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Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 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 S02

13 MP | 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon S02
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Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras by Nikon. Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Nikon S02 was launched in September 2013. As you can see, P300 is 2 years older than S02. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Nikon P300 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Nikon S02 has a 13.0MP 1/3-inch sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 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 S02 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-09-05
  • 13MP - 1/3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • 30-90 mm F3.3-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • Unknown continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 100g. 77 x 51 x 18 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 Nikon Coolpix S02

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 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 S02
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
922k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
240 shots vs 210 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 30mm 6 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
100mm vs 90mm 10 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
4.2× vs 3× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.5m vs 1.4m 5.1m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.33µm2 75% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S02 over Nikon Coolpix P300
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution
13 MP vs 12 MP 8% more pixels
Weight
100 g vs 189 g 89 g lighter

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix S02
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Digital only 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
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix S02
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
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" Small display
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02: 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 S02 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 S02 has external dimensions of 77 x 51 x 18 mm (3.03 x 2.01 x 0.69″) and weighs 100 g (0.22 lb / 3.53 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02. Nikon S02 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 26mm narrower, 7mm shorter and 14mm thinner than Nikon P300.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02.
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S02 is significantly lighter (89g ) than the Nikon P300 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Nikon Coolpix S02 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's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon S02's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02: 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 S02 has a 13.0MP 1/3-inch (4.8 x 3.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the P300 and S02 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 Cameras


As seen above, Nikon P300 has a 1.6x Larger sensor area than Nikon S02. 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.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Nikon S02 features a 30-90 mm F3.3-5.9 3× zoom lens.

Nikon P300 has 6mm wider coverage than the Nikon S02. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P300 has 10mm longer reach than the Nikon S02. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300
S02
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Nikon S02 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 S02 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 13.0MP
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
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

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon S02 for Street Photography

POOR
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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
30 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 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
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
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
90 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S02 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
100g
Body Thickness 18mm
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 13.0MP
30 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S02: 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 S02, 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 S02 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 S02
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #58 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #953 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P300 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon S02 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
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Nikon S02
Nikon S02
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Nikon S02 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Nikon Coolpix S02
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-05-31 2013-09-05
Body Type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 4.8 x 3.6 mm
Area 28.07mm2 17.28mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 13 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4160 x 3120
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 125 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×) 30-90 mm (3×)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F3.3-5.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 2.7"
Resolution 922k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Digital only
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m 1.40 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 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 100g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 77 x 51 x 18mm
Battery Life 240 shots 210 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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