Nikon Coolpix
P500
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

72

  
Nikon Coolpix P500

54

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 
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
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P500
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
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 3 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Slightly lighter 481 g vs 505 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 12.5x larger sensor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 550 shots vs 220 shots
Help
 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Size Slightly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 4.1"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $399.00 vs $596.23
Help
 The best price we've seen is $197 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
54 vs 72
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
P500:Digital
D3100:Pentamirror
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Thickness Quite thick Help
P500:4.1"
D3100:2.9"
Weight Heavy Help
P500:481 g
D3100:505 g
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
Size Large Help
P500:116x84x103 mm
D3100:124x96x73 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Compare the D3200 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Compare the D5100 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the D90 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$335 - $347
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D3100
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 Coolpix P500
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D3100

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
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
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$595
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Super zoom

$248 - $249
Size Smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Coolpix P500

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon D3100
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Jolly Samar (10:34 AM, February 21, 2012)
Please let me whether ..DLSR 3100 /5100 better than Sony HX 100V