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Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Comparison

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Nikon P950

16 MP | 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor

Nikon P950
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Panasonic FZ300

12 MP | 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor

Panasonic FZ300
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Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P950 and FZ300, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Nikon P950 was introduced to market in January 2020 and Panasonic FZ300 was launched in July 2015. As you can see, FZ300 is 5 years older than P950. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Out of 245 cameras in this class, Nikon P950 is ranked #2 with an overall score of 63 and Panasonic FZ300 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 71.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon P950 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2020-01-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 24-2000 mm F2.8-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 1005g. 140 x 110 x 150 mm

Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-07-16
  • 12MP - 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-600 mm F2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 12.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 691g. 132 x 92 x 117 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 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 P950 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
3.2 vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
2000mm vs 600mm 1400 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
83.3x vs 24x more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
11.5m vs 8.8m 2.7m longer range
Viewfinder Resolution
2359k dot vs 1440k dot 63% higher resolution
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
CHECK P950 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 over Nikon Coolpix P950
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Coverage
100% vs 90% More accurate viewfinder
Max Mech. Shutter
1/16000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
12.0fps vs 7.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life
380 shots vs 290 shots 90 more frames with a single charge
Weight
691 g vs 1005 g 314 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing Range
±3 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
CHECK FZ300 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P950 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fully Articulated Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
2000mm vs 600mm Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P950 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300: 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 P950 and Panasonic FZ300 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon P950 has external dimensions of 140 x 110 x 150 mm (5.51 x 4.33 x 5.91″) and weighs 1005 g (2.22 lb / 35.45 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic FZ300 has external dimensions of 132 x 92 x 117 mm (5.2 x 3.62 x 4.61″) and weighs 691 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300. Panasonic FZ300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 18mm shorter and 33mm thinner than Nikon P950.

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300.

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300.
Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic FZ300 is significantly lighter (314g ) than the Nikon P950 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P950
FZ300
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P950
FZ300
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of FZ300, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to P950.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P950's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic FZ300's 3 screen.

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300: Sensor Comparison

Nikon P950 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic FZ300 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Below you can see the P950 and FZ300 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 Cameras


Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 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 Panasonic FZ300 has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2) compared to Nikon P950, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P950 features a 24-2000 mm F2.8-6.5 83.3x zoom lens whereas Panasonic FZ300 features a 25-600 mm F2.8 24x zoom lens.

Nikon P950 has 1mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FZ300. Both cameras has a max aperture of f2.80 at the wide end. On the tele end, Nikon P950 has 1400mm longer reach than the Panasonic FZ300. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Panasonic FZ300 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P950
FZ300
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P950
FZ300
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P950
FZ300
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P950
FZ300
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P950 and Panasonic FZ300 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 P950 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Nikon P950 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ300 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Nikon P950 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
2000 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 290 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
600 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f2.80
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P950 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
83.3X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
1005g
Body Thickness 150mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Environmental Sealings
24.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
691g
Body Thickness 117mm
Read the details

Nikon P950 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic FZ300 for Landscape Photography

POOR
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Nikon P950 vs Panasonic FZ300: 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 P950 and Panasonic FZ300, 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 P950 and Panasonic FZ300 scores compare:

Nikon P950
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #11 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #256 out of 1243 in all Cameras
Panasonic FZ300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #145 out of 1243 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ300 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon P950. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that FZ300 trails behind the P950: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Nikon P950. If not, we recommend the Panasonic FZ300.

Nikon P950
Nikon P950
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Panasonic FZ300
Panasonic FZ300
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Nikon P950 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P950 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2020-01-07 2015-07-16
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3 1/2.3
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 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 n/a 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-2000 mm (83.3x) 25-600 mm (24x)
Max Aperture F2.8-6.5 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Size 3.20" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 90% 100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 11.50 m (at Auto ISO) 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 12.0 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 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1005g 691g
Dimensions 140 x 110 x 150mm 132 x 92 x 117mm
Battery Life 290 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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