Nikon Coolpix P530 Review

Main Features

16MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400( expands to 12800)

24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3″ Fixed Type Screen

Electronic viewfinder

7 fps continuous shooting

1920 x 1080 video resolution

120 fps High-Speed Video

494g. 123 x 84 x 98 mm

Replaced Nikon P520

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Nikon P530 Overview

First introduced in February 2014 , Nikon Coolpix P530 is a 16.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older P520 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these model:
Compare Nikon Coolpix P530 vs Nikon P520

Nikon P530 is the latest member of Nikon's P5XX series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

Nikon P5XX Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Nikon P530	2014	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	7.0 fps	123 x 84 x 98mm	494g
Nikon P520	2013	18.0MP - 1/2.3"	7.0 fps	125 x 84 x 102mm	550g
Nikon P510	2012	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	7.0 fps	120 x 83 x 102mm	555g
Nikon P500	2011	12.0MP - 1/2.3"	1.0 fps	116 x 103 x 84mm	494g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Nikon P530 vs P520 vs P510 vs P500

Nikon P530 has an Overall Score of 52/100 and ranked #41 out of 108 in DSLR-Like cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #460 out of 1145 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Nikon P530 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Nikon P530 Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of Nikon P530's specs and feature, and list out its pros and cons compared to average cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

921k dots LCD Resolution

1/4000s High Shutter Speed

7.0fps Fast Continuous Shooting

Manual Focusing

Manual Exposure

24mm Wide Angle Lens

1000mm Good Tele Lens

42X Optical Zoom

Panorama Shooting

120 fps High Speed Video

Buy Nikon P530 from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Touch Screen

No RAW Shooting

Only 9 Focus Points

Low Battery Life: 240 shots

Heavy Body: 494

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.00

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

Nikon P530 Sensor and Photography Features

Nikon P530 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. P530 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 which can be boosted to 12800 but unfortunately, Nikon P530 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with a RAW support, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 or Fujifilm FinePix S1 in the same price range.

Nikon P530 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon P530 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Nikon P530's 1/2.3" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Nikon P530 Physical Specs

Nikon P530 weighs 494 g and has external dimensions of 123 x 84 x 98 mm (4.83 x 3.31 x 3.87″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR-Like type cameras is 584g, Nikon P530 is a remarkably light camera for its class. With a thickness of 98mm, it has an average thickness for its class.

Weight Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Nikon P530

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Nikon P530

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon P530 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon P530, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Nikon P530 with its main competitors:

Nikon P530 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs P530	Thickness	vs P530
Nikon L840	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	538g	44g heavier	96mm	2mm thinner
Canon SX530 HS	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	442g	52g lighter	92mm	6mm thinner
Nikon P520	18.0MP - 1/2.3"	550g	56g heavier	102mm	4mm thicker
Nikon P610	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	565g	71g heavier	107mm	9mm thicker
Nikon P600	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	565g	71g heavier	107mm	9mm thicker
Nikon P510	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	555g	61g heavier	102mm	4mm thicker
Nikon B500	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	541g	47g heavier	95mm	3mm thinner
Sony H400	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	628g	134g heavier	122mm	24mm thicker

Nikon P530 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 Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Nikon P530 Lens

Nikon P530 features a 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 41.7× zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end and remarkable super telephoto reach at 1000mm.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

P530

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

P530

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

With a max aperture of f3.00 at 24mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f5.90.

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

P530

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

P530

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

P530 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Nikon P530's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Nikon P530 Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Nikon P530 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

P530 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder.

Max Shutter speed
Nikon P530 can shoot continuously at max speed of 7 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately P530 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing
Nikon P530 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

Nikon P530 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Video Features
With Nikon P530, 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 P530 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.

P530 also a high speed mode where it captures videos at 120 fps for ultra slow motion videos. P530 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Nikon P530 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

You can connect P530 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery Nikon P530 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 240 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR-Like type cameras is 356 shots, Nikon P530 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend P530 owners to buy some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras

Nikon P530

Min

Average

Max

Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon P530 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Nikon P530 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Nikon L840 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	590shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon SX530 HS >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon P520 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	200shots	No	No	No
Nikon P610 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	Yes
Nikon P600 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon P510 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	200shots	No	No	No
Nikon B500 >>Compare to P530	1920 x 1080	600shots	Yes	Yes	No
Sony H400 >>Compare to P530	1280 X 720	300shots	No	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Nikon P530 is $319.99

What type of Photography is Nikon P530 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Nikon P530 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the P530 compares with the average DSLR-Like camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Nikon P530 for Portrait Photography

Nikon P530 has a score of 51 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
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

Read the details of how we scored Nikon P530 for Portrait Photography

Nikon P530 for Street Photography

Nikon P530 has a score of 71 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization

24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Nikon P530 for Street Photography

Nikon P530 for Sports Photography

Nikon P530 has a score of 52 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 Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Image Stabilization
1000 mm Tele Lens

Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon P530 for Sports Photography

Nikon P530 for Daily Photography

Nikon P530 has a score of 53 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 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

42X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
494g

Body Thickness 98mm
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon P530 for Daily Photography

Nikon P530 for Landscape Photography

Nikon P530 has a score of 40 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

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 P530 for Landscape Photography

Nikon P530 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Nikon P530 compares with other DSLR-Like cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of P530 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon P530 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Nikon P530

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon P530 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Nikon L840

Compare

Canon SX530 HS

Compare

Nikon P520

Compare

Nikon P610

Compare

Nikon P600

Compare

Nikon P510

Compare

Nikon B500

Compare

Sony H400

Compare

Nikon P530 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Nikon P530 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Nikon P530's price range.

Panasonic GX7

Compare

Olympus E-M10

Compare

Sony a5100

Compare

Sony NEX-6

Compare

Fujifilm X-A3

Compare

Panasonic GF7

Compare

Sony NEX-5T

Compare

Canon M100

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon P530

Does the Nikon P530 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Nikon P530 have RAW support?
Does the Nikon P530 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Nikon P530 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Nikon P530?
What is the Sensor Size of Nikon P530?
is the Nikon P530 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Nikon P530 have Touch Screen?
Does the Nikon P530 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon P530?

Nikon Coolpix P530 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Nikon
Model	Nikon Coolpix P530
Announced	2014-02-07
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)
Price	$319.99
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-1000 mm (41.7×)
Max Aperture	F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range	0cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Screen Size	3″
Screen Resolution	921k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	n/a
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	15s
Max Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Continuous Shooting	7.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	8.00 m
Flash Modes	TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes
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
	Report a correction

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	6,400
Max Boosted ISO	12800
Min Native ISO	100
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
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (30/25p, 60/50i) 1280 x 720 (60/50/30/25/15/12.5p) 960 x 540 (30/25p) 640 x 480 (120/100/30/25p)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Optional
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	494g
Physical Dimensions	123 x 84 x 98mm
Battery Life	240 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	EN-EL5
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots	1