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Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon P510
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Old Model is Sony WX350
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Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon P500 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P500 was brought out 5 years earlier than the WX500 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the P500 scores versus the WX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony WX500

 P500 WX500 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Nikon P500

 WX500 P500 
RevealedApril 2015February 2011More modern by 50 months

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony WX500

 P500 WX500 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution921k921kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon P500 comes with outer measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon P500 versus Sony WX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the P500 vs the WX500.

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the P500 and WX500 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and WX500.

All in all, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony WX500 to offer extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged P500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX500 Portrait photography factors
34
manual focus
has face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
39
MP count good (18MP)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography factors
Sony WX500 Street photography factors
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (236g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography information
Sony WX500 Sports photography information
36
great zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery power (360 per charge)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 Travel photography information
Sony WX500 Travel photography information
47
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
long zoom (810mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
71
good battery power (360 per charge)
lighter than average in class (236 grams)
MP count good (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
39
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery power (220 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
49
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
good battery power (360 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging features
Sony WX500 Vlogging features
27
rather wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (494 grams)
35
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (236 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
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Nikon P500 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Sony WX500
 Nikon Coolpix P500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-09 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 grams (1.09 pounds) 236 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 360 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $348