Nikon Coolpix W300 is the new name in the category of rugged cameras. Apart from being robust, it is handy and easy to carry. It can easily fit inside your pockets and is suitable for shooting almost what life gives it. This camera is waterproof and has a few additional outdoor features that make it suitable to traverse the beaten path.
If you are planning to go on an adventure trip, this camera could be your best friend. May it be a rock-climbing excursion, hiking trip, underwater exploration, or any trip that you can think of, this camera is one of its kind to jazz up your expeditions. Read on Nikon Coolpix W300 Review to get acquainted with the features of the camera in detail.
Table of Contents
Key specifications
- Built-in GPS
- Video recording up to 4K
- 16 MP CMOS sensor
- 5X optical zoom lens
- VR vibration reduction image stabilization
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- 7 FPS shooting speedHDR/Panoramic shooting
- 30m waterproof, freezeproof, 2.4m shockproof
- Compact and easy to use
Design
This camera is a stylish piece that you can flaunt on your deep water diving trip. It comes in various color variants ranging from yellow, orange, and a few camouflage colors with criss-cross patterns at the top of the camera.
It is a rough and tough camera and has a hard-plastic body that makes it durable. Just like most of the waterproof cameras, the enclosed lens is situated at the top left corner of the camera. The top panel of the camera has a shutter release button and a small on/off button. The rear panel has a zoom control that is operated by thumb, a movie record button, four multi-selector buttons that allow you to switch between the shooting mode selection, and select playback, menu, and delete options.
On the left side of the camera, there are three buttons that allow you to open the built-in compass, to opt for motion-controlled mode, and to put on the LED located at the front. The LED can also be used as a flashlight or torch when you are at a place with scanty lighting or underwater.
The card slots, battery slot, and other ports are located beneath a sealed flap made of rubber and have a twist lock to ensure the security of the components. It also offers water protection and prevents the insides from attracting dust. The screen and lens are safeguarded with an extra transparent layer of plastic.
Stabilization and Lens
Launched in May 2017, the new COOLPIX W300 retains a few features such as 5X optical zoom, 16 MP sensor, 24-120 mm range f2.8-4.9 lens from its earlier counterpart COOLPIX AW130. The brightness and zoom aspect of this camera is well balanced, and you can go in all praise for this camera owing to its zoom range and capability of offering maximum aperture. The camera is wide enough to capture some decent selfies and groupies while scuba diving in California or any other adventure trip. Also, it has an adequate length that allows getting into action within close proximities.
Screen
On the left of the control panel, the camera has a 3-inch 921k dot LCD screen with VGA resolution, and though it may not sound adept for pro photographers, it can offer you some clear details in comparison to its competitors. The screen has a wide viewing angle both horizontally and vertically.
The plastic protection on the screen can demand you to take rescue to a shady place for viewing your photos and videos. It is suggested because there are chances of accruing the effects of reflection, which can cause a hindrance in reviewing the images on sunny days or below the water.
Image quality
This camera can deliver the best images even when the sun is behind the person clicking the pictures. The auto scene mode can capture almost everything ranging from macro to landscapes. It can define the smallest details when the images are captured using the optical zoom lens at widest angles.
The optical zoom option caters to the sharp details of the photos when it is used with a fast shutter speed as it eliminates the vagueness that may be caused due to camera shake. One can expect consistent quality images in proper lighting and can further be required to use the flash for clicking pictures at places that are not well lit.
Battery life and Connectivity
The battery life of Nikon Underwater Camera is also quite feasible and can click up to 280 pictures if you completely charge it for once. It takes only 2 hours and 20 minutes for a full charge.
The camera has a mini HDMI port and a standard USB port that allow you to connect it with your TV, laptops, and other smart devices. You can use the USB port to charge its battery. It also features the Bluetooth that allows you to automatically transfer the photos to other devices.
Easy to use factor
The best thing about this scuba diving underwater camera is the ease of carrying it as it comes in pocket-size dimensions allowing its owner to slide it inside their pockets to get trip-ready. For all your outdoor trips and excursions, this camera can serve to be a handy option and can be used in all types of weather conditions.
It is available in various color variants, making it a top pick amongst individuals who love to have a camera to serve their purpose as well as their style quotient. The dimensions of this camera are 1.5*66*29mm and hardly weigh around 231 grams, which add on to its light-weighted feature. The manageable side of Coolpix W300 makes it easy to carry and can be retrieved from your pockets whenever you want to click a picture.
Performance
Talking about the performance factor in the Nikon Coolpix W300 Review, this camera encompasses two shooting modes that are 2.3 FPS and 7.5 FPS and can offer continuous shooting. It also offers Time-lapse movie mode to shoot a series of images as per the intervals defined beforehand. Further, it can assemble them into a 30p or 1080p HD movie. The pre-set modes are night sky, star trail, landscape, cityscape, and sunset and can shoot images within intervals varying between 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 seconds.
However, gaining creative control over this camera can be a bit difficult as the white balance and ISO cannot be changed manually and may require you to go back to the main menu. The autofocus mode gets locked quickly and may behave a bit below the accuracy levels in a lack of adequate lighting. But this camera can be a fair one to take along with you if you are well versed with its limitations and can use it considering its hooting and recording limitations.
Shooting experience
There are five AF area modes in this camera and are enough to handle the needs of the users. The face priority feature also serves its purpose well when the pictures are clicked in an adequate amount of light, and when the people are at a considerable distance from the camera. If the camera does not detect any face, then the none area AF system becomes active and thus focuses on the closest things and clicks it.
On the other hand, one can also select the focus area manually on the 11*9 grid of the frame or can even set the central focus spot. It also has the target finding AF, which can track objects and people with green rectangles in the frame. Also, there is a subject tracking mode that can determine the subject within the AF points provided that the background doesn’t merge with the subject and can be identified distinctively.
We hope that this Nikon Coolpix W300 Review will help you to make your purchase decision. So if you are allured by the features this camera offers and have made up your minds to make a purchase, then click here to make this camera your own.
Conclusion
The Nikon Coolpix W300 Digital Camera can serve to be an excellent camera for all those who wish to keep their camera at bay when exposed to extreme conditions. It is best suited for adventurers who wish to enjoy their trip, capturing unforgettable memories without taking the chap of implementing manual settings every now and then.
If you are planning for a journey wherein you are going to experience the underwater world, then Nikon Coolpix W300 is one of the best cameras in its class that you can pick to film your holiday moments with 4K resolution.
