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Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
67 Imaging
35 Features
44 Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
38

Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 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 XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
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Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Nikon P500 and Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and XG-1 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P500 was revealed 4 years earlier than the XG-1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the P500 grades versus the XG-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary 
	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Pentax XG-1

		

		

			
 P500 XG-1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Nikon P500

		

		

			
 XG-1 P500 
LaunchedJuly 2014February 2011More modern by 41 months
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Nikon P500 and Pentax XG-1

		

		

			
 P500 XG-1 
Manual focus  Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen  Missing selfie screen
Touch display  Missing Touch display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon P500 offers outside dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Pentax XG-1 has sizing of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") accompanied by a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).
Check out the Nikon P500 and Pentax XG-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the P500 versus the XG-1.
Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison
Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the P500 and XG-1 is 67 and 66 respectively.
Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Usually, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the P500 and XG-1.
As you have seen, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to give you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged P500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.
	
			Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Nikon P500 Portrait photography features
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography features
34
 has manual focus
 offers face detect autofocus
 cannot use external flash
 MP count low (12MP)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
40
 focusing manually
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
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Street Comparison
 Nikon P500 as a Street photography camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Street photography camera
50
 screen tilts up and down
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
 more heavy than competitors (494g)
43
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 fixed screen
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
 more heavy than average (567g)
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Sports Comparison
 Nikon P500 as a Sports photography camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
36
 long zoom range (23-810mm  35.2 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 offers tracking focus
 painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
 MP count low (12MP)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
 has no phase detect autofocus
45
 great zoom range (24-1248mm  52.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 terrible battery power (240 shots)
 no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Nikon P500 Travel photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
47
 built-in flash
 rather wide (23mm)
 very long zoom (810mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 terrible battery pack (220 shots)
 more heavy than competitors (494g)
 MP count low (12MP)
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
52
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 has built in flash
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 very long reach (1248mm)
 lack of Timelapse mode
 terrible battery power (240 shots)
 more heavy than average (567g)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Nikon P500
Landscape photography with Pentax XG-1
38
 has manual focus
 rather wide (23mm)
 screen size is decent (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
 MP count low (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 has no RAW support
 terrible battery pack (220 shots)
 no Timelapse mode
45
 focusing manually
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
 terrible battery power (240 shots)
 lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
 Nikon P500 as a Vlogging camera
 Pentax XG-1 as a Vlogging camera
26
 rather wide (23mm)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 offers face detect autofocus
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
 does not contain selfie friendly screen
 no microphone jack
 more heavy than competitors (494g)
25
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 lack of microphone jack
 more heavy than average (567 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Pentax XG-1
 Nikon Coolpix P500Pentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Pentax XG-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-09 2014-07-15
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 8.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 494g (1.09 lbs) 567g (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 240 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 LB-060
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $399 $599