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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 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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Panasonic 3D1

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

Panasonic 3D1
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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 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 Panasonic 3D1, which was introduced in November 2011 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 9 months difference between P500 and 3D1 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 Panasonic 3D1 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

Panasonic 3D1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-11-07
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.50" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 193g. 108 x 58 x 24 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/1500s vs 1/1300s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
220 shots vs 200 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 25mm 2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 100mm 710 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.40 vs 3.90 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 3.5m 4.5m longer range
CHECK P500 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 over Nikon Coolpix P500
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 9 14 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.5" vs 3" 0.5 inches larger display
Weight
193 g vs 494 g 301 g lighter
CHECK 3D1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
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
LCD Screen Size
3.50" vs 3.50" Large display
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
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 5.70 Slow lenses at tele
New4
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1: 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 Panasonic 3D1 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). Panasonic 3D1 has external dimensions of 108 x 58 x 24 mm (4.25 x 2.28 x 0.94″) and weighs 193 g (0.43 lb / 6.81 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1. Panasonic 3D1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 26mm shorter and 79mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic 3D1 is significantly lighter (301g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
3D1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
3D1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 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

Panasonic 3D1's 3.50" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon P500's 3" screen.

On the other hand, Nikon P500 LCD screen has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic 3D1 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 have 1/2.3-inch sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the P500 and 3D1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 Cameras


Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 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 Panasonic 3D1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Panasonic 3D1 features a 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 4× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 2mm wider coverage than the Panasonic 3D1. At f3.40, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 710mm longer reach than the Panasonic 3D1. Both cameras has a max aperture of f5.70 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
3D1
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
3D1
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
3D1
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
3D1
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Panasonic 3D1 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

Panasonic 3D1 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: 12.0MP
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

Panasonic 3D1 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
25 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
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic 3D1 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
23 Focus Points
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
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1300s
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic 3D1 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
193g
4.0X 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

Panasonic 3D1 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
25 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 Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic 3D1: 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 Panasonic 3D1, 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 Panasonic 3D1 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
Panasonic 3D1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #224 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #842 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic 3D1 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
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Panasonic 3D1
Panasonic 3D1
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2011-02-09 2011-11-07
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 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 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 25-100 mm (4×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.9-5.7
Macro Focus Range 1cm 5cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.50"
Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/1300s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m 3.50 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 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 193g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 108 x 58 x 24mm
Battery Life 220 shots 200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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