Nikon P500 vs Ricoh CX2

On this page, we will be looking at the Nikon P500 and Ricoh CX2, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Ricoh. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and CX2 (9MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The P500 was brought out 18 months after the CX2 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Ricoh CX2 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the P500 matches up versus the CX2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix P500 and Ricoh CX2. The entire galleries are available at Nikon P500 Gallery and Ricoh CX2 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Nikon P500 features outside 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) while the Ricoh CX2 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Examine the Nikon P500 and Ricoh CX2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the P500 compared to the CX2.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P500 and CX2 is 67 and 93 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The pic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the P500 and CX2.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Nikon P500 to give greater detail having its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher P500 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.