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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Renewed by Nikon P510
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Released January 2017
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and FZ80 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The P500 was manufactured 6 years prior to the FZ80 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the P500 scores vs the FZ80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Panasonic FZ80

 P500 FZ80 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Nikon P500

 FZ80 P500 
ReleasedJanuary 2017February 2011More recent by 71 months
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ80

 P500 FZ80 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon P500 offers physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has proportions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the P500 and the FZ80.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the P500 and FZ80 is 67 and 63 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The graphic below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the P500 and FZ80.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic FZ80 to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older P500 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography advice
34
has manual focus
offers face detect focusing
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
58
manual focus
decent MP (18MP)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition (494 grams)
54
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average in class (616 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography factors
36
long zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
57
long zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography factors
47
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
great zoom (810mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery (220 per charge)
heavier than competition (494g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
59
has touch to focus
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (20mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
more heavy than average in class (616 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Landscape photography camera
38
has manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
57
manual focus
rather wide (20mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging features
26
rather wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of mic socket
heavier than competition (494 grams)
28
rather wide (20mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
more heavy than average in class (616 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ80
 Nikon Coolpix P500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-09 2017-01-04
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
WB 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 / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 494 grams (1.09 lb) 616 grams (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
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 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $399 $399