Possibly the best underwater camera for many people out there, the Nikon W300 is a camera that allows you to take amazing 4K Ultra HD videos while also having one of the best still image qualities among action cameras. It may be slightly higher priced than many of the other action cameras out there, but with a good amount of water and dust resistance along with quite a bit of shockproofing, the Nikon W300 is a very durable cam to carry with you. Apart from that, having numerous modes with pre-optimized settings for several different situations, the Nikon W300 provides all you need in an action camera, whenever you need it.
Why We Like It – Nikon W300
Coming up in Nikon’s lineup of action cameras, Nikon Coolpix W300 is among the more premium action cameras out there with several features and an amazing sensor. It offers some of the best still images with a macro-capable wide-angle lens. And complementing those water sport enthusiasts out there, the Nikon W300 allows you to go up to 100 feet deep into the water without any form of housing.
- Great water and dust resistance
- Several modes and a great sensor for still images
- 4K capable
- Can’t mount external hardware
- Slightly high priced
Performance
Powered by the 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with a 24-120mm equivalent lens as well as optical image stabilization, the Nikon Coolpix W300 is probably the best action camera you can get for taking still images at this price range. While it does support 4K video shooting capability at 30fps, what stands out at most are the still images. Helping you with that, the Exposure control on it allows you to change the exposure compensation from -2.0 to +2.0 EV in steps of 0.33V.
And paired with a considerable maximum lens aperture of f/2.8 and a wide angle 5x optical zoom, taking photos underwater, or above on the ground will become much easier and simultaneously of better quality. You can’t however shoot RAW with the Nikon W300 but the photos on a sunny day will still be very vibrant in colour, with little noise and sharp details.
However, if you don’t need waterproofing and still want great quality, check out our other reviews of the Nikon 1 J5, Nikon Z6, Canon EOS M50, and the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS.
Moreover, the Coolpix W300 also offers pretty well video recording capability by allowing you to shoot 1080 videos at 60fps and 4K at 30FPS as the APEMAN A79. You also get a slow-motion shooting mode which does take in pretty good content, but doesn’t live up to the level of the Olympus TG-5 as it’s limited to a resolution of 480p. But, on the plus side, you do get several other modes each adapting to different situations to give you the best pre-optimized settings. While there are the basic modes from Panorama, Landscape, Portrait, Superlapse Movie, Night mode, Time-lapse, Multiple Exposure Lighten and Underwater modes, you also get a bunch of different scene modes, each great for a different background and scenario. These range from the standard Food and Indoor mode to a Sunset, Dusk/Dawn mode and having them do in turn make it easier for you to take great photos. But do keep in mind that while there is an auto mode you can use, browsing through the different modes themselves isn’t very difficult either.
As per the Nikon Coolpix W300 review from different people, the controls on it are fairly easy to use. You get a 3-Inch, 921K dot LCD which is great for composing shots and also browsing through the in-system controls. As for the buttons themselves, you can easily use a dedicated button to illuminate an LED light, a Tool button to display a compass, several steps, altitude/depth as well as air pressure/ water pressure and also an action button to easily switch between different functions( photo, video, image preview) apart from the standard shutter button. If you are a Nikon fan looking for a waterproof and shockproof camera with a high megapixel count of more than 12MP, then check out our Nikon 1 AW1 review.
Moving on, the Nikon W300 also offers a built-in GPS which helps with geotagging photos and it comes with a battery life supporting up to 280 shots in a go. This isn’t a lot but it’s also not too low, and you can also charge it up with a portable charger. And for the connectivity of the Nikon W300, you have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support which can allow you to transfer photos and videos easily through the designated app on your phone. It isn’t the best app integration out there, but it does what you need it to do. As for the audio of the device, it’s moderately good but unlike the APEMAN A79, you can’t connect external microphones or headphones.
Overall, it surpasses the Akaso EK7000 in terms of video quality, and stands atop the rest in terms of its still image quality which is great even underwater. Speaking of underwater, it allows you to go 30 metres deep and is also freezeproof till -10C and shockproof from 7.9ft, far surpassing the GoPro Hero 7. To capture 1080p HD videos underwater using a camera with RAW capture and underwater HDR, click our Olympus stylus tough TG4 review.
Design
Measuring to be 11.5 x 66 x 29mm and weighing about 231g including the battery and memory card inside the grip, the Nikon W300 is pretty lightweight considering its metal surface. It is also a decently compact camera, enough to be slipped into the pocket of your jacket or even a bag, but unlike the APEMAN A79 or the GoPro Hero 7 you can’t mount it on something as easy and it can’t be controlled through any external remotes either.
There also seem to be some issues regarding the position of the lens. Being placed up top, and not extended outward, the lens can easily be covered by your fingers without you knowing and this could greatly affect your image or video. This does, however, protect the lens from any external damage. As for the microphone, it is located below the lens, behind the pinpricks giving you quite good sound quality in videos.
Moving onto the rest of the build, the Nikon W300 comes with a micro HDMI and micro USB port, both located behind the padded lockable door along with the battery and SD card. They’re all protected at all times as the compartment cannot be accidentally opened thanks to the fact that you have to press a button and also twist a dial to gain access to them.
Apart from that, the Nikon W300 has a pretty decent design despite a solid build. You get quite a bit of a colour choice but the point that holds it back is that the key specs are directly printed onto the fascia which really might not be a drawback for those who are simply buying this for its picture capability.
Value
Priced at $260, the Nikon W300 is among the more expensive action cameras out there. It offers a great amount of picture and video capability, but while it isn’t very compact the design isn’t very aesthetic. The Nikon Coolpix W300 isn’t the most attractive-looking action camera, but it still performs well on the interior and delivers great image quality and video recording with various shooting modes, like auto mode and scene modes. But if you can go past the design, and you’re okay with a durable camera that takes some of the best still images out there, with amazing underwater resistance, the Nikon W300 is your go-to. However, if you need something better for videos, the APEMAN A79 is a much more affordable and better option.
Nikon W300 Wrap Up
While it doesn’t have a great video quality as the GoPro Hero 7, and it most certainly isn’t as affordable as the APEMAN A79, the Nikon W300 offers you a whole lot of different modes as well great amount of underwater resistance. It doesn’t need external housing, and it also provides you with an additional optical zoom lens. And so, with all that and a good 4K video shooting ability, the Nikon W300 is a great action camera for you, but that is if you’re willing to spend the extra buck above the A79 for better image quality. If you found this Nikon W300 review helpful, please check out our other product reviews that dive into more action cameras, compact cameras, DSLRs, and others.
