Nikon P310 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Compact Cameras

In the world of compact cameras, choosing the right model often boils down to how well it fits your shooting style, priorities, and budget. Today, I’m putting the Nikon Coolpix P310 and the Olympus SP-620 UZ head-to-head, two compact cameras that launched in early 2012 yet cater to quite different photography uses. While their sensor sizes and resolutions are identical on paper, the differences in lens design, controls, and features tell the story of two distinct philosophies.

Having handled both cameras extensively across a variety of shooting scenarios, I’ll guide you through everything that matters - from sensor tech and image quality to autofocus, ergonomics, and real-world versatility. Whether you’re into landscapes, portraits, wildlife, or travel photography, this comparison aims to help you figure out which compact fits your needs best.

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, take a quick look at how they compare physically:

A Tale of Two Compacts: Design and Handling

One of the first things you notice when putting the Nikon P310 and Olympus SP-620 UZ side-by-side is the size difference. The P310 is a typical compact - slim, light at just 194 grams, and easy to slip into a jacket pocket or small bag. In contrast, the SP-620 UZ is considerably chunkier and heavier (435 grams) - a result of its superzoom lens with a 21× focal length range stretching from 25mm wide-angle up to 525mm telephoto.

This extra bulk translates into different handling experiences. The Nikon offers a more straightforward, pocketable design ideal for casual carry, with its 103x58x32 mm dimensions feeling comfortable for everyday use. Olympus, with a boxier shape and thicker grip, feels more like a travel companion that emphasizes reach over size.

Look closer at the top controls - here’s their layout from above:

The Nikon P310 keeps the top plate clean and minimal, giving you quick access to essential exposure modes like shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual. It also features a dedicated zoom control and mode dial that's easy to reach with your right thumb, supporting photographers who prefer granular exposure control.

Olympus, however, removes manual exposure options entirely - sorry, no shutter or aperture priority modes here. The buttons and dials serve mostly automatic and scene modes, designed primarily for users wanting an easy point-and-shoot experience with a vast zoom range.

If you’re someone who enjoys fiddling with exposure settings for creative control, Nikon clearly pulls ahead. But if simplicity with zoom flexibility is your game, Olympus has you covered.

The Sensor Inside: Same Size, Different Technologies

Both cameras pack a 1/2.3-inch sensor measuring 6.17 by 4.55 mm with a 16-megapixel resolution. But there’s a fundamental technical difference here that's easy to miss: sensor type.

The Nikon P310 uses a BSI-CMOS sensor, which is typically better performing in low light thanks to backside illumination improving light gathering efficiency. Olympus opts for a traditional CCD sensor, which historically offers good color rendition but tends to lag in noise performance when shooting at higher ISOs.

In testing, the Nikon’s CMOS sensor delivers crisper images with less noise at ISO 800 and above, giving photographers more latitude to shoot in dim environments or indoors without excessive grain. The Olympus CCD sensor, while capable of fine detail in bright daylight, shows more noise and color noise artifacts once the ISO climbs beyond 400.

Neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting post-processing flexibility - a drawback for pros or enthusiasts invested in extensive editing workflows. You’re effectively locked into JPEG files that the camera internally processes, so getting the exposure right in-camera is crucial.

LCD and Viewfinder: Seeing Your Shot

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder - a feature often missed in bright outdoor shooting. Instead, both rely on their LCDs for framing and reviewing photos.

The Nikon P310 offers a sharp 3-inch TFT LCD with 921,000 dots and an anti-reflection coating, making it bright and relatively easy to see in sunlight.

The Olympus’s 3-inch display falls short in resolution at just 230,000 dots - significantly less crisp and challenging to use under harsh daylight.

As a result, the Nikon P310's rear screen feels more precise when focusing manually or checking critical sharpness, giving it a slight edge for day-to-day usability.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus performance is a vital consideration, especially if you shoot dynamic subjects like wildlife or sports.

The Nikon P310 employs contrast-detection AF with 99 focus points and supports face detection and tracking, ensuring better performance in locking focus on subjects' faces - including eye detection to an extent - although it lacks animal eye detection functionality.

Olympus, meanwhile, uses contrast-detection AF as well but with fewer details available publicly on focus points. It supports face detection but no continuous AF tracking modes or advanced focus features.

In my hands-on testing, the Nikon’s AF felt quicker to lock and more reliable - especially in moderate light - while the Olympus exhibited occasional hunting and slower focus acquisition at long-zoom telephoto settings. Continuous AF tracking wasn't available on either, but Nikon’s face tracking worked better in practice.

The Nikon wins here for those wanting more dependable autofocus, particularly for portraits and casual wildlife shots.

Zoom Lenses: Reach vs Speed and Bokeh

Arguably the most defining difference - lens-wise - is the focal range and optical speed.

The Nikon P310 features a 24-100mm equivalent lens with a bright aperture ranging from f/1.8 at wide angle to f/4.9 towards telephoto. Its moderate zoom ratio (4.2×) emphasizes speed and image quality over reach, providing excellent performance in low light and better depth-of-field control for subject separation and pleasant bokeh. It also boasts a razor-sharp optic, especially noticeable wide open.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ takes a radically different lens design path: a superzoom 25-525mm equivalent lens offering an immense 21× reach but with a slower maximum aperture of f/3.1-5.8. In practical terms, it sacrifices brightness and depth-of-field control for the undeniable benefit of getting very close to distant subjects without changing equipment. This lens also offers a minimum macro focus distance of just 1 cm, slightly better than Nikon’s 2 cm, which helps for extreme close-ups.

So, if you prioritize top image quality, low-light ability, and smoother bokeh for portraits or landscapes, the Nikon’s lens has the upper hand. If you crave zoom range for wildlife, sports, or travel flexibility, Olympus’s lens is more versatile but demands a tripod or more light for sharp, noise-free photos.

Burst Rates and Shutter Speed: Action Capabilities

Speed is essential for sports and wildlife shooting. The Nikon P310 offers a continuous shooting rate of 6 frames per second with shutter speeds ranging from 30 seconds to 1/8000 sec. This quick burst, paired with fast shutter speeds, enables capturing fast-moving subjects with better chances of sharpness.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ lacks officially documented continuous shooting speed and tops out with slower shutter speeds (min: 1/4 sec, max: 1/1500 sec). A maximum shutter speed of 1/1500 sec may limit freezing fast action compared to Nikon’s 1/8000 sec.

Therefore, Nikon again tips the scales for sports and wildlife photographers needing to capture crisp action sequences.

Image Stabilization: Rock Steady Shots?

Both cameras have optical image stabilization but utilize different technologies.

The Nikon P310 employs lens-shift optical stabilization, which effectively reduces blur from camera shake, especially valuable in low-light or longer focal lengths.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ uses sensor-shift stabilization technology, which is generally advantageous for more varied shooting conditions and can provide stabilization regardless of the lens used.

In practice, both deliver respectable shake reduction, but sensor-shift has a slight edge for versatility, especially at the telephoto end of Olympus’s extensive zoom range.

Macro and Close-Up Photography

Both models shine in close-up scenarios but differ slightly.

Olympus’s minimum macro focus distance is 1 cm - very close, giving you great magnification potential for tiny subjects like flowers, insects, or product photography. Nikon’s minimum is 2 cm, still respectable but slightly less so.

Given Olympus’s enhanced zoom range, you can also experiment with macro at longer zoom lengths, albeit with a narrower field of view and increased sensitivity to shake.

If macro with extreme close focus is key, Olympus offers a marginal advantage here.

Video Capabilities: How Do They Compare?

Video functionality is often overlooked in compact camera evaluations, but for casual videographers or hybrid shooters, it matters.

The Nikon P310 records Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, a fairly standard spec for its era. It uses MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs but lacks audio input jacks such as microphone or headphone ports. You do get continuous autofocus during video recording, though without touch focus or other fancy video features.

Olympus falls back to HD 720p recording max, also 30fps, with similar encoding. No audio inputs here either. The lower video resolution lets Nikon carry the day for anyone wanting better video quality straight out of camera.

Neither camera offers advanced stabilization during video beyond their image stabilization systems, and neither supports 4K or higher frame rate recording options common in modern compact cameras.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

The Nikon P310 uses the proprietary EN-EL12 lithium-ion battery with a CIPA-rated life of 230 shots per charge. For enthusiasts or day trippers, this means moderate shooting; you’ll want a spare battery or power bank on trips.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ relies on four AA batteries, which can be a blessing or a curse. On one hand, you can pop in rechargeable AAs or carry spares easily without hunting for a proprietary charger. On the other hand, AA batteries tend to add weight and bulk and can cost more in the long run.

Both cameras support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Storage is not a differentiator here.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS tracking natively. That said, the Olympus SP-620 UZ does have support for Eye-Fi cards, allowing some wireless transfer functionality if you invest in one of those special SD cards.

The Nikon P310 lacks any wireless connectivity options out of the box.

Both cameras offer HDMI output for viewing images or videos on external displays.

Real World Shooting Across Photography Genres

To help you visualize how these cameras might perform in your typical shooting environments, let me break down their strengths and weaknesses across key photography types, supported by practical testing and image results.

Portrait Photography

The Nikon P310’s faster lens (f/1.8 at wide-angle) and better autofocus system - in particular, face detection - deliver more flattering portraits. The wide aperture allows you to isolate your subject with creamy bokeh and natural skin tones, especially under good lighting.

Olympus’s slower f/3.1 lens and less precise AF make subject-background separation trickier. While face detection is available, the smaller rear screen resolution makes composition and focus accuracy harder to confirm.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras turn in sharp, detailed landscapes under good daylight due to their 16MP sensors. Nikon’s BSI-CMOS sensor aids dynamic range subtly, pulling more details from shadows, although neither camera matches the DR abilities of larger sensor models.

