Nikon COOLPIX S9300 Review | 108 Data compared

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Nikon Coolpix S9300 highlights it as a stylish, well-built, and highly portable travel zoom camera featuring a flexible 18x optical zoom lens and a sharp 3-inch, 921k-dot LCD screen. Additional positives include high-speed shooting, built-in GPS for route logging, and a user-friendly, tab-based menu system. However, the camera is hampered by a sluggish operational speed and a lack of advanced functionality, such as full manual exposure modes and RAW capture. Furthermore, the review notes disappointing image quality, including purple fringing, soft focus at the telephoto end, and aggressive oversharpening.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon Coolpix S9300 as a feature-packed compact, featuring a 16-megapixel sensor, 18x optical zoom, and built-in GPS with an electronic compass. Key positives include the high-resolution 3.0-inch screen, effective vibration reduction, and fast 7fps shooting. However, the review cites poor battery life—particularly when using GPS—as a major drawback. Additionally, the camera lacks manual exposure controls and suffers from reduced sharpness and chromatic fringing at full zoom extension.

Nikon Coolpix S9300 Review Summary The Nikon Coolpix S9300 is a sleek, angular travel zoom camera designed as a direct replacement for the S9100, adding a GPS module and an 18-megapixel sensor. On the positive side, the camera boasts exceptional automatic and custom white balance accuracy that delivers freakishly low error values across varying lighting conditions. Its color handling is lifelike and above average, while its flattering noise reduction system effectively controls artifacting, leaving a more natural, grainy texture rather than ugly pixel smudging even at ISO 3200. Additionally, it features a gorgeous, high-resolution 3.0-inch anti-glare LCD screen and a highly capable continuous shooting suite that clocks up to 7 frames per second. Despite these strengths, the S9300 suffers from severe, systematic optical limitations termed "zoom-itis". While sharpness is acceptable at wide angles, the ambitious 18x optical zoom heavily strains the lens, resulting in a dramatic drop in resolution and persistent chromatic aberration (ugly color fringing) at longer focal lengths. Usability is further hindered by misleading ergonomics—the rubberized thumb rest easily accumulates skin oils and becomes slippery—alongside a sluggish menu...

Nikon Coolpix S9300 Review Summary The Nikon Coolpix S9300 is an automated, ultra-compact 18X pocket megazoom camera (24mm to 450mm) designed specifically for casual, pure point-and-shoot photographers who value extreme operational simplicity. It builds upon its predecessor, the S9100, by introducing a higher-resolution 16-megapixel sensor and a robust, in-camera GPS database packed with real-world location names and an electronic compass. Its core strengths include incredibly easy-to-use controls, dedicated low-light and backlit shooting modes, and an impressive suite of post-capture filters and editing tools, such as the Quick Retouch preset and D-Lighting to easily fix and brighten images during playback. However, the camera represents a noticeable step backward from its predecessor due to significant performance and image quality downgrades. PCWorld Labs tests rated the S9300 poorly for color accuracy and sharpness, noting that standard photos often look washed out, while its low-light videos suffer from a distinct orange tint. Major drawbacks include a mediocre battery life (CIPA rated at just 200 shots per charge), frustratingly shaky optical stabilization at full telephoto zoom, sluggish macro autofocus, and slow 5-to-6 second image write...

The What Digital Camera review of the Nikon COOLPIX S9300 identifies it as a capable yet underwhelming travel camera that struggles to compete, despite offering reliable image quality, an impressive 18x optical zoom, and a sharp 3-inch, 921k-dot screen. Key advantages include commendable high-ISO performance and a strong tonal range that balances highlights and shadows. However, the camera is limited by a lack of advanced features, such as raw support or manual modes, alongside technical flaws like slight purple fringing and a tendency to overexpose in strong lighting. Furthermore, the review notes usability issues that, combined with the lack of manual control, prevent it from ranking among the best pocket superzooms, according to What Digital Camera.

The Nikon Coolpix S9300 is a compact, feature-rich travel zoom lauded for its versatile 18X (25–450mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, effective image stabilization, and built-in GPS with a, landmark database. It provides a high-resolution 3-inch LCD, solid Full HD video recording with zoom capabilities, and capable automatic shooting modes in a well-built, compact chassis. DPReview However, the review cites significant drawbacks, including poor image quality with noticeable noise, soft details, and limited dynamic range even at low ISO settings. Furthermore, a lack of manual controls, weak battery life (200 shots), and a slow-recharging flash hinder its performance, leading to a 69% rating that positions it behind key competitors, per DPReview.