Nikon Coolpix P7000 vs Nikon Coolpix S9500: An Expert Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When choosing a compact camera from Nikon's storied Coolpix line, it’s crucial to match your priorities and shooting style to the camera that best complements your creative goals. Today, we dive deep into two relatively recent models - the Nikon Coolpix P7000 and the Nikon Coolpix S9500. Both offer all-in-one solutions in compact form, but they target slightly different users with divergent feature sets and performance characteristics.

Having spent years extensively testing Nikon cameras in our lab and real-world shoots, we'll guide you through a detailed, side-by-side analysis. Whether you focus on portraits, landscapes, or travel, you’ll find clarity about which camera suits your craft best.

Getting a Feel for Size and Ergonomics

First impressions matter when it comes to handling and portability. This influences comfort during extended shoots, ease of travel, and discreetness in street and candid photography.

• Nikon P7000: The P7000 weighs a solid 310g and measures 114x77x45mm, giving it a robust presence more akin to an enthusiast compact. The heft supports stable handheld shooting, especially at longer focal lengths and slower shutter speeds.
• Nikon S9500: In comparison, the S9500 is lighter (205g) and noticeably slimmer at 110x60x31mm. Its slim profile and lower weight cater well to ultra-portable setups, favored by casual travelers and street photographers looking for discretion.

Ergonomic notes: The P7000’s physical controls and grip offer better tactile feedback and intuitive handling, particularly when manually adjusting exposure. Meanwhile, the S9500 emphasizes sleekness over advanced control, meaning more reliance on automated modes.

Design and Controls: Which Interface Matches Your Workflow?

Control layouts drastically affect workflow - especially for photographers who shift between shooting scenarios quickly.

• The P7000 sports a traditional enthusiast layout with dedicated dials for aperture, shutter speed, a mode dial, and a dedicated manual focus ring. This setup invites manual photography enthusiasts seeking full creative control.
• The S9500 opts for minimalism, with fewer external buttons and no manual focus ring. This reflects its target toward casual users who prioritize zoom range and automation over bespoke control.

The P7000’s navigation and shortcut buttons are logically placed around the rear LCD, encouraging swift access to key functions like ISO, white balance, and metering mode. The S9500’s simpler interface streamlines basic operation but at the expense of quicker manual tweaking.

Sensor Tech, Image Quality, and Resolution Insights

Image quality ultimately defines camera value. Let’s dissect their sensor specifications and what that means for everyday shooting.

Technical analysis:

• The P7000’s larger 1/1.7" CCD sensor collects more light per pixel, granting better dynamic range and lower noise at higher ISOs compared to the smaller S9500 sensor.
• Although the S9500 offers higher megapixel count (18 MP vs 10 MP), the smaller sensor area means each pixel is tinier, which generally leads to increased noise in low-light conditions.
• The P7000 supports RAW capture, essential for professional post-processing and maximizing image quality, while the S9500 shoots JPEG-only, limiting flexibility.

In practical shooting, expect the P7000 to produce cleaner images at ISO 800 and above with more nuanced color depth. Meanwhile, the S9500 excels in bright daylight but struggles more as light dims.

Viewing Experience: LCD and Viewfinder Quality

Being able to accurately compose and review images is critical, especially on a compact without an electronic viewfinder (EVF).

• P7000 offers a 3-inch TFT LCD with 921k dots, anti-reflection coating, and five brightness levels, ensuring respectable visibility even outdoors.
• S9500 features a 3-inch OLED screen with 614k dots resolution, which yields vibrant colors and high contrast, but slightly lower resolution than P7000’s LCD.

Worth noting: The P7000 includes an optical tunnel viewfinder providing approx. 80% coverage - helpful in bright conditions or when conserving battery. The S9500 lacks any viewfinder, so you'll rely solely on its rear LCD.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Range and Aperture Comparison

Choosing between these cameras largely depends on your focal length needs.

The P7000’s shorter zoom range with a bright f/2.8 at the wide end benefits portraits and low-light shooting with appealing bokeh and shallow depth of field. The close macro focus of 2 cm allows captivating close-up images.

The S9500’s massive 22x zoom reaching 550mm equivalent favors wildlife, sports, and distant subjects but with a relatively dim aperture and lack of close focusing details noted. The broad reach makes it compelling for travel where you want versatility without multiple lenses.

Autofocus, Burst, and Shooting Mechanics for Action

Your objective will define how important speed and tracking abilities are.

The P7000’s autofocus boasts a complex 99-point system with face detection, allowing tracking of moving subjects and precision focusing for portraits and wildlife. It also supports multiple metering modes (multi, center-weighted, spot) which refine exposure control.

The S9500 offers faster burst capture at 7.5 fps but uses a simpler AF system without face detection or manual focus, impacting accuracy and creative options. The shorter maximum shutter speed restricts freezing very fast action.

