Best Pocket Camera:
Shootout of FiveTop Models

Dick De Jong, April 22, 2012

Contents

Nikon COOLPIX P310

The Nikon COOLPIX P310 is the newest release in the shootout and obviously the Nikon designers and marketers studied the competition to find a profitable pocket for this tiny camera.

The diminutive P310 replaces the similarly sized Nikon P300 and the most notable change is an increase in megapixels from 12 to 16, the most of any of the cameras in the contest.

But the P310 also features the smallest image sensor size, which ultimately affects picture quality (PQ), and not in a good way. That is not to say that photos from the P310 are bad. They just can't consistently match the PQ from their rivals.

The two areas that the P310 does compete quite well is size and price, being the lightest and least expensive. And when you are comparing pocket cameras, those attributes count, a lot.

The Good, the Bad and the So-so

First, let's deal with the So-so, the P310's PQ. For common tasks like sharing party photos and uploading images on to your Facebook page, the output from this COOLPIX is, well, cool enough.

For more critical applications like printing 8x10's or larger, the differences between the P310 and the Olympus XZ-1 may - and I emphasize may - become more apparent.

For Nikon P310 memory cards, see Camera Accessories

Another criticism from those who like to achieve the last drop of quality from a photo is that Nikon does not offer a RAW image capture option with this camera.

I'm a Team RAW supporter and the P310 should capture in RAW. But you can open JPEGs in Photoshop's Camera Raw utility and take advantage of those editing tools.

What may be more important to many is the basic handling and ease of use of the P310.

The weight of the camera is not a problem unless it seems too light in your hands. And the build feels substantial.

Like the Canon S100, big hands dwarf the P310 and the minimal two finger ridge in the front and teensy thumb grip on the back don't give you much to clamp on to.

The resolution of the three inch screen is the highest in the shootout and the detail when viewing photographs or paging through menus is appreciated.

With the mode wheel at the top, it's easy to switch quickly between the typical PSAM (Program, Shutter, Aperture, Manual) exposure modes. Or you can let the camera take over and set the dial to Auto.

The on-screen menu is not overly populated with frivolous features which makes navigation less dizzying.

Since there is no dedicated button for setting ISO, I prize the ability to program the Function button located on the front of the camera.

I'm not a big fan of all the Scene modes, though I was curious about Museum mode. If for no other reason, researching and experimenting with the different Scenes will make you more familiar with your camera.

I'll admit that I'm a sucker for the Panorama feature and the P310 has the best one in the shootout. There's not even a close second. You simply press the button and rotate, and the camera performs all the stitching in front of your expectant eyes.

You even have two Panorama options, taking a 180 degree image or a full monty 360 degree photo.

180 degree panorama shot

If you own a 3D HDTV, the P310 includes an ingenious 3D utility in which you take one photo and then move the camera horizontally until you align the view with an overlaid guide and the second image is captured. Then the camera constructs a 3D MPO file that you can playback on your TV and view with 3D glasses.

Finally, this COOLPIX shoots 1080p video as well as lower resolution clips at a higher frame rate, which then playback in slow motion.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a truly pocketable camera at a bargain price, then the Nikon COOLPIX P310 fills the bill.

Compared to the other cameras in this shootout, you will be trading a little bit of picture quality for the lower price tag. But the P310 has a few tricks up its lens, like a smooth Panorama mode and a clever 3D feature, that you will not find in the other contestants.