Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Comparison

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Nikon B500

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Panasonic FZ2500

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing B500 and FZ2500, two Bridge cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Nikon Coolpix B500 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 is a Large Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Nikon B500 was introduced to market in February 2016 and Panasonic FZ2500 was launched in September 2016. There is only 7 months difference between B500 and FZ2500 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon B500 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-02-23

16MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

23-900 mm F3.0-6.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Tilting Screen

7.4fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

541g. 114 x 78 x 95 mm

Panasonic FZ2500 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-09-19

20MP - 1″ BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80 - 25600)

24-480 mm F2.8-4.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fully Articulated Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

12.0fps continuous shooting

4K (DCI) - 4096 x 2060 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

915g. 138 x 102 x 135 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-FZ2000

Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix B500 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Battery Life	600 shots vs 350 shots	250 more frames with a single charge
Weight	541 g vs 915 g	374 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	23mm vs 24mm	1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	900mm vs 480mm	420 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	40x vs 20x	more flexible focal coverage
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth

CHECK B500 PRICE

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 over Nikon Coolpix B500

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Electronic vs None	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Max Sensor Resolution	20 MP vs 16 MP	25% more pixels
Max ISO	12.800 vs 3.200	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 921k dots	12% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	12.0fps vs 7.4fps	4.6 fps faster
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port	Yes vs No	better video control
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.00	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.50 vs 6.50	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	13.2m vs 6.9m	6.3m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	5.82µm² vs 1.76µm²	230% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution	4096 x 2060 vs 1920 x 1080	Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter	6.0-stops vs No	Use larger aperture under strong light
4K Photo Mode	Yes vs No	Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Focus Bracketing	Yes vs No	Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking	Yes vs No	Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode	Yes vs No	Change focus point after taking a shot

CHECK FZ2500 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix B500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fully Articulated	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 1.040k dots	High resolution screens
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	23mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele	900mm vs 480mm	Very good Telezoom
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix B500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon B500 has external dimensions of 114 x 78 x 95 mm (4.49 x 3.07 x 3.74″) and weighs 541 g (1.19 lb / 19.08 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic FZ2500 has external dimensions of 138 x 102 x 135 mm (5.42 x 4.01 x 5.3″) and weighs 915 g (2.02 lb / 32.28 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500. Nikon B500 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 24mm narrower, 24mm shorter and 40mm thinner than Panasonic FZ2500.

Comparison image of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500.

Comparison image of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon B500 is significantly lighter (374g ) than the Panasonic FZ2500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix B500 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 (Lumix DMC-FZ2000) provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Nikon B500 features a Tilting only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic FZ2500 sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful especially for taking Selfie shots and video.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500: Sensor Comparison

Nikon B500 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic FZ2500 has a 20.0MP 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Below you can see the B500 and FZ2500 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 Cameras

As seen above, Panasonic FZ2500 has a 4.1x Larger sensor area than Nikon B500. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon B500 features a 23-900 mm F3.0-6.5 40x zoom lens whereas Panasonic FZ2500 features a 24-480 mm F2.8-4.5 20x zoom lens.

Nikon B500 has 1mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FZ2500. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Panasonic FZ2500 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon B500 has 420mm longer reach than the Panasonic FZ2500. However, with a max aperture of f4.50, Panasonic FZ2500 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

FZ2500

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon B500 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic FZ2500 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon B500 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ2500 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Nikon B500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ2500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.4fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Good Battery Life: 600 shots
Wireless Connection
900 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
480 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon B500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ2500 for Daily Photography

GOOD

39.1X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
541g
Body Thickness 95mm
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
20.0X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor
Medium size Body
915g
Body Thickness 135mm
Read the details

Nikon B500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic FZ2500 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Manual Exposure Mode
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ2500: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon B500 and Panasonic FZ2500 scores compare:

Nikon B500

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #81 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #709 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ2500

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #1 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #114 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ2500 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon B500 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon B500. Otherwise, Panasonic FZ2500 is the better camera overall.

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Nikon B500 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix B500	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
Brand	Nikon	Panasonic
Announced	2016-02-23	2016-09-19
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)	SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3"	1″
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	28.07mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	20 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	125 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	n/a	49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	23-900 mm (40x)	24-480 mm (20x)
Max Aperture	F3.0-6.5	F2.8-4.5
Macro Focus Range	1cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fully Articulated
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	921k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a	0.74x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter	n/a	1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.90 m (at Auto ISO)	13.20 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	7.4 fps	12.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	4096 x 2060
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	541g	915g
Dimensions	114 x 78 x 95mm	138 x 102 x 135mm
Battery Life	600 shots	350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	70
DxO Color Depth	not tested	23.0
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	12.6
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	538
	Report a correction	Report a correction