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Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c 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 S800c

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

Nikon S800c
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Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P300 and S800c, two Small Sensor Compact cameras by Nikon. Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Nikon S800c was launched in February 2013. There is 20 months difference between P300 and S800c so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger S800c, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c 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 S800c Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-04
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 25-250 mm F3.2-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.50" Fixed Type Screen
  • 8.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 184g. 111 x 60 x 27 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 S800c

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c compares 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 S800c
LCD Resolution
922k dots vs 819k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
240 shots vs 140 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
CHECK P300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S800c over Nikon Coolpix P300
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
3.5" vs 3" 0.5 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
8.0fps vs 7.0fps 1 fps faster
Weight
184 g vs 189 g 5 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
250mm vs 100mm 150 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
10× vs 4.2× more flexible focal coverage
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
CHECK S800c PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix S800c
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 Size
3.50" vs 3.50" Large display
Max Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 8.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Nikon Coolpix S800c
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
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c: 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 S800c 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 S800c has external dimensions of 111 x 60 x 27 mm (4.37 x 2.36 x 1.06″) and weighs 184 g (0.41 lb / 6.49 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c. Nikon P300 is 8mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Nikon S800c but it is also 5mm thicker.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c.
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S800c is 5g lighter than the Nikon P300 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
S800c
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
S800c
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Nikon Coolpix S800c 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 S800c's 3.50" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon P300's 3" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c: 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 S800c has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor.

Below you can see the P300 and S800c sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c Cameras


Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c 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 S800c, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Nikon S800c features a 25-250 mm F3.2-5.8 10× zoom lens.

Nikon P300 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon S800c. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S800c has 150mm 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
S800c
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300
S800c
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300
S800c
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300
S800c
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Nikon S800c 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 S800c 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: 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
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon S800c for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
25 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

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S800c 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
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
250 mm Tele Lens
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
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 140 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S800c 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
184g
10.0X 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 S800c 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
Built-in GPS
25 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 Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Nikon S800c: 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 S800c, 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 S800c scores compare:

Nikon P300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #176 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #779 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Nikon S800c
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #165 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #749 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon S800c has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon P300 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
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Nikon S800c
Nikon S800c
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Nikon S800c vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Nikon Coolpix S800c
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-05-31 2013-02-04
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 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 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2×) 25-250 mm (10×)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F3.2-5.8
Macro Focus Range 3cm 10cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.50"
Resolution 922k dots 819k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
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 8.0 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 Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 184g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 111 x 60 x 27mm
Battery Life 240 shots 140 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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