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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
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
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

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
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
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
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
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

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