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Nikon P310

 
Nikon Coolpix P310 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 194g - 103 x 58 x 32mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Previous Model is Nikon P300
  • Successor is Nikon P330
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Nikon P310 summary

Nikon P310 is Nikon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally announced on June of 2012. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Nikon released this model in order to update the previous Nikon P300 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards released the newer Nikon P330 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to replace this model.

The P310 is ranked #16 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over-all #534 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should look at our Smart camera search to see camera rankings based on your personalized criteria.

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Here is a graph of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Nikon P310 history

The Nikon P310 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the complete list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Nikon-Coolpix-P340 front thumbnailNikon P340
P310 vs P340
24-120mm
F1.8-5.6
12MP1/1.7"2014
Nikon-Coolpix-P330 front thumbnailNikon P330
P310 vs P330
24-120mm
F1.8-5.6
12MP1/1.7"2013
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Nikon-Coolpix-P310 front thumbnailNikon P31024-100mm
F1.8-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-P300 front thumbnailNikon P300
P310 vs P300
24-100mm
F1.8-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2011

Nikon P310 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of positives and negatives of the Nikon P310 based on things which are oftentimes considered necessary in a digital camera.

decent sensor resolution (16MP)
does have HDMI support
features face detect focusing
features tracking focus
focusing manually
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good minimum ISO (100)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has built in flash
image stabilization (Optical)
in built lens has zoom (24-100mm 4.2 x zoom)
nice clear screen (921 thousand dot)
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
cannot use external flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have phase detect AF
does not have RAW format
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
missing headphone jack
missing microphone jack
missing Timelapse function
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
sluggish at full zoom (f4.9)
Photography Glossary

Nikon P310 Sensor information

The sensor size in the Nikon P310 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter might cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not saved therefore you have less margin for error.

The image underneath displays the P310's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The P310 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.

Nikon Coolpix P310 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon P310 dimensions

Nikon P310 weighs in at 0.43 lbs (194 grams / 6.84 ounces) & has exterior size of 103mm x 58mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Nikon P310 is heavier than other competitors.

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Here is a image of the Nikon P310 alongside a soda to help you get a feel for its size.

Nikon Coolpix P310 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show the button design on the P310.

Nikon Coolpix P310 topview buttons dials

Nikon P310 Lens information

The P310 is equipped with a fixed lens with a focal range of 24-100mm giving it a 4.2 x zoom which isn't really huge however it will be helpful in certain conditions.

At it's widest 24mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f1.8 making it useful for low light events and getting good bokeh. It would also enable you to set a much lower ISO to have cleaner photos. With the long end, 100mm comes with f4.9 making it really sluggish and you would have to choose slower shutter speeds.

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Nikon P310 Connectivity

The P310 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily transfer images and at times alter settings without connecting straight with the camera.

Some apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external screen. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Nikon P310 Video information

The max video resolution in the Nikon P310 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance between video quality versus file size but 1080p will not leave you with any room to downsample. The body does not have a microphone and headphone port which means that you have got zero control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to find another model in case you require good audio for your videos.

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Nikon P310 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Nikon P310 so you have to be careful in wet or dusty situations.

Nikon P310 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon P310 houses a 3 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the display has no touch support.

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The View Finder specs for Nikon P310 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be pretty helpful.

Nikon P310 Shutter information

Nikon P310 has the ability to shoot continuously at 6.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000s.

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Nikon P310 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon P310 comes with just in-built flash lacking external flash support.

Nikon P310 Autofocus information

Nikon P310 comes with only Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier & accurate than Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which makes it useful for people photography.

The AF system boasts 99 focus points to pick from. It also has Tracking Autofocus for moving things. Nikon P310 supports manual focus when needed during low light conditions or you want to have more accurate focus control.

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Nikon P310 Battery life

The battery pack (EN-EL12) on the Nikon P310 is designed to last for 230 shots as per the CIPA benchmarks which is on par with it's competitors. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Following is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the strongest battery life:

Nikon P310 for specific forms of photography

The following chart displays a summary of the Nikon P310 for specific forms of photography. To see more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Nikon P310 Portrait photography information

The Nikon P310 receives a score of 44 which is lousy, and means the camera is simply not very good to use for portrait photos. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support along with the ability to work with external flash.

Photography Glossary
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Nikon P310 Street photography info

With a modest score of 56, the Nikon P310 is somewhat appropriate to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Nikon P310 Sports photography information

A average sports photography points tally of 48 indicates the Nikon P310 is relatively suited for taking photos of sports. A camera needs excellent focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus

Nikon P310 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is extremely important when picking a camera for travel. On the whole, the Nikon P310 gets a very good 71 as a travelling camera which is a fine pick to take on your holidays.

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megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen

Nikon P310 as a Landscape photography camera

For anyone who is looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the biggest factor will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon P310 with it's moderate score of 55 as a landscape camera is reasonably suitable within the current marketplace.

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focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode

Vlogging with Nikon P310

A camera for vlogging should posses a articulating display, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering all things, the Nikon P310 is simply not very good for vlogging as it delivers a lousy score of 36.

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quite wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support

Nikon P310 Alternatives

If you are interested in alternatives to the P310, below is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall within the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The graph followed below will give you a bird's eye view of the P310 vs it's top rated rivals shown above.

Following are additional cameras you might check out as alternative options. To read through a comprehensive comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Nikon
Model
Nikon Coolpix P310
Category
Small Sensor Compact
Revealed
2012-06-22
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW images
Maximum native ISO
3200
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
99
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-100mm (4.2x)
Maximal aperture
f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range
2cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen size
3 inches
Screen resolution
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech
TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30 secs
Max shutter speed
1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
194 gr (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions
103 x 58 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
230 pictures
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL12
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
One
Launch price
$700