Nikon P310 Review

16.1MP | 24-100mm (4.2X) Zoom | $329 £299

The Nikon Coolpix P310 is a modest update to its predecessor, the P300, and maintains many of the same features in almost exactly the same body design. Physically very similar to competitors like the Canon PowerShot S100, it offers PASM exposure modes and a useful-but-not-enormous zoom range (24-100) with a reasonably fast maximum aperture of F1.8-4.9. Unlike the S100 though, the P310 is a JPEG-only camera and uses a considerably smaller sensor. This might limit its appeal to enthusiast photographers, but allows a relatively low price compared to its high-end peers, making it potentially attractive to buyers who don't need the greater post-capture versatility offered by Raw but still want full manual control.

Nikon Coolpix P310 key specifications:

• 4.2X zoom (24-100mm)
• 16.1MP CMOS sensor
• 3in, 921k-dot LCD
• PASM shooting modes
• 1920 x 1280 video mode
• Weight (with battery and SD card) 6.9 ounces
• Dimensions 58.3mm x 103.0mm x 32.0mm (2.3 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches)

Pocket-sized cameras with manual controls have become increasingly popular, especially among DSLR owners and shutterbugs who want a compact camera (regardless of whether or not they use the advanced features). Arguably, Canon started it off with the S90 (a form factor that is now on its third iteration, the S100) but these days the field is pretty crowded. Olympus offers the XZ-1, Fujifilm has the innovative X10, and Sony has recently entered the fray with 20 megapixel CX-format RX100. Unlike these cameras, the Coolpix P310 uses a standard compact camera sensor, so you only gain the extra control of these cameras, rather than the image quality increase over a good point-and-shoot model. The 16MP Coolpix P310 is the second such camera from Nikon, coming after last year's P300.
Like the P300, the P310 offers a fast, f/1.8 lens at wide-angle but is now built around a 16 megapixel sensor, offers a higher maximum ISO by adding a Hi 1 equivalent to 6400, is outfitted with a new function (Fn) button, 3D capture, interval shooting and a pre-shooting cache continuous mode along with a few other minor changes. The P310 offers many of the same features as its competitors such as manual exposure controls and full HD video, but at its heart is a sensor considerably smaller than most of its rivals, which means less control over depth of field at equivalent apertures and potentially poorer image quality in marginal lighting at high ISO settings.

The Nikon Coolpix P310 features a 1/2.3' sensor, which is pretty standard for mass-market compact cameras but smaller than those used by competitors like the Fujifilm X10 and Canon PowerShot S100. The Sony RX100 has a similar form-factor to the P310 and S100, but its CX-format sensor is considerably larger again, as you can see from this diagram.

Like the P510, its long-zoom sibling and some Samsung compact cameras, the P310's 230-shot (CIPA rated) battery is charged in-camera with its USB AC adapter; the battery can also be charged via a computer's USB port. An optional standard, in-wall, battery charger is available if you'd like to be able to charge the battery independent from the camera. The optional charger is helpful when you want to charge a second battery while using the camera. While a printed Quick Start Guide is provided in the bundle, the full manual is available on a CD-ROM (a second CD is included with Nikon ViewNX2 for Windows and Mac).

Internal memory maxes out at 90MB, which is enough for about 11 high resolution images. As expected, the P310 is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC media, including UHS-I cards.

Handling and Operation

Available in black, the P310 is pocket-sized, weighs 6.9 ounces (fully loaded) and measures 58.3mm x 103.0mm x 32.0mm (2.3 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches). Although it won't fit into the pockets of slender jeans, this well-built camera is a convenient size for stashing in most shirt and pants pockets. There's no grip to speak of, although a small ridge running vertically on the front panel and a rubberized thumb rest on the back help make the P310 easy to hold and operate.

Like most compact cameras, the P310 doesn't have an optical viewfinder but its 3-inch, 9210,000 dot LCD works well under most outdoor lighting conditions and brightens up under low light indoors. Multiple monitor settings are available, including information display on or off (or only when the shutter is half-pressed) as well as a framing grid or movie frame. Basic information data includes exposure mode, flash setting, exposures remaining, video capture capacity, ISO, battery life, shutter speed, f/stop, image quality and more, depending on settings.

The Nikon P310 is a small camera that fits easily into a shirt pocket. With the camera held in a shooting grip, the shutter button and zoom ring fall right underneath the index finger of your right hand.	The rear of the P310 is dominated by its 3in LCD screen. A small rubber accent on the upper-right of the camera serves as a hand grip, of sorts.
The P310 has two control dials. One on the top-plate...	...and one on the rear. Both are controlled with the thumb of the right hand. By default, the rear dial controls aperture in the PASM modes and the upper dial controls shutter speed, but their functions can be swapped if you desire.

Icons indicate which control dials are used to adjust shutter speed and aperture. A tiny flash pops up via a manual switch on the far left top surface of the camera. Adjacent to the flash is a decently sized mode dial, a shutter/zoom combo, on/off button and a flat control dial for adjusting shutter speed. The mode dial offers Auto, Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual exposure modes as well as a custom user setting, Night Landscape scene mode and a full Scene modes option. The latter includes Scene Auto Selector, Back Light, Beach, Dusk/Dawn, Easy Panorama, Panorama Assist, Pet Portrait, and the addition of 3D Photography, to name just a few.

	An exposure mode dial on the top of the camera is where you'll find the P310's shooting modes - as well as PASM modes the P310 also offers fully automatic (green camera icon), Night Landscape and a range of Scene modes. The 'U' stands for 'User Settings' and applies a pre-saved set of shooting parameters that you can assign via the main menu system.
	The P310 lacks much of a handgrip, but this rubber accent on the upper-right of the camera's rear helps keep a firm hold when the camera is used one-handed. To its left you can see a flash confirmation light and the movie record button.
	New to the P310 is a tiny Fn button, positioned within easy reach of your forefinger to the lower right of the lens. The button can be programmed to provide access to one of a number of options including image quality, Picture Control, white balance, metering, and ISO, among others. I assigned ISO to the Fn button since that's one of the settings I change most often.

Remaining external controls are fairly standard with a 'red' direct video capture button, playback, delete and menu buttons. A rear dial also acts as a 4-way controller for exposure compensation, focus (including macro), self-timer and flash. Rotating the dial adjusts aperture and can be used for scrolling through menus. There is no quick menu but main menu navigation is simple and easy to understand. Menus are divided into Shooting, Video and Setup in capture mode. The playback menu offers multiple options including in-camera editing along with a Setup section.


Source:www.dpreview.com

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