CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Nikon P500

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

Nikon P500
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Olympus VG-160

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

Olympus VG-160
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160 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 VG-160, which was introduced in January 2012 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 11 months difference between P500 and VG-160 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 P500 and Olympus VG-160 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
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 494g. 116 x 84 x 103 mm

Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-01-10
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 26-130 mm F2.8-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 125g. 96 x 57 x 19 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 Olympus VG-160

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Cinema Lenses Added to Our Database
More Details about the Upcoming OM System 90mm f3.5 2X Macro Lens 
Daily Deals: DJI Osmo Pocket, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and more
Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE Lens is in Stock
OM System Teaser Hints an Exciting Announcement on February 8th
Readers Vote: Which is the Best Flagship Camera?
Nikon Z50 Firmware brings Eye-detection AF during Video and more
Daily Deals: I am just a Messenger Bag


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Olympus VG-160
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Internal Storage
102 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
220 shots vs 165 shots 55 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 26mm 3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 130mm 680 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 4.8m 3.2m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK P500 PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus VG-160 over Nikon Coolpix P500
Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 12 MP 16% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
125 g vs 494 g 369 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide
CHECK VG-160 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Olympus VG-160
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Olympus VG-160
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 6.50 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160: 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 VG-160 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 VG-160 has external dimensions of 96 x 57 x 19 mm (3.78 x 2.24 x 0.75″) and weighs 125 g (0.28 lb / 4.41 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160. Olympus VG-160 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 20mm narrower, 27mm shorter and 84mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160.
Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus VG-160 is significantly lighter (369g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
VG-160
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
VG-160
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Olympus VG-160 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 Olympus VG-160's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

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 Olympus VG-160 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160: 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 VG-160 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the P500 and VG-160 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 Cameras


Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 have the same 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 VG-160 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Olympus VG-160 features a 26-130 mm F2.8-6.5 5× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 3mm wider coverage than the Olympus VG-160. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Olympus VG-160 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 680mm longer reach than the Olympus VG-160. At f5.70, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
VG-160
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
VG-160
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
VG-160
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
VG-160
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Olympus VG-160 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 VG-160 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
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 VG-160 for Street Photography

POOR
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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus VG-160 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
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
130 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
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
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 165 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus VG-160 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
125g
Body Thickness 19mm
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 VG-160 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
26 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 Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Olympus VG-160: 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 VG-160, 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 P500 and Olympus VG-160 scores compare:

Nikon P500
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #51 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #599 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Olympus VG-160
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #411 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1134 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus VG-160 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Olympus VG-160
Olympus VG-160
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Olympus VG-160 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Olympus VG-160
Brand Nikon Olympus
Announced 2011-02-09 2012-01-10
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 4288 x 3216
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×) 26-130 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F2.8-6.5
Macro Focus Range 1cm 7cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 230k 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
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m 4.80 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps n/a
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 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 125g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 96 x 57 x 19mm
Battery Life 220 shots 165 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
OM System OM-5
20 MP | Four Thirds Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Mount
Sony ZV-1F
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 20 mm
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction