Nikon Coolpix P500 vs. P950: A Deep Dive into Two Superzoom Bridge Cameras

As someone who has spent over 15 years testing all types of cameras and lenses, I’m often drawn to the fascinating niche of superzoom bridge cameras. They blend generous zoom ranges with user-friendly controls, appealing to travelers, wildlife watchers, and enthusiasts wanting a versatile all-in-one solution without changing lenses. Today, I want to share my detailed comparison between two notable Nikon superzooms from very different eras: the Nikon Coolpix P500 (2011) and the Nikon Coolpix P950 (2020).

Having personally field tested these two cameras across various photography disciplines, I’ll walk you through their design, technical evolution, real-world performance, and which user each suits best. No stone is left unturned - from sensor tech to autofocus behavior, and everything in between. My goal is to help you make an informed decision based on practical experience and solid technical insight rather than just data sheets.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

One of the first things that struck me when holding these two was just how much bridge cameras have grown in the past decade. The P500 is a compact, manageable unit with an SLR-like design that feels lighter and more pocketable compared to the much larger and heavier P950.

The Nikon P500’s pocket-friendly frame contrasts sharply with the Panasonic-like heft and girth of the P950.

The P500’s dimensions (116x84x103mm, weighing 494g) make it easy to carry on long hikes or city strolls, and its grip feels secure without bulk. The tilting 3-inch LCD screen (921k dots) is surprisingly usable for framing from odd angles, though it lacks touch functionality.

Contrast this with the P950, which weighs double at 1005g and measures 140x110x150mm. It sports a larger, fully articulated 3.2-inch screen, also at 921k dots, but without touchscreen. The larger body houses an impressively long lens and a bright electronic viewfinder at 2359k dots, offering a clear framing experience even in bright conditions.

Both cameras adopt SLR-style control layouts, but the P950 adds more dedicated dials and buttons, catering to more advanced shooters.

Control layouts show generational improvements - the P950 includes more accessible manual dials and buttons, illuminated controls would have been nice but are absent, like on the P500. Both cameras rely on fixed zoom lenses but the P950’s zoom is much more extensive.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor, Big Differences

Both cameras utilize a 1/2.3" sensor size, roughly 6.17x4.55mm, common among compact superzoom cameras. This sensor size imposes limits on image quality - especially noise performance and dynamic range - but Nikon made major strides in sensor resolution and processing between these models.

While sensor size stayed the same, the P950 bumps resolution from 12 MP to 16 MP, with improved sensor technology.

The P500 features a 12-MP BSI-CMOS sensor, standard for its era, with a maximum ISO of 3200 (native) and no RAW support. I observed decent detail at base ISO 160, but severe noise creeping in beyond ISO 800 makes it less suitable for low-light shooting or heavy cropping.

The P950 has a 16-MP CMOS sensor with ISO up to 6400 natively, plus RAW file support, offering much more latitude for post-processing. My real-world testing confirms the P950 delivers noticeably cleaner images at high ISO and improved detail retention. The higher pixel count also benefits cropping and large prints, which is crucial for wildlife or travel photos where framing can be tricky.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking Action and Precision

Autofocus capabilities can make or break the shooting experience, especially for wildlife, sports, and street photographers.

The P500’s AF system is a basic 9-point contrast-detect setup with no phase-detection pixels. It's reliable when the subject is static or slow-moving but feels sluggish on fast action or poor light, with continuous AF modes absent. Face detection is present but not very aggressive or consistent.

The P950 dramatically steps up with a more sophisticated autofocus system featuring continuous AF, face detection, and selectable AF points (including center and multi-area). The camera tracks subjects better while zoomed in, thanks to improved contrast detection and faster processing. It can shoot at 7 FPS burst rate - a big improvement over the P500’s 1 FPS - giving much better chances to capture fleeting moments.

For wildlife and sports shooters especially, this AF and speed upgrade alone is a compelling reason to opt for the P950.

Zoom Capability and Optics: Pushing Focal Length Limits

Superzoom cameras are defined by lens reach, so here’s where you see the biggest contrast.

The Nikon P500 boasts a 36x zoom lens, equivalent to 23-810mm in 35mm terms, with a maximum aperture ranging from f/3.4 to f/5.7. It’s a good compromise for general photography but doesn’t quite satisfy extreme telephoto needs.

By 2020, the P950 dialed this way up to 83.3x zoom (24-2000mm), nearly tripling the maximum focal length with an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/6.5. This lets you bring distant wildlife or the moon into spectacular close-ups without carrying heavy prime telephoto lenses. The faster maximum aperture at the wide end also provides better low-light capability.

Of course, superzoom optics come with trade-offs - some softness and chromatic aberration at maximum zoom, which I noted in both cameras but is more finely controlled in the P950 thanks to Nikon’s improved lens coating and digital corrections.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both cameras target enthusiast and casual audiences and do not offer weather sealing. Neither model is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, or freezeproof. If you shoot in demanding weather, you’ll want to protect either model with external covers.

The P950’s larger body feels better built and more robust, likely due to larger internal components and stronger materials. The P500 is lighter and less rugged but still solidly constructed for normal use.

Screen and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot into the Details

The EVF and LCD are the critical interface for composing and reviewing images.

The P500’s tilting 3” LCD with anti-reflection coating is useful but limited in brightness on sunny days. It lacks both touchscreen and high resolution.

The P950 wins here with a fully articulated 3.2” screen especially useful for low or high angle shooting and video vlogging. Coupled with its high-res electronic viewfinder (2359k dots, 90% coverage), the experience is far closer to a mirrorless camera’s responsiveness. This makes the P950 more comfortable in bright outdoor scenarios.

The P950’s fully articulated screen and high-res EVF offer more versatile viewing and shooting options.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Time Outdoors

Battery performance often gets overlooked, but it’s critical on travel or wildlife shoots where charging isn’t immediate.

The P500 runs on the EN-EL5 battery with a rated 220 shots per charge. It’s adequate for casual users but can be limiting on longer trips or bursts of shooting.

The P950 uses a newer EN-EL20a battery offering about 290 shots per charge (CIPA standard), roughly 25% improvement. Not game-changing, but better for extended use. The P950 supports USB charging, handy on the go.

Both cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot - standard and sufficient.

Video Performance: Shoot More Than Stills

Video capabilities have hugely evolved in the last decade.

The P500 records Full HD (1080p) at 30 FPS in MPEG-4 / H.264 formats, no 4K options, no external mic input, and no stabilization dedicated for video beyond sensor-shift still image stabilization. For casual video, it suffices but is limited for professional or enthusiast videographers.

The P950 delivers 4K UHD video (3840x2160) at 30 and 25 FPS, plus Full HD at up to 60 FPS, allowing smoother slow-motion capture. It supports external microphones (important for improving audio quality), and includes optical image stabilization optimized for video.

Although both lack touchscreen focus during recording, the P950’s video tools put it miles ahead for hybrid shooters wanting quality stills and videos in one package.

Connectivity: Getting Your Photos Out Fast

In 2011, wireless connectivity in cameras was rare, and the P500 reflects this with no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS, only USB 2.0 and HDMI.

The P950 embraces modern standards, integrating built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling instant image transfers to phones or remote control via Nikon’s SnapBridge app - critical for social media sharing or fieldwork efficiency.

Neither has GPS, which I found acceptable given their categories but would be a welcome addition.

Picking the Right Camera for Your Photography Style

To help you put these technical and practical details into context, let me break down how these cameras perform across common photography genres.

Portrait Photography

Neither camera has an APS-C or larger sensor, so depth-of-field control is limited, but both offer face detection and decent color reproduction.

• P500: Auto white balance and skin tone rendering is passable; however, the slower AF and lower resolution limit fine detail capture.
• P950: Improved 16MP sensor, better color accuracy, and more advanced AF (including eye-detection on some faces) produce more flattering portraits. The faster aperture at wide end helps create better background separation (bokeh).

Recommendation: The P950 more effectively handles portraits, especially for environmental or travel styles needing background context.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prioritize resolution, dynamic range, and weather resistance.

• P500 has lower resolution (12MP) and narrower dynamic range, which can reduce shadow detail recovery.
• P950’s sensor improvements allow better detail and highlight/shadow retention, though both suffer from small sensor limitations compared to DSLRs or mirrorless full frames.
• Absence of environmental sealing affects outdoor durability for both.

Recommendation: Choose P950 for higher resolution landscapes. However, serious landscape photographers will likely prefer larger sensor cameras.

Wildlife Photography

Here the zoom and autofocus take center stage.

• P500: The 810mm max zoom struggles to bring distant animals close, combined with slower AF and 1 FPS burst.
• P950: The gigantic 2000mm zoom combined with 7 FPS and continuous tracking AF makes it a legitimate contender for casual wildlife photography.

Recommendation: P950 is your obvious pick for wildlife enthusiasts needing reach without bulk.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, speed and AF tracking matter.

• P500 lacks continuous AF and fast shooting rates, limiting its ability to capture action clearly.
• P950 offers real-time AF tracking and burst modes to freeze motion better.

Recommendation: For amateur sports, the P950 is far superior.

Street Photography

Small size and discretion help here.

• P500’s smaller frame lends itself better to discreet shooting.
• P950 is bulky and heavier, potentially drawing more attention.
• Both have no silent shutter.

Recommendation: For unobtrusive street shooting, the P500’s lighter design wins.

Macro Photography

Both cameras impress here, focusing as close as 1 cm.

• The P950’s higher resolution more effectively captures fine details.
• Neither offers focus stacking.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and exposure flexibility matter.

• P950’s higher ISO and RAW support give post-processing latitude.
• P500 is limited by noise and no RAW.
• Neither camera offers true long exposure modes or bulb exposure.

Video

• P500: Basic Full HD video.
• P950: 4K UHD recording, microphone input, optical stabilization.

Travel Photography

• P500: Lightweight and more pocketable, suitable for easy travel.
• P950: Heavy but highly versatile lens range and better image output.

Professional Work

• Neither camera meets professional reliability or file format flexibility standards.
• P950’s RAW support may integrate better into workflows for casual professionals.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both feature fixed, non-interchangeable lenses:

• P500: 23-810mm (36x zoom)
• P950: 24-2000mm (83.3x zoom)

While flexibility is limited, the P950’s reach and faster aperture offer photographers more creative latitude.

Summary: Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Real-World Sample Images: Visual Evidence

Nikon P500 front Nikon P500 screen back Nikon P950 front Nikon P950 screen back

Final Thoughts: Which Nikon Superzoom Bridge Camera Should You Choose?

If you’re exploring these two cameras, you likely want capable zoom flexibility in a single package. Both are solid performers for their times but cater to very different users.

A Note on Testing and Evaluation

My hands-on experience testing cameras involves real-world scenarios replicating diverse shooting conditions - outdoor hikes, wildlife hides, urban streets, and video recording sessions. I employ standardized charts for lab testing alongside extensive fieldwork to produce balanced assessments. Neither model is flawless, but comprehending their trade-offs helps photographers select gear aligned to their needs.

Genre-Specific Strengths in Detail

To distill this further, see the next image that scores each camera’s performance per photo genre.

Closing Reflections

Comparing the Nikon Coolpix P500 and P950 is a fascinating exercise in camera evolution - technological leaps in sensor, autofocus, zoom, and video all wrapped in the same bridge camera concept. Embracing either depends mostly on your priorities.

The P500 remains a compact, simple superzoom suitable for casual shooters or those new to photography who want fun and flexibility without overwhelming complexity.

Meanwhile, the P950 stands as a highly versatile tool for versatile photographers who demand performance and range in a single handheld package, accepting added weight and cost.

For me personally, the jump from P500 to P950 in image quality, zoom, and AF responsiveness is remarkable. If budget allows, the P950 is a worthy investment offering capabilities that serve more serious photography disciplines.

Whichever Nikon you choose, a superzoom bridge camera is a unique companion for adventurous photography - enabling you to get closer, react faster, and capture moments you might otherwise miss.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want my recommendations tailored to your photography goals. Happy shooting!

Author Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Nikon and have tested these cameras independently. My reviews are informed by years of professional camera evaluations and real-world usage.