Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P500 vs Nikon D5100

Nikon Coolpix P100

58

"Good high ISO performance"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's iso-noise
"Materials, fit, and finish are typical for the class and price point."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the P100's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P100

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.8
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
Nikon D5000

42

Runner-up

Nikon D5000

"Standard slr build quailty"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's build-quality
"It may not be that pretty, but it handles well and produces reliably good results without the need for much user intervention, yet has plenty to offer the more serious user too."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P100

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 114x83x99 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 481 g vs 590 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 190 ms vs 276 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Nikon Coolpix P100 Learn more about
the Nikon P100

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

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 Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm 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
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.9"
Help
Around 20% thinner
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
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
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon Coolpix P100
58 vs 42
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix P100. 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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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
P100:Digital
D5000:Pentamirror
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Thickness Quite thick Help
P100:3.9"
D5000:3.1"
Weight Heavy Help
P100:481 g
D5000:590 g
Size Large Help
P100:114x83x99 mm
D5000:127x104x80 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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range

Nikon Coolpix P100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Size Slightly larger
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$355

Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
Zoom Less zoom
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Placeholder

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150

Compact

Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Screen size Much smaller screen
Wide angle Much worse wide angle

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Weight Heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon D5000
Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon D5000
Nikon Coolpix P100 Nikon D5000

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