Nikon P500

Retailer
Style
Color

	Price

	Camera only $546
	all P500 prices

	Snapsort rank

	Within its price range #n/a of 1 details Among similar cameras #n/a of 2 details

	Key specs

	Zoom 36x Screen size 3"
	Aperture f/3.5 Screen resolution 920k dots
	Wide angle 23 mm Movie format 1080p @ 30fps
	see all specifications

Nikon has replaced the Coolpix P500 with the P510.

Nikon Coolpix P510 announced February 2012

	Wider aperture
	Has a GPS
	Better image stabilization

Compare the new Nikon P510 vs the P500

"The Nikon Coolpix P500's image quality is good for a compact camera with a small image sensor."

photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's image-quality

"doubles up as an effective video camera thanks to its excellent video mode."

photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's video-quality

"We found that regardless of AF area mode, auto-focus speed was satisfactory for still subjects, but too slow for fast-moving ones. Manual focusing is also possible"

photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus

Explore our gallery of 50 sample photos taken by the Nikon Coolpix P500.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Review (WWW...

Sample video
Short film

Nikon COOLPIX P500 - Filmare H...

Sample video
Short film

Preview of the new Nikon P300 ...

Review
Amateur

Report a correction

The Nikon P500 vs other recent digicams

	Great wide angle lens
	23 mm

	Doesn't use battery, see more detail
	Digital

	Flip-out screen
	Great for movies

	Fast shutter speed
	1/5000 of a second

Report a correction

The Nikon P500 vs other recent super zooms

	Quite small
	Professional size (116×84×103 mm)

	Light
	481 g

	Thin
	4.1"

	Inexpensive
	$545.98

Report a correction

The Nikon P500 vs other recent digicams

	Slightly large
	Professional size (116×84×103 mm)

	Old
	February 2011

	Not so popular
	Among snapsort users

	No touch screen
	More buttons

	Thick
	4.1"

Report a correction

The Nikon P500 vs other recent super zooms

	Narrow aperture
	f/3.5

	Low resolution screen
	920k dots

	Poor maximum light sensitivity
	3,200 ISO

	contrast detection autofocus
	slower focusing

	Lacks an external mic jack
	Limited to the in-camera mic

	No external flash
	Less expandable

	Below average zoom
	36x

	Image stabilization
	Sensor shift

	Lower true resolution
	9.7 MP

	Very short battery life
	220 shots

	Slightly smaller than average sensor
	1/2.3" 6.18x4.55mm

	Short exposures
	2 seconds

Coolpix P500

Nikon

Report a correction

Showing 25 comments

Henry J

(8:10 AM, July 11, 2014)

It sounds to me that you don't know how to handle a camera properly!!!!!!
Here is a pic of the moon...no tripod, just braced on the hood of a car...past 36X optical zoom and to the full extent of digital zoom!

Colorado Gal

(0:51 PM, May 30, 2012)

I love my P500! It's lightweight and easy to handle. I find the battery lasts a long time on a charge. The night landscape and back lighting features work very well. I've been playing with it for months now, and have hardly scraped the surface of what it can do. The only downfall is being unable to add a lens, for more zoom. And yes, when using the full extent of the zoom, it's difficult to get a clear shot, mostly because it's hard to hold still enough. I use my tripod to assist with that, or I pull back just a bit and crop the photo later. When I upgrade in the next year or two, I will stick with Nikon. They have a reputation for having the best lenses...

André

(10:47 PM, May 03, 2012)

Gostaria de saber se essa nikon p500 tem a função de alterar o tom de luz e brilho na hora de fotografar uma imagem que esteja escura? A Canon g12 faz essa função essa nikon também faz?

Grato espero resposta

Yalimae

(3:31 AM, April 18, 2012)

actually, i just got nikon cool pix P500 , and i disagree negative comments you are posting about it, if you meant to realize there are so much things to explore having this camera and here the accessories you might buy if you want your nikon coolpix p500 to improve http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/Accessories_Nikon_Coolpix_P500_t2367

randomone

(1:28 PM, April 04, 2012)

Actually, you can preview what you are going to record. If you hit the display button (just on the right of the viewfinder, a gray box will appear on the screen (or EVF). That's the frame for shooting video.

Henryd29

(3:50 AM, March 15, 2012)

EXELENTE

Alexandre Fonseca

(5:04 PM, February 16, 2012)

The best way to compare picture quality is to take photos in RAW (unprocessed) mode. By comparing the RAW photo with its JPEG equivalent, you can also see how extensive is the post-processing/compression applied by the camera software. This camera doesn't do RAW and there is a good reason for that: apparently it applies some heavy processing to the picture after it is shot, which is fine for vacation pictures but doesn't give you much room either for enlargment or for subsequent processing off-camera. There is no way to turn off post-processing. If you are the photograph-and-forget type, that's fine. If you like editing your pictures, don't bother. For picture quality I would definitely recommend the Panasonic FZ-100, which has unbeatable Leica lenses.If 26X zoom is not enough, you can attach a good quality 1.5 enlargement lens (contrarily to the Nikon, the FZ-100 has threads to attach filters and/or lenses).

Bruceknj

(4:25 PM, February 16, 2012)

Pictures are not sharp. I have returned this camera to Nikon 3 times because of this problem and they have not been able to correct the problem. I am in the process of returning it again and requesting they give me a camera that does produce sharp pictures.

Arjacee

(2:49 PM, February 16, 2012)

I want to get this camera. I don't care about the video so much, I just want good sharp photos! Some other websites say the image quality is not so good. Snapshot gave this camera 100 points so I'm presuming they think the images are sharp. Despite all the features and the zoom... a camera is a camera and most people care about nice sharp pictures. Snapshot..please confirm that it takes nice, sharp and crisp outdoor pictures please ? ( p.s I want to photograph still birds )

Vashic

(11:16 AM, February 02, 2012)

I like this camera very good..

kittykattt

(7:22 AM, January 23, 2012)

Snapsort doesn't like the Canon SX40HS as much as the Nikon P500. I personally like the SX40HS much, much better. The photo quality is superb, and it's identical in most other areas, save the screen resolution. I mean, it's nice to have the P500's very high resolution, but it's not necessary. I'd rather have better photos. Also the Canon has a better stabilizer. I don't really agree with Snapsort in general, as they like the Canon G12 over the Nikon P7100 and I like the P7100 better.

KaylaS

(3:35 AM, January 16, 2012)

does anyone know if there are macro settings (auto, face priority, manual) on this? i just got a Nikon L120 and found it doesnt have macro settings, which really disappoints me, i expected better for a relatively better camera compared to my point and shoot. curious for future reference

Photoguy32

(9:01 PM, January 08, 2012)

This camera sucks i don't know how it beat the canon t3

Rr Rjs

(9:24 PM, December 23, 2011)

Essa maquina é uma merda, a da Canon e da Panasonic dão de 1000 a 0!!

jit

(4:02 PM, December 22, 2011)

P500 is the best superzoom camera upto 2011.One can buy blindly.Thank you Snapsort.Before buying I thought snapsort giving advertising Nikon's product.After buying I really feeling proud to be a owner of best superzoom camera in the world.

Priesteleven@gmail.com

(6:02 PM, December 01, 2011)

awesome....mannnnn

Anubhav M

(9:04 AM, November 19, 2011)

same here

geezee

(4:21 PM, November 09, 2011)

No it is not only firmware, I upgraded mine and it still froze. I replaced the memory card. Still froze. Its in the Fuji shop now being repaired. NOT a firmware only issue.

Ramakrishna

(8:21 PM, November 08, 2011)

nikon is good ,it's got higher zoom ,good mp lense,cmos censor which is only avaliable in higher versions,its user friendly,n i think,wen compared to sony n canon its better.........

Sesa74

(8:25 PM, November 06, 2011)

hello! which better, canon sx30is or nikon coopix p500? and why?
thanks!

Bruceknj

(10:25 PM, October 24, 2011)

Very disappointed with picture quality. Am in contact with Nikon and have sent them copies of images I have taken. They will review what I sent and advise me what can be done to correct this problem.

An2ar

(7:01 AM, October 22, 2011)

i've buy it, not dissapointed.compare with canon 1100d nikon P500 is better, the flash really work in low light room, live view from the LCD is the best.when using the HD Video it is better if not using the zoom, the sound from the AF so loud, the stereo microphone too sensitive.When using max zoom still get great full HD.poor battery cause from the flashlight, continous AF and the LCD. But somehow canon interface is more userfriendly, to get a better picture.learn more i'm sure you'll feel P500 is better

Manu_ry

(6:50 AM, October 17, 2011)

can we add zooming lenses to Nikon coolpix P500??

Aditya

(9:25 AM, October 12, 2011)

Guys does this camera take good videos!?
Video shooting is the main purpose im planning to buy this camera....
Is this camera better that Canon powershot SX 230 HS !?

Hihialohaau

(1:48 PM, September 19, 2011)

image stabilization is horrible on this camera.
when you zoom out all the way the picture is not focused. and you can clearly hear the zoom
if i was to choose a super zoom camera i would purchase the canon sx30is or the sony dsc-hx100v
those are better alternatives.

Nikon Coolpix P500

Summary Nikon P500

Replacement

reviewsWhat are people saying about the P500

gallery

Videos

Pros

The Nikon P500 vs other recent digicams

The Nikon P500 vs other recent super zooms

Cons

The Nikon P500 vs other recent digicams

The Nikon P500 vs other recent super zooms

Appearance

Discussion

Showing 25 comments