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Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M 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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Samsung NX300M

20 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) CMOS Sensor

Samsung NX300M
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Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M 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 Samsung NX300M, which was introduced in January 2013 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 20.0MP APS-C sensor. There is 19 months difference between P300 and NX300M so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger NX300M, especially in sensor tech.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M 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

Samsung NX300M Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-01-03
  • 20MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 3.30" Tilting Screen
  • 9.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 331g. 122 x 64 x 41 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 Samsung NX300M

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M 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 Samsung NX300M
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
90 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
LCD Resolution
922k dots vs 768k dots 19% higher resolution screen
Weight
189 g vs 331 g 142 g lighter
CHECK P300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Samsung NX300M over Nikon Coolpix P300
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 3.200 700% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
247 vs 9 238 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.3" vs 3" 0.3 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter
1/6000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
9.0fps vs 7.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
330 shots vs 240 shots 90 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area
18.48µm2 vs 2.34µm2 689% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK NX300M PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Samsung NX300M
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Size
3.30" vs 3.30" Large display
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Samsung NX300M
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M: 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 Samsung NX300M 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). Samsung NX300M has external dimensions of 122 x 64 x 41 mm (4.8 x 2.52 x 1.61″) and weighs 331 g (0.73 lb / 11.68 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M. Nikon P300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 19mm narrower, 6mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Samsung NX300M. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Nikon P300 has a built-in lens but Samsung NX300M doesn't. Once you put a lens on NX300M, its thickness will increase significantly.

Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M.
Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M 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 (142g ) than the Samsung NX300M which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on NX300M, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Samsung NX300M 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
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Samsung NX300M's 3.30" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon P300's 3" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Samsung NX300M LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Nikon P300 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to NX300M.
Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M: 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, Samsung NX300M has a 20.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DRIMe IV processor.

Samsung NX300M's sensor provides 8MP 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 NX300M sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M Cameras


As seen above, Samsung NX300M has a 13.1x Larger sensor area than Nikon P300. 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.

What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Samsung NX300M 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

Samsung NX300M for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
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
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Samsung NX300M 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
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Samsung NX300M for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
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
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/6000s
247 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX300M 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
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
331g
Body Thickness 41mm
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Samsung NX300M for Landscape Photography

POOR
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
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Samsung NX300M: 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 Samsung NX300M, 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 Samsung NX300M 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
Samsung NX300M
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #81 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #382 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Samsung NX300M is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon P300 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon P300. Otherwise, Samsung NX300M is the better camera overall.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
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Samsung NX300M
Samsung NX300M
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Samsung NX300M vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Samsung NX300M
Brand Nikon Samsung
Announced 2011-05-31 2013-01-03
Body Type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch APS-C
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 23.5 x 15.7 mm
Area 28.07mm2 368.95mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 25,600 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 9 247
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2×) no lens
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 no lens
Macro Focus Range 3cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.30"
Resolution 922k dots 768k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/6000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 9.0 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 331g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 122 x 64 x 41mm
Battery Life 240 shots 330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
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