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Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Successor is Nikon P510
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Nikon P510
  • Replacement is Nikon P530
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both built by Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and P520 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The P500 was launched 24 months earlier than the P520 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the P500 scores vs the P520 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Nikon P520

 P500 P520 

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Nikon P500

 P520 P500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013February 2011More recent by 24 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Nikon P520

 P500 P520 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution921k921kExact same display resolution
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon P500 features outside measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Nikon P520 has specifications of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the P500 compared to the P520.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P500 and P520 is 67 and 66 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and P520.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Nikon P520 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The older P500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography factors
Nikon P520 Portrait photography factors
34
manual focus
offers face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Street photography camera
Nikon P520 as a Street photography camera
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (494g)
51
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography features
Nikon P520 Sports photography features
36
amazing zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
46
amazing zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography advice
Nikon P520 Travel photography advice
47
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
very long reach (810mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
57
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1000mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
heavier than competitors in class (550g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon P520 as a Landscape photography camera
39
manual focus
reasonably wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
46
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging features
Nikon P520 Vlogging features
27
reasonably wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
57
decently wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (550 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Nikon P520
 Nikon Coolpix P500Nikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P520
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-09 2013-01-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lbs) 550 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 200 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $380