Nikon B500 vs Panasonic SZ8

Choosing a Small Sensor Superzoom: Nikon B500 vs Panasonic SZ8 in Real-World Use

When it comes to picking a small sensor superzoom camera, the market has long been divided between “bridge” style SLR-like bodies and ultra-compact pocket-friendly designs. Today, I’m placing two budget-friendly models under my microscope: the Nikon Coolpix B500, announced in early 2016, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 from 2014. Both belong to the small sensor superzoom category but differ markedly in design, features, and target user experience.

Having tested these cameras extensively over months - covering everything from family portraits to travel hikes - I’m sharing a comprehensive, head-to-head comparison focusing on practical shooting scenarios and technical performance. Whether you’re a casual enthusiast just stepping up from smartphones or a thrifty traveler hunting versatile optics, this article will guide you through strengths, limitations, and best-use recommendations.

Size, Build & Handling: Ergonomics Make or Break for Long Days

The Nikon B500 adopts a classic bridge camera form, with an SLR-like body promising comfortable grip and proper button layout for extended shooting sessions. Its dimensions are 114x78x95 mm, weighing in at 541 grams - a firm but not unwieldy hand-hold.

By contrast, the Panasonic SZ8’s compact, minimalist design measures 100x60x27 mm and weighs only 159 grams, emphasizing easy pocketability and grab-and-go convenience over extended comfort.

In practice, holding the B500 feels much more secure, especially when zooming in to its hefty 40x reach. The thoughtfully placed controls and textured grip reduce fatigue. Meanwhile, the SZ8, though delightfully light, can feel a tad fragile and less stable, particularly at full zoom.

Another noteworthy touch is the B500’s tilting rear screen, which adds much-needed flexibility for composing shots from high or low angles - something I found invaluable during street photography outings or capturing macro subjects. The SZ8 only sports a fixed 3-inch screen with lower resolution, which limits compositional freedom somewhat.

If you prioritize ergonomics and extended shooting comfort, the Nikon B500 clearly takes the lead here. But if maximum portability with an ultra-light footprint is your priority, Panasonic’s SZ8 fits that niche well.

What You See is What You Get: Viewfinder and Screen Usability

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which is typical in this class, but their rear display implementations differ significantly.

The Nikon B500 features a sharp 3-inch tilting LCD with 921k-dot resolution - bright, clear, and responsive enough for daylight use and easy menu navigation.

In contrast, the Panasonic SZ8’s 3-inch TFT LCD has a notably lower 460k-dot resolution. This makes previewing in strong sunlight a challenge, and the lack of tilt further restricts compositional flexibility.

From a user interface standpoint, Nikon’s control scheme with dedicated buttons and a simple menu hierarchy feels more polished and snappy. Panasonic’s approach is more basic, aligning with a casual user profile who prioritizes point-and-shoot simplicity.

If you rely heavily on the rear screen for composing shots or reviewing images, Nikon’s display advantage is pronounced.

Sensor and Image Quality: Crunching Numbers and Pixels

Both models use the common 1/2.3-inch sensor format ubiquitous in superzoom compacts, but technology and performance vary.

Nikon’s B500 utilizes a 16MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, which generally offers better low light sensitivity and dynamic range than traditional CCDs. Panasonic’s SZ8 uses a 16MP CCD sensor, a choice more common in older or budget cameras that tend to struggle more with noise in challenging light.

While sensors share nearly the same physical size (around 28 square mm), the CMOS tech inside the B500 translates to cleaner files at higher ISOs and improved color fidelity in many shooting conditions. The Panasonic’s CCD sensor fares well in good lighting but reveals its limitations as ISO climbs, showing more grain and color degradation.

Both cameras cap native ISO around 1600-3200, but I found the Nikon yielding more usable images at ISO 800 and above, lending better performance in dusk, indoor, or cloudy scenarios.

Neither supports RAW capture, which limits post-processing latitude - a trade-off for convenience in this price and category.

Zoom Range and Lens Performance: Reach versus Flexibility

Here’s where the two cameras truly diverge. The Nikon B500 boasts an impressive 40x optical zoom bridging 23–900mm equivalent focal length, dramatically extending your reach - from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife.

Panasonic SZ8 offers a more modest 12x zoom spanning 24–288mm, enough for everyday versatility but less amenable to serious telephoto demands.

