Nikon's P300 has a compact but no-nonsense design and fairly broad set of manual controls that should appeal to enthusiasts.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
The P300 has a basic and functional, compact-but-not-too-small design that should appeal to more-advanced shooters. It includes a wide-angle 4.2x zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture of f1.8.
2 of 6 CNET/Sarah Tew
Manual controls
A generous set of manual controls and stereo microphone are among the P300's relatively high-end feature set.
3 of 6 CNET/Sarah Tew
Interface
The interface is pretty straightforward, for both basic and advanced shooting functions, with big, easy-to-read text. The menu and delete buttons feel a little too flat, but otherwise the layout feels and works well.
4 of 6 CNET/Sarah Tew
Thin
The P300 strikes a good balance between size and usability; it's not too thin to hold comfortably, and not too big that you'll leave it at home.
5 of 6 CNET/Sarah Tew
Advanced controls
You do have to jump into the menus to adjust most of the advanced shooting controls, but the menus are pretty sparse so it's not too onerous. Oddly, the camera lacks a spot metering setting (though it's possible that was just a bug in our preproduction unit).
6 of 6 CNET/Sarah Tew
Compensation
I don't know why, but I really like this basic interface for adjusting exposure compensation, hue, and vividness.
