Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon Coolpix
P500

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon D5100

100

  
Nikon Coolpix P500

53

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix P500

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P500

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
 Light-weight
481 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 220 shots
Help
 3x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 13x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 4.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 8s
Help
 Around 4x longer exposures
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon P500
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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 faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 560 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 53
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a super zoom.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D5100:Pentamirror
P500:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Thickness Quite thick Help
D5100:3.1"
P500:4.1"
Weight Heavy Help
D5100:560 g
P500:481 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
D5100:127x96x78 mm
P500:116x84x103 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the Coolpix P500
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Coolpix P500
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the Coolpix P500
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the Coolpix P500
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D5100
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Coolpix P500
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the D5100
Compare the D3000 vs the Coolpix P500

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$338 - $347
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Lower speed movies
Wide angle Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix P500
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$299 - $320
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Size Larger
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Coolpix P500
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Super zoom
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Zoom Less zoom
Size Larger
Compare the FinePix HS20 EXR vs the Coolpix P500
Nikon Coolpix P520

Nikon Coolpix P520

Super zoom

$427
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Lower speed movies
Wide angle Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix P520 vs the Coolpix P500
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$642 - $683
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
GPS Has a GPS
Zoom Less zoom
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Coolpix P500

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P500
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P500
Nikon D5100 Nikon Coolpix P500

discussion

Showing 3 comments

bobby boy (3:45 PM, March 24, 2012)
why would you even try to compare these 2 cameras. a thousand dollar DSLR vs a $300 ultra zoom point and shoot. its like trying to race a ford fiesta vs a corvette. obvious who the winner was gonna be
 
Balraj (2:40 PM, November 12, 2011)
yeah, just wanted to see how a 40k DSLR stacks up against a 20k Premium fixed Zooooooooom
lens
 
jitendra India (Delhi) (8:26 AM, July 08, 2011)
it a really good site for comparison, i did not seen information like this anywhere, appreciated