (4.06 x 2.28 x 1.26″) and weighs 189 g (0.42 lb / 6.67 oz) (including batteries). Casio EX-ZR300 has external dimensions of 105 x 59 x 29 mm (4.13 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300. Nikon P300 is 2mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Casio EX-ZR300 but it is also 3mm thicker.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon P300 is 16g lighter than the Casio EX-ZR300 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Casio Exilim EX-ZR300 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

Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

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

Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300: Sensor Comparison

Nikon P300 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Casio EX-ZR300 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Exilim Engine HS processor.

Below you can see the P300 and EX-ZR300 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 Cameras

Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 have 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 Nikon P300 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Casio EX-ZR300, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Casio EX-ZR300 features a 24-300 mm F3.0-5.9 12.5× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Nikon P300 is faster than Casio EX-ZR300 at this focal length. On the tele end, Casio EX-ZR300 has 200mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon P300. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Nikon P300 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300

EX-ZR300

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 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 P300 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Casio EX-ZR300 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
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
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Casio EX-ZR300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 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

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Casio EX-ZR300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Casio EX-ZR300 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
189g
4.2X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
205g
12.5X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Casio EX-ZR300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Exposure Mode
24 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 Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 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 Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Casio EX-ZR300: 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 P300 and Casio EX-ZR300, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 P300 and Casio EX-ZR300 scores compare:

Nikon P300

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #177 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #732 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Casio EX-ZR300

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #129 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #631 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Casio EX-ZR300 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon P300 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Casio EX-ZR300 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix P300	Casio Exilim EX-ZR300
Brand	Nikon	Casio
Announced	2011-05-31	2012-05-22
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4000 x 3000	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	160 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	24-100 mm (4.2×)	24-300 mm (12.5×)
Max Aperture	F1.8-4.9	F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	922k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.50 m	4.70 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	7.0 fps	n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	H.264, Motion JPEG	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	189g	205g
Dimensions	103 x 58 x 32mm	105 x 59 x 29mm
Battery Life	240 shots	500 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction