Are you wondering whether you should choose Nikon Coolpix P900 vs Sony RX10 III? Below, we are going to see the comparisons between these two compact digital cameras. If one needs to choose based on the price alone, the decision is simple. Nikon Coolpix P900 is available at a much more affordable price point. Besides, it is already a truly huge value for the money, as it comes with an awesome super zoom lens. However, Sony RX10 III is sold at a higher price point for several reasons. You don’t want to miss a very good bargain, do you?
So, below, we are going to compare Nikon Coolpix P900 vs Sony RX10 III based on several aspects, such as dimensions, display, features, and performance. Hopefully, after you read the comparisons, you will be more informed to make the right decision. Continue reading!
Dimensions
Are compactness and portability your top priorities? Because Nikon Coolpix P900 is a huge super zoom digital camera. It is much bigger and heavier than most compact digital cameras, mostly due to the ultra-big lens. It measures 140 mm x 103 mm x 137 mm, and it weighs about 899 grams. The bulkiness makes its size comparable to modern DSLR cameras. For a real DSLR, take a look at Nikon Coolpix P900 vs Nikon D5500.
Sony RX10 III is quite smaller and slimmer, so it is quite more portable. It measures 133 mm x 94 mm x 127 mm. It won’t eat as much space in your storage, which is great. However, it is actually heavier! It weighs approximately 1051 grams. Well, that is quite a load. The weight makes it feel solid and sturdy in our hands. It is absolutely solid and sturdy.
Waterproofing
When choosing between Nikon Coolpix P900vs Sony RX10 III, you should note that Nikon Coolpix P900 is not waterproof. On the other hand, Sony RX10 III is coming with a weather-sealed body, which means that it can withstand uses in various environments. It will endure usage under some rain, and you can worry less about the salty, sandy wind of the beach.
Nikon Coolpix P900 is not weather-sealed and not waterproof. So, you should be extremely careful if you want to use it near a pool, lake, or beach. You should also protect the camera from rain and moisture.
Display and Viewfinder
Do you prefer a fully articulating display screen or a high-quality electronic viewfinder with a top LCD? That’s the question when comparing these two compact digital cameras in terms of display and viewfinder. Each comes with a 3” display screen. Nikon Coolpix P900 is loved by many people because it comes with a fully articulating display, which you can use to take selfies easily. In addition, there is a 921k dot electronic viewfinder.
However, Sony RX10 III is an awesome digital camera because it comes with a high-quality 2359k dot electronic viewfinder. Such high resolution will allow you to see the image preview with superb clarity. Well, the display screen is not fully articulating, but at least the display screen can tilt. In addition, it features a top LCD, which is very convenient and practical for viewing and changing settings without having to put down your position.
Lens
One of the biggest considerations when choosing between Nikon Coolpix P900vs Sony RX10 III is the lens. This becomes an increasingly difficult choice because Nikon Coolpix P900 is cheaper, yet it is coming with a much better lens.
The Nikkor zoom lens on Nikon Coolpix P900 is equivalent to 24 – 2000 mm F/2.8–6.5. It is able to give you a maximum zoom level of 83.3x, and it has built-in image stabilization. That’s pretty much higher than any other super zoom camera available in the market! If you purchase a DSLR camera, getting an equivalent zoom lens can cost thousands of dollars. So, this is a very good value for the money.
On the other hand, Sony RX10 III remains as one of the top-end choices for a super zoom digital camera. It is equipped with the high-quality Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens with image stabilization, equivalent to 24 – 600 mm F/2.4–4.0. One advantage it offers is that it is a faster lens.
Features
Both Nikon Coolpix P900 and Sony RX10 III come with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, which are very useful for easy file transfer and remote control. Both also allow manual focusing and manual exposure control. One feature of Nikon Coolpix P900 that is not available on the other model here is the time-lapse recording.
However, Sony RX10 III offers a number of additional features that Nikon Coolpix P900 simply doesn’t have. Let’s begin with the external flash shoe. Then, there are microphone input and headphone output ports, which are useful for recording high-quality videos. Sony RX10 III supports RAW, and it has AE bracketing.
Performance
Nikon Coolpix P900 is a decent model for a compact camera. With the 16 MP 1/2.3” CMOS sensor, it offers a good ISO range of 100 – 6400 that is expandable to 12800. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s, which is not bad. It has a continuous shooting speed of 7.0 fps. The image quality is quite good, although the low-light performance is not impressive.
If you want to get better performance, you should choose Sony RX10 III. The image sensor is a much better one, which is a 20MP one-inch BSI-CMOS sensor. It has a larger sensor that is also back-illuminated. Unsurprisingly, the low-light performance becomes greatly better.
With a maximum expanded ISO of 25,600 and a maximum shutter speed of 1/32,000s, Sony RX10 III promises superb flexibility and power. It is also an excellent choice for sports photography, thanks to the 14 fps continuous shooting speed. Unlike Nikon Coolpix P900 that still records videos in 1080p, Sony RX10 III already supports 4K. And it also has longer battery life.
Conclusion
If you can afford it, choose Sony RX10 III. It is an entirely better digital camera with greater power. It is also coming with great features and better battery life. You can choose Nikon Coolpix P900 if you really need the superior zoom levels, or if you plan to upgrade to a real mirrorless or DSLR later.
