Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Nikon Coolpix P500

64

"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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

58

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
Really small
Compact 109x60x27 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
Large sensor
1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Thickness
Thin
1.1"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P500

Zoom Much more zoom 36x vs 2.5x
Help
Around 207.5x more zoom
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
4x faster continuous shooting
Wide angle Better wide angle 23 mm vs 24 mm
Help
Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Lowest price Much cheaper $299.99 vs $573.31
Help
The best price we've seen is $273 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX3

Aperture Much wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-LX3's lens captures much more light (1.6 f-stops)
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 80% larger sensor
Size Much smaller 109x60x27 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
5.7x smaller
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Thickness Much thinner 1.1" vs 4.1"
Help
3.8x thinner
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
Weight Significantly lighter 265 g vs 481 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 8s
Help
7.5x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
64 vs 58
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P500. 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 pro digicam.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon P500 or the Panasonic DMC-LX3,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Ali-Elhami last month
Nikon P500 vs Nikon P100

i wana use it in my travels and in parties, so i do not use it in profetional ways. i travel ...

0
votes
by Luis-Levin last week
Nikon P500 vs Sony DSC-HX100v

profesional nature, very small insects insects

0
votes
by Kanubhai-Soni last month
Nikon P500 vs Sony DSC-HX100v

What is the flesh range of Sony HXV100V? I want to compare flesh range of of both above cameras.

0
votes
by Ravinderpal-Singh-Bhatia last month
Nikon P500 vs Sony DSC-HX100v

I have a digital camera, but I want to go to higher level of Photography. First I decided for DS...

0
votes
by Magxane-Maglite last month
Fujifilm HS20 vs Nikon P500

To shoot some silver Jewellery, in order to settle a pro shooting for a catalogue........ I'm a ...

One person recommends the Fujifilm HS20:

" What Is the best way to work with this numeric Bridge - Is this a material easy to use without s..."

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
P500:23 mm
DMC-LX3:24 mm
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Lowest price Very expensive Help
P500:$299.99
DMC-LX3:$573.31
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
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 Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
External flash No external flash support
Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam

Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p No 24p support
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Overall image quality Better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p No 24p support
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

discussion

Showing 0 comments