Thus, the P7000 better suits photographers prioritizing precision AF and image quality, while the S9500 appeals to users wanting high-speed bursts in casual contexts.

Picture Quality in Different Genres of Photography

Let’s see how these cameras perform across our most common genres, referencing tested sample images:

Nikon P7000 front Nikon P7000 screen back Nikon S9500 front Nikon S9500 screen back

Portraits

• P7000 yields natural skin tones, well-controlled bokeh from its aperture range, and reliable eye-detection autofocus, making it a great choice for portraiture enthusiasts.
• S9500 produces flatter tones due to JPEG-only output and lacks face/eye detection, making post-processing essential for professional-quality portraits.

Landscapes

• P7000 shines with its wider dynamic range (approx. 10.8 EV) preserving detail in shadows and highlights, paired with its anti-reflective screen, helping landscape composition.
• S9500 though higher resolution, captures less dynamic range, limiting flexibility in challenging light conditions.

Wildlife and Sports

• S9500’s 550mm zoom and 7.5 fps bursts get you closer to action-packed moments, ideal for casual wildlife observers.
• P7000 provides steadier AF and exposure control but with slower burst rates and shorter prismatic zoom.

Street Photography

• S9500’s compact size and weight make it discreet for street shooting, but lack of fast shutter speeds and manual control hinder responsiveness.
• P7000’s manual control and viewfinder enable better adaptability though it is less discreet.

Macro

• P7000 enables focus down to 2 cm with macro mode and optical stabilization, useful for detailed close-ups.
• S9500 lacks dedicated macro features.

Night and Astro Photography

• P7000’s higher native ISO, RAW shooting, and longer shutter speeds (down to 1/60s minimum shutter speed) support night and astro shooting better.
• S9500’s ISO and shutter range limit performance in very low light.

Video

Though the S9500 shoots full HD video, lack of microphone input and no manual video controls reduce creative flexibility. The P7000’s video is limited to HD 720p but supports external mics and stabilization, advantageous for vlogging or interviews.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Battery Life

• Neither offers weather or dust sealing; handle with care in harsh environments.
• P7000’s build feels more robust with substantial buttons and a grip.
• Battery life favors the P7000 (350 shots per charge) vs. the S9500’s 230 shots, a key consideration for extended outings.

Connectivity and Storage

The S9500 includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, facilitating image sharing and geotagging - advantageous for travel and social media enthusiasts. The P7000 requires manual transfer via USB or card reader but offers HDMI output for viewing on larger screens.

Value for Money and Recommendations

Who should get the Nikon P7000?

• Enthusiasts who want manual exposure, RAW files, and superior image quality
• Portrait and landscape photographers needing dynamic range and nuanced color
• Users shooting macro or night scenes requiring flexible ISO and shutter speed control
• Those who prioritize physical controls and an optical viewfinder

Who should opt for the Nikon S9500?

• Casual travelers and street shooters desiring a lightweight, pocketable superzoom
• Photographers valuing reach over manual precision for wildlife or action in daylight
• Social media users and bloggers seeking built-in Wi-Fi and GPS tagging
• Beginners who prefer automatic modes without complex menus

Performance Scores at a Glance

Tailored Performance Across Photography Types

• Portraits: P7000 excels with superior autofocus and rich image quality.
• Landscape: P7000’s dynamic range gains the edge.
• Wildlife/Sports: S9500’s zoom and frame rates perform better at casual levels.
• Street: S9500 preferred for portability, P7000 for control.
• Macro: P7000 only choice.
• Night/Astro: P7000 better for low light.
• Video: S9500 offers higher resolution video but limited controls.
• Travel: S9500’s size and connectivity make it appealing.
• Professional Use: P7000’s RAW and manual control are mandatory for serious intent.

Summing Up: Practical Insights from Our Testing Experience

For photographers deeply invested in mastering manual settings and image quality, especially in demanding lighting, the Nikon Coolpix P7000 remains a formidable compact despite its age. Its larger CCD sensor, full manual exposure, RAW shooting, and legitimately usable optical viewfinder represent superior tools for creative control.

Conversely, the Nikon Coolpix S9500 marks a shift toward ultra-zoom convenience and wireless sharing for casual fun and travel. It trades manual finesse for automated simplicity, aiming at casual users who value versatility and portability over advanced imaging perks.

Both cameras demonstrate Nikon’s commitment to offering solutions for different user niches in the compact segment. Your choice boils down to your preferred balance of image quality versus convenience.

Explore Your Options

If possible, visit a camera store to get a hands-on feel for both models. Bring a memory card to shoot sample photos and test responsiveness. Don’t hesitate to explore accessories like external flashes for the P7000 or protective cases for the S9500 to maximize their potential in your workflow.

By grounding your choice in real-world priorities - whether it's the tactile joy of manual control with the P7000 or the travel-friendly superzoom capabilities of the S9500 - you’ll find a compact camera that truly supports your creative vision.

Happy shooting!