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Nikon S9500

 
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
 
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
37
Overall
40

Nikon S9500 overview

Nikon S9500 is Nikon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally announced on January of 2013. It includes a 18 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4896 x 3672.

Nikon brought out this model as a way to improve the older Nikon S9300 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards released the fresher Nikon S9700 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to improve this camera.

The S9500 is positioned #127 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all around #690 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to try our Advanced camera filter to see camera results based on your customized criteria.

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Below is a chart of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon S9500 history

The Nikon S9500 is part of a family of products. You can view the complete list below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Nikon-Coolpix-S9900 front thumbnailNikon S9900
S9500 vs S9900
25-750mm
F3.7-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2015
Nikon-Coolpix-S810c front thumbnailNikon S810c
S9500 vs S810c
25-300mm
F3.3-6.3
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Nikon-Coolpix-S9700 front thumbnailNikon S9700
S9500 vs S9700
25-750mm
F3.7-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2014
Nikon-Coolpix-S5300 front thumbnailNikon S5300
S9500 vs S5300
26-208mm
F3.7-6.6
16MP1/2.3"2014
Nikon-Coolpix-S3600 front thumbnailNikon S3600
S9500 vs S3600
25-200mm
F3.7-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2014
Nikon-Coolpix-S3500 front thumbnailNikon S3500
S9500 vs S3500
26-182mm
F3.4-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2013
Photography Glossary
Nikon-Coolpix-S800c front thumbnailNikon S800c
S9500 vs S800c
25-250mm
F3.2-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-S5200 front thumbnailNikon S5200
S9500 vs S5200
26-156mm
F
16MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-S9500 front thumbnailNikon S950025-550mm
F
18MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-S6500 front thumbnailNikon S6500
S9500 vs S6500
25-300mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-S9300 front thumbnailNikon S9300
S9500 vs S9300
25-450mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Nikon-Coolpix-S4300 front thumbnailNikon S4300
S9500 vs S4300
26-156mm
F3.5-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-S3300 front thumbnailNikon S3300
S9500 vs S3300
26-156mm
F3.5-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-S6300 front thumbnailNikon S6300
S9500 vs S6300
25-250mm
F3.2-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-S100 front thumbnailNikon S100
S9500 vs S100
28-140mm
F3.9-4.8
16MP1/2.3"2011
Nikon-Coolpix-S8200 front thumbnailNikon S8200
S9500 vs S8200
25-350mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Nikon-Coolpix-S6200 front thumbnailNikon S6200
S9500 vs S6200
25-250mm
F3.2-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Nikon-Coolpix-S9100 front thumbnailNikon S9100
S9500 vs S9100
25-450mm
F3.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Nikon-Coolpix-S6100 front thumbnailNikon S6100
S9500 vs S6100
28-196mm
F3.7-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
Nikon-Coolpix-S8100 front thumbnailNikon S8100
S9500 vs S8100
30-300mm
F3.5-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon-Coolpix-S5100 front thumbnailNikon S5100
S9500 vs S5100
28-140mm
F2.7-6.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon-Coolpix-S8000 front thumbnailNikon S8000
S9500 vs S8000
30-300mm
F3.5-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon-Coolpix-S6000 front thumbnailNikon S6000
S9500 vs S6000
28-196mm
F3.7-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon-Coolpix-S1000pj front thumbnailNikon S1000pj
S9500 vs S1000pj
28-140mm
F3.9-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Nikon-Coolpix-S570 front thumbnailNikon S570
S9500 vs S570
28-140mm
F2.7-6.6
12MP1/2.3"2009
Nikon-Coolpix-S640 front thumbnailNikon S640
S9500 vs S640
28-140mm
F2.7-6.6
12MP1/2.3"2009
Nikon-Coolpix-S620 front thumbnailNikon S620
S9500 vs S620
28-112mm
F2.7-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Nikon-Coolpix-S630 front thumbnailNikon S630
S9500 vs S630
37-260mm
F3.5-5.3
12MP1/2.3"2009

Nikon S9500 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of benefits and drawbacks of the Nikon S9500 based on features that are usually viewed as essential in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
flash built-in
good maximum aperture (f)
great reach (550mm)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (205g)
MP count decent (18MP)
nice screen size (3")
OLED
rather wide (25mm)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't use external flash
has no phase detect auto focus
has no RAW files
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of external microphone jack
lack of HDMI support
lack of headphone jack
lack of Timelapse function
no manual exposure
no manual focus
no shutter priority
not so great battery (230 shots)
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (614 thousand dot)
screen is not selfie friendly
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Nikon S9500 Sensor information

The sensor measurement on the Nikon S9500 is 6.16mm x 4.62mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4896 x 3672 pixels . The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 18MP and features a standard ISO range of 125 to 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not supported which means that the user has less margin for error.

The image below shows the S9500's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The S9500 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Nikon Coolpix S9500 sensor size Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon S9500 dimensions

Nikon S9500 weighs in at 0.45 lb (205g / 7.23 ounces) & the overall size of the camera is 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Nikon S9500 is lighter than various competitors.

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Below is a photo of the Nikon S9500 besides a softdrink to help you get a sense of its size.

Nikon Coolpix S9500 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will highlight the button design on the S9500.

Nikon Coolpix S9500 topview buttons dials

Nikon S9500 Lens information

The S9500 offers a fixed lens with a focal range of 25-550mm giving it a 22.0 x zoom which is amazing and will allow you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 25mm, it features an aperture of f which is fantastic for low light circumstances and capturing good bokeh. It will also allow you to choose a much lower ISO for getting crisper images.is excellent zoom and

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Nikon S9500 Connectivity

The S9500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras that consist of NFC or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily transfer images and sometimes adjust camera settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.

Certain apps also give a Liveview and click the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external screen. A good number of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery with the USB port.

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Nikon S9500 Video information

The maximum video resolution on the Nikon S9500 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in file format. 1080p resolution gives you an excellent balance in video quality versus file size but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with any room to downsample. The body doesn't feature a microphone or headphone jack which means you get zero control over the sound. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at a different camera should you want better sound for your videos.

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Nikon S9500 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing for the Nikon S9500 so you have to be cautious in rainy and dusty situations.

Nikon S9500 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon S9500 includes a 3 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 614 thousand dots.

Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Nikon Coolpix S9500 screen and viewfinder Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The View Finder specifications for Nikon S9500 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and hard to see, viewfinders will be very valuable.

Nikon S9500 Shutter information

Nikon S9500 has the ability to shoot continuously at 7.5 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1500 sec.

Photography Glossary

Nikon S9500 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon S9500 features just built-in flash with missing external flash ability.

Nikon S9500 Autofocusing information

Nikon S9500 has not got Auto focusing. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker & accurate than Contrast Based focusing.

It includes 99 focus points to select from. Nikon S9500 has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing mode can be good in low light occasions or you need more accurate depth of field control.

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Nikon S9500 Battery life

The battery (EN-EL12) for the Nikon S9500 is made to last for 230 images with respect to the CIPA standards making it lower than it's competition. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the highest possible (600) battery life in this category of cameras.

Here is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the best battery life:

Nikon S9500 for varying styles of photography

The following graph shows a summation of the Nikon S9500 for varying styles of photography. To see more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Nikon S9500 Portrait photography factors

The Nikon S9500 receives a rating of 31 which is horrible, and means the camera is just not good to use for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor resolution, support for RAW photos together with the flexibility to utilize external lighting.

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good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Nikon S9500 as a Street photography camera

Having a very good points total of 62, the Nikon S9500 is a good fit to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (205 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Sports photography with Nikon S9500

A horrible sports photography score of 42 means the Nikon S9500 is just not good for taking photos of sports. A camera must have great focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus

Travel photography with Nikon S9500

Size is pretty crucial when selecting a travel camera. All round, the Nikon S9500 gets a above average 71 as a travel camera which is a fine pick to buy for your holidays.

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lighter than competition in class (205g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (550mm)
great maximum aperture (f)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (230 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen

Nikon S9500 Landscape photography highlights

For anyone planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most important factor will be image quality. The Nikon S9500 at it's average grade of 46 as a landscape camera is relatively appropriate in the current marketplace.

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really wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording

Vlogging with Nikon S9500

A vlogging camera should really offer a moving display, mic input and ideally IBIS. Considering all the details, the Nikon S9500 is just not good as a vlog camera as it gets a horrible rating of 36.

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reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (205 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket

Nikon S9500 Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the S9500, below is a list of the top placed cameras that fall in to the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The graph down below offers you a bird's eye view of the S9500 compared to it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

These are some more cameras you may see as alternative options. To review a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model type
Nikon Coolpix S9500
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced
2013-01-29
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area
28.5mm²
Sensor resolution
18MP
Anti alias filter
Highest resolution
4896 x 3672
RAW support
Highest native ISO
1600
Min native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points
99
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-550mm (22.0x)
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Screen resolution
614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech
OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
7.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
205g (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions
110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2")
Other
Battery life
230 photographs
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery ID
EN-EL12
Time lapse recording
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Price at launch
$230