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Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • New Model is Nikon P510
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Nikon P500 and Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P500 was revealed 7 months earlier than the RZ18 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the P500 grades vs the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Pentax RZ18

 P500 RZ18 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Nikon P500

 RZ18 P500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011February 2011Fresher by 7 months

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Pentax RZ18

 P500 RZ18 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon P500 provides physical 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) and the Pentax RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon P500 and Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the P500 vs the RZ18.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P500 and RZ18 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The photograph here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the P500 and RZ18.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older P500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography details
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography details
34
has manual focus
includes face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Street photography highlights
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (494 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than others (178 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
36
great zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P500
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
47
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
very long reach (810mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery life (220 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (494 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
lighter than others (178 grams)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography details
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
38
has manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging factors
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging factors
26
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
30
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Nikon P500 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Pentax RZ18
 Nikon Coolpix P500Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-09 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 grams (1.09 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $399 $210