Nikon COOLPIX P330 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon Coolpix P330, as reviewed by ePHOTOzine, is a budget-friendly, pocketable camera featuring a 12.2-megapixel sensor and a versatile 5x optical zoom lens starting at 24mm. It delivers improved image quality with low noise, decent exposure, good dynamic range, and offers RAW shooting with rapid operational speed. ePHOTOzine Key drawbacks identified include very slow file write times when shooting RAW files, which causes significant lag. Additionally, the lens exhibits slight corner softness when shooting wide and notable purple fringing in high-contrast areas.

The What Digital Camera review gives the Nikon Coolpix P330 an 87% rating, highlighting its strong, pocketable design with a 5x optical zoom lens (24-120mm equivalent) that starts at f/1.8. It is praised for excellent image quality, a bright 3-inch 921k-dot rear LCD, and effective noise control, all at a lower price point than key competitors. However, the review notes significant performance issues, specifically highlighting poor RAW file processing times. Other downsides include a slow two-second startup time, the lack of a lens control ring, no touchscreen functionality, and a reduced maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the telephoto end.

Nikon Coolpix P330 Review Summary The Nikon Coolpix P330 is a midrange pocket camera that blends enthusiast-level features with a compact design, though it ultimately receives an average 3.0 rating due to notable performance limitations. On the positive side, it features a relatively large 1/1.7-inch, 12-megapixel CMOS sensor that delivers outstanding, sharp, and highly detailed images up to ISO 1600. Shutterbugs will appreciate its bright f/1.8 wide-angle lens, raw file format support, programmable physical Fn button, and an exceptionally sharp, bright 921k-dot rear LCD. Additionally, it features a built-in GPS that automatically geotags photos, and it records high-quality 1080p video with accurate colours and quiet lens zoom acoustics. However, the camera is severely hobbled by sluggish processing speeds and long recovery delays. It requires a frustrating 1.9 seconds of write time between single JPG frames, 3.7 seconds for Raw files, and up to 105 seconds to clear the buffer after a full continuous burst in Raw+JPG mode. The P330 also exhibits extreme 11% barrel distortion at its widest 24mm angle when shooting in Raw mode, which resembles a fish-eye effect...

The DXOMARK review of the Nikon Coolpix P330 highlights it as a highly capable compact camera that offers exceptional sensor performance far exceeding its budget-friendly price point. Achieving an overall score of 54, it ranks as the best regular pocket-sized compact tested by the platform and holds its own in the top 10 among high-end compact alternatives. The key pros noted in the review include its impressive DSLR-like image dynamics, sporting 11.7 EVs of dynamic range and 21 bits of colour depth. It also boasts a versatile 5x optical zoom lens (24–120mm equivalent) with a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture at the wide end, a 7.5cm 921k-dot screen, built-in GPS, HDR capture, and unique high-speed shooting capabilities up to 120fps. Furthermore, it beats out competitors like the Pentax MX-1 and Fujifilm XF1 in overall performance while maintaining the lowest price tags among them. On the other hand, the review identifies a few notable cons, primarily centered around its physical sensor limitations and specific hardware trade-offs. The major drawback is its low-light performance score of just 213 ISO, which serves as a...

The Nikon Coolpix P330 is a highly portable, pocket-sized compact zoom camera that stands out for its ability to shoot in both RAW and JPG formats. It features a 12.2-megapixel sensor, a 5x optically stabilised zoom lens with a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture at the wide end, and a vibrant 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen. The reviewer appreciated its simple, sleek design, and found its small size ideal for unobtrusive street and travel photography. Additionally, the inclusion of full manual controls alongside standard auto and scene modes provides advanced users with great shooting flexibility. However, the camera suffers from several performance drawbacks, most notably a very slow recovery time when saving files to the memory card, which is exacerbated when shooting in RAW+JPG mode. This slow buffer makes it poorly suited for fast-moving subjects like children or action shots. Other notable downsides include the lack of a separate battery charger unit—forcing users to plug the camera directly into a wall or computer via USB to charge—and a buggy, frustrating wireless experience when trying to transfer files using the optional WU-1a Wi-Fi...

The Nikon Coolpix P330 is a compact camera that stands out for its high image quality and exceptional video capabilities at a competitive price point. It features a large 1/1.7-inch sensor and a bright f/1.8 lens, which significantly improve low-light performance compared to standard compact models. The camera's absolute best asset is its 1080p video quality, delivering astonishingly sharp details with smooth, silent autofocus and zoom functionality. Additionally, it includes premium design touches like a magnesium alloy shell, dual command dials, built-in GPS, an integrated neutral-density filter, and a unique dual-recording feature that captures sharp photos simultaneously while recording video. However, the camera's overall performance is a major letdown due to its incredibly slow operation. Shot-to-shot times are pedestrian at two seconds for JPEGs and drag up to six seconds in raw mode, during which the camera completely freezes. Continuous raw burst shooting is particularly poor, ranking as the slowest the reviewer has ever measured, and even the video mode suffers from a three-second start-up delay. Other notable downsides include a weak battery life of just 200 shots, a lengthy...

While the camera stands out for its high performance and portability, it does have a few drawbacks. Reviewer Barrie Smith notes that it has a slow startup time of two seconds, with subsequent shots also taking about two seconds to process. Additionally, its 24-120mm focal length equivalent zoom range may be a limiting factor for photographers looking for a longer zoom reach. Despite these speed and zoom constraints, the P330 is highly recommended as a top buy for budget-conscious creators seeking an affordable, compact camera that does not compromise on image quality.

The Travellingcamera review highlights the Nikon Coolpix P330 as a serious, budget-friendly compact camera that bridges the gap between pocket-sized portability and professional DSLR performance. Built with a relatively large 12.2-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor and a versatile 24-120mm f/1.8-5.6 optically-stabilized zoom lens, the camera excels in delivering great bokeh and impressive clarity. A major standout feature is its ability to shoot uncompressed RAW files (.NRW), allowing users to efficiently recover details and manage noise in photo-editing software like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. It also packages premium functionalities, such as Full HD video recording, built-in GPS for geotagging, and manual exposure modes (PASM), making it a valuable value-for-money option for occasional travel or as a lighter alternative to a heavy DSLR kit. However, the reviewer points out several critical performance bottlenecks that can disrupt the shooting experience. The camera suffers from a sluggish operating speed, specifically showing significant delays when switching the device on or off and taking too much time to save files immediately after clicking. While the technical specifications claim a fast continuous burst of 10 frames per second, the actual...

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Nikon Coolpix P330 highlights it as a pocket-friendly premium compact camera that balances advanced capabilities with high value, featuring impressive noise control at high ISO settings, a bright 3-inch LCD screen, and a fast lens. Its competitive pricing, combined with a 5x optical zoom and good aperture range, makes it a capable shooter in varied lighting. However, the camera suffers from slow shot-to-shot times, particularly when capturing uncompressed RAW files, which causes a noticeable delay between images. Furthermore, the lack of built-in Wi-Fi and a difficult-to-press, tiny, recessed power button are noted as drawbacks to the overall user experience.

The DPReview analysis of the Nikon Coolpix P330 highlights a capable pocket enthusiast camera featuring a 1/1.7-inch, 12.2-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor and a versatile 24-120mm equivalent f/1.8-5.6 lens. Key strengths include excellent image quality for its class, robust build, and full manual controls with RAW support, placing it as a direct competitor to the Canon PowerShot S110. Conversely, the P330's performance is hindered by sluggish RAW file processing, creating a noticeable delay between shots. Other drawbacks include a rapid aperture drop to f/5.6 at the telephoto end, lack of an optical viewfinder, and limited battery life.

On paper, the PCMag Review of the Nikon Coolpix P330 highlights an impressive pocket camera packing hardware that punches above its price bracket. Key pros noted in the review include its large 12-megapixel, 1/1.7-inch image sensor and an advanced lens that opens up to a bright f/1.8 aperture at the wide 24mm end. Serious photographers will also appreciate the physical mode dial control layout, Raw format image support, and an exceptionally sharp 3-inch, 921k-dot rear LCD screen that stays clear even on sunny days. Furthermore, the camera features a robust burst shooting capacity capable of capturing up to 10 frames at 6.8 frames per second. However, the major cons revolve around its frustratingly slow operational performance. The review points out severe write-speed delays, noting that a single JPEG requires 1.9 seconds to recover, extending to a sluggish 3.7 seconds for Raw files and 3.9 seconds for Raw+JPEG. This sluggishness is especially painful after firing a high-speed burst, leaving the user with an "eternity" of memory card write-time recovery. Additionally, while the 5x optical zoom lens offers great versatility, the maximum...