CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 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

Sony RX100

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony RX100
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon P300 was introduced to market in May 2011 and Sony RX100 was launched in August 2012. There is 15 months difference between P300 and RX100 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger RX100, especially in sensor tech.

Nikon P300 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Sony RX100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 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

Sony RX100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-08-28
  • 20MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240g. 102 x 58 x 36 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

Sony RX100 was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II vs Nikon Coolpix P300

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P300 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Weight
189 g vs 240 g 51 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Optical Zoom
4.2× vs 3.6x more flexible focal coverage


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 over Nikon Coolpix P300
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max 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
25 vs 9 16 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 922k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 7.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
330 shots vs 240 shots 90 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 2.34µm2 148% 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
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
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 1.229k dots High resolution screens
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 1.80 Fast lenses at wide
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P300 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
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
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100: 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 Sony RX100 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). Sony RX100 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.41″) 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 Sony RX100.

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100.

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100.
Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 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 Sony RX100 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P300 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 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 Sony RX100's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100: 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, Sony RX100 has a 20.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Sony RX100'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 RX100 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX100 has a 4.1x 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.

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P300 features a 24-100 mm F1.8-4.9 4.2× zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 features a 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lens.

Nikon P300 has 4mm wider coverage than the Sony RX100. Both cameras has a max aperture of f1.80 at the wide end. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 100mm and have the same max aperture of f4.90 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

P300
RX100
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P300 and Sony RX100 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

Sony RX100 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
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
240g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon P300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 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: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P300 vs Sony RX100: 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 Sony RX100, 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 Sony RX100 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
Sony RX100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #42 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #383 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 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, Sony RX100 is the better camera overall.

Nikon P300
Nikon P300
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony RX100
Sony RX100
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony RX100 vs Nikon P300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-05-31 2012-08-28
Body Type Compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 116.16mm2
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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2×) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 3cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 922k dots 1,229k 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
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.50 m n/a
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
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 Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 189g 240g
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm 102 x 58 x 36mm
Battery Life 240 shots 330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 66
DxO Color Depth not tested 22.6
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 390
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Compact Cameras
Top Cameras Under $200
Top Compact Cameras Under $500
Top Compact Cameras Under $750
Top Compact Cameras Under $1000
Latest Cameras
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Copyright © 2021 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction