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Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Comparison

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Nikon P300

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

Nikon P300
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Nikon P310

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

Nikon P310
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Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the P300 and the P310, two Small Sensor Compact cameras by Nikon. Nikon P300 was introduced to the market in May 2011 and Nikon P310 was launched in June 2012. There is 13 months difference between P300 and P310 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger P310, especially in sensor tech.

P300 and P310 are members of Nikon's P3XX series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Nikon P3XX Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Nikon P340
  
2014 12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch 103 x 58 x 32mm 194g
Nikon P330
  
2013 12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch 103 x 58 x 32mm 200g
Nikon P310
2012 16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 103 x 58 x 32mm 194g
Nikon P300
2011 12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 103 x 58 x 32mm 189g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 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
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • 189g. 103 x 58 x 32 mm

Nikon P310 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-06-22
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 6.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 194g. 103 x 58 x 32 mm
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix P300 Compare

Nikon P310 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix P330. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix P330 vs Nikon Coolpix P310
Nikon Coolpix P330 vs Nikon Coolpix P300

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 compare 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 P300 over Nikon Coolpix P310
Internal Storage
90 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 6.0fps 1 fps faster
Battery Life
240 shots vs 230 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Weight
189 g vs 194 g 5 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
CHECK P300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P310 over Nikon Coolpix P300
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
99 vs 9 90 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
CHECK P310 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix P310
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
922k dots vs 921k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 6.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 1.80 Fast lenses at wide
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix P310
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
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310: 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 P300 and Nikon P310 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). Nikon P310 has external dimensions of 103 x 58 x 32 mm (4.06 x 2.28 x 1.26″) and weighs 194 g (0.43 lb / 6.84 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon P300 and the Nikon P310. In this case, we can see that Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon P300 and the Nikon P310 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon P300 and Nikon P310.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon P300 and the Nikon P310 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon P310.
Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon P300 and the the Nikon P310 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon P300 is 5g lighter than the Nikon P310 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Nikon Coolpix P310 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 P300 and Nikon P310's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

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


Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310: 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, Nikon P310 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the P300 and P310 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 Cameras


Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 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 Nikon P300 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Nikon P310, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P310 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 features 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lenses so they have the same focal range and light collecting ability.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f1.80 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 100mm and have the same max aperture of f4.90 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300
P310
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Nikon P310 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

Nikon P310 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

Nikon P310 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
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
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon P310 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
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Focus Points
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P310 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
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
194g
4.2X 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

Nikon P310 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 Nikon P310: 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 Nikon P310, 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 P300 and Nikon P310 scores compare:

Nikon P300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #176 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #779 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Nikon P310
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #91 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #593 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon P310 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon P300 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon P300. Otherwise, Nikon P310 is the better camera overall.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
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Nikon P310
Nikon P310
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon P310 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Nikon Coolpix P310
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-05-31 2012-06-22
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 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 9 99
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2×) 24-100 mm (4.2×)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 2cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 922k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 6.0 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 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 194g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 103 x 58 x 32mm
Battery Life 240 shots 230 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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