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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V 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 HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced April 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX30V
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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon B500 and Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is very close and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The B500 was unveiled 2 years after the HX50V which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the B500 scores vs the HX50V for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Sony HX50V

 B500 HX50V 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2013Newer by 35 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Nikon B500

 HX50V B500 
Focus manually More exact focus

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Sony HX50V

 B500 HX50V 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon B500 has got external dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX50V has measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Nikon B500 and Sony HX50V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the B500 versus the HX50V.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the B500 and HX50V is 68 and 89 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by viewing specs. The pic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and HX50V.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX50V to result in more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern B500 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX50V Portrait photography highlights
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
50
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography highlights
Sony HX50V Street photography highlights
52
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than others in class (541g)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (272g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX50V Sports photography highlights
51
long zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (600 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
features tracking focus
great battery (400 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Travel photography camera
59
good battery power (600 shots)
supports bluetooth
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (23mm)
long zoom (900mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (541g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery (400 shots)
lighter than average in class (272 grams)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Landscape photography camera
45
reasonably wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good battery power (600 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
53
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
great battery (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging advice
Sony HX50V Vlogging advice
27
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
heavier than others in class (541 grams)
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (272g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
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Nikon B500 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Sony HX50V
 Nikon Coolpix B500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-02-23 2013-04-24
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 2920
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.4fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 541g (1.19 lb) 272g (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
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 images 400 images
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $439