Nikon Coolpix
P500
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ100

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

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
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
23 mm
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

66
"Like the FZ45 it has a control interface that is mid-way between that of an SLR and a compact camera."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-FZ100's button-layout
"Panasonic's build quality is second to none, and the camera handles extremely well."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-FZ100's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P500
Zoom Much more zoom 36x vs 24x
Help
 Around 2.5x more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Wide angle Better wide angle 23 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Around 10% better wide angle
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
Lowest price Much cheaper $299.99 vs $610.64
Help
 The best price we've seen is $311 cheaper (2x less)
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 539 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies 240 fps vs 220 fps
Help
 Around 10% higher fps
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ100
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-FZ100's lens captures slightly more light (0.6 f-stops)
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 8s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
Size Slightly smaller 124x81x95 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 11 fps vs 10 fps
Help
 10% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 3.7" vs 4.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
85 vs 66
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P500.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Nikon P500 or the Panasonic DMC-FZ100,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Incredible zoom Help
P500:36x
DMC-FZ100:24x
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
High-speed framerate Very high speed movies Help
P500:240 fps
DMC-FZ100:220 fps
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
P500:23 mm
DMC-FZ100:25 mm
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
P500:10 fps
DMC-FZ100:11 fps
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
P500:4.1"
DMC-FZ100:3.7"
Weight Heavy Help
P500:481 g
DMC-FZ100:539 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
P500:$299.99
DMC-FZ100:$610.64
Size Large Help
P500:116x84x103 mm
DMC-FZ100:124x81x95 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.
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
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has much more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
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
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
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
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
3D Captures 3D images
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Coolpix P500
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon Coolpix P500.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica V-Lux 2

Leica V-Lux 2

Super zoom

$1,101
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the V-Lux 2 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Super zoom

$411
Size Slightly smaller
Lowest price Significantly cheaper
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ100

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

discussion

Showing 5 comments

Jorge (1:48 PM, October 16, 2011)
I want to buy a new camera. I had before the Panasonic DMC-FZ18. I have still doubts between the Nikon Coolpix P500 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100? Which do you recommend or would you buy for yourself? There is so a big difference between Nikon and Leica lenses? Do you recommend another super zoom camera that you think could be better than the mentioned before?

Thanks :)
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:00 PM, August 30, 2011)
Agreed, thats why our comparison points out that the FZ100 shoots raw and the P500 doesn't.  See the Panasonic FZ100 specs.  Panasonic confirms that the FZ100 does shoot raw: "RAW Format Compatible and Included Software for Editing"
 
Lol (11:45 AM, August 30, 2011)
FZ100 ...... RAW = YES.
 
jas.atx (4:37 AM, August 05, 2011)
Do you own either of these cameras? I was automatically going to buy the FZ100 but am strongly considering the P500.
 
guest (0:54 AM, July 15, 2011)
So glad I found the explain scores link, I couldn't understand how the P500 was rated higher.  I understand why Snapsort includes popularity in their scores, but if you take it out of the equation these camera's are practically equal.  As for some of the other ratings:

ISO - high ISO settings are practically useless on both of these cameras, and pretty much anything not a DSLR.
Image stabilization - just awful on the P500, it shouldn't have gotten any points at all for it.

Snapsort is a great place for quick comparisons, but do your research elsewhere as well.