Nikon B500 Review

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Main Features

16MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

23-900 mm F3.0-6.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Tilting Screen

7.4fps continuous shooting

and FHD at 60fps Video Recording

Built-in Wireless

541g. 114 x 78 x 95 mm

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Nikon B500 Overview

First introduced in February 2016, Nikon Coolpix B500 is a 16.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, Tilting screen and 39.1x zoom 23-900 mm F3.0-6.5 lens.

Nikon B500 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Recommended Accessories
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Nikon B500 is a member of Nikon's Small Sensor Superzoom class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Nikon Small Sensor Superzoom Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Nikon P950 Compare	January 2020	16.0MP - 1/2.3	7.0 fps	140 x 110 x 150mm	1005g
Nikon A1000 Compare	January 2019	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	fps	114 x 72 x 41mm	330g
Nikon B600 Compare	January 2019	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	fps	122 x 82 x 99mm	500g
Nikon P1000 Compare	July 2018	16.0MP - 1/2.3	7.0 fps	146 x 119 x 181mm	1415g
Nikon A900 Compare	February 2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	7.0 fps	113 x 67 x 40mm	289g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
Nikon P950 vs A1000 vs B600 vs P1000 vs A900

**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.

Nikon B500 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon B500 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Bluetooth Connectivity

Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

Full HD Video

Face Detection Focusing

921k dots LCD Resolution

1/4000s High Shutter Speed

7.4fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

Long Battery Life (600 shots)

Manual Exposure

20MB Internal Storage

23mm Wide Angle Lens

900mm Good Tele Lens

39.1X Optical Zoom

Remote control with a smartphone

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CONs

No External Flash Shoe

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200

Heavy Body: 541

No Manual Focusing

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.00

Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50

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Nikon B500 Physical Specs

Nikon B500 weighs 541 g (1.19 lb / 19.08 oz) and has external dimensions of 114 x 78 x 95 mm (4.49 x 3.07 x 3.74″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR-Like type cameras is 591g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 95mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Nikon B500

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Nikon B500

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon B500 with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Nikon B500 Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon B500, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Nikon B500 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Nikon B500 with its main competitors:

Nikon B500 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs B500	Thickness	vs B500
Nikon B600 Compare	500g	41g lighter	99mm	4mm thicker
Nikon L840 Compare	538g	3g lighter	96mm	1mm thicker
Nikon B700 Compare	565g	24g heavier	107mm	12mm thicker
Nikon P500 Compare	494g	47g lighter	103mm	8mm thicker
Nikon P520 Compare	550g	9g heavier	102mm	7mm thicker
Nikon P510 Compare	555g	14g heavier	102mm	7mm thicker
Canon T7 Compare	475g	66g lighter	78mm	17mm thinner
Nikon P950 Compare	1005g	464g heavier	150mm	55mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Nikon B500 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Nikon B500 Lens

Nikon B500 features a 23-900 mm F3.0-6.5 40x zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 23mm focal length on the wide end and remarkable super telephoto reach at 900mm.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

With a max aperture of f3.00 at 23mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f6.50.

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

B500

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

B500 is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Nikon B500 Sensor and Photography Features

Nikon B500 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of and 4:3. B500 has a native ISO range of 80 - 3200 but unfortunately, Nikon B500 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Nikon B500 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Canon SX740 HS with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon B500 vs Canon SX740 HS or take a look at Highest resolution Bridge cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Nikon B500's 1/2.3" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Nikon B500 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Nikon B500 LCD

Nikon B500 has a Tilting 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Tilting screens are more photography oriented while Fully articulated screens are highly preferred by videographers. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Nikon Coolpix B500 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Bridge Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

B500 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Bridge camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 (Compare) or Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Bridge cameras with viewfinder..

