Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60 Comparison

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Nikon P500

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

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Panasonic FZ60

16 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and FZ60, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon P500 has a 12.0 MP and Panasonic FZ60 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Panasonic FZ60 was launched in July 2012. There is 17 months difference between P500 and FZ60 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger FZ60, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 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

Panasonic FZ60 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-07-18

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)

25-600 mm F2.8-5.2 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

202k dot Electronic viewfinder

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

493g. 120 x 81 x 92 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-FZ62

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-FZ60 (Lumix DMC-FZ62)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P500 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60

LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 460k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Focal Length - Wide	23mm vs 25mm	2 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	810mm vs 600mm	210 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	36× vs 24×	more flexible focal coverage
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.74µm²	34% larger pixel area

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60 over Nikon Coolpix P500

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Number of Focus Points	23 vs 9	14 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1500s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 1.0fps	9 fps faster
Battery Life	450 shots vs 220 shots	230 more frames with a single charge
Weight	493 g vs 494 g	1 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.40	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.20 vs 5.70	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	13.5m vs 8.0m	5.5m longer range
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60

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
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele	810mm vs 600mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60

External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60: 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 FZ60 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 FZ60 has external dimensions of 120 x 81 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.19 x 3.62″) and weighs 493 g (1.09 lb / 17.39 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60. Panasonic FZ60 is 3mm shorter and 11mm thinner than Nikon P500 but it is also 4mm wider.

Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60.

Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic FZ60 is 1g lighter than the Nikon P500 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500

FZ60

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

P500

FZ60

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60 (Lumix DMC-FZ62) 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 Panasonic FZ60'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 Panasonic FZ60 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60: 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, Panasonic FZ60 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the P500 and FZ60 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 Cameras

Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Panasonic FZ60 features a 25-600 mm F2.8-5.2 24× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 2mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FZ60. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Panasonic FZ60 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 210mm longer reach than the Panasonic FZ60. However, with a max aperture of f5.20, Panasonic FZ60 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500

FZ60

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500

FZ60

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500

FZ60

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500

FZ60

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Panasonic FZ60 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 FZ60 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 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ60 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
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ60 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: 10.0fps
23 Focus Points
600 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ60 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

24.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
493g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic FZ60 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
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic FZ60: 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 FZ60, 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 Panasonic FZ60 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

Panasonic FZ60

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #60 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #604 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic FZ60 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic FZ60 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix P500	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ60
Brand	Nikon	Panasonic
Announced	2011-02-09	2012-07-18
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)	SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area	28.07mm²	27.72mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4000 x 3000	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	6400 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×)	25-600 mm (24×)
Max Aperture	F3.4-5.7	F2.8-5.2
Macro Focus Range	1cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	921k dots	460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	n/a	202k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a	100%
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	13.50 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	10.0 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, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	494g	493g
Dimensions	116 x 84 x 103mm	120 x 81 x 92mm
Battery Life	220 shots	450 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction