Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P500

85

"doubles up as an effective video camera thanks to its excellent video mode."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's video-quality
"This feature really does seem to make a difference and could mean capturing a successful, sharp shot or missing the opportunity altogether."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's image-stabilization

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P500

Zoom
Great zoom
36x
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
23 mm
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

56

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Thickness
Thin
3.4"
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
External flash
External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the SX20 IS's lens captures slightly more light (0.6 f-stops)
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Thickness Thinner 3.4" vs 4.1"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
Around 90% longer exposures
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS

Advantages of the Nikon P500

Zoom Much more zoom 36x vs 20x
Help
More than 3x more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle 23 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Around 20% better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
Around 14.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Lowest price Much cheaper $299.99 vs $742.23
Help
The best price we've seen is $442 cheaper (2.5x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The P500's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 600 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
56 vs 85
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P500.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Zoom Great zoom Help
SX20 IS:20x
P500:36x
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX20 IS:0 cm
P500:1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX20 IS:3.4"
P500:4.1"
Weight Heavy Help
SX20 IS:600 g
P500:481 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
SX20 IS:$742.23
P500:$299.99
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Size Large Help
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
P500:116x84x103 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Size Is slightly smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Wide angle Has a significantly narrower wide angle lens
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Super zoom

$644

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Super zoom

Size Smaller
Aperture Slightly wider aperture
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
True resolution Much lower true resolution

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Size Much larger
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P500

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