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Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Nikon D3400 front
Portability
70
Imaging
66
Features
70
Overall
67

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Replacement is Nikon P510
Nikon D3400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 395g - 124 x 98 x 76mm
  • Revealed August 2016
  • Succeeded the Nikon D3300
  • Renewed by Nikon D3500
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Nikon P500 versus Nikon D3400, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both produced by Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and D3400 (24MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and D3400 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The P500 was manufactured 6 years before the D3400 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon D3400 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the P500 matches up against the D3400 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Nikon D3400

 P500 D3400 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Nikon D3400 over the Nikon P500

 D3400 P500 
RevealedAugust 2016February 2011Fresher by 67 months

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Nikon D3400

 P500 D3400 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon P500 features exterior measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Nikon D3400 has proportions of 124mm x 98mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 395 grams (0.87 lbs).

Compare the Nikon P500 versus Nikon D3400 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the P500 compared to the D3400.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P500 and D3400 is 67 and 70 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and D3400.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The P500 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Nikon D3400 will result in more detail due to its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older P500 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D3400 as a Portrait photography camera
34
you can focus manually
comes with face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon P500
Street photography with Nikon D3400
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average in class (494 grams)
67
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (395 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography details
Nikon D3400 Sports photography details
36
excellent zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
good battery life (1,200 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography advice
Nikon D3400 Travel photography advice
47
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
great reach (810mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (494 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
69
good battery life (1,200 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (395g)
has bluetooth
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography details
Nikon D3400 Landscape photography details
38
you can focus manually
pretty wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (1,200 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging factors
Nikon D3400 Vlogging factors
26
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
more heavy than average in class (494g)
30
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (395 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Nikon D3400
 Nikon Coolpix P500Nikon D3400
General Information
Make Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon D3400
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-02-09 2016-08-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Expeed 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Nikon F
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 309
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.56x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494g (1.09 lb) 395g (0.87 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 124 x 98 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 86
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1192
Other
Battery life 220 images 1200 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $397