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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Renewed by Nikon P510
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ200
Photography Glossary

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the P500 (12MP) and the FZ300 (12MP) is pretty similar and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P500 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the FZ300 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the P500 grades against the FZ300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Panasonic FZ300

 P500 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Nikon P500

 FZ300 P500 
RevealedJuly 2015February 2011Newer by 53 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ300

 P500 FZ300 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon P500 features physical measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ300 has proportions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") and a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Check the Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the P500 against the FZ300.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the P500 and FZ300 is 67 and 59 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The pic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and FZ300.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you can expect similar quality of images however you might want to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged P500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography information
34
focusing manually
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
46
focusing manually
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Street photography information
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (494g)
59
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather proof
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography factors
36
incredible zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography information
47
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
great zoom (810mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (220 shots)
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
59
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
weather proof
features focus via touch
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography features
38
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery power (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
52
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging highlights
26
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
62
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ300
 Nikon Coolpix P500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-09 2015-07-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 grams (1.09 lbs) 691 grams (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
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 shots 380 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $598