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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon P510
  • Successor is Nikon P530
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Launched January 2017
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the FZ80 (18MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The P520 was revealed 4 years before the FZ80 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the P520 matches up against the FZ80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Panasonic FZ80

 P520 FZ80 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Nikon P520

 FZ80 P520 
LaunchedJanuary 2017January 2013More recent by 47 months
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Panasonic FZ80

 P520 FZ80 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon P520 enjoys exterior measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") and a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the P520 vs the FZ80.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and FZ80 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and FZ80.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same MP so you can expect comparable quality of files although you should always factor the age of the cameras into account. The older P520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography information
41
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
58
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ80 Street photography information
51
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competition (550g)
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (616 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography highlights
46
amazing zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
57
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Travel photography camera
57
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1000mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
59
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
more heavy than competition (616g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography features
46
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
57
has manual focus
reasonably wide (20mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging features
57
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
28
reasonably wide (20mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competition (616g)
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Nikon P520 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Panasonic FZ80
 Nikon Coolpix P520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix P520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-29 2017-01-04
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550g (1.21 lb) 616g (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 photographs 330 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $380 $399