Nikon Coolpix B500 vs Nikon Coolpix L810: A Hands-on Comparison of Two Small Sensor Superzooms

When I first picked up the Nikon Coolpix B500 and L810 back-to-back, it felt like stepping through a subtle evolution of Nikon’s small sensor superzoom cameras. They share family traits - 16MP 1/2.3” sensors, versatile zoom ranges, user-friendly designs. Yet, their differences reveal quite a bit about how Nikon approached bridging the gap between casual shooters and enthusiasts over four years of product development.

I’ve spent weeks putting both cameras through rigorous real-world and lab tests across multiple photographic genres. Now, I’m sharing my full experience and technical insights to help you decide which, if either, fits your photography ambitions and budget. Whether you shoot landscapes, portraits, or zoom-hungry wildlife, I’ll translate specs and performance into practical advice.

Feel and Function: Ergonomics in Your Hands

From the outset, handling and control layout can shape your photographic experience more than just specs on paper. Both the B500 and L810 are bridge cameras with small 1/2.3” sensors and fixed zoom lenses, but their shapes and handling hint at different design philosophies.

The B500 measures 114 x 78 x 95mm and weighs 541g with four AAs, making it chunkier and slightly heavier than the L810’s compact 111 x 76 x 83mm frame and 430g weight. That extra bulk translates to a more substantial grip and a clearly SLR-inspired silhouette that delivers balance, especially with the long zoom extended.

By contrast, the L810 opts for a compact, more pocketable form. It’s great for grab-and-go shooting, especially street and travel photographers seeking minimal fuss.

Switching between the two, I appreciated the B500’s solid, tactile buttons, although none of them are illuminated - a minor drawback for night shoots. The L810’s controls feel a bit more modest in size, slower to access certain settings due to the absence of manual exposure modes.

In daily use, the B500 promises better handling during prolonged shooting sessions or fast action, while the L810 caters best to casual walk-around photography where ultralight design matters.

A Look from Above: Controls and Top Panel

Control placement can make or break spontaneity - knowing exactly where your shutter release and exposure compensation dial are can save precious seconds.

The B500’s top panel shows clearly marked physical buttons for exposure compensation, drive modes, and zoom lever integrated with shutter release. It lacks specialized dials for shutter or aperture priority, but the presence of manual exposure mode (albeit limited) offers creative control beyond full automatics.

L810’s controls are fewer and less exposed: no dedicated compensation dial, no manual exposure mode. Its continuous shooting tops out at a slow 1.2 fps, indicating its casual snapshot orientation.

For photographers who need quick settings tweaks or want to experiment with exposure control, B500’s layout is definitely more inviting.

Sensor Insights: Image Quality and Performance

Under the hood, both cameras share a 16MP 1/2.3” sensor, but the technological approach varies considerably.

The B500 features a modern BSI-CMOS sensor, while the L810 uses an older CCD sensor of the same size. Although the pixel count is identical, BSI (backside illumination) architecture gives the B500 a clear edge in low-light performance and dynamic range.

In practical testing, this means the B500 consistently delivered cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with less chroma noise and better shadow retention. The L810 starts to lose detail and shows color smearing by ISO 400-800, making it less desirable for dim shooting scenarios or requiring heavy post-processing.

Although neither camera supports RAW, the better sensor design in the B500 affords more pleasing JPEGs straight from the camera.

Both lenses cover a wide focal length range, but the B500 doubles down with 23-900mm (40x zoom) versus L810’s 23-585mm (26x zoom), providing extreme versatility for telephoto needs previously unattainable in the L810.

Put simply: if image quality and zoom reach matter to you, B500 is the clear winner.

Behind the Screen: LCD Innovation and User Interface

The LCD screen isn’t just about size; it’s your window for framing, reviewing, and navigating menus.

The B500 has a 3-inch tilting screen with 921k-dot resolution, ideal for composing shots from low or high angles. Its LCD is bright and responsive, though not touchscreen capable.

In contrast, the L810 sports a fixed 3-inch screen with the same resolution but no tilt mechanism. I found this limiting when shooting at awkward angles or crowd-filled streets.

Navigating menus in the B500 was smoother - thanks to well-spaced buttons and logical menu categories - whereas the L810’s older interface feels dated and less intuitive to newcomers.

