To the right of the 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD on the back of the camera are four dedicated buttons and a scrolling directional pad. A dedicated record button and a playback button sit near the top of the camera, and a menu button and delete button reside near the bottom. In addition to menu navigation and one-touch access to flash settings, exposure compensation, macro mode, and the self-timer, the directional pad controls the P310's manual focus settings (when you press up and down), aperture values (when you scroll), and other in-camera settings depending on the mode the camera is in. A Mini HDMI port on the side and a Micro-USB port on the bottom round out the camera's hardware features.

Other pocketable premium cameras are out there, but most of them cost at least $400. If you're looking for a pocketable point-and-shoot camera with manual controls and good low-light performance, you won't find a lower-priced option than the Nikon Coolpix P310. It requires you to make some compromises: You have to do without a RAW-shooting mode, a big sensor, and a long-zoom lens, and you'll have to wait for Night Landscape shots and high-definition videos to save. Nevertheless, the Coolpix P310 gives budget-minded photographers a nice F1.8 lens and manual exposure controls to work with, and it takes great-looking photos in most lighting conditions. In fact, even if you ignore its bargain price, this is one of the best pocket cameras available right now.