Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 V

Cameras
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Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 V

APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D300S Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D300S.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 V Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX100 V in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX100 V.
Compare Sony RX100 V image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX100 V conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D500
Compare D300S vs D500

Succeeded by the Sony RX100 VA
Compare RX100 V vs RX100 VA

Compare NIKON D500 vs SONY RX100 VA

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Differences

Nikon D300S advantages over Sony RX100 V

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.50 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D300S test data on DxO Mark RX100 V test data on DxO Mark

787 vs 586 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility

Sony RX100 V advantages over Nikon D300S

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$998 vs $1697
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 720p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
41 mm vs 74 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
8 years vs 15 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
299g vs 951g
Lighter weight
More dots on screen
1229k vs 922k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
20.1 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Faster JPEG shooting
23.8 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
150 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
24.1 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
72 vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D300S User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX100 V User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 18-200mm Lens

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Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 VA
Sony RX100 V

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Review Excerpt

Rugged construction; 51-point AF system capable of sophisticated AF tracking; Large, bright optical viewfinder; 7 fps JPEG or 12-bit RAW burst mode; HD Video capture.
14-bit RAW mode slows continuous shooting from 7 fps to 2.7 fps; Somewhat slow AF for a camera at this level, especially in 51-point auto-area mode; Video capture tops out at 720p24.
Read our Nikon D300S Full Review

Pocket-friendly design; Unbelievably fast burst capture; Generous buffer depth, even for raw; Fast and confident autofocus; Very high resolution gives lots of detail in good light; High ISO noise levels much better than most pocket camera rivals; High-quality 4K video with uncompressed HDMI out; Super-fast High Frame Rate video
Very pricey for a compact camera; Still no touch screen; Slow buffer clearing; JPEGs can look over-processed at higher ISOs; Lens doesn't offer much telephoto reach; Battery life is very modest; 4K movies are limited to five minute clips
Read our Sony RX100 V Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D90

Nikon D300S

Nikon D90

$1697
APS-C

External Mic Jack
More cross-type AF points

$1300
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Nikon D300S vs Nikon D90

Sony RX100 V

Nikon D90

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1300
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 V vs Nikon D90

Compared to Canon 50D

Nikon D300S

Canon 50D

$1697
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$1000
APS-C

Less shutter lag
More pixels

Compare Nikon D300S vs Canon 50D

Sony RX100 V

Canon 50D

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1000
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 V vs Canon 50D

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D300S

Sony DSLR-A550

$1697
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$859
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony RX100 V

Sony DSLR-A550

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$859
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 V vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony RX100 IV

Nikon D300S

Sony RX100 IV

$1697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$898
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 IV

$998
1 inch

On-sensor phase detect
Faster JPEG shooting

$898
1 inch

Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 IV

Compared to Sony RX100 VA

Nikon D300S

Sony RX100 VA

$1697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 VA

$998
1 inch

$998
1 inch

Bigger JPEG buffer
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VA

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