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Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Key Specs

Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Refreshed by Nikon P510
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Released March 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10 II
  • Successor is Sony RX10 IV
Photography Glossary

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and RX10 III (20MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The P500 was revealed 6 years prior to the RX10 III which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the P500 matches up versus the RX10 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony RX10 III

 P500 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Nikon P500

 RX10 III P500 
ReleasedMarch 2016February 2011More modern by 62 months
Screen resolution1229k921kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony RX10 III

 P500 RX10 III 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon P500 comes with physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") and a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

See the Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the P500 against the RX10 III.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the P500 and RX10 III is 67 and 53 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the P500 and RX10 III.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The P500 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX10 III will result in greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged P500 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography advice
34
has manual focus
comes with face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
71
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography details
Sony RX10 III Street photography details
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (494g)
64
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
more heavy than competitors (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography information
Sony RX10 III Sports photography information
36
incredible zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
70
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (420 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Travel photography camera
47
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
long reach (810mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
heavier than competition in class (494g)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
55
better than average battery life (420 CIPA)
environment sealing
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (1,051g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P500
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 III
39
has manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
64
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery life (420 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 III Vlogging advice
27
fairly wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic port
heavier than competition in class (494g)
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (1,051 grams)
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Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Sony RX10 III
 Nikon Coolpix P500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-09 2016-03-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 125
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 14.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 pounds) 1051g (2.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 472
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 420 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $399 $1,398