Andy, 300 pixels per inch is indeed the recommended resolution for printing photos that are looked at close-up.
But what is even more important are the overall dimensions.
If you want to print (or have printed) a photo that measures 6 x 4 inches on the printing paper, you want the overall dimensions to be at least 1800 x 1200 pixels. (300 x 6 and 300 x 4).
If by chance the overall dimensions of your image are 1500 x 1000 pixels(making the resolution 250 ppi for a 6 x 4 image), I doubt that you are going to see the difference.
However, if you were to print that same 1500x 1000 pixel image as 15 x 10 inch print, you would not be happy, as that reduces the resolution to 100 pixels per inch. Looking at it from across the room or hallway would be fine. But if you have a photo that size in a frame on top a bookcase or hanging on the wall, people will walk right up to it to have a good look and that is when they will see the low print quality.
(For printing, the aspect ratio is important as well, but although related, that is a whole new subject. If you use the Search button on the top of the page, you'll find plenty of threads on this subject).

As to the Exif data: If your using Windows, just navigate to the photo in Windows Explorer, select it (with a single mouse click, not a double-click) and at the bottom of the Explorer Window will be a band with the Exif information. You may have to drag the upper edge of this band upwards to see all the information.

I noticed that many replies to my resolution being only 180 on the 20MP Canon G7X vs 300 on my smaller sensor Nikon Coolpix P-300, refer to printing them myself which I dont do. I send all my prints to a lab. So at the risk of being redundant, as Im still a little confused, do I just need to crop my full res Canon image to whatever size I want the lab to print, leave everything else alone, and know that I will still get a high res print from the lab as good or better than the ones from the smaller Nikon showing a higher res? Increased pixels overrule higher res number?

I noticed that many replies to my resolution being only 180 on the 20MP Canon G7X vs 300 on my smaller sensor Nikon Coolpix P-300, refer to printing them myself which I dont do. I send all my prints to a lab. So at the risk of being redundant, as Im still a little confused, do I just need to crop my full res Canon image to whatever size I want the lab to print, leave everything else alone, and know that I will still get a high res print from the lab as good or better than the ones from the smaller Nikon showing a higher res? Increased pixels overrule higher res number?

If you indicate the size you want to the lab, it really doesn't matter if the photo is 500ppi or 300ppi. I've never had an error message saying that my resolution was too high, but many messages that it was too low.

As this point I would only worry about aspect ratio. A 3:2 ratio will not print an 8 x 10 photo (=ratio 4:5). You need to crop it a bit. And the cropping I'd do at home, before ever uploading, so that you have complete control over what stays on the photo and what get cut off.
If you use PS or PSE, you can use the crop tool and select the ratio you want before you drag the outline over your photo. Sure helps to take the calculations and the guess-work out of it.
Of course, only crop a copy of the original, not the original itself!

That's right. The 180 is NOT a measure of image resolution - that's the confusing thing. It's just a number the camera plugs into that field in the EXIF.

Look again at this site: http://www.rideau-info.com/photos/mythdpi.html

"Many people seem to get hung up on the DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch) setting within a digital photo as a measure of the quality of those photos. To set the record straight, the DPI/PPI setting within a digital photo has NOTHING to do with digital image quality! The resolution of a digital image is its pixels (usually expressed as megapixels).

"The PPI of a paper print IS a measure of quality (of the paper print, not of the digital photo) - but it has nothing (in real world terms) to do with the DPI/PPI setting within the photo. Confused? Read on."

Greetings fellow Hogs. Hoping you can help me on this one.
My main camera is a Nikon D7100, which I love. I have always carried a good pocket sized camera with me over the years, the latest being a Nikon Coolpix P-300. I'll state the problem first, then give you as many particulars that I think might matter.
The Coolpix with its small 1/2.3 12mp sensor yields 300 dpi, which I've sent to the lab I use to make some very successful large prints.
Lured by GAS attack, I just bought the Canon Powershot G7X because the 1" sensor and the 1.8/2.8 24-100mm lens were calling out to me in my sleep.
Im taking tests shots today, and the Canon seems to have better image quality as expected, but the info tells me that its only yielding 180 dpi. I should think that if I send these images to the lab at only 180 dpi, Im not going to get the sharpness I like at 300dpi. I dont understand why the dpi output is lower.
Both cameras have identical cards, SanDisk Extreme PRO 32
GB with 95MB/S.
The Nikon has as mentioned a small 1/2.3 sensor and 12MP. Its photo was taken with iso of 160, Aperture Priority f/8 @1/320. It's yielding pixel dimensions of 3000x4000, resolution if 300x300 with a size of 10"x13.333'.
The Canon has the 1' sensor and 20MP. It's photo was taken with iso of 125, Aperture Priority f/4.5 @1/1000. It's yielding pixel dimensions of 3648x4864, resolution of 180x180 with a size of 20.267"x27.022".
Ive always thought that 300dpi was the number to achieve good strong prints and have many on my wall to go along with that. Any ideas anyone?

Greetings fellow Hogs. Hoping you can help me on this one.
My main camera is a Nikon D7100, which I love. I have always carried a good pocket sized camera with me over the years, the latest being a Nikon Coolpix P-300. I'll state the problem first, then give you as many particulars that I think might matter.
The Coolpix with its small 1/2.3 12mp sensor yields 300 dpi, which I've sent to the lab I use to make some very successful large prints.
Lured by GAS attack, I just bought the Canon Powershot G7X because the 1" sensor and the 1.8/2.8 24-100mm lens were calling out to me in my sleep.
Im taking tests shots today, and the Canon seems to have better image quality as expected, but the info tells me that its only yielding 180 dpi. I should think that if I send these images to the lab at only 180 dpi, Im not going to get the sharpness I like at 300dpi. I dont understand why the dpi output is lower.
Both cameras have identical cards, SanDisk Extreme PRO 32
GB with 95MB/S.
The Nikon has as mentioned a small 1/2.3 sensor and 12MP. Its photo was taken with iso of 160, Aperture Priority f/8 @1/320. It's yielding pixel dimensions of 3000x4000, resolution if 300x300 with a size of 10"x13.333'.
The Canon has the 1' sensor and 20MP. It's photo was taken with iso of 125, Aperture Priority f/4.5 @1/1000. It's yielding pixel dimensions of 3648x4864, resolution of 180x180 with a size of 20.267"x27.022".
Ive always thought that 300dpi was the number to achieve good strong prints and have many on my wall to go along with that. Any ideas anyone?