Hey, I'm Joshua Goldman, Senior Editor with CNET and this is a look at the Nikon Coolpix P300.
So, let's just get this out of the way.
The P300 is not so much an enthusiast compact as it is in advanced point-and-shoot with a fast f1.8 ultrawide-angle lens and manual controls.
It would be nice if it have raw capture and a larger sensor but it doesn't and that's fine because
it's less expensive than models that do have those things.
The bright lens allows you to capture nice indoor shots without needing slower shutter speeds or higher ISOs and it gives you some depth of field to play with at least when you're shooting close-ups.
It does have the shutter speed and aperture controls that are easy to use.
Thanks to two thumb dials on the back.
But, it also has a bunch of scene modes and a couple of reliable full Auto options.
It shoots nice, full HD video at the push of a button and that it records in slow motion too.
Its photo quality is very good for a point-and-shoot particularly in low light conditions and it has a handful of modes to help with more difficult situations like backlit subjects or shooting hand-held at night.
Shooting performance is good, not as quick as other Nikons I've tested but still speedy.
Overall, it's just a really nice compact camera for those
advanced users or those who want to become one.
I'm Joshua Goldman and that's the Nikon Coolpix P300.