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Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS 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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Olympus TG-850 iHS

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

Olympus TG-850 iHS
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Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon P500, which was introduced in February 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Olympus TG-850 iHS, which was introduced in January 2014 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, P500 is 3 years older than TG-850 iHS. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS 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

Olympus TG-850 iHS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-29
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 21-105 mm F3.5-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 218g. 110 x 64 x 28 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

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 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 105mm 705 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.40 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide


Reasons to choose Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS over Nikon Coolpix P500
Wireless Connection
Yes vs None Better connectivity
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 1.0fps 6 fps faster
Battery Life
330 shots vs 220 shots 110 more frames with a single charge
Weight
218 g vs 494 g 276 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
21mm vs 23mm 2 mm wider coverage

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
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
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 21mm Very good wide angle coverage
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.70 Slow lenses at tele
New4
Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS: 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 Olympus TG-850 iHS 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). Olympus TG-850 iHS has external dimensions of 110 x 64 x 28 mm (4.33 x 2.52 x 1.09″) and weighs 218 g (0.48 lb / 7.69 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS. Olympus TG-850 iHS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 6mm narrower, 20mm shorter and 75mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS.

Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS.
Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus TG-850 iHS is significantly lighter (276g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS'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 Olympus TG-850 iHS: 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, Olympus TG-850 iHS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features TruePic VII processor.

Below you can see the P500 and TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS Cameras


Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS 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 Olympus TG-850 iHS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Olympus TG-850 iHS features a 21-105 mm F3.5-5.7 5× zoom lens.

Olympus TG-850 iHS has 2mm wider coverage than the Nikon P500. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.40, Nikon P500 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 705mm longer reach than the Olympus TG-850 iHS. Both cameras has a max aperture of f5.70 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
TG-850 iHS
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Olympus TG-850 iHS 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

Olympus TG-850 iHS 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

Olympus TG-850 iHS for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
Tilting LCD Screen
21 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

Olympus TG-850 iHS 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 Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
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
Unknown Focus Points
105 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
218g
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
Environmental Sealings
21 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
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS: 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 Olympus TG-850 iHS, 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 Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
Olympus TG-850 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #93 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #554 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Olympus TG-850 iHS
Olympus TG-850 iHS
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Brand Nikon Olympus
Announced 2011-02-09 2014-01-29
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
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 4616 x 3464
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 125 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×) 21-105 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.5-5.7
Macro Focus Range 1cm n/a
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/2000s
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 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Yes
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 218g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 110 x 64 x 28mm
Battery Life 220 shots 330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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