Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS10: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Superzoom Contenders

The small sensor superzoom category occupies a curious space in the photography world - bridging convenience, range, and affordability. Today I dive deep into two cameras from this segment: the Nikon Coolpix B500, a 2016 bridge-style superzoom boasting 40x reach, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 (a.k.a. TZ20/TZ22), a compact 16x zoomer launched back in 2011. Though separated by five years, both target enthusiasts and casual photographers keen on versatility without swapping lenses.

Having spent days wielding both across diverse shooting scenarios, I’ll share insights honed through hands-on testing, dissect strengths and compromises of each, and help you pinpoint which is best suited for your workflow or photographic passion.

Let’s get started with the basics - physicality and ergonomics - before tackling core imaging traits and specialized usage.

The Feel in Your Hands: Size, Controls, and Build

First impressions matter. The Nikon B500 is a bridge camera, sporting a robust, SLR-esque body optimized for stable grip and extended zoom lenses, while the Panasonic ZS10 is a traditionally compact superzoom with small, pocketable dimensions.

The Nikon B500 weighs 541 grams and measures about 114 x 78 x 95 mm. It feels substantial but not unwieldy. That classic bridge form factor lends an ergonomic hold with ample room for fingers and a thumb rest aiding stability, especially helpful when shooting at long telephoto focal lengths.

Contrast that with the Panasonic ZS10, tipping the scales at 219 grams and 105 x 58 x 33 mm body size - approximately a third of the weight and vastly more compact. It fits comfortably in a jacket pocket or small bag, favoring portability.

Moving beyond sheer size, control layout and usability shape the shooting experience.

The B500’s top plate reveals a traditional bridge design with dedicated mode dials, zoom rocker integrated into the shutter release, and a fairly large grip. Although it lacks manual aperture or shutter priority modes, it provides manual exposure bracketing and exposure compensation buttons within easy thumb reach.

The Panasonic ZS10, despite smaller footprint, surprises with a functional top panel that includes dedicated exposure compensation and some programmable buttons, visible also by its illuminated touchscreen interface (more on that shortly). However, because of its smaller size, buttons may feel tight for larger fingers.

In terms of build materials and durability, neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged protections, so cautious use in harsh conditions is recommended for both. Plastics dominate to keep weight and price down.

Overall, the Nikon B500 shines where stability and longer telephoto shooting are priorities, whereas the Panasonic ZS10 appeals to those who prize compactness and pocket-friendly discretion.

Screens and Interfaces: Seeing and Composing Images

Both cameras sport 3-inch LCDs, but that’s where similarities end.

The Nikon features a 921K-dot tilting screen, which dramatically aids composing images at awkward angles - overhead group shots or low-to-the-ground macro shots become far easier. Its non-touch operation relies on physical buttons - no touchscreen here, which means you won’t accidentally brush or swipe unintendedly.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS10 has a fixed 460K-dot touchscreen. The touchscreen offers intuitive focus point selection and menu navigation, but resolution is modest by today’s standards. Being non-tilting reduces compositional flexibility compared to the Nikon’s tilting screen.

In-use, the Nikon’s LCD delivered bright, sharp image previews even under harsh sunlight, while the Panasonic occasionally struggled due to lower brightness and fixed angle - an important consideration for outdoor shooters.

Neither offers an electronic viewfinder, so relying on the LCD is mandatory. This sometimes challenges steady framing in bright conditions - a common limitation in this class.

Sensor Size and Image Quality Fundamentals

At the heart of any camera lies its sensor, which dictates image quality potential from resolution and dynamic range to noise performance.

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3" sensor size - a small chip typical of budget superzooms. The Nikon uses a BSI-CMOS sensor rated at 16 megapixels. The Panasonic houses a similar 14-megapixel CMOS sensor.

The BSI (Backside Illuminated) design in the Nikon is theoretically better at gathering light, potentially delivering cleaner images at higher ISOs, but real-world tests reveal both cameras struggle in low light due to sensor size limitations.

Photo resolution peaks at 4608 x 3456 pixels (Nikon) and 4320 x 3240 pixels (Panasonic). While Nikon offers fractionally higher resolution, differences in fine detail rendering are subtle.

Native ISO ranges differ: the Nikon tops at ISO 3200, whereas Panasonic extends to ISO 6400. However, beyond ISO 800-1600, noise becomes prominent on both.

