Nikon Coolpix S9900 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300: A Detailed Comparison of Small Sensor Superzooms

In today’s compact superzoom camera market, two models stand out for their blend of reach and affordability: the Nikon Coolpix S9900 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300. Both targeted at enthusiasts who want extensive zoom capabilities in a relatively compact form, these cameras promise versatility without the complexity or hefty price tags of interchangeable lens cameras. But which one delivers more value for your style of photography? Having spent extensive hands-on time testing both models across multiple real-world scenarios and technical benchmarks, I aim to guide you with a comprehensive comparison grounded in expertise and practical experience.

Before diving into the performance nuances, let’s establish a baseline by understanding their bodies, sensors, and core specifications.

Size and Ergonomics: Compact Convenience vs Bridge Bulk

When evaluating any camera, physical handling greatly impacts usability and shooting comfort. The Nikon S9900 sports a decidedly compact form factor with dimensions approximately 112 x 66 x 40 mm and a weight of just 289 grams, making it pocketable in larger coat pockets or most camera pouches.

In contrast, the Sony H300 adopts a more traditional bridge camera silhouette - more SLR-like - with a substantial grip and a chunkier body at 130 x 95 x 122 mm and a weight of 590 grams. This size is more stable for long telephoto reach shots but trades portability for presence.

Handling the Nikon, I found its lightweight build perfect for travel and street photography - where discretion and speed matter most - while the Sony’s heftiness gives a more solid feeling, beneficial when pressed to hold for extended wildlife or superzoom landscape framing. However, the bulk may feel cumbersome if you’re chasing minimal gear.

Ergonomically, the Nikon’s fully articulated 3-inch screen facilitates creative angles, especially useful in macro or selfie modes. Sony’s fixed 3-inch Clear Photo LCD, albeit lower resolution, lacks flexibility in composition when shooting at odd angles.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive vs Traditional

User interface and button placement play a quiet but pivotal role in shooting efficiency - particularly when rapid adjustments matter.

The Nikon S9900 features clean, modern top-panel controls, including dedicated dials for exposure compensation and access to aperture and shutter priority modes, making it adept for enthusiasts who want manual control on the fly.

Conversely, the Sony H300 leans into a classic bridge-camera control scheme, with a pronounced zoom rocker on the top, a mode dial, and basic manual controls, but it lacks dedicated priority modes on the dial. Instead, manual exposure input is accessed through menus - a drawback for quick scene changes.

During field tests, the Nikon’s more compact top plate and responsive buttons allowed me to quickly tweak settings, which was a notable advantage in dynamic environments like street or wildlife photography. The Sony’s bulkier form factor and less ergonomic button layout slowed my reaction time somewhat but compensated with an intuitive grip.

Sensor Specifications and Image Quality Fundamentals

Both cameras utilize the common 1/2.3-inch sensor size, roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with similar overall sensor surface area (~28 mm²). However, the Sony DSC-H300 uses a 20MP CCD sensor, while the Nikon S9900 adopts a 16MP CMOS sensor.

This difference in sensor technology and resolution underpins many performance distinctions:

• Sony’s CCD sensor tends to produce images with slightly higher native resolution (5152 x 3864 pixels vs Nikon’s 4608 x 3456), but CCD tech can be slower, generates more heat, and generally performs worse at high ISO levels.
• Nikon’s CMOS sensor allows for better noise handling and continuous shooting capabilities due to faster readout speeds.

Through controlled shooting tests, I noted the Nikon’s CMOS sensor delivered consistently cleaner images at ISO 400 and above. The Sony’s higher pixel count benefits cropping flexibility but crept in more noise earlier, particularly in low-light scenarios.

For practical photography, Nikon’s sensor gave a noticeable edge in dynamic range and detail retention - critical in landscape and portrait scenes where tonal nuances matter.

Display and User Interface: Articulated Convenience vs Static Simplicity

A high-quality rear display enables easy framing and reviewing, especially when you cannot or do not want to raise the camera to your eye.

Nikon’s fully articulated, 3-inch 921k-dot screen stands out with vibrant color reproduction and tactile responsiveness despite lacking touch functionality. This articulating mechanism opens up myriad creative possibilities from ground-level macro shots to overhead compositions.

Sony’s Clear Photo LCD, while 3 inches as well, has a lower resolution of 460k dots, fixed in place, and lacks articulation. This limits usability in awkward shooting positions or for self-portraits.

In everyday shooting, Nikon’s display proved more user-friendly, particularly for landscape setups or spontaneous street shots where flexibility is key. Sony’s screen is serviceable but noticeably less versatile.

Zoom Performance and Lens Characteristics: Versatility in Reach

Both cameras offer impressive zoom ranges but with different advantages:

• Nikon S9900: 25–750 mm equivalent (30× zoom) with maximum aperture F3.7–6.4
• Sony H300: 25–875 mm equivalent (35× zoom) with maximum aperture F3.0–5.9

Sony edges out Nikon in raw zoom reach by an extra 125 mm, potentially valuable for wildlife or sports photography where distant subjects dominate.

However, Nikon benefits from slightly faster aperture at the telephoto’s long end improving low-light performance marginally. Optical stabilization is included in both - they employ effective systems reducing handshake blur for telephoto and macro shots, but Nikon’s system is a tad more refined in my testing, enabling sharper handheld telephoto shots.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Real Situations

Autofocus (AF) remains a cornerstone in capturing fleeting moments. Both cameras lack phase detection and rely purely on contrast detection.

Nikon offers continuous autofocus, face detection, and multi-area AF options, with reliable tracking performance in moderately fast action shooting - an impressive feat given the sensor. The ability to select center and multi-area AF gives the user control over focus point placement - a subtle bonus for creative framing.

Sony H300 offers face detection and AF tracking but is limited to single AF mode without continuous AF for moving subjects, resulting in sluggish focus acquisition and less reliable tracking in my tests.

In wildlife or sports shooting simulations, Nikon’s AF system noticeably outperformed Sony’s, delivering more consistent focus locks and smoother adjustments during continuous shooting bursts.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing Fast Action

For sports and wildlife, continuous shooting speed and shutter range are critical.

• Nikon S9900 boasts 7 fps burst shooting - a standout feature at this price point - allowing capture of decisive moments during fast action.
• Sony H300, with only 1 fps burst rate, severely limits chance capture in moving scenarios.

The Nikon’s shutter speed range from 8s to 1/4000s allows creative exposure control, especially for night or motion freeze shots. Sony’s slower max shutter speed of 1/1500s constrains ability to freeze very fast motion or use wide apertures in bright daylight without ND filters.

For photographers interested in sports or wildlife, Nikon’s faster burst and wider shutter speed flexibility makes it the clear choice.

Video Capabilities: Full HD vs HD

Video recording on both cameras offers supplemental use for casual shooters:

• Nikon S9900 supports Full HD 1080p recording at 60i, 50i, and 30p frame rates with H.264 codec.
• Sony H300 maxes out at HD 720p resolution at 30p.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone ports, limiting audio recording options, and neither supports advanced video features like 4K, slow motion, or focus peaking.

Still, Nikon’s Full HD quality and slightly higher frame rates give more flexibility and better image quality for casual video use.

Battery Life and Wireless Connectivity

• Nikon S9900 uses an EN-EL19 battery rated at approximately 300 shots per charge.
• Sony H300 uses proprietary battery pack with about 350 shots capability.

In day-to-day shooting, battery life on both is modest but typical for compact superzooms using smaller batteries. Nikon’s slightly shorter endurance is balanced by the lighter weight and wireless connectivity.

Speaking of connectivity, Nikon includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, with NFC support for easy sharing and location tagging - a boon for travel photographers and instant image transfer workflows.

Sony H300 lacks any wireless connectivity, requiring physical cables for file transfer, hampering immediate sharing convenience.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither model offers weather sealing or robust environmental protections. Their plastic-bodied shells are intended for indoor and casual outdoor use, with some care to avoid rough conditions.

Given the significant size difference and intended portability of the Nikon S9900, it is better suited for on-the-go photography where lightweight gear is preferred; Sony H300’s heavier bridge form may withstand slightly more demanding handling but still falls short of professional robustness.

Real-World Photography: Sample Image Comparisons

Let's put technical specs aside momentarily and review how each camera performs across different photographic disciplines.

Nikon S9900 front Nikon S9900 screen back Sony H300 front Sony H300 screen back

Portraits: Nikon’s CMOS sensor provides more natural skin tones and better color depth, helped by face detection focusing. The S9900’s slight bokeh advantage at longer focal lengths allows more effective subject isolation. Sony’s CCD sensor and smaller aperture range yield flatter looking portraits with less separation.

Landscapes: Nikon renders more detail in shadow and highlights due to improved dynamic range; Sony’s images can appear overly contrasty and harsher in bright scenes. Nikon’s articulating screen aids composition from uneven terrain.

Wildlife/Sports: Sony’s longer reach is tempting, but slow autofocus and single fps burst hamper success rate. Nikon balances reach and speed better, often translating to more keepers in action shooting.

Street: Nikon’s compact size and quieter operation make it a better street shooter. Sony’s size and slower operation make candid shooting more obtrusive.

Macro: Nikon’s close focusing capability to 1cm offers excellent macro potential, complemented by articulation. Sony’s macro distance is not specified and lacks articulation, limiting flexibility.

Night/Astro: Nikon’s higher max ISO and longer shutter speeds support more effective night photography. Sony is more limited here.

Video: Nikon’s Full HD frame rate options edge out Sony’s HD 720p only format.

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

To frame these observations in a wider context, here are expert-based performance ratings summarizing a battery of tests.

Breaking down genre applicability:

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras feature fixed lenses, so no lens swapping is possible. The zoom lens range is solid for generalist shooting, but neither offers optical quality on par with higher-end interchangeable lenses.

This means your creative flexibility must rely on zoom and camera settings rather than different lenses.

Storage and File Formats

Neither camera supports RAW file capture - a notable limitation for professionals and serious enthusiasts. They both produce JPEG images only, constraining post-processing latitude.

In practical terms, Nikon's sensor and processing offer cleaner JPEG outputs and better in-camera sharpening than Sony’s CCD, so image editing “headroom” remains somewhat workable despite the lack of RAW.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with Sony additionally supporting proprietary Memory Stick formats.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Connectivity is a major practical difference:

• Nikon S9900’s Wi-Fi and NFC enable quick image transfers and control from smartphones. GPS tagging automates geolocation data embedding - excellent for travel or adventure photographers.
• Sony H300 has no wireless options; all transfers require USB or card readers.

Price-to-Performance: What Do You Get for Your Money?

At the time of writing:

• Nikon Coolpix S9900: Approx. $300
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300: Approx. $250

The Nikon commands a slight premium but delivers notably better image quality, ergonomics, faster performance, and wireless integration that justify the extra investment for most users serious about their photography.

Bottom Line Recommendations: Who Should Choose Which?

After testing these cameras thoroughly, here is how I’d advise different users:

Choose Nikon Coolpix S9900 if:

• You want a highly portable, travel-friendly superzoom with wireless sharing and GPS.
• You expect to photograph portraits, street scenes, landscapes, and macros with superior image quality.
• You need faster autofocus and continuous shooting for moderate wildlife and sports action.
• You want video in full HD with flexible frame rates.
• You value articulating screens for creative shooting angles.
• You seek better overall user interface and controls without a steep learning curve.

Choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 if:

• Your budget is tight and you want an extremely long zoom range at the most affordable price.
• You prefer a bridge-style camera with large grip and SLR-like handling for more stable telephoto use.
• You shoot mostly static subjects with limited need for continuous autofocus or rapid shooting.
• You have no need for wireless connectivity or video quality beyond HD 720p.
• Portability and quick responsiveness are less critical.

Final Thoughts

While both cameras occupy similar market segments, the Nikon Coolpix S9900 emerges as the more versatile, balanced superzoom overall - offering better handling, image quality, and feature richness. Its weaknesses - limited sensor size, fixed lens design, and no RAW - are shared by the Sony but accentuated by Sony’s slower AF, weaker video, and less user-friendly interface.

In an era where smartphone cameras encroach on compact camera territory, the Nikon S9900’s thoughtful design, wider functionality, and wireless capabilities help justify its place. The Sony H300, meanwhile, is a no-frills, budget-friendly telephoto tool for casual shooters prioritizing reach over speed and connectivity.

Whichever you choose, understanding these trade-offs helps tailor your investment to your photographic ambitions.

If you’d like to see side-by-side specifications or sample galleries, revisit the comparison images embedded above. And remember - hands-on testing, ideally in your own shooting environment, is the best way to confirm which camera truly fits your style.

Happy shooting!