Using the same ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture the P310 at ISO 100, f/5.0 and 1/500sec produced bright clear noise free shots outdoors.

video/audio. There are minor P310 "improvements" such as a "better" stability system (not needed or noticed), 16 megapixels up from 12 megapixels (a step backward - who needs large posters with noise)?

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 Nikon Coolpix P310's maximum shutter speed is 8 seconds in the Manual mode, which is good news if you're seriously interested in night photography.

When the Night Landscape scene mode is selected, the P310 takes several shots at a fast shutter speed and then combines them to create a single optimized photo, allowing you to shoot after dark without having to use a tripod.

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.

The P310 is almost as good but has too many megapixels (i.e., more megapixels and the same size sensor - a typically small P. &S 1/2.3 = more noise + the need to use a lower ISO) - 16 megapixels vs 12 megapixels.

The Nikon Coolpix P310 is a rather modest upgrade of Nikon's first foray into the world of pocket cameras for keen photographers, the P300, principally increasing the megapixel count from 12 to 16 and adding a handy customisable Function button.

The P300 also has 60fps and 120fps bursts; both capture up to 60 1-megapixel frames at a press of the shutter release.

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.

Three observations: there is no viewfinder; the small camera size can make it difficult to hold and operate (change aperture) with one hand (P6000 is easier to operate with one hand); there is no ISO 64 on the P310, lowest is ISO 100.

Even when the ISO is automatically boosted to 800 outdoors at dusk, shutter speeds of 1/20th are not uncommon and while the P310's lens-shift vibration reduction works very well under most conditions, most of these shots were blurry.

My favorite part about the P300, was that I could stand on my balcony in Las Vegas and take a crystal clear picture of the strip lit up at night, with no tripod.

When I bought p310, I first tried in almost absolutely dark room and picture was clearer than I could see myself!

With my P300, I was able to point and shoot at night with not a single blur.