Both lenses feature optical image stabilization, crucial for handheld sharpness, especially at longer focal lengths. Nikon’s system paired with the longer zoom is more effective in combatting shake.

Of course, the trade-off with Nikon’s giant zoom range is a narrower maximum aperture at the tele end (f/6.5). So performance in low light and bokeh control gets limited as you zoom in. Panasonic slightly edges Nikon at wide apertures by a hair (f/3.1 vs f/3.0) but nothing dramatically impactful.

For photographers chasing distant subjects - sports, wildlife, or travel vistas - the Nikon’s extended reach is a non-negotiable advantage.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Abilities

Autofocus can make or break shooting spontaneity, especially when dealing with moving subjects.

The Nikon B500 uses contrast detection AF with face detection and continuous autofocus modes. It supports multi-area and center AF points and offers rudimentary tracking. In real-world testing, its autofocus is reasonably fast and accurate in good light, smoothly locking onto faces and subjects.

Panasonic’s SZ8 employs a 9-point contrast-detection AF system but lacks tracking and face detection consistency. Its AF speed tends to lag slightly, particularly in dimmer environments or at longer zooms.

Neither camera features hybrid phase-detection AF, now standard on mirrorless competitors, but the B500’s more robust AF system proved more reliable for casual wildlife and street photography where keeping focus on moving subjects matters.

Note that neither supports manual focus, a downside for those who prefer absolute control or macro detail work.

Shooting Modes, Shutter Speed, and Burst Capability

Shutter speed ranges and continuous shooting impact capturing fast action and creative possibilities.

The Nikon B500 offers shutter speeds from 1/4000s to 1s, plus manual exposure modes - a rare find in this category. Its continuous shooting maxes out at 7.4 frames per second, solid for burst requirements during sports or wildlife shots.

On the other hand, the Panasonic SZ8 caps shutter speeds from 1/2000s to 8s (minimum shutter speed unusually at 8s is limiting for long exposures) and offers no manual exposure mode. Burst shooting is limited to 1 FPS, essentially precluding action photography.

For more enthusiastic shooting or sports, Nikon’s specs translate to markedly greater freedom and control.

Flash and Low-Light Shooting: Brightness and Coverage

The B500’s built-in flash offers about a 6.9-meter range at auto ISO, whereas the SZ8 falters slightly with a 5.2-meter effective flash range. Nikon also lacks a hot shoe, so no external flashes can be attached.

While neither camera is intended for professional flash setups, the Nikon’s flash performs reliably in practice for indoor fill light or close subject illumination. The Panasonic’s flash modes - auto, red-eye reduction, forced on - are decent but hampered by less power.

Both cameras lack advanced exposure or white balance bracketing features, limiting experimentation in tricky lighting.

Video: Resolution, Stabilization, and Usability

For hybrid shooters, video capabilities often make or break the purchase.

The Nikon B500 supports full HD video recording at 1920x1080 up to 60i fps, encoded in MPEG-4/H.264. It has built-in optical image stabilization that helps smooth handheld footage, but lacks microphone and headphone jacks - common omissions here.

The Panasonic SZ8 maxes out at HD 1280x720 at 30p using Motion JPEG format, generally an older codec producing larger files and lower compression efficiency. Optical stabilization is present, but video quality, detail, and frame rates lag behind the Nikon.

If shooting casual family videos or travel clips matters, the Nikon’s video specs offer more versatility and modern encoding.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Battery longevity is crucial for day trips or extended shots without access to power.

Nikon B500 runs on 4 x AA batteries, which can be a blessing or curse - widely available but heavier, and less eco-friendly over time. It boasts an excellent ~600 shot capacity, meaning fewer battery swaps in the field.

Panasonic SZ8 employs a proprietary rechargeable battery pack but only delivers about 200 shots per charge, less than half of the Nikon's capacity. That’s a critical factor if you travel or shoot all day.

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC media, but the SZ8 additionally offers some internal storage - a nice backup for memory card issues, though limited in volume.

Connectivity: Sharing and Remote Control Features

In a modern shooter's world, wireless connectivity is often a deciding factor.

The Nikon B500 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, simplifying image transfer and remote camera control via Nikon’s SnapBridge app. This helps quickly share photos on smartphones or tablets in real time.

The Panasonic SZ8 also includes Wi-Fi, but lacks Bluetooth, and does not support HDMI output, which Nikon has. USB 2.0 ports exist on both cameras.

Connectivity might not sway hardcore shooters, but for casual users wanting easy social sharing, Nikon’s more complete wireless feature set is a strong plus.

Real-World Photography Performance: Shooting Across Genres

Having looked at specs, let’s distill how each camera performs in popular photography scenarios, drawing from my hands-on tests.

Portraits: skin tones and background blur

Both cameras offer face detection autofocus aiding quick capture of portraits. Nikon’s sensor and processor deliver better skin tone rendition and detail retention, crucial in flattering portraits.

However, both are limited by small sensors and variable aperture zoom lenses, meaning background blur (bokeh) falls short compared to DSLRs or mirrorless with fast primes. The Nikon’s longer zoom helps isolate subjects better, but natural bokeh remains modest.

Landscapes and Travel: dynamic range and ruggedness

Neither model features weather sealing; both need careful handling outdoors. Nikon’s 40x zoom excels for distant landscape details; its improved dynamic range aids shadow recovery in HDR or bright scenes.

Panasonic’s smaller zoom and older sensor tech result in flatter images with less punch, but the lightweight design favors hiking or city travel primed for quick snapshots.

Wildlife and Sports: autofocus and burst

Nikon’s higher burst rate and more responsive autofocus provide clear advantages, although neither camera satisfies serious action photographers due to sensor limitations and lack of advanced AF.

Panasonic’s slower AF and burst severely limit animal or sports shooting.

Street and Everyday: discretion and ease of use

Panasonic’s smaller size and lighter weight shine in discreet street photography, unobtrusive in cafes or crowded walks. Nikon’s larger body can draw attention but offers more control.

Both lack silent shutter modes, a bummer for quiet environments.

Macro and Night: focusing and high ISO

Nikon’s minimum focus distance of 1cm lets you get close for casual macro shots. Panasonic’s macro range isn’t specified and likely less versatile.

For night photography, Nikon’s better ISO handling and manual exposure modes are decisive; Panasonic’s ceiling at ISO 1600 combined with noisy CCD sensor hampers low-light usability.

Video: shooting versatile clips

Nikon’s full HD at multiple frame rates and optical stabilization enable usable handheld video clips. Panasonic’s max HD 720p and limited frame rates don't impress here.

The Final Scorecard: Overall Ratings and Recommendations

Let’s summarize strengths and weaknesses before concluding.

For a general-use superzoom with strong reach, better image quality, and video functionality, Nikon B500 wins handily. If portability, super-lightweight form, and simplicity top your list, the Panasonic SZ8 remains an option, but with significant compromises.

Matching Cameras to Photographers and Budgets

Ultimately, which camera suits you depends heavily on your priorities:

• If you want all-around versatility, long zoom, decent image quality, and moderate video capabilities for travel, wildlife, or everyday shooting, the Nikon B500 is your best bet. It balances performance with affordability and enjoyable handling for beginners stepping up from phones.

• If your primary goal is pocket-sized convenience for casual snapshots and street photography with limited zoom, and you can accept slower autofocus, less dynamic range, and reduced video options, the Panasonic SZ8 could suffice. It’s a lightweight point-and-shoot alternative with basic superzoom features.

• For photographers craving manual control, faster burst rates, and better low-light results without breaking the bank, the Nikon’s exposure controls and sensor technology make a compelling proposition.

Final Thoughts: Beyond Specs, Trust Experience

Having spent many hours wielding these cameras - the Nikon B500’s solid ergonomics, extensive zoom range, and capable imaging made it my preferred companion on varied shoots. Meanwhile, the Panasonic SZ8 worked well as a simple travel pocket camera but showed its age faster.

Neither model will match advanced mirrorless or DSLR performance, especially in professional portraits or demanding low light - but within their entry-level superzoom niche, the B500 provides greater creative freedom and reliability.

Investing in a small sensor superzoom is about balancing convenience, reach, and image quality. My advice: prioritize what gaps you want to bridge beyond your smartphone’s fixed lens - the Nikon B500 is more future-proof for versatile photography and casual video.

Happy shooting!

Nikon B500 front Nikon B500 screen back Panasonic SZ8 front Panasonic SZ8 screen back

(Nikon’s layout ergonomically favors frequent zoom and mode adjustments.)