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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Key Specs

Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon P510
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Also referred to as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS70
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and ZS80 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P500 was released 8 years earlier than the ZS80 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the P500 grades against the ZS80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Panasonic ZS80

 P500 ZS80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Nikon P500

 ZS80 P500 
LaunchedFebruary 2018February 2011Newer by 85 months
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Panasonic ZS80

 P500 ZS80 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon P500 provides outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS80 has dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

See the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the P500 compared to the ZS80.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P500 and ZS80 is 67 and 86 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the P500 and ZS80.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic ZS80 to render more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged P500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon P500
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS80
34
has manual focus
features face detect focus
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon P500
Street photography with Panasonic ZS80
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition (494 grams)
75
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P500
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS80
36
great zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery pack (380 shots)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS80 Travel photography information
47
has built in flash
reasonably wide (23mm)
very long zoom (810mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (220 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (494 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
79
great battery pack (380 per charge)
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography factors
39
has manual focus
reasonably wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
62
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P500
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS80
27
reasonably wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competition (494 grams)
73
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have mic port
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Panasonic ZS80
 Nikon Coolpix P500Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Alternative name - Lumix DC-TZ95
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-09 2018-02-18
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,330k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494g (1.09 lb) 327g (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 pictures 380 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $399 $448