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Nikon B500

 
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Nikon B500 summary

Nikon B500 is Nikon's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally revealed on February of 2016. The camera comes with a 16MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The B500 stands at #64 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & overall #546 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please try out our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your customized criteria.

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The following is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Nikon B500 family

The Nikon B500 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all past and current models alongside important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Nikon-Coolpix-B600 front thumbnailNikon B600
B500 vs B600
24-1440mm
F3.3-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2019
Nikon-Coolpix-B700 front thumbnailNikon B700
B500 vs B700
24-1440mm
F3.3-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2016
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Nikon-Coolpix-B500 front thumbnailNikon B50023-900mm
F3.0-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2016

Nikon B500 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of upsides and downsides of the Nikon B500 based on aspects which are often regarded as important in a camera.

amazing zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
connects via bluetooth
fairly wide (23mm)
good resolution screen (921 k dots)
great battery life (600 shots)
great minimum ISO (80)
great zoom (900mm)
has built in flash
has HDMI out
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
includes tracking autofocus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
screen size is good (3 inch)
screen tilts
display isn't selfie friendly
external flash not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
has no phase detect autofocus
has no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (541 grams)
manual focus not available
no aperture priority
no external mic support
no headphone support
no shutter priority
no Time Lapse function
slow at tele end (f6.5)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Nikon B500 Sensor specifications

The specification of the sensor on the Nikon B500 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not supported therefore you have less margin for error.

The picture underneath shows the B500's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The B500 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.

Nikon Coolpix B500 sensor size AI-made Images of Food Appear More Delicious Than Real Photos

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon B500 dimensions

Nikon B500 is 1.19 lbs (541g or 19.08 oz) & has external dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Nikon B500 is more heavy compared with various rivals.

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Down below is a shot of the Nikon B500 besides a soft drink so you're able to get a feel for its scale.

Nikon Coolpix B500 dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button arrangement on the B500.

Nikon Coolpix B500 topview buttons dials

Nikon B500 Lens specifications

The B500 has got a built in lens and a focal range of 23-900mm making it a 39.1 x zoom which is great and would allow you to zoom all the way in.

At the widest 23mm, it features an aperture of f3.0 which is fairly slow and not the best for low light situations and you might struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You might also need to up the ISO resulting in noisy files. At the tele end, 900mm is exceptional zoom and comes at f6.5 making it very sluggish and you might need to set slow shutter speeds.

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Nikon B500 Connectivity

The B500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras which have NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to send photos and oftentimes change camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.

Some applications even allow a Liveview and release the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external display. Nearly all cameras enable you to charge the battery pack through the USB socket.

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Nikon B500 Video specifications

The highest possible video quality on the Nikon B500 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 1080p quality gives a great balance for quality vs file sizes but 1080p won't leave you with any room to crop. The camera does not offer a microphone and / or headphone jack which means that you get no control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to take a look at an alternative model if you need better audio for your video clips.

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Nikon B500 Weather Sealing

Nikon B500 does not include environment proofing so damp conditions might ruin the camera.

Nikon B500 Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon B500 comes with a 3" tilting screen boasting a resolution of 921k dots.

Sadly the screen is not a touch screen.

Nikon Coolpix B500 screen and viewfinder Kodak's Tri-X Black-and-White Film Now 30% Cheaper

The ViewFinder details for Nikon B500 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are very useful for sunny outdoor conditions which might make the camera display washed out and difficult to see.

Nikon B500 Shutter specifications

Nikon B500 has the capability to shoot continuously at 7.4 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Nikon B500 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Nikon B500 features only in-built flash without external flash support.

Nikon B500 Autofocusing specifications

Nikon B500 features just Contrast Detect AF & does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker and accurate compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detect which can be useful for taking photos of people.

It also comes with Tracking AF for subjects on the move. Nikon B500 lacks manual focus. Manual focus option can be useful for low light situations or you want to have more exact control on depth of field.

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Nikon B500 Battery life

The battery life (4 x AA) for the Nikon B500 is fashioned to last for 600 photographs with respect to the CIPA measurements making it higher than average ın comparison with its class. The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has got the best (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Here is a number of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

Nikon B500 for varying types of photography

The following chart presents a outline of the Nikon B500 for varying types of photography. To read more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Nikon B500

The Nikon B500 receives a rating of 37 which is subpar, and means the camera is just not acceptable for portrait photos. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor resolution, support for RAW photos together with the option to utilize external lighting.

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resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detect focus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Nikon B500 Street photography advice

Having a decent points tally of 52, the Nikon B500 is relatively appropriate to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than others (541 grams)

Nikon B500 Sports photography features

A average sports photography rating of 51 suggests the Nikon B500 is somewhat appropriate for photographing sports. A camera needs good autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery (600 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Travel photography with Nikon B500

Size is super crucial in picking a travel camera. Overall, the Nikon B500 gets a reasonable 59 for a travel camera which makes it reasonably suitable to buy for your vacations.

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great battery life (600 per charge)
connects via bluetooth
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (23mm)
long zoom (900mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (541 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)

Landscape photography with Nikon B500

When you are looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most vital factor will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon B500 with it's subpar score of 45 for a landscape camera is just not acceptable within the current marketplace.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good battery pack (600 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function

Nikon B500 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging ought to offer a moving screen, mic input and preferably IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Nikon B500 is just not acceptable as a vlog camera as it gets a subpar rating of 27.

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rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (541g)

Nikon B500 Alternatives

If you want replacements to the B500, below is a collection of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph listed below provides you a summary of the B500 vs it's highest scoring competitors suggested previously.

These are various other cameras you may regard as alternatives. To look at a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Nikon
Model
Nikon Coolpix B500
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2016-02-23
Physical type
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
3200
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
23-900mm (39.1x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus range
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of display
Tilting
Display diagonal
3 inch
Resolution of display
921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
7.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
541g (1.19 lb)
Physical dimensions
114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7")
Other
Battery life
600 photos
Battery style
AA
Battery model
4 x AA
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
1
Cost at release
$300