Canon PowerShot
S95
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
P300

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Nikon Coolpix P310

Canon PowerShot S95
 
Nikon Coolpix P300
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Size
 Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Thickness
 Thin
1.2"
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P300

Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1500 ms startup delay
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Size Smaller 99x58x29 mm vs 103x58x32 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
 Around 90% longer exposures
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

Advantages of the Nikon P300
Wide angle Much better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 Around 2x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Aperture Wider aperture f/1.8 vs f/2.0
Help
 At its widest zoom, the P300's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
 More than 4x faster continuous shooting
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 120 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Startup delay Less startup delay 1500 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Battery life Longer battery life 240 shots vs 200 shots
Help
 20% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Nikon Coolpix P300 Learn more about
the Nikon P300
vs

recommendations

Snapsort can't make a recommendation (yet) because it doesn't have enough data yet about the Nikon P300.

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
S95:f/2.0
P300:f/1.8
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
S95:Lens
P300:Lens, Sensor shift
Thickness Quite thick Help
S95:1.2"
P300:1.3"
Weight Heavy Help
S95:193 g
P300:189 g
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
S95:99x58x29 mm
P300:103x58x32 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S95:3.8x
P300:4.2x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
S95:99x58x29 mm
P300:103x58x32 mm
Weight Very light Help
S95:193 g
P300:189 g
Thickness Very thin Help
S95:1.2"
P300:1.3"
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
S95:15s
P300:8s
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
S95:1/1600s
P300:1/2000s
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Autofocus Slower contrast detection autofocus Help
slower focusing
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
S95:10 MP
P300:9.7 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
S95:200 shots
P300:240 shots
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$325 - $349
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Coolpix P300
Canon Powershot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$169 - $179
3D Captures 3D images
Lowest price Is much less expensive
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Coolpix P300
Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the PowerShot S90 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the PowerShot S90 vs the Coolpix P300
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Coolpix P300
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$245 - $269
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Coolpix P300
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$455 - $514
Sensor size Has a slightly larger sensor
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot S95
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Coolpix P300

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot S95.

Nikon Coolpix P300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P330

Nikon Coolpix P330

Pro digicam

$359 - $377
Supports RAW Shoots RAW
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the Coolpix P330 vs the Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$185
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Macro focus Better macro capability
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Coolpix P300

appearance

Canon PowerShot S95 Nikon Coolpix P300
Canon PowerShot S95 Nikon Coolpix P300
Canon PowerShot S95 Nikon Coolpix P300

discussion

Showing 13 comments

wahid (4:43 PM, December 10, 2011)
to snapsort, if cmos better than ccd so ,why
Hasselblad H4D-200MS(40,000usd 200mg px),Leica
S2(22,000 usd,37mg px), Mamiya DM28(56 mg px),
pentex 654d(10,000usd, 40mg px),Phase one &
other medium formet dslr using ccd in their
latest dslr?
 
Gloria (2:51 AM, October 25, 2011)
Love my new Nikon p300.  Took it to France for 3 weeks and shot inside cathedrals without flash!  Fast shutter and good
stabilization;  excellent in low light conditions.
 
Chuck (0:12 PM, October 12, 2011)
I have both, my wife and I both work as professional photographers, the Nikon is better in low light, and in general.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:46 PM, July 21, 2011)
Hi newbee, yes, the Canon S95 will definitely offer better image quality due to its larger sensor, especially at higher ISO.  
 
newbee (10:29 AM, July 21, 2011)
Does the fact that Canon s95 offeres a much larger sensor mean "better image quality overall" ?

The only pro of Canon s95 over nikon p300 seems to be the larger sensor..

Nikon wins in the maximum aperture -f 1.8-  and wide angle -24mm* areas..
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:21 PM, June 17, 2011)
Hi Karlitban89, are you sure?  According to Canon USA the Canon S95's lens goes from 28mm-105mm: http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_s95#Specifications
 
Karlitabang89 (3:47 AM, June 17, 2011)
The s95 specs are wrong when it comes to the wide angle. It is 24mm.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (6:29 PM, March 21, 2011)
Hi Fi, thanks for checking out the site. I've double checked against Nikon's specs and I believe we have the specs accurate, if you see any mistakes please let us know and we'll correct it asap.
 
Fi (0:18 PM, March 19, 2011)
You guys have quite a few mistakes here... Although the P300 has just entered the market the specs have been announced for quite a while.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:08 PM, February 15, 2011)
Thanks Wdedgar - we'll correct that, the P300 does not have a viewfinder.
 
Wdedgar (8:59 AM, February 15, 2011)
Ya... no digital viewfinder either... if I review more you need to pay me!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:16 PM, February 10, 2011)
Our mistake, we'll have the specs updated shortly, thanks!
 
Newplayer (8:54 AM, February 10, 2011)
I thought the p300 has flash as well so how is it an advantage for the s95?