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Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Comparison

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Nikon P500

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

Nikon P500
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Canon SX150 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX150 IS
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Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and SX150 IS, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Canon. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon P500 has a 12.0 MP and Canon SX150 IS has a 14.0 MP resolution. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Canon SX150 IS was launched in May 2012. There is 15 months difference between P500 and SX150 IS so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger SX150 IS, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon P500 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-02-09
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 494g. 116 x 84 x 103 mm

Canon SX150 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-05-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 28-336 mm F3.4-5.6 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 306g. 113 x 73 x 46 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX130 IS Compare

Nikon P500 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix P510. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Nikon Coolpix P500
Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon SX150 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX160 IS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS vs Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
9 vs 1 8 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
220 shots vs 130 shots 90 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 28mm 5 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 336mm 474 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 12x more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 3.0m 5m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX150 IS over Nikon Coolpix P500
Max Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 12 MP 16% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2500s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
306 g vs 494 g 188 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele
5.60 vs 5.70 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 336mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS: 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 P500 and Canon SX150 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon P500 has external dimensions of 116 x 84 x 10 mm (4.57 x 3.31 x 4.06″) and weighs 494 g (1.09 lb / 17.43 oz) (including batteries). Canon SX150 IS has external dimensions of 113 x 73 x 46 mm (4.45 x 2.87 x 1.81″) and weighs 306 g (0.67 lb / 10.79 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS. Canon SX150 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 3mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 57mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS.
Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX150 IS is significantly lighter (188g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Canon PowerShot SX150 IS 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
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Nikon P500 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Canon SX150 IS has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS: Sensor Comparison

Nikon P500 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Canon SX150 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor.

Below you can see the P500 and SX150 IS sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS Cameras


Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Canon SX150 IS features a 28-336 mm F3.4-5.6 12x zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 5mm wider coverage than the Canon SX150 IS. Both cameras has a max aperture of f3.40 at the wide end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 474mm longer reach than the Canon SX150 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.60, Canon SX150 IS is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
SX150 IS
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Canon SX150 IS 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 P500 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX150 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SX150 IS for Street Photography

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

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX150 IS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
810 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
336 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2500s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
1 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 130 shots
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX150 IS for Daily Photography

GOOD
35.2X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
494g
Body Thickness 103mm
Read the details
Compact Body
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
306g
Body Thickness 46mm
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX150 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Canon SX150 IS: 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 P500 and Canon SX150 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 P500 and Canon SX150 IS scores compare:

Nikon P500
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #50 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #556 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Canon SX150 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #203 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #777 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Canon SX150 IS and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Canon SX150 IS
Canon SX150 IS
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Canon SX150 IS vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2011-02-09 2012-05-14
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 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 9 1
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 28-336 mm (12x)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.4-5.6
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/2500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m 3.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 306g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 113 x 73 x 46mm
Battery Life 220 shots 130 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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