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
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
      • Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V 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

Sony HX10V

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

Sony HX10V
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing P500 and HX10V, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon P500 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Sony HX10V was launched in February 2012. There is 13 months difference between P500 and HX10V so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger HX10V, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V 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

Sony HX10V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-28
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 24-400 mm F3.3-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in GPS
  • 234g. 105 x 60 x 34 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Sony HX10V was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs Nikon Coolpix P500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Daily Deals: DJI Osmo Pocket, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and more
Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE Lens is in Stock
Readers Vote: Which is the Best Flagship Camera?
Nikon Z50 Firmware brings Eye-detection AF during Video and more
Firmware Update turns the Sony 16-50mm pancake in to a F2.8 Lens and makes it Weatherproof!
Daily Deals: I am just a Messenger Bag
Daily Deals: A Travel tripod, an affordable UHS-II card and more
Nikon Firmware Updates Released for Nikkor Z 400mm f4/5, Z 400mm F2.8, Z 600mm F4 TC and Z 800mm F6.3 lenses


**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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 400mm 410 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
36× vs 16.7× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 5.3m 2.7m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area
CHECK P500 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V over Nikon Coolpix P500
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
12.800 vs 3.200 300% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/1600s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Battery Life
320 shots vs 220 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Weight
234 g vs 494 g 260 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.40 faster lens at wide
CHECK HX10V PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
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 Resolution
921k dots vs 922k dots High resolution screens
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
23mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
810mm vs 400mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
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 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V: 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 Sony HX10V 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). Sony HX10V has external dimensions of 105 x 60 x 34 mm (4.13 x 2.36 x 1.34″) and weighs 234 g (0.52 lb / 8.25 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V. Sony HX10V is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 11mm narrower, 24mm shorter and 69mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V.
Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony HX10V is significantly lighter (260g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
HX10V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

P500
HX10V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix P500 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V 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 Sony HX10V'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 Sony HX10V has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V: 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, Sony HX10V has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Sony HX10V's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon P500's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the P500 and HX10V sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V Cameras


Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V 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. On the other hand, since Nikon P500 has 49% larger pixel area compared to Sony HX10V, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Sony HX10V features a 24-400 mm F3.3-5.9 16.7× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 1mm wider coverage than the Sony HX10V. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.30, Sony HX10V is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 410mm longer reach than the Sony HX10V. At f5.70, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
HX10V
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
HX10V
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
HX10V
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
HX10V
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Sony HX10V 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

Sony HX10V 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
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
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony HX10V 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
24 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

Sony HX10V 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
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
400 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX10V 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
234g
16.7X 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

Sony HX10V 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Sony HX10V: 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 Sony HX10V, 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 Sony HX10V 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
Sony HX10V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #169 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #763 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony HX10V and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony HX10V
Sony HX10V
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony HX10V vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-02-09 2012-02-28
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 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 12,800 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 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 23-810 mm (36×) 24-400 mm (16.7×)
Max Aperture F3.4-5.7 F3.3-5.9
Macro Focus Range 1cm 5cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1500s 1/1600s
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 5.30 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 Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 494g 234g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 105 x 60 x 34mm
Battery Life 220 shots 320 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
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