The Nikon Coolpix W300 is a durable and solid waterproof, shock-resistant, dustproof, and cold-resistant digital compact camera. Nikon announced it on the 31st of May, 2017. The W300 is one of the brand’s high-performance outdoor models that boasts a 16.05-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor and 4K UHD movie recording capability.
Although it is on the higher end of small waterproof digital cameras, it has an impressive build quality and quick access buttons. There are a lot of other features that distinguish the W300 from others in its class. Let’s take a look at some of its key or primary qualities.
General
Pros |
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Elegant and stylish desire |
Wireless connectivity |
Vibration reduction feature |
Easy to use |
Waterproof up to 100ft |
Cons |
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Lacks full manual control |
Struggles in dark environments |
Price -$600. Buy on Amazon.
Primary Features And Extras
Tough And Durable Body
Nikon built the Coolpix W300 to be rugged and durable. It is waterproof to depths of about 30m or 100ft, allowing professional divers to shoot or record photos and videos (while diving) underwater for about 60 minutes without using a separate underwater camera housing case, such as the Seafrogs X-T3.
Furthermore, the W300 has a temperature range of -10°C to 40°C. However, the rating goes down from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius when using it in the water. It is also dustproof and shock-resistant, making it an excellent option for extreme or rigid outdoor activities.
High-Quality Images And Videos Even In the Harshest Conditions
Nikon equipped the Coolpix W300 with a 5x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers the most commonly used focal lengths – about 24mm wide-angle and 120mm telephoto coverages. It also offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and is built with a dynamic fine zoom that allows the users to zoom up to approximately 10x without sacrificing image or video quality. In addition, the W300 is also equipped with a high-performance vibration reduction function to reduce image blur caused by camera shakes. With the combination of its 16.05MP image sensor, it can deliver good underwater photographs.
Furthermore, its 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/30p movie recording capability allows users to record quality images and videos. Its users can also lock the exposure when shooting underwater. Therefore, one can achieve the desired or envisioned picture or video exposures, even in situations when the degree of light passing through the ocean isn’t constant.
The auto exposure and AE lock features make it easy to film and deliver beautiful, vibrant, colorful, and vivid underwater shots and clips with the Nikon Coolpix W300. The camera is also equipped with functions to support time-lapse and super-lapse movie recordings.
Active Guide And SnapBridge Wireless Connectivity
The W300 compact camera is equipped with the new Nikon active guide, which displays information, such as your location data and the water altitude when you select the underwater scene mode. It also features the Nikon SnapBridge, which allows wireless connectivity and easy file transfer from the camera to any connected smart device.
Creative Mode And Effects
The Coolpix W300 also features a range of creative modes and effects, which makes image expressions simple, stunning, and epic. It has eight special and quick effects respectively that you can apply before or after you take a shot. You can retouch your photographs with 20 functions, such as Teeth Whitening and Skin Softening. You can also select from 20 common Scene Modes like Night Landscape or Portrait, depending on your preference, the scene, and lighting situations.
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Photos clicked by Nikon Coolpix W300
Body Build And Handling
The W300 has a ruggedly elegant and stylish design. Although it is small, it is very solid in the hands. The grip is well-sized. Thus, it is comfortable and easy to hold and operate. It does offer a bit of extra texture that improves the handling experience.
The buttons are large and mannerly placed. So, you don’t have to hunt through the menu to access the vital settings. The camera does have a full-sized tripod socket, which is a pretty standard feature for such small compact cameras. The side buttons are the most interesting aspect of the body build. They give quick access to the users.
Display And Viewfinder
The W300 has a 7.5 cm ( 3 -in.) diagonal monitor size. The monitor resolution is about 921k dot wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating and 5-level brightness adjustment.
Display
Battery Life And Performance
The camera uses an EN-EL12 battery with a CIPA rating of 280 pictures and an hour of recording at 1080p/30fps per charge.
Note: The battery takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to recharge.
Lens System
Exposure & White Balance
Camera Flash
Communications
Video Recording
Additional Features
Low Light Performance
The W300 has a lot of shooting modes, including night landscape and portrait mode. Although the standard ISO ranges from 125 to 1600 (expandable up to 6400), it has a LED light that works as a flashlight and provides support when shooting in low light. However, it still struggles in lowlight.
Speed Performance
The W300’s 16 MP sensor and fast f/2.8 NIKKOR zoom lens enable it to shoot up to 7 frames per second.
What Type Of Photography Is The Nikon Coolpix W300 Camera Suitable For?
The camera is suitable for rugged outdoor activities, such as surfing, skiing, biking, and climbing.
Who Should Buy? Value For Money?
The W300 is an excellent option for anyone getting into water photography or clicking pictures of harsh outdoor activities. Although the W300 is solid and stylish, it is on the pricier side of small and compact waterproof cameras. Therefore, we recommend you consider cheaper alternatives on the market, like the Olympus Tough TG-6, which offers better quality.
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