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 Panasonic LF1 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

Panasonic LF1

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic LF1
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 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 LF1, which was introduced in November 2013 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. As you can see, P500 is 2 years older than LF1. 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 Panasonic LF1 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 LF1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-11-26
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400 ( expands to 12800)
  • 28-200 mm F2.0-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 192g. 103 x 62 x 28 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-LF1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Nikon Z 85mm F1.2 S vs Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Lens Size And Feature Comparison
New Nikon Z 26mm F2.8 Pancake is Impressively Small compared to Smallest Z mount Lenses
New Sigma 50mm f1.4 Lens for E and L mounts images Leaked
OM System 90mm f3.5 2X Macro Lens Images Leaked
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


**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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 28mm 5 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 200mm 610 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 7.1× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 7.0m 1m longer range
CHECK P500 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 over Nikon Coolpix P500
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 9 14 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Battery Life
250 shots vs 220 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Weight
192 g vs 494 g 302 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.00 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide
Sensor Pixel Area
3.46µm2 vs 2.34µm2 47% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK LF1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
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
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 920k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 200mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
New4
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1: 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 LF1 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 LF1 has external dimensions of 103 x 62 x 28 mm (4.06 x 2.44 x 1.1″) and weighs 192 g (0.42 lb / 6.77 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1. Panasonic LF1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 13mm narrower, 22mm shorter and 75mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic LF1 is significantly lighter (302g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
LF1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
LF1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 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 Panasonic LF1'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 Panasonic LF1 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Nikon P500's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Panasonic LF1's sensor is 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ).

Since Panasonic LF1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Nikon P500.

Below you can see the P500 and LF1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 Cameras


As seen above, Panasonic LF1 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Nikon P500. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Panasonic LF1 features a 28-200 mm F2.0-5.9 7.1× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 5mm wider coverage than the Panasonic LF1. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.00, Panasonic LF1 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 610mm longer reach than the Panasonic LF1. At f5.70, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
LF1
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
LF1
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
LF1
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
LF1
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Panasonic LF1 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 LF1 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
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic LF1 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic LF1 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
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
200 mm Tele Lens
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic LF1 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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
192g
7.1X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic LF1 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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Panasonic LF1: 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 LF1, 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 LF1 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 LF1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #24 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #396 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Panasonic LF1 has a higher Overall Score but this doesn't make it an easy decision. Panasonic LF1 may have better image quality, more features and smaller body compared to but Nikon P500 offers higher value for the money.
If you are a price conscious buyer and don't need the extra features, image quality and compactness that Panasonic LF1 offers, Nikon P500 is the better choice for you. In all other cases, we recommend the Panasonic LF1!

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic LF1
Panasonic LF1
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic LF1 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2011-02-09 2013-11-26
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 12800 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 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 28-200 mm (7.1×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F2.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range 1cm 3cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/4000s
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 7.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 10.0 fps
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
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 192g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 103 x 62 x 28mm
Battery Life 220 shots 250 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 52
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.8
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.6
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 211
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