Neither camera supports RAW files, limiting post-processing flexibility - a serious drawback for enthusiasts used to manipulating raw data.

From my experience shooting controlled targets and real scenes, image quality is respectable for web use and casual sharing but doesn’t rival larger sensor compacts or mirrorless cameras. The Nikon’s sensor exhibited slightly better color depth and contrast, partly thanks to the newer BSI design.

Autofocus and Continuous Shooting: Speed in Action

For capturing fleeting moments - sports, wildlife, kids in motion - autofocus speed and burst rates hold importance.

The Nikon B500 offers contrast-detection autofocus with face and eye detection. It can track subjects reasonably well indoors and outdoors, though hunting occurs in low light or complex scenes. Continuous shooting reaches around 7.4 frames per second (fps).

The Panasonic ZS10 uses a contrast-detection system, supplemented by 23 AF points, offering a bit more spatial flexibility but no face or eye detection. It boasts a faster burst rate of 10 fps, suited better for action sequences.

Testing wild birds in flight showed that the ZS10’s autofocus tracked decent but occasionally locked onto backgrounds. The B500’s face detection was quite effective with humans but failed to detect animal eyes.

Neither camera has phase detection AF or advanced tracking modes found in newer models, so expect some misses in fast-paced scenarios.

Zoom Capacity and Lens Characteristics

Arguably the headline feature for these cameras: zoom range.

• Nikon B500: 23–900 mm equivalent (40x optical zoom), max aperture F3.0-6.5
• Panasonic ZS10: 24–384 mm equivalent (16x optical zoom), max aperture F3.3-5.9

The Nikon’s mammoth 40x zoom is genuinely impressive, allowing you to approach distant subjects from afar - a boon for wildlife and sports casuals. However, telephoto apertures narrow considerably, limiting low-light telephoto performance.

Panasonic’s 16x zoom is shorter but retains a lens with slightly faster apertures at the tele end, meaning marginally better edge sharpness and easier focusing in low light.

Image stabilization is optical on both, effective enough to handhold at medium zooms, but shutter speeds below 1/300s at long telephoto result in blur. The Nikon’s stabilization felt slightly stronger during handheld zoom bursts.

Macro focusing ranges: Nikon impresses with a close minimum focus distance of 1 cm, excellent for tight flower or insect detail, while the Panasonic’s 3 cm is still decent though less intimate.

Portrait Photography: Rendering Skin and Bokeh

Portraits demand color fidelity, pleasing skin tones, and ideally some background separation.

With their small sensors and limited apertures, both cameras struggle to produce the smooth, creamy bokeh prized in portraits.

The Nikon B500’s longer zoom enables better subject isolation at full telephoto with its slightly wider aperture. Face detection autofocus helps keep eyes sharp, a foundation for decent headshots, but overall bokeh is still “busy” with less smooth blur compared to larger sensor cameras.

Panasonic’s ZS10 provides decent color accuracy but lacks eye detection, and the shorter zoom limits true subject background separation.

Testing in shaded natural light, Nikon’s images rendered skin tones a touch warmer and more natural compared to the slightly cooler Panasonic output - subjective, but consistent over multiple subjects.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Landscape shooters prize resolution, wide dynamic range, and ideally weather resistance.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, restricting outdoor ruggedness in tough climates.

Both cameras produce images with acceptable sharpness at base ISO (80), although the Nikon’s 16 MP contributes a bit more resolution on large prints.

Dynamic range is constrained due to the small sensors, causing shadows to fill with noise and highlights to clip quickly in bright skies.

Panasonic offers multiple aspect ratios (1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9), giving compositional variety while Nikon sticks to 4:3.

Neither provides histogram-based highlight warnings in live view, so careful exposure metering is necessary.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Fire Tested

In fairly bright conditions on an urban bird excursion, the Nikon’s long reach paired with steady handling delivered more subjects in frame, though autofocus lag occasionally led to missed quick bird takes.

Panasonic’s superior continuous shooting captures more frames but with shorter zoom, resulting in smaller subject framing. Tracking performance was acceptable but less refined.

Neither camera matches modern mirrorless models with dedicated phase AF or deep learning face tracking; these are compromises of age and segment.

Street and Travel Shooting: Discretion, Portability, Battery

Here, size and weight tips balances.

Nikon B500 front Nikon B500 screen back Panasonic ZS10 front Panasonic ZS10 screen back

For street photography - where invisibility and quick grab shots matter - the Panasonic ZS10 is the winner, courtesy of its small footprint and quiet operation.

The Nikon B500’s bulk and louder zoom and shutter sounds make it less ideal for candid urban snaps but better suited for planned sightseeing and deliberate shooting.

Battery life is a standout advantage for Nikon; it runs on 4 AA batteries delivering up to 600 shots per charge, a boon where recharging opportunities are limited during travel.

Panasonic employs proprietary lithium-ion packs with 260 shot life, less than half; but smaller size is tradeoff.

Macro and Close-up: Lens Reach and Focus Performance

Nikon’s 1 cm minimum focusing distance is a real asset for macro enthusiasts wanting tight detail. On test subjects like flowers and small insects, fine detail and color reproduction were vivid.

Panasonic’s 3 cm close focusing distance works but doesn’t deliver the same magnification or immersive tight angles.

Neither camera offers focus bracketing or stacking, so maximal depth of field must be managed manually.

Night Photography and High ISO Performance

Neither superzoom really excels in dimly lit or night scenes.

ISO performance degrades sharply beyond 800 on both due to small sensors and limited noise control.

Neither supports longer exposures typical of dedicated night or astro photography (minimum shutter speed capped at 1 second Nikon, 1/60s Panasonic is a notable limitation).

Image stabilization helps for low ISO handheld night landscapes but struggles in complete darkness.

Video Capabilities: Full HD and Steady Capture

Both cameras offer Full HD video recording at 1080p, with Panasonic outputting 60fps for smoother motion, Nikon limited to interlaced 60i or progressive 30p.

Neither camera features 4K or advanced video features like microphone inputs or image stabilization modes optimized for video stabilization beyond standard optical lens IS.

In-field slow panning shots were cleaner on Panasonic thanks to slightly better video stabilization and frame rates.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Neither camera supports RAW format, which poses challenges for professional workflows requiring image flexibility and high dynamic range editing.

Connectivity-wise, Nikon B500 includes Bluetooth and basic Wi-Fi, enabling quick sharing and remote shooting - laudable in this price class.

Panasonic lacks wireless connectivity but features built-in GPS, helpful for travel photo geotagging.

Both cameras write to SD cards; Nikon supports SDXC cards for higher capacities.

Value Assessment and Final Recommendations

From my experience and data, the Nikon B500 edges ahead in versatility due to its whopping 40x zoom, longer battery life, better screen, and Bluetooth connectivity - excellent for travel, wildlife, and casual portrait shooters who want zoom reach and remote control. The Nikon’s handling wins for ergonomic comfort during extended shooting.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS10 is a compact champion, shining in street, everyday travel, and video thanks to its smaller footprint, faster burst rate, touchscreen interface, and GPS tagging. Its compromises are a shorter zoom and weaker battery life but it’s friendlier for those prioritizing portability.

If your photography pursuits lean towards nature, wildlife, or travel where long reach and battery endurance matter - and you don’t mind a larger body - the Nikon B500 represents a strong package with solid all-around performance.

For those focused on travel convenience, street shooting, and quick action sequences, alongside preference for touchscreen controls and GPS - the Panasonic ZS10 remains an attractive option, especially considering occasional deals due to its age.

Summary Table

Closing Thoughts

Both the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS10 are testament to the versatility and appeal of small sensor superzooms. Though aging, they hold value for specific segments of photographers and beginners on budgets.

When choosing between them, consider whether you prioritize reach and battery life (B500) or portability and features like GPS (ZS10). Regardless, adjust expectations compared to modern mirrorless or larger sensor compacts - trading image quality and manual control for convenience and zoom range.

In sum, these cameras still carve out useful niches but would benefit from firmware updates or refreshes to incorporate newer autofocus algorithms and video options. Here’s hoping their successors deliver on those fronts while carefully balancing the unique demands of superzoom enthusiasts.

If you want a camera for zooming in on the details of wildlife and distant scenes, pack the Nikon. If your next adventure calls for travel light and quick candid snaps, pocket the Panasonic.

Happy shooting!

This review draws from extensive real-world testing and technical evaluation, providing an informed perspective rooted in hands-on experience spanning thousands of cameras in the small sensor category.