Nikon Coolpix S9300 Review: Features And Specs

The current generation of tiny cameras is producing image files of large size. Nikon Coolpix S9300 falls under this category.

In this highly competitive camera world, brands are trying their level best to seize the market by offering some new feature so that they can trick with customers. Nikon Coolpix S9300 is a sharp correction to S9100.

The camera poses a good alternative to point and shoot cameras and cameras fitted with long zoom lens. The major changes in S9300 are provision of 16MP resolution and built-in GPS for geo-tagging functionality.

Nikon Coolpix S9300 (aff link) is small in size and it is easy to use. The camera manages to deliver quality snaps by demanding less effort from the photographer. Coolpix S9300 is available in Black, Blue, Red and Silver colors.

Nikon Coolpix S9300: Specifications

Weighing just 7.6 ounces including the battery present inside the camera, it comes with 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.3 dimensions. You can have better preview with the 3” sized LCD screen which binds 921000 dots on the screen.

Even though the prints above 8x10 may not be as impulsive as you expect, you can definitely use snaps to share through online channels. The camera offers color sensitivity range of ISO 125 to ISO 3200.

You can select ISO levels in Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200. You can expect the best results below ISO 400. You can also utilize the fixed range Auto option which will work in two modes.

You can have betters snaps when ISO 125-400 auto mode is selected for outdoor activities. Similarly, ISO 128-800 mode can be set when you are limited to indoor snaps.

Even though the camera offers ISO 3200 sensitivity levels you are advised to take some trial shots in various lighting conditions. You may not expect quality snaps when you go for extreme range where the photo will smear and you may expect unrealistic color combinations.

Nikon Coolpix S9300 supports JPEG and MPEG4 file formats. It has both optical and digital image stabilization facilities. With lithium ion powered battery you can shoot more than 200 shots at a stretch.

However, you should not forget that the time spent towards zooming activity and movie recording will definitely kill the battery. The battery can be charged by connecting to the computer or a wall adapter through micro-USB cable. The camera supports SD, SDHC and SDXC storage mediums.

You will get the ViewNX2 camera software which is available in both Windows and Mac versions. The camera comes with powerful lens that can zoom up to 18x which allows focal lengths between 25 and 450 mm.

You can turn the GPS ON and OFF as and when you need the same. This can also be one of the causes of battery drain.

The manual adjustments on the camera will let you correct the image tone and saturation. This can be accomplished through adjustable sliders. The changed settings will also reflect in auto mode automatically.

The D-lighting feature lets you correct hidden areas in the image. You can choose white balance in Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash and Manual. A number of recording modes are available including Auto, Scene, Continuous, Night Landscape and Smart Portrait.

Nikon Coolpix S9300 will not offer many manual controls as the camera lets you capture snapshots. If you are an amateur, the photo capturing job is made easy by using the Scene Auto Selector.

The Auto Selector will try to accommodate the snap that you are trying to capture in any one of the six scene types. If it is not able to do so, the default ‘general use Auto’ will be selected.

The optical VR picture stabilization that is present in the NIKKOR ED glass lens will minimize the blurs in snaps and videos. The level of video quality matches the quality of your Smartphone or a portable video recording device.

Without using flash, you will be able to capture high quality snaps thanks to the 16MP CMOS sensor. The tiny camera will also let you add special effects to include your creative thoughts.

Backlighting mode, smile detecting and skin-softening are some of such kinds of features.

With continuous shooting option, you can capture 7.9 frames in a single second. You should be patient enough as the camera records these series of photos in memory. However, the turnaround is very quick if you are capturing shots one by one. You can go as much as 60 fps and 120 fps with a proportionate reduction in image quality.

The shutter lag time is 0.3 seconds when you use the camera in bright light and it will be 0.6 seconds when the camera is exposed to poor lighting conditions. You need to wait a minimum of 1.4 seconds to get your first snap after switching on your camera.

The time frame will be 6.5 seconds between two snaps when the flash is switched on. The camera shooting mode can be easily changed through the dial fitted on the top of the camera.

Nikon Coolpix S9300: Good features

• Sleek design
• Pocket sized powerful camera is ideal for travelling
• Fast shooting performance
• Easy to snap powerful shots
• D-lighting feature helps you highlight lost shadows.
• Full HD video at 1080p with stereo sound recording
• CMOS sensor with 16MP
• Hybrid vibration reduction (optical plus electronic)
• Logically arranged user interface
• Amazing focal length range
• HDMI outlet lets you watch videos on HDTVs
• You can create a 3 Dimensional photo
• Provision to include special effects in your photos
• Easy to use large controls
• Offers better grip in your hands

Nikon Coolpix S9300: Bad features

• More noise when photos are enlarged
• Lens length is small compared with competitors like Canon and Panasonic
• Less number of shooting options when compared with cameras of similar range in price
• Falls short of manual exposure capabilities
• Tendency to over exposure
• Difficult to capture fast moving objects
• Video recording includes lens movements

Summary

Nikon is quite successful in superzoom cameras. Targeting amateurs, the camera comes with minimal manual settings.

Nikon Coolpix S9300 stands in the range of Canon PowerShot SX260 HS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 in terms of price. However, the camera lags behind these competitors in various terms including longer lenses, number of features and quality of photos/videos.

Coolpix S9300 can be picked up by frequent travelers. It is very handy for snap shooters. The camera will be more attractive if Nikon will be able to manage a better price.