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Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Nikon P300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 189g - 103 x 58 x 32mm
  • Released May 2011
  • Successor is Nikon P310
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the P300 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The P300 was brought out 3 years earlier than the SZ8 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the P300 scores against the SZ8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P300 over the Panasonic SZ8

 P300 SZ8 
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Nikon P300

 SZ8 P300 
ReleasedJanuary 2014May 2011More modern by 31 months

Common features in the Nikon P300 and Panasonic SZ8

 P300 SZ8 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon P300 offers exterior measurements of 103mm x 58mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 189 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has proportions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the P300 vs the SZ8.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P300 and SZ8 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the P300 and SZ8.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic SZ8 to show greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged P300 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P300 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
28
has face detect focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
35
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon P300 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (159 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P300
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P300 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography factors
64
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than average (159g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (200 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P300 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
43
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P300 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging features
36
really wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than average (159 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Nikon P300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P300 and Panasonic SZ8
 Nikon Coolpix P300Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix P300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-05-31 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-100mm (4.2x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-4.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus range 3cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT-LCD with anti-reflection coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.50 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (15, 30, 60 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 189 gr (0.42 lbs) 159 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 58 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 images 200 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $500 $275