Olympus’s extensive zoom helps capture distant peaks or interesting details without moving from your spot - great for travel landscapes. But beware the CCD sensor’s lower high ISO performance if shooting around dusk or dawn.

Weather sealing is absent on both models, so outdoor shooters should protect the units in inclement conditions.

Wildlife Photography

Here Olympus’s 21× zoom really shines, putting faraway wildlife within reach without expensive telephoto lenses. However, autofocus is slower and less reliable than Nikon’s, and burst shooting isn’t documented, potentially limiting capturing the perfect moment.

Nikon’s faster, more precise AF and 6 fps burst rate can better freeze animal motion but is confined to a 100mm maximum focal length - less reach out in the wild.

Sports Photography

Sports shooters need speed, tracking accuracy, and fast burst rates. Nikon’s 6 fps continuous shooting, 1/8000 sec shutter speed, and better AF system make it more suited for capturing fast action, especially indoor or low-light sports.

Olympus’s slower shutter and unverified burst speed, plus less sophisticated AF system, hold it back here, despite its zoom range.

Street Photography

Discretion and portability count for a lot in street shooting. Nikon’s smaller, lighter body makes it more inconspicuous. Its quick startup and manual exposure controls help capture fleeting moments in tricky light.

Olympus's bulkier form and slower operation make it less ideal for candid street work but could still function well if zoom versatility is prized.

Macro Photography

Olympus edges out with a closer minimum focusing distance (1 cm vs 2 cm) and a massive zoom range enabling compositional flexibility in tight macro shots. The sensor-shift stabilization also assists handheld macro shooting.

Nikon offers decent macro capabilities but is second-best here.

Night and Astrophotography

Nikon’s BSI CMOS sensor with higher native ISO ceiling (3200 ISO) and faster lens aperture improves night shooting results. Longest shutter speed is 30 seconds, letting you capture star trails and astrophotos with careful setup.

Olympus maxes shutter speed at 1/4 sec - short for astrophotography - and suffers from increased noise at ISO levels needed for night scenes, limiting usefulness.

Video Shooting

If you want decent HD video, Nikon’s Full HD 1080p output wins hands down. Olympus stays stuck with 720p max.

Neither camera offers advanced video controls or inputs, so filmmakers should look elsewhere.

Travel Photography

Travelers usually want versatility, decent image quality, and manageable size and battery life.

Nikon’s lighter body and manual controls cater well to diverse shooting needs, but its shorter zoom means you might miss distant details.

Olympus is bulkier but offers a powerful zoom from wide to super-telephoto, great for sightseeing and wildlife on the go. AA batteries are easy to source when traveling but add weight.

Professional Work

Pros probably won’t see either camera as a primary tool - no RAW support, limited ISO flexibility, and modest build quality deter heavy use. However, the Nikon’s lens speed and manual controls make it a better emergency backup for pros wanting superior image quality in compact form.

Olympus’s superzoom convenience caters more to casual or enthusiast shooters.

Final Performance Recap

Here’s a quick look at the overall performance ratings I assigned each based on hands-on tests:

And how they fare by specific genres:

Sample Galleries: Real-World Image Examples

To leave no doubts, here’s a gallery of shots taken under various conditions representative of what you can expect:

Nikon P310 front Nikon P310 screen back Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back

Notice the Nikon’s low-light and portrait smoothness vs. Olympus’s zoom reach shots.

Which One Should You Choose?

Pick the Nikon P310 If…

• You want faster lens speed for low light and portrait work
• You prefer manual exposure controls and more advanced settings
• You care about better autofocus reliability and face detection
• You desire sharper, cleaner JPEGs with less noise at higher ISOs
• You prioritize portability and lighter weight for everyday use
• You need Full HD video capability

Opt for the Olympus SP-620 UZ If…

• Your priority is having a huge zoom range for wildlife, travel, or distant subjects
• You prefer simple point-and-shoot operation without complicated manual modes
• You want macro capabilities with extremely close focusing distance
• You appreciate sensor-shift stabilization for steadier long-zoom shots
• Bulk and weight are less of a concern compared to versatility
• You like the convenience of AA batteries for easy replacement on the go

Trustworthy Insights from a Seasoned Tester

Having meticulously tested thousands of cameras at this level of detail, I can say both cameras are admirable attempts within their design goals and era. The Nikon P310 feels like a compact enthusiast camera built around image quality and control, while the Olympus SP-620 UZ targets users craving zoom and simplicity at a friendly price point.

Neither camera is ideal for high professional demands today, but both remain valuable for certain use cases with unique strengths.

If you value image quality above all, Nikon is worth the extra investment. If zoom versatility wins for your adventures and wildlife, Olympus delivers superb reach in a rugged, affordable package.

Hopefully, this detailed breakdown illuminated all dimensions crucial for your decision between Nikon P310 and Olympus SP-620 UZ. Feel free to reach out with specific use cases; I’m happy to offer tailored advice.

Happy shooting!