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Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 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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Olympus SZ-11

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Olympus SZ-11
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Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing P300 and SZ-11, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Olympus. Nikon Coolpix P300 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera and Olympus SZ-11 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Olympus SZ-11 was launched in July 2011. There is only 2 months difference between P300 and SZ-11 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 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

Olympus SZ-11 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-27
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 25-500 mm F3.0-6.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 226g. 106 x 69 x 40 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 Olympus SZ-11

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P300 over Olympus SZ-11
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Resolution
922k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
240 shots vs 200 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Weight
189 g vs 226 g 37 g lighter
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 6.90 faster lens at tele
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK P300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus SZ-11 over Nikon Coolpix P300
Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 12 MP 16% more pixels
Focal Length - Tele
500mm vs 100mm 400 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
20× vs 4.2× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
9.3m vs 6.5m 2.8m longer range
CHECK SZ-11 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Olympus SZ-11
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
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 7.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Olympus SZ-11
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
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11: 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 Olympus SZ-11 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). Olympus SZ-11 has external dimensions of 106 x 69 x 40 mm (4.17 x 2.72 x 1.57″) and weighs 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11. Nikon P300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 3mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 8mm thinner than Olympus SZ-11.

Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11.

Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11.
Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 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 (37g ) than the Olympus SZ-11 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
SZ-11
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
SZ-11
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Olympus SZ-11 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 Olympus SZ-11's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11: 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, Olympus SZ-11 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features TruePic III+ processor.

Below you can see the P300 and SZ-11 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 Cameras


Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 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.

Nikon P300 vs Olympus SZ-11 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Olympus SZ-11 features a 25-500 mm F3.0-6.9 20× zoom lens.

Nikon P300 has 1mm wider coverage than the Olympus SZ-11. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Olympus SZ-11 has 400mm 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
SZ-11
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300
SZ-11
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300
SZ-11
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300
SZ-11
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Olympus SZ-11 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

Olympus SZ-11 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: 14.0MP
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

Olympus SZ-11 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
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

Olympus SZ-11 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: 7.0fps
500 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
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
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus SZ-11 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
226g
20.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus SZ-11 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
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
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 Olympus SZ-11: 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 Olympus SZ-11, 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 Olympus SZ-11 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
Olympus SZ-11
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #238 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #863 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon P300 has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus SZ-11. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that P300 trails behind the SZ-11: Imaging.
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Olympus SZ-11. If not, we recommend the Nikon P300.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
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Olympus SZ-11
Olympus SZ-11
CHECK PRICE

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Olympus SZ-11 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Olympus SZ-11
Brand Nikon Olympus
Announced 2011-05-31 2011-07-27
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 1,600 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×) 25-500 mm (20×)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F3.0-6.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 922k dots 460k 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
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 7.0 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 1280 x 720
Video Formats H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 226g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 106 x 69 x 40mm
Battery Life 240 shots 200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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