Nikon COOLPIX P500 Review | 108 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review of the Nikon Coolpix P500 highlights the bridge camera's massive 36x optical zoom lens (22.5-810mm equivalent) and its 12.1-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, which provides highly detailed results. The review praises its comfortable right-hand grip, the intuitive layout, and key performance advantages including effective sensor-shift vibration reduction, a crisp 3-inch tilting 921k-dot LCD screen, and fast 8fps continuous shooting. Conversely, the ePHOTOzine testing reveals several definitive drawbacks to the system. The most prominent flaw is its short battery life, which requires frequent recharging, and a lens barrel zoom switch that is easily knocked accidentally. Additionally, the camera forces the user to physically remove the lens cap just to view captured images on the screen.

The Nikon Coolpix P500 review on CNET highlights a full-size megazoom bridge camera that stands out for its design and robust feature set, yet stumbles on core output metrics. On the positive side, the camera boasts a highly versatile 36x optical zoom lens, exceptional image stabilization, and a beautiful 3-inch vari-angle LCD paired with an electronic viewfinder. Reviewers also praised its comfortable control layout, rapid class-leading shooting performance, minimal shutter lag, and short shot-to-shot times. Conversely, the camera suffers from significant drawbacks that prevent it from being a top-tier recommendation. Its primary flaws include very soft photo and video quality, which deteriorates sharply at higher ISO settings and during low-light conditions. Furthermore, the camera noticeably lacks RAW format support, automatic image rotation, and direct control buttons for frequently used settings like ISO and white balance. Ultimately, CNET concludes that while the P500 serves as a fun point-and-shoot tool for experimentation, the actual picture quality fails to match the high standards set by the rest of the physical package.

The Nikon Coolpix P500 is an all-around excellent ultrazoom camera that delivers attractive exposures across various shooting scenarios, performing exceptionally well in low light and fast-action moments. Its standout features include a massive 36x optical zoom lens, an advanced and non-intrusive noise reduction algorithm that keeps noise levels below 1% up to ISO 1600, and an impressive high-speed continuous burst mode capable of shooting over 9.2 frames per second. Additionally, it functions as an outstanding video device by supporting 1080p resolution at 30 fps alongside a highly entertaining 240 fps super high-speed mode, all complemented by a sharp, tilting 3-inch LCD monitor. Despite these strengths, the review highlights several distinct drawbacks, most notably a surprising lack of color accuracy where blues, greens, and yellows consistently render too dark. The camera also lacks RAW shooting capabilities and relies heavily on destructive artificial sharpness software to boost its image resolution scores. From a hardware perspective, the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is noticeably pixelated and low-resolution, the mode dial frequently rotates by accident, and the battery takes a frustratingly long five hours to charge....

The Shutterbug review highlights the Nikon Coolpix P500 as a lightweight, versatile bridge camera featuring a 36x optical zoom lens (22.5–810mm equivalent), an articulating 3-inch LCD, and a secondary zoom toggle for smooth video recording. It offers comprehensive manual controls, making it ideal for users seeking massive, flexible focal range without the bulk of a DSLR. However, the 12.1-megapixel sensor suffers from fine detail smearing and noise above ISO 400, and the camera lacks RAW image support. Performance limitations include a small 5-shot buffer for continuous shooting and slow autofocus at maximum telephoto zoom.

The Nikon COOLPIX P500 is a top-of-the-line prosumer bridge camera featuring a 12MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with a massive 36X optical zoom lens. It is equipped with an EXPEED C2 dual image processor, a 3-inch articulating LCD screen that tilts up or down for flexible shooting angles, and sensor-shift image stabilisation combined with electronic vibration reduction. The camera offers full HD 1080p video recording at 30fps and a high-speed video mode reaching up to 240fps, alongside handy physical features like a rocker switch on the lens barrel and a dedicated one-touch video recording button. The review highlights several distinct pros and cons for users evaluating the device. On the positive side, the camera delivers outstanding image quality with rich colours and excellent details even in low-light environments, features an remarkably durable battery that lasts for over 400 shots, and includes a helpful tilting LCD screen. However, its prominent cons include a complete lack of RAW image format support, the omission of an automatic proximity sensor to turn off the LCD when switching to the viewfinder, and the absence of...

The Nikon Coolpix P500 is an excellent superzoom point-and-shoot camera that offers a massive 36x optical zoom lens spanning an impressive focal length of 22.5mm to 810mm. Weighing 1.1 pounds and featuring a solid SLR-like grip, this 12.1-megapixel camera delivers fast performance with a 2-second boot time and an articulating 3-inch high-resolution LCD screen. Key advantages include its sharp center-weighted image quality, outstanding low-light capabilities up to ISO 3200, manual exposure controls, and full 1080p HD video capture at 30 frames per second. It also incorporates helpful features like a barrel-mounted zoom trigger and an electronic viewfinder to simulate a Digital SLR shooting experience. Despite its high marks, the device has notable drawbacks, including a bulky design that prevents it from fitting into standard pockets and a premium price tag ($399.95 direct) for a single-lens point-and-shoot. It is equipped with a relatively small 28.5mm² sensor compared to interchangeable-lens or D-SLR alternatives, meaning it cannot match their raw sensor performance. Furthermore, using the massive 36x zoom to its fullest extension makes the lens highly sensitive to camera shake, which often requires...

The Nikon Coolpix P500 is a 12.1-megapixel super-zoom bridge camera built with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor and the Expeed C2 image processor to ensure low-noise performance at higher sensitivities. It features an exceptionally wide and flexible 36x zoom lens ranging from a 22.5mm wide-angle up to an 810mm telephoto equivalent, stabilized by sensor-shift and electronic image reduction technology. Designed for photo enthusiasts looking for manual exposure options, it includes an articulated three-inch screen, a physical zoom control on the lens barrel, and the ability to record 1080p high-definition video at 30 fps alongside high-speed video options up to 240 fps. While the camera excels in delivering low-noise capabilities at higher sensitivities and boasts an incredibly versatile zoom range, it exhibits notable weaknesses at extreme distances. Specifically, the camera struggles to lock focus at its maximum telephoto setting, and overall image sharpness and contrast experience a noticeable drop-off at the telephoto end. Furthermore, users looking to capture fast-moving action may find the continuous shooting burst mode limiting, as it completely finishes its burst cycle in less than a second.

The Nikon Coolpix P500 is a highly versatile 12.1-megapixel superzoom bridge camera featuring a massive 36x optical zoom lens (23-810mm equivalent) and 1080p HD video capture. Built with the ergonomics and handling of an entry-level DSLR, it features a comfortable rubberized grip, a standard mode dial for PASM controls, and a secondary zoom switch on the lens housing for steady two-handed operation. It provides snappy overall performance regarding autofocus and menu navigation, making it a highly intuitive option for vacationers and casual shooters looking for incredible reach without the hassle of interchangeable lenses. The camera's primary advantages include its expansive zoom range, excellent image stabilization, and a sharp, articulating 3-inch LCD screen. It also offers unique high-speed video modes, capturing VGA footage at 120fps and QVGA at 240fps. However, the review highlights several drawbacks, such as the complete lack of RAW image support, which forces enthusiasts to use JPEGs with aggressive internal noise reduction that sacrifices image sharpness. Additionally, the articulating screen does not feature side-to-side swivel, the electronic viewfinder has a relatively low 230k-dot resolution, and the slow-motion video...

The Photo Review assessment of the Nikon Coolpix P500 highlights a capable bridge camera featuring strong wide-angle coverage, 36x optical zoom, and Full HD video recording, making it a versatile, budget-friendly, all-in-one option. The device is lauded for its comfortable handling, including an articulated screen and a convenient side zoom control. However, significant limitations include a lack of RAW file support, no hot-shoe for external flash, and limited direct access to key settings like ISO and white balance. The camera also lacks image auto-rotation and provides only basic, non-customizable shooting controls. Photo Review