Nikon Coolpix S9900 vs Nikon W300 — Which Is Better?

The Nikon Coolpix S9900 and the Nikon W300 are both fixed-lens compact cameras, arriving in 2015 and 2017 respectively. Because each carries a non-removable lens, your buying choice rests entirely on how each body is equipped rather than on any lens system.

The W300 is the lighter and slimmer body to carry: it weighs 231 g against 289 g for the S9900, a 58 g saving, and measures 29 mm deep against 40 mm. Both share the same 112 x 66 mm front profile, so the difference shows up mainly in pocket depth.

Both cameras give you the same foundation for everyday stills: a 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, in-body stabilisation, a 7 fps burst mode and a 1/4000-second maximum shutter. That combination covers handheld travel shots and quick sequences at a school sports day.

The S9900 is the stronger pick for off-centre composition, offering 16 autofocus points where the W300 has just one. Its standard sensitivity range also reaches ISO 6400, against ISO 1600 on the W300, which leaves more room to keep exposures short in dim interiors. The W300 reaches ISO 6400 only through its expanded range.

The W300 is the clear choice for video, recording up to 4K where the S9900 stops at Full HD. That extra resolution keeps clips sharp on a large screen and leaves room to crop in editing. The W300's maximum frame rate is also 120 fps, twice the S9900's 60, for stronger slow-motion footage.

Both cameras offer built-in timelapse recording and write MPEG-4 or MOV files, so interval shooting and familiar editing workflows work on either body.

The S9900 is better equipped for flexible framing, with a flip-out touch screen that eases waist-level and overhead shots, plus a built-in flash for fill light indoors. The W300 has a fixed, non-touch screen and no built-in flash, though it supports an external flash unit.

The W300 answers with weather sealing for shooting in rain or dust, plus Bluetooth alongside the Wi-Fi both cameras offer. Both include GPS for geotagging photos on a hike, and both share the same 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD for composition and review.

The rated battery counts are close: 300 shots for the S9900 against 280 for the W300. Each camera uses its own battery pack, the EN-EL19 and the EN-EL12, so a spare for one will not power the other.

The S9900 charges over USB, which simplifies topping up from a laptop or power bank on the road. The W300 instead adds UHS-I card support and internal storage alongside its SD slot, while both have a single card slot.