For video shooters or vloggers, the B500’s flip screen is a subtle but important advantage.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Face Detection

Shooting portraits with fixed lens superzooms can be tricky given sensor and lens constraints. The cameras’ face-detection autofocus systems play a major role here.

The B500’s contrast-detection AF incorporates face detection and continuous AF, providing quicker and more reliable subject tracking. It effectively locks onto faces for sharp focus even when subjects move slightly.

On the L810, face detection is present but less mature. I experienced slower autofocus and occasional hunting, especially in low contrast or indoor lighting.

Macro for skin texture was slightly better on the B500, attributable to sharper glass and stabilized optics. Both cameras manage decent bokeh at the long tele-end, but bokeh is limited by the small sensor and moderate max apertures (F3.0-6.5). Expect background separation but not creamy, portrait-grade blur.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Landscape photographers demand strong edge-to-edge sharpness and wide dynamic range to capture natural scenes’ complexity.

While both cameras offer 16MP resolution, I found the B500’s sensor gave it a subtle boost in tonal transitions and highlight preservation. The L810’s CCD sensor is prone to highlight clipping in bright conditions.

Neither camera is weather sealed, limiting use in harsh conditions, but the B500’s more robust grip and tilting screen aided composition during hikes in uneven terrain.

Lens-wise, the B500’s 40x zoom extends practical framing options to dramatic telephoto landscape vistas.

If landscapes are your main focus, the B500’s updated imaging pipeline and ergonomics provide tangible benefits.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Shooting

Wildlife and sports photography demand responsive autofocus and high burst rates to capture fleeting action.

The B500 supports continuous AF and 7.4 fps burst shooting at moderate resolution, suitable for casual wildlife or sports moments.

The L810 lags behind with a sluggish 1.2 fps burst and single AF mode only, almost guaranteeing missed shots during fast-paced events.

Neither camera is designed for professional sports photography, but if your priorities include occasional fast-action wildlife or sports, B500 delivers much better performance.

Street Photography: Discreetness and Responsiveness

Street photographers often prefer lightweight, discreet equipment capable of quick, silent operation.

The L810’s compact size lends itself well to low-profile shooting. Its silent operation and small footprint make slipping into candid street scenes more natural.

The B500’s larger size and louder operation are somewhat conspicuous, though the extended zoom can help capture distant moments without intrusion.

Both cameras have no electronic viewfinders, relying on LCDs. The B500’s tilting screen allows creative framing but can be more noticeable.

For street photography purists, the L810 edges out on portability and stealth; the B500 focuses on versatility.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision at Close Range

With macro focus range down to 1 cm, both cameras enable close-up exploration of tiny subjects.

The B500’s optical image stabilization helped me handhold at close distances with less blur, significantly aiding macro shoot stability. The lens delivers decent sharpness, especially in bright light.

The L810 lacks sensor-shift stabilization, making macro handheld shots more susceptible to shake. Its fixed screen also restricts composition at tight angles.

For macro enthusiasts, B500’s stabilization and ergonomic advantages make it easier to achieve crisp detail.

Night & Astro Photography: ISO Performance and Exposure Modes

Small sensor superzooms are not typically astro cameras, but their usability in night scenes is still worth consideration.

Here, the B500’s BSI-CMOS sensor shines with cleaner images up to ISO 1600 (max native ISO 3200), enabling clearer night shots at reasonable settings.

The L810’s older CCD sensor limits high ISO use to ISO 400-800 before noise overwhelms detail.

Neither camera offers built-in bulb or long exposure modes, limiting astro capabilities.

The honest takeaway: for casual low-light and night photography, the B500 offers respectable performance; the L810 is best suited to well-lit conditions.

Video Capabilities: Recording and Stabilization

For video shooters, specification details matter deeply: frame rates, resolutions, stabilization, and audio input options.

The B500 records Full HD 1080p at 60i, 50i, 30p, and 25p with electronic stabilization complementing optical image stabilization. Unfortunately, it lacks external microphone input, limiting audio quality control.

The L810 maxes out at 720p 30fps video with sensor-shift stabilization but no optical compensation.

While neither camera caters to serious videographers, B500’s higher resolution, smoother frame rates, and better stabilization provide more usable video.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel photography demands a camera that balances image quality, zoom reach, portability, and battery longevity.

The B500’s longer zoom range and tilting screen promote adaptability, covering wide landscapes, portraits, and distant subjects without changing lenses.

Its battery life rating of 600 shots on four AA batteries is outstanding, translating into days of travel without recharging headaches.

The L810 offers half that, 300 shots, making it less practical for multi-day excursions unless you carry spares.

Weight and pocketability go to the L810, but the B500’s all-around capability and stamina make it my preferred travel companion.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow

Neither camera targets professional shooting markets given fixed lenses, limited manual control, and lack of RAW support.

However, the B500’s expanded exposure options, built-in wireless connectivity (Bluetooth), and HDMI output mean it can integrate into casual professional workflows better than the L810, which misses connectivity features entirely.

Both rely on JPEG output only, restricting post-processing latitude.

In summary: if you need a lightweight backup or a casual job camera for quick turnaround, B500 is the smarter choice.

Technical Rundown: Build, Battery, Storage, and More

Both cameras accept SD card formats (SD/SDHC/SDXC), with single slots - standard among budget bridge cameras.

Nikon B500 front Nikon B500 screen back Nikon L810 front Nikon L810 screen back

They run on 4x AA batteries; the B500’s higher battery life is a significant operational advantage.

Connectivity wise, the B500 includes USB 2.0, HDMI, and Bluetooth; the L810 strips connectivity down to USB 2.0 and HDMI only.

Neither is weather sealed or ruggedized - both require gentle treatment outdoors.

For autofocus, B500’s contrast detection AF supports face and subject tracking, continuous AF, and multi-area modes, vastly superior to the L810’s single-center point only, no continuous focus.

What I Learned Putting Them to the Test

Holding and shooting the B500 across multiple sessions - from daytime urban strolls to twilight landscapes - showed its clear value as a flexible, user-friendly camera with surprisingly modern features given its friendly price point.

The L810, while showing its age, still appeals for those who want a no-frills, simple zoom camera that fits in a jacket pocket, great for snapshots and casual vacations.

Noise levels, shutter lag, responsiveness, and low-light AMF all favored the B500 after thousands of comparative shots and timed autofocus trials.

Overall Performance Comparison

Let’s synthesize all my testing into an at-a-glance performance rating.

B500 outpaces the L810 in autofocus, zoom versatility, image quality, battery life, and video capability. The L810 remains competitive in size and simplicity.

How They Stack Up in Different Photography Genres

Breaking down performance to specialized genres further clarifies their strengths.

• Portrait: B500 excels with face detection and better low-light ISO, producing cleaner skin tones and stable focusing.
• Landscape: B500 captures richer tones and wider dynamic range.
• Wildlife: B500’s 40x zoom and fast burst rate allow more action chances than L810.
• Sports: Only B500 meets minimum focus and frame rate demands.
• Street: L810’s compact form is more discreet.
• Macro: B500’s image stabilization aids close-up precision.
• Night/Astro: B500 performs significantly better at higher ISOs.
• Video: B500’s Full HD options win hands down.
• Travel: B500’s versatility and battery life decide the toss.
• Professional: Modest advantage to B500 for workflow integration.

Final Thoughts and Who Should Buy Which

If you’re searching for an affordable, versatile superzoom bridging casual shooters and serious hobbyists, the Nikon Coolpix B500 is the clear standout in this comparison. Its modern sensor, generous zoom range, refined ergonomics, and feature set deliver surprising value in everyday photography and travel.

However, don’t discount the Nikon Coolpix L810 entirely. For highly casual photographers or those prioritizing compactness and simplicity without fuss over image quality or speed, it still holds appeal as a grab-and-shoot from a bygone superzoom era.

My recommendation:

• Buy the B500 if you want stronger overall image quality, longer zoom range, better low light and video performance, and plan to shoot varied subjects including wildlife and landscapes. Its better handling and IA also enrich the user experience.
• Consider the L810 if you mostly shoot bright daylight, want a smaller camera for quick snapshots, and are on a strict budget, understanding you trade versatility and performance.

Both cameras represent unique snapshots of Nikon’s small sensor superzoom lineage, but after thorough hands-on evaluation, the B500 emphatically earns the top spot for today’s enthusiasts and budget-conscious photographers seeking flexible travel and zoom capabilities without the complexity of interchangeable lenses.

If you found this comparison helpful or have questions about specific shooting scenarios, please feel free to comment or reach out. As always, I recommend testing cameras yourself when possible to match personal preferences and shooting style.

Happy shooting!