Nikon P300 vs Pentax WG-10 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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Pentax WG-10

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

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Nikon P300 vs Pentax WG-10 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two 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 Pentax WG-10, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, P300 is 2 years older than WG-10. 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 Pentax WG-10 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

Pentax WG-10 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-06-21

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 125 - 6400

28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

0.7 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

167g. 116 x 59 x 29 mm mm

Weather Sealed Body

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 Pentax WG-10

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P300 over Pentax WG-10

LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	922k dots vs 230k dots	300% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	7.0fps vs 0.7fps	6.3 fps faster
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 28mm	4 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 3.50	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.50	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	6.5m vs 1.2m	5.3m longer range
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Reasons to choose Pentax WG-10 over Nikon Coolpix P300

Max Sensor Resolution	14 MP vs 12 MP	16% more pixels
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life	260 shots vs 240 shots	20 more frames with a single charge
Weight	167 g vs 189 g	22 g lighter
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele	140mm vs 100mm	40 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	5× vs 4.2×	more flexible focal coverage

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Pentax WG-10

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

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Pentax WG-10

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

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Nikon P300 vs Pentax WG-10: 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 Pentax WG-10 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). Pentax WG-10 has external dimensions of and weighs 167 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10. Nikon P300 is 13mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Pentax WG-10 but it is also 3mm thicker.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10.

Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax WG-10 is 22g lighter than the Nikon P300 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P300

WG-10

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P300

WG-10

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P300's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Pentax WG-10's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon P300 vs Pentax WG-10: 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, Pentax WG-10 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the P300 and WG-10 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 Cameras

Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 have 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 Pentax WG-10 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Pentax WG-10 features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5× zoom lens.

Nikon P300 has 4mm wider coverage than the Pentax WG-10. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Pentax WG-10 has 40mm 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

WG-10

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P300

WG-10

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P300

WG-10

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P300

WG-10

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Pentax WG-10 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

Pentax WG-10 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
Manual Focus Mode
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 Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax WG-10 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
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-10 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
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 0.7fps
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax WG-10 for Daily Photography

GOOD

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
167g
Environmental Sealings
5.0X 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

Pentax WG-10 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
Environmental Sealings
28 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 Exposure Mode
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Pentax WG-10: 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 Pentax WG-10, 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 Pentax WG-10 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

Pentax WG-10

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #69 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #504 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax WG-10 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon P300 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Pentax WG-10 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix P300	Pentax WG-10
Brand	Nikon	Pentax
Announced	2011-05-31	2013-06-21
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	6,400 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×)	28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F1.8-4.9	F3.5-5.5
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
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	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.50 m	1.20 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	7.0 fps	0.7 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1280 x 720
Video Formats	H.264, Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	189g	167g
Dimensions	103 x 58 x 32mm	116 x 59 x 29 mmmm
Battery Life	240 shots	260 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction