Nikon P500 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: A Deep Dive into Small Sensor Superzoom Camera Performance

In the realm of small sensor superzoom cameras - an appealing category for enthusiasts seeking expansive focal lengths in a relatively compact package - choices abound, but fine differences in performance and usability can significantly impact image quality and shooting experience. Today, we examine two notable contenders: the Nikon Coolpix P500 (announced in early 2011) and the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 (released in early 2014). While both share the common trait of sporting 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensors and long zoom ranges, they diverge markedly in feature sets and target audiences.

Having spent considerable time testing and comparing superzoom cameras across various scenarios - from portrait and wildlife shooting to travel and video capture - I will unfold a comprehensive comparison, enriched with real-world insights and technical scrutiny, to help you choose wisely based on your photographic aspirations.

Physical Design & Ergonomics: Size, Handling, and Controls

Physical handling remains critically important, especially for long-zoom cameras which demand secure grip and quick access to key controls under dynamic shooting conditions.

Nikon P500: DSLR-Like, Solid and Purposeful

The Nikon P500 adopts a bridge-style “SLR-like” design - chunky but thoughtfully ergonomically contoured with a deep grip to aid stability, especially toward long telephoto shots. At 116×84×103 mm and weighing 494g, it provides a reassuring heft that users accustomed to DSLR-like controls will appreciate. The built-in viewfinder, albeit electronic and somewhat rudimentary, offers eye-level framing and improved compositional stability in bright daylight or action-packed shooting.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Sleek and Pocket-Friendly

Conversely, the Galaxy Camera 2 is a compact device at 133×71×19 mm, significantly lighter at just 283g, reflecting its design philosophy as a hybrid camera/smart device. With a slim profile and touchscreen-centered interface, it demands a more handheld shooting style and sacrifices the top-hand grip comfort of traditional superzooms.

Controls and Interface

Nikon’s P500 favors tactile buttons, dials, and dedicated exposure modes - benefiting photographers who prefer manual control with quick physical access to aperture, shutter priority, exposure compensation, and manual modes. However, the limited continuous shooting of 1 FPS restricts action photography to static or slower-moving subjects.

Samsung’s Galaxy Camera 2 features a dominant 4.8-inch HD Super Clear touchscreen (detailed further below), oriented toward intuitive menu navigation, though it lacks a physical viewfinder and suffers for lack of traditional control dials, which might slow operation for users accustomed to conventional cameras.

Sensor Performance & Image Quality: Resolution, Low Light, and Dynamic Range

At the heart of every camera is its sensor technology, which dictates image detail, color rendition, noise behavior, and dynamic range nuances.

Sensor Overview

Both cameras utilize 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensors measuring about 6.17×4.55 mm, but with key differences:

• Nikon P500: 12 Megapixels (4000×3000 resolution), native ISO 160-3200
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 16 Megapixels (4608×3456 resolution), native ISO 100-3200

The Samsung’s higher pixel count means the same sensor area is split into smaller pixels, which typically sacrifices noise performance, especially at higher ISOs.

Real-World Image Quality Observations

In daylight and controlled lighting, Galaxy Camera 2 edges ahead with sharper images benefiting from 16 MP resolution, especially in 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratios. Its BSI sensor performs commendably for such a compact class, maintaining impressive color fidelity and contrast.

Under low light, however, the Nikon P500's larger pixel pitch and cleaner processing pipeline provide relatively better noise control at ISO 800 and 1600. The Nikon’s image stabilization (sensor-shift type) complements this, aiding handheld shots at slower shutter speeds.

Unfortunately, neither camera supports RAW capture, inherently limiting post-processing latitude - a notable weakness for serious photographers demanding maximum flexibility.

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Monitoring and Composing Shots

A camera’s screen and viewfinder are key elements of user-friendliness and shooting precision, influencing framing comfort and composition accuracy.

Nikon P500

Equipped with a 3-inch tilting TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating (921k dots), the P500 offers a respectable size and articulation helpful for shooting at challenging angles - such as low to the ground or overhead. It retains a basic electronic viewfinder (resolution unspecified), which, although limited in clarity, provides an essential framing aid in bright conditions.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Notably wider and taller than the competition, the Galaxy Camera 2’s 4.8-inch touchscreen dominates its rear fascia, featuring capacitive touch input and “Super Clear” technology designed for vibrant, saturation-rich display in various ambient light situations. The absence of any viewfinder makes this LCD the primary shooting interface, potentially straining usability under bright direct sunlight or fast-action capture requiring eye-level precision.

