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Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Refreshed by Nikon P510
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Announced April 2009
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Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon P500 versus Sony HX1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") boast different sensor measurements.

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The P500 was revealed 22 months later than the HX1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the P500 scores vs the HX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony HX1

 P500 HX1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011April 2009Fresher by 22 months
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Nikon P500

 HX1 P500 

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony HX1

 P500 HX1 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon P500 has got external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Nikon P500 versus Sony HX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the P500 vs the HX1.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P500 and HX1 is 67 and 67 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the P500 and HX1.

All in all, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The P500 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Nikon P500 will offer you more detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher P500 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon P500
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
34
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
manual focus
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (9MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (494 grams)
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than others in class (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P500
Sports photography with Sony HX1
36
excellent zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count low (9MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography factors
Sony HX1 Travel photography factors
47
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
great zoom (810mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
heavier than competition (494 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
48
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (544 grams)
megapixel count low (9MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX1 Landscape photography advice
38
focusing manually
reasonably wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery power (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
39
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P500
Vlogging with Sony HX1
26
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition (494 grams)
22
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1440 x 1080 resolution)
no external mic port
heavier than others in class (544 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Sony HX1
 Nikon Coolpix P500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-09 2009-04-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 160 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $47,999