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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
55
Features
84
Overall
66

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon P510
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-G80
  • Later Model is Panasonic G95
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and G85 (16MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and G85 (Four Thirds) use different sensor sizes.

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The P500 was introduced 6 years earlier than the G85 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the P500 scores versus the G85 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Panasonic G85

 P500 G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Nikon P500

 G85 P500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016February 2011More recent by 68 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Panasonic G85

 P500 G85 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon P500 enjoys external dimensions 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 Panasonic G85 has measurements of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") along with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the P500 against the G85.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the P500 and G85 is 67 and 69 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The visual below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the P500 and G85.

All in all, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The P500 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic G85 will produce extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older P500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography features
Panasonic G85 Portrait photography features
34
manual focus
comes with face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon P500
Street photography with Panasonic G85
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
77
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography features
Panasonic G85 Sports photography features
36
excellent zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
65
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
low battery pack (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P500
Travel photography with Panasonic G85
47
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great reach (810mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (220 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (494g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
weather sealing
supports focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
low battery pack (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G85 Landscape photography advice
39
manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery pack (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G85 as a Vlogging camera
27
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (494g)
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic support
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Panasonic G85
 Nikon Coolpix P500Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Other name - Lumix DMC-G80
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-09 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 grams (1.09 lb) 505 grams (1.11 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 71
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 656
Other
Battery life 220 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Cost at release $399 $900