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

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 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 TF1

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

Sony TF1
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 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 Sony TF1, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, P500 is 2 years older than TF1. 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 Sony TF1 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 TF1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-21
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 25-100 mm F3.6-4.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 152g. 102 x 62 x 23 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

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-TF1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 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-TF1
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
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
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 3.60 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 3.9m 4.1m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK P500 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 over Nikon Coolpix P500
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
240 shots vs 220 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Weight
152 g vs 494 g 342 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
4.70 vs 5.70 faster lens at tele
CHECK TF1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1
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
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix P500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.70" vs 2.70" Small display
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1: 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 TF1 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 TF1 has external dimensions of 102 x 62 x 23 mm (4.02 x 2.44 x 0.91″) and weighs 152 g (0.34 lb / 5.36 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1. Sony TF1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 14mm narrower, 22mm shorter and 80mm thinner than Nikon P500.

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1.

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1.
Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony TF1 is significantly lighter (342g ) than the Nikon P500 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P500
TF1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

P500
TF1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of TF1, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to P500.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P500's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony TF1's 2.7" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Nikon P500 LCD screen also 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, Sony TF1 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to P500.
Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1: 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 TF1 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the P500 and TF1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 Cameras


Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 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 32% larger pixel area compared to Sony TF1, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon P500 features a 23-810 mm F3.4-5.7 36× zoom lens whereas Sony TF1 features a 25-100 mm F3.6-4.7 4× zoom lens.

Nikon P500 has 2mm wider coverage than the Sony TF1. At f3.40, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon P500 has 710mm longer reach than the Sony TF1. However, with a max aperture of f4.70, Sony TF1 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P500
TF1
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

P500
TF1
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

P500
TF1
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

P500
TF1
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon P500 and Sony TF1 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 TF1 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: 16.0MP
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

Sony TF1 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: f3.60
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony TF1 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
Environmental Sealings
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
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
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon P500 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony TF1 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
Compact Body
152g
Environmental Sealings
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

Sony TF1 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
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Nikon P500 vs Sony TF1: 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 TF1, 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 TF1 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 TF1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #173 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #770 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon P500 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony TF1 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon P500
Nikon P500
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony TF1
Sony TF1
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony TF1 vs Nikon P500 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-02-09 2013-06-21
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 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 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 n/a
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 F3.6-4.7
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.70"
Resolution 921k dots 460k 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 Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 8.00 m 3.90 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 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 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 152g
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm 102 x 62 x 23mm
Battery Life 220 shots 240 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