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Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replacement is Nikon P510
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Revealed September 2017
  • Superseded the Sony RX10 III
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Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The P500 was introduced 7 years before the RX10 IV which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the P500 scores versus the RX10 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony RX10 IV

 P500 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Nikon P500

 RX10 IV P500 
RevealedSeptember 2017February 2011Newer by 80 months
Display resolution1440k921kCrisper display (+519k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony RX10 IV

 P500 RX10 IV 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Nikon P500 features exterior 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 IV has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Check the Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the P500 vs the RX10 IV.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the P500 and RX10 IV is 67 and 52 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the P500 and RX10 IV.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The P500 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony RX10 IV will give extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged P500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography highlights
34
you can focus manually
provides face detect focus
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (494 grams)
64
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
environment proof
heavier than competition (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography advice
Sony RX10 IV Sports photography advice
36
incredible zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
77
long zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography info
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography info
47
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
great zoom (810mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
MP count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
57
environment proof
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (1,095 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P500
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 IV
39
you can focus manually
quite wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (220 shots)
no Timelapse function
63
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Vlogging camera
27
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
29
really wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (1,095g)
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Nikon P500 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Sony RX10 IV
 Nikon Coolpix P500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-09 2017-09-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 125
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 24.0fps
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 options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 494 grams (1.09 lb) 1095 grams (2.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
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 photos 400 photos
Battery type 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
Pricing at launch $399 $1,698