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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Introduced February 2016
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Nikon B500 and Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The B500 was announced 4 years after the HX30V which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the B500 grades versus the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Sony HX30V

 B500 HX30V 
LaunchedFebruary 2016February 2012Newer by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Nikon B500

 HX30V B500 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Sony HX30V

 B500 HX30V 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon B500 provides outer dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon B500 and Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the B500 vs the HX30V.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the B500 and HX30V is 68 and 90 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading technical specs. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and HX30V.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony HX30V to offer more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer B500 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
45
focusing manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
features face detection focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
52
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
51
amazing zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (600 CIPA)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX30V Travel photography highlights
59
great battery pack (600 CIPA)
supports bluetooth
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
great reach (900mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competitors (254g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
45
pretty wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (600 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
50
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging features
Sony HX30V Vlogging features
27
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Sony HX30V
 Nikon Coolpix B500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-02-23 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.4 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 541 grams (1.19 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 600 photos 320 photos
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $300 $420