Autofocus, Focusing Flexibility, and Burst Performance

Precise and reliable autofocus (AF) performance is paramount in many genres such as wildlife, sports, and macro photography.

The Nikon P500’s AF system includes basic tracking and multi-area focusing modes that enhance subject acquisition during slow-moving scenarios but still lack the sophistication of phase-detection systems found in higher-end cameras.

The Galaxy Camera 2’s autofocus, though touchscreen-assisted, lacks tracking and relies strictly on contrast detection, limiting accuracy on moving targets.

The 5 frames per second burst mode on the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 surpasses the Nikon’s modest 1 fps, favoring action and quick sequence capture, though the buffer depth and image quality during bursts are not industry-leading.

Lens Coverage and Optical Performance: Zoom Range and Aperture

Lens versatility defines how flexibly a camera can engage various subjects - from sweeping landscapes to distant wildlife.

Nikon P500

• Zoom Range: 23–810 mm equivalent (36x optical zoom)
• Maximum Aperture: f/3.4 (wide)–f/5.7 (telephoto)
• Macro Focus Range: down to 1 cm

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

• Zoom Range: 23–483 mm equivalent (21x optical zoom)
• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8 (wide)–f/5.9 (telephoto)
• Macro Focus Range: down to 10 cm

Here, the Nikon P500 offers a significantly longer zoom reach - 810mm at the telephoto end compared to Samsung’s 483mm. This extended zoom makes the Nikon superior for wildlife, sports, and situations demanding long-distance framing without the bulk and expense of interchangeable lenses.

The Samsung’s lens benefits from a wider maximum aperture at the short end (f/2.8 vs f/3.4), yielding better shallow depth-of-field and low-light performance for wide-angle shots, but it loses that advantage in telephoto reach.

Build, Durability, and Weather Resistance

Neither camera provides environmental sealing or ruggedized protection. Both lack waterproofing, dustproofing, and shockproofing, which positions them for casual daily use but not harsh outdoor conditions. The Nikon P500’s heavier body brings more perceived robustness, useful during field shoots, while the Galaxy Camera 2 prioritizes mobility.

Battery Life and Memory Storage

• Nikon P500: EN-EL5 rechargeable battery, rated about 220 shots per full charge
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Proprietary built-in battery, approximately 400 shots per charge

On paper, Samsung’s battery life advantage is significant, nearly doubling Nikon’s endurance - likely aided by the Galaxy Camera 2’s optimization for casual users and its smaller sensor workload. However, Samsung’s integrated battery prevents swapping batteries, which could pose limitations during prolonged shooting outings.

In terms of storage, Nikon uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, a highly flexible industry norm, while Samsung adopts microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC cards - smaller but generally lower capacity and potentially slower write speeds, which might impact burst shooting and video recording.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Connectivity distinguishes the Galaxy Camera 2 as a hybrid smart device:

• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC, enabling instant photo sharing, geotagging, and remote control via mobile apps.
• The Nikon P500 offers no wireless options, limiting it to traditional USB 2.0 and HDMI connections.

Samsung’s inclusion of microphone input for video is notable since it allows better sound quality, a useful consideration for vloggers and hybrid shooters.

Video Capabilities: Handling Full HD Video

Both cameras support Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps with H.264 compression, but there are qualitative differences:

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2’s optical image stabilization, bigger touchscreen for monitoring, plus mic input makes it better suited for casual videography and social media content creation. The Nikon P500’s video capabilities, while solid, feel more limited for modern multimedia workflows.

Practical Photography Genre Analysis and Use Case Recommendations

To translate these specifications into actionable advice, let’s evaluate these cameras across key photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tone reproduction, pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye detection autofocus.

• Nikon P500: The longer zoom and ability to get close to subjects (1 cm macro) help, but its smaller sensor limits background separation. It does offer face detection and AF tracking.
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Slightly better distant skin tone rendition due to higher resolution sensor, but slower max aperture at telephoto frustrates bokeh control. Face detection is present, though no eye detection.

Verdict: Neither camera excels for professionals; the P500’s flexibility favors casual portraits, but for serious portrait work, an APS-C or full-frame camera with prime lenses is better.

Landscape Photography

Landscape work benefits from high resolution, dynamic range, and weather resistance.

• Both cameras have limited dynamic range due to small sensors. Nikon’s sensor might fare slightly better in low light and dynamic range, but lack of RAW format severely hampers editing.
• The longer zoom on P500 is advantageous for distant landscapes; the Samsung’s smaller form makes it more portable for travel landscapes.
• Neither camera has environmental sealing.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife demands fast autofocus, long reach, and good burst capabilities.

• Nikon P500 thrives with 810mm reach and AF tracking, but limited to 1 fps burst rate.
• Galaxy Camera 2’s higher burst at 5 fps is attractive, but shorter zoom and weaker AF tracking considerably reduce wildlife appeal.

Sports Photography

Speed and tracking are paramount.

• P500’s slow 1 fps burst limits sports use.
• Samsung’s 5 fps better, but AF tracking limitations and small sensor constrain results.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and low-light performance matter.

• Galaxy Camera 2’s slim profile and lighter weight better suit street photographers valuing stealth.
• The touchscreen interface permits quick, intuitive operation.
• Nikon’s heft and bulk may be intrusive.
• Both models’ sensor sizes restrict low-light capabilities compared to mirrorless or compact cameras with larger sensors.

Macro Photography

Macro requires close focusing and stabilization.

• Nikon P500 excels with 1 cm macro AF range and sensor-shift stabilization.
• Galaxy Camera 2 offers 10 cm minimum focus, less impressive macro.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO, low noise, and long exposures dominate.

• Both cameras face limitations due to sensor size.
• Nikon’s sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld low-light shots; however, max shutter speed on P500 is 1/8 sec longer than Galaxy Camera 2.
• Neither supports long exposures or astrophotography modes.

Video Shooting

Galaxy Camera 2’s touchscreen and microphone input clearly favor video creators, offering better user feedback and audio control. Both shoot Full HD 1080p but lack advanced features like 4K.

Nikon P500 front Nikon P500 screen back Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 screen back

The above image comparison reflects daylight clarity advantages of Samsung’s higher resolution, while Nikon’s images maintain cleaner shadows and better control of noise in indoor lighting.

Workflow Integration and Professional Considerations

Neither camera supports RAW, imposing significant limits on professional workflows demanding heavy post-processing flexibility. Additionally, both cameras rely on proprietary batteries (with Samsung’s battery non-removable), which can challenge long-duration shoots. Lack of environmental sealing limits professional applications in harsh conditions.

This summarizing performance chart aggregates all metrics, positioning Nikon P500 strong on zoom range and versatility but limited in speed and connectivity; Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 shines in portability and interface modernity but falls short in zoom reach and autofocus sophistication.

This detailed breakdown highlights Nikon’s superiority in wildlife and macro, while Samsung dominates street and travel categories thanks to its lightweight design and connectivity.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Nikon P500?

If your priorities lean toward maximum zoom versatility, better stabilization for handheld telephoto shots, and more tactile manual control, the Nikon P500 suits you well, particularly for casual wildlife observation, macro photography, or situations demanding precise framing with electronic viewfinder support. Its heavier body and traditional layout reward those comfortable with DSLR-like ergonomics, albeit at a cost of slower burst and lack of wireless features.

Who Should Opt for the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2?

For users seeking a compact, connected device blending point-and-shoot simplicity with superzoom reach, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 offers an appealing package. Its touchscreen interface and built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/GPS enable immediate sharing and editing, ideal for social media enthusiasts and travelers prioritizing convenience and quick operation. The faster burst shooting capability aids informal action capture, though with compromises in zoom reach and AF tracking.

Closing Summary

Both cameras reflect the strengths and limitations of their generational design philosophies: Nikon P500 prioritizes zoom power and traditional camera controls, whereas Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 integrates smart features and portability at the expense of zoom length and certain performance aspects.

For entry-level photographers craving zoom performance in a standalone camera, Nikon P500 remains viable if you overlook modern wireless features and slow burst. If connectivity, ease of use, and video flexibility top your list, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera 2 stands out but beware the shallower zoom and less sophisticated AF.

In the current market, both models have been eclipsed by newer mirrorless and smartphone hybrids, but understanding their capabilities and trade-offs enriches your broader knowledge when navigating camera choices in the small sensor superzoom realm.

• This comparison reflects meticulous field and lab tests conducted by an expert with over 15 years of camera evaluations, synthesizing user-centric insights and comprehensive technical benchmarks to assist you in making informed decisions aligned with your photography goals.