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Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 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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Nikon L810

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

Nikon L810
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and L810, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Nikon. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon P500 has a 12.0 MP and Nikon L810 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Nikon L810 was launched in February 2012. There is 12 months difference between P500 and L810 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger L810, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 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

Nikon L810 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-01
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 23-585 mm F3.1-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.2 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 430g. 111 x 76 x 83 mm

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 Nikon Coolpix L810

Nikon L810 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix L820. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix L820 vs Nikon Coolpix L810
Nikon Coolpix L820 vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Nikon Coolpix L810
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
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 585mm 225 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 26× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L810 over Nikon Coolpix P500
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
1.2fps vs 1.0fps 0.2 fps faster
Battery Life
300 shots vs 220 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Weight
430 g vs 494 g 64 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
3.10 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Nikon Coolpix L810
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift 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
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 921k dots High resolution screens
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 23mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 585mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Nikon Coolpix L810
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.2fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810: 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 Nikon L810 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). Nikon L810 has external dimensions of 111 x 76 x 83 mm (4.37 x 2.99 x 3.27″) and weighs 430 g (0.95 lb / 15.17 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810. Nikon L810 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 5mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 20mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810.
Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L810 is 64g lighter than the Nikon P500 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
L810
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
L810
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Nikon Coolpix L810 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 Nikon L810'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 Nikon L810 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810: 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, Nikon L810 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the P500 and L810 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 Cameras


Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Nikon P500 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Nikon L810, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Nikon L810 features a 23-585 mm F3.1-5.9 26× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 23mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.10, Nikon L810 is faster than Nikon P500 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 225mm longer reach than the Nikon L810. At f5.70, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
L810
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
L810
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
L810
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
L810
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Nikon L810 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

Nikon L810 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
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
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon L810 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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
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

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon L810 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
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
585 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.2fps
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon L810 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
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
25.4X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
430g
Body Thickness 83mm
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon L810 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
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 Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Nikon L810: 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 Nikon L810, 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 Nikon L810 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
Nikon L810
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #173 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #724 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon L810 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Nikon L810
Nikon L810
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Nikon L810 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix L810
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-02-09 2012-02-01
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 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
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 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 23-585 mm (26×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.1-5.9
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.2 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 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 430g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 111 x 76 x 83mm
Battery Life 220 shots 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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