Nikon B500 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Nikon B500 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( Has 'always on' Bluetooth to maintain connection) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. Nikon B500's Bluetooth connectivity feature comes handy for connecting other devices that supports it. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our B500. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect B500 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Nikon B500 Battery

Nikon B500 is powered by 4 x AA battery which provides a battery life of 600 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR-Like type cameras is 353 shots, Nikon B500 has a good battery life for its class.

Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras

Nikon B500

Min

Average

Max

Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600 shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon B500 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Bridge cameras list.

Nikon B500 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Nikon B600 Compare	1920 x 1080	280shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon L840 Compare	1920 x 1080	590shots	Yes	No	Yes
Nikon B700 Compare	3840 x 2160	350shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nikon P500 Compare	1920 x 1080	220shots	No	No	No
Nikon P520 Compare	1920 x 1080	200shots	No	No	No
Nikon P510 Compare	1920 x 1080	200shots	No	No	No
Canon T7 Compare	1920 x 1080	500shots	Yes	No	Yes
Nikon P950 Compare	3840 x 2160	290shots	Yes	Yes	No

Nikon B500 Video Features

With Nikon B500, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60i,50i,30p,25p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Nikon B500 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Nikon Coolpix B500 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Nikon B500 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Nikon B500 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Nikon B500 can shoot continuously at max speed of 7.4 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately B500 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Nikon B500 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

Nikon B500 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Nikon B500 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Nikon B500 in 5 different photography areas.

Nikon B500 for Portrait Photography

Nikon B500 has a score of 31 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theB500.

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
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

Read the details of how we scored Nikon B500 for Portrait Photography

Nikon B500 for Street Photography

Nikon B500 has a score of 56 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Image Stabilization
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Medium sized Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Nikon B500 for Street Photography

Nikon B500 for Sports Photography

Nikon B500 has a score of 44 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.4fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Good Battery Life: 600 shots
Wireless Connection
Manual Exposure Mode
Image Stabilization
900 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling

Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon B500 for Sports Photography

Nikon B500 for Daily Photography

Nikon B500 has a score of 51 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Daily Photography list.

39.1X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
541g

Body Thickness 95mm
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon B500 for Daily Photography

Nikon B500 for Landscape Photography

Nikon B500 has a score of 22 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theB500.

Manual Exposure Mode
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Manual Focus Mode

No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Nikon B500 for Landscape Photography

Nikon B500 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Nikon B500 compares with other DSLR-Like cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon B500 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Nikon B500

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Nikon B500 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Nikon B500 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare the Nikon B500 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Nikon B500's price range.

Nikon B500 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Nikon B500 has an Overall Score of 42/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Nikon Coolpix B500 is ranked #82 out of 113 in DSLR-Like cameras (Top 20 Bridge), and ranked #740 out of 1276 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#740 out of 1276 in Top Ranking Cameras
#82 out of 113 in Top Ranking Bridge Cameras
#138 out of 245 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
#251 out of 741 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#49 out of 104 in Lightest Bridge Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(541g)
#186 out of 196 in Top Ranking Cameras with Tilting Screen
Geek Score: 0

Nikon B500

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Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon B500

Does the Nikon B500 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Nikon B500 have RAW support?
Does the Nikon B500 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Nikon B500 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Nikon B500?
What is the Sensor Size of Nikon B500?
is the Nikon B500 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Nikon B500 have Touch Screen?
Does the Nikon B500 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon B500?
What is the Weight of Nikon B500?
What are the Dimensions of Nikon B500?

Nikon Coolpix B500 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Nikon
Model	Nikon Coolpix B500
Announced	2016-02-23
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Number of Lenses
Lens Focal Range	23-900 mm (40x)
Max Aperture	F3.0-6.5
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Tilting
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	921k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	1s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Max Continuous Shooting	7.4 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash Modes	n/a
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
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Sensor
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.3"
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	16 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4608 x 3456
Max Native ISO	3,200
Min Native ISO	80
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
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	541g
Physical Dimensions	114 x 78 x 95mm
Battery Life	600 shots
Battery Type	AA
Battery Model	4 x AA
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots	1
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