Nikon P300 vs Nikon P530 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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Nikon P530

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

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Nikon P300 vs Nikon P530 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Nikon cameras cameras with different body types: Nikon P300, which was introduced in May 2011 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Nikon P530, which was introduced in February 2014 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, P300 is 3 years older than P530. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 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

Nikon P530 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-02-07

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

ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 12800)

24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

Electronic viewfinder

7 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

494g. 123 x 84 x 98 mm

Replaced Nikon Coolpix P520 Compare

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 Nikon Coolpix P530

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P300 over Nikon Coolpix P530

Weight	189 g vs 494 g	305 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
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²	32% larger pixel area

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P530 over Nikon Coolpix P300

Viewfinder	Electronic vs None	Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele	1000mm vs 100mm	900 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	41.7× vs 4.2×	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	8.0m vs 6.5m	1.5m longer range

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix P530

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
Continuous Shooting	7.0fps vs 7.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
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 Nikon Coolpix P530

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P530: 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 Nikon P530 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 P530 has external dimensions of 123 x 84 x 98 mm (4.83 x 3.31 x 3.87″) and weighs 494 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530. Nikon P300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 20mm narrower, 26mm shorter and 66mm thinner than Nikon P530.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon P300 is significantly lighter (305g ) than the Nikon P530 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P300

P530

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P300

P530

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Nikon Coolpix P530 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
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P300 and Nikon P530'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 Nikon P530: 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 P530 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 P530 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 Cameras

Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 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 Nikon P530, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon P530 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Nikon P530 features a 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 41.7× 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 Nikon P530 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon P530 has 900mm 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

P530

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P300

P530

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P300

P530

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P300

P530

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Nikon P530 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 P530 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon P530 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon P530 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1000 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P530 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

41.7X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
494g
Body Thickness 98mm
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon P530 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 P530: 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 P530, 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 Nikon P530 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

Nikon P530

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #48 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #534 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P530 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 P530 is the better camera overall.

Nikon P530 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix P300	Nikon Coolpix P530
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2011-05-31	2014-02-07
Body Type	Compact	SLR-like (bridge)
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	6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	12800 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	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-100 mm (4.2×)	24-1000 mm (41.7×)
Max Aperture	F1.8-4.9	F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm	0cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	922k dots	921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.50 m	8.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	7.0 fps	7.0 fps
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	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	189g	494g
Dimensions	103 x 58 x 32mm	123 x 84 x 98mm
Battery Life	240 shots	240 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction