CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Nikon P300

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

Nikon P300
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Panasonic ZS40

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS40
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing P300 and ZS40, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Nikon Coolpix P300 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Panasonic ZS40 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, P300 is 3 years older than ZS40. 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 Panasonic ZS40 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

Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-06
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 200k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 240g. 111 x 64 x 34 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60)

Panasonic ZS40 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Nikon Coolpix P300

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Nikon Z 85mm F1.2 S vs Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Lens Size And Feature Comparison
New Nikon Z 26mm F2.8 Pancake is Impressively Small compared to Smallest Z mount Lenses
New Sigma 50mm f1.4 Lens for E and L mounts images Leaked
OM System 90mm f3.5 2X Macro Lens Images Leaked
Cinema Lenses Added to Our Database
More Details about the Upcoming OM System 90mm f3.5 2X Macro Lens 
Daily Deals: DJI Osmo Pocket, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and more
Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE Lens is in Stock


**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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Weight
189 g vs 240 g 51 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area
CHECK P300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 over Nikon Coolpix P300
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 9 14 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 7.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
300 shots vs 240 shots 60 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 100mm 620 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30× vs 4.2× more flexible focal coverage
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK ZS40 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
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 920k dots High resolution screens
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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
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
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40: 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 Panasonic ZS40 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). Panasonic ZS40 has external dimensions of 111 x 64 x 34 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.34″) and weighs 240 g (0.53 lb / 8.47 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40. Nikon P300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 6mm shorter and 2mm thinner than Panasonic ZS40.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40.
Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 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 (51g ) than the Panasonic ZS40 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
ZS40
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
ZS40
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60) 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 Panasonic ZS40'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 Panasonic ZS40: 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, Panasonic ZS40 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Panasonic ZS40's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon P300's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the P300 and ZS40 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 Cameras


Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 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 49% larger pixel area compared to Panasonic ZS40, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS40 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30× 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 Panasonic ZS40 at this focal length. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS40 has 620mm 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
ZS40
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300
ZS40
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300
ZS40
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300
ZS40
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Panasonic ZS40 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

Panasonic ZS40 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS40 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 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
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS40 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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
240g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic ZS40: 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 Panasonic ZS40, 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 Panasonic ZS40 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
Panasonic ZS40
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #37 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #460 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS40 has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Nikon P300. On the other hand the Nikon P300 beats Panasonic ZS40 in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.
If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Nikon P300 is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Panasonic ZS40

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic ZS40
Panasonic ZS40
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic ZS40 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2011-05-31 2014-01-06
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS 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 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 6400 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 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2×) 24-720 mm (30×)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 3cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 922k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 200k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m 6.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 10.0 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, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 240g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 111 x 64 x 34mm
Battery Life 240 shots 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
OM System OM-5
20 MP | Four Thirds Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Mount
Sony ZV-1F
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 20 mm
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction