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Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Earlier Model is Nikon P510
  • New Model is Nikon P530
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
Photography Glossary

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. The resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The P520 was introduced 17 months after the RZ18 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the P520 matches up versus the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Pentax RZ18

 P520 RZ18 
RevealedJanuary 2013September 2011Newer by 17 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Nikon P520

 RZ18 P520 

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Pentax RZ18

 P520 RZ18 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon P520 has outer dimensions of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera and 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 have at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the P520 versus the RZ18.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and RZ18 is 66 and 92 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The image here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the P520 and RZ18.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Nikon P520 to show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger P520 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography highlights
41
manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
51
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than others (550g)
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competitors (178g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P520
Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
57
decent MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (1000mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
more heavy than others (550 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 Landscape photography features
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography features
46
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 Vlogging info
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging info
57
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than others (550 grams)
30
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Nikon P520 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Pentax RZ18
 Nikon Coolpix P520Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix P520 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-29 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
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 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL5 D-LI92
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $380 $210