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Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 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 P510

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

Nikon P510
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Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and P510, 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 P510 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Nikon P510 was launched in July 2012. There is 17 months difference between P500 and P510 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger P510, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 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 P510 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-07-05
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in GPS
  • 555g. 120 x 83 x 102 mm
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix P500 Compare

Nikon P510 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix P520. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix P520 vs Nikon Coolpix P510
Nikon Coolpix P520 vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 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 P510
Battery Life
220 shots vs 200 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Weight
494 g vs 555 g 61 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm 1 mm wider 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


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P510 over Nikon Coolpix P500
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 1.0fps 6 fps faster
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
1000mm vs 810mm 190 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
41.7× vs 36× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.00 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Nikon Coolpix P510
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 921k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 1000mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Nikon Coolpix P510
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
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 P510: 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 P510 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 P510 has external dimensions of 120 x 83 x 102 mm (4.72 x 3.27 x 4.02″) and weighs 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510. Nikon P510 is 1mm shorter and 1mm thinner than Nikon P500 but it is also 4mm wider.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510.
Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon P500 is 61g lighter than the Nikon P510 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500
P510
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500
P510
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Nikon Coolpix P510 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 P500 and Nikon P510's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.
Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510: 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 P510 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor.

Below you can see the P500 and P510 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 Cameras


Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 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 P510, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Nikon P510 features a 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 41.7× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon P510. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.00, Nikon P510 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P510 has 190mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon P500. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Nikon P500 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
P510
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
P510
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
P510
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
P510
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Nikon P510 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 P510 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
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
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon P510 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 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

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P510 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
1000 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P510 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
41.7X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
555g
Body Thickness 102mm
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon P510 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
Built-in GPS
24 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 Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Nikon P510: 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 P510, 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 P510 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 P510
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #37 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #474 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P510 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon P500 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon P500. Otherwise, Nikon P510 is the better camera overall.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Nikon P510
Nikon P510
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Nikon P510 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P510
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-02-09 2012-07-05
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 100 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×) 24-1000 mm (41.7×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range 1cm 2cm
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 555g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 120 x 83 x 102mm
Battery Life 220 shots 200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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