Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Nikon Coolpix P500

68

"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
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

38

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Overall image quality
Great image quality
63.0
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 128x97x68 mm
Color depth
Great color depth
22.3 bits
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.7mm
Thickness
Thin
2.7"
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P500

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
4x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $299.99 vs $498.36
Help
The best price we've seen is $198 cheaper (around 40% less)
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A230

Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 13x larger sensor
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
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Size Smaller 128x97x68 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.7" vs 4.1"
Help
More than 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
Fastest shutter speed Significantly 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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A230
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
68 vs 38
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
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 entry-level DSLR.

advice

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0
votes
by Wan-Mursyidah-Zuyyin last month
Nikon P500 vs Nikon D3100

I'm a beginner..i'm not to expert about this...i wanna take a nature or a beautiful scenery of nat...

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I am an owner of the P500 currently, and let me tell you, the battery life is a massive downside..."

"It depends on how far you want to go with photography. Do you want to have the ability to change l..."

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...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
P500:Digital
DSLR-A230:Pentamirror
Thickness Quite thick Help
P500:4.1"
DSLR-A230:2.7"
Weight Heavy Help
P500:481 g
DSLR-A230:490 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
P500:116x84x103 mm
DSLR-A230:128x97x68 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Zoom Has much more zoom
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$481 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization

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
3D Takes 3D photos
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
GPS Has a GPS
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
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
3D Takes 3D photos
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Entry-level DSLR

Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Size Slightly larger
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290

Sony Alpha DSLR-A290

Entry-level DSLR

Autofocus Faster autofocus
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Live view Has live view
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen size Smaller screen
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen size Smaller screen

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

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