Nikon Coolpix P500From real comments

Verdict distilled from 31 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment65%
PROS 65%
CONS 35%

Rank based on 31 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a huge 36x zoom with a wide-angle lens for scenery and travel shots
  • You're a beginner wanting to learn manual settings before moving to a DSLR
  • You want good low-light and macro photo performance on a budget

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need strong indoor low-light autofocus without blur
  • You rely on long battery life for all-day shooting
  • You need RAW mode, a hotshoe for external flash, or pristine 1080p video with good audio

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Premium
All-in-one versatilityFast autofocusStrong image qualityHigh priceShort battery lifeSmall controls and menu complexity
All-in-one versatility
Fast autofocus
Strong image quality
High price
Short battery life
Small controls and menu complexity
2Mid
Massive 60x zoom rangeLightweight and travel-friendlyEasy to useSnapBridge app problemsFocus struggles at maximum zoom4K video can look soft
Massive 60x zoom range
Lightweight and travel-friendly
Easy to use
SnapBridge app problems
Focus struggles at maximum zoom
4K video can look soft
Best value
3Mid
Built-in ND filtersAll-in-one zoom versatilityStrong 4K/10-bit video qualityLens sharpness debateFlimsy lens cap4K sensor crop / limited wide angle
Built-in ND filters
All-in-one zoom versatility
Strong 4K/10-bit video quality
Lens sharpness debate
Flimsy lens cap
4K sensor crop / limited wide angle
4Mid
Versatile all-in-one zoomSharp image quality with large sensorDurable long-term reliabilityWeak low-light and high-ISO performanceNo headphone jackDifficult manual focus
Versatile all-in-one zoom
Sharp image quality with large sensor
Durable long-term reliability
Weak low-light and high-ISO performance
No headphone jack
Difficult manual focus
5Mid
Exceptional 50x ZoomGreat Value for PriceStrong Overall Image QualityNon-AA Proprietary BatteryNoisy or Grainy Video in Some ConditionsWeak Low-Light and Full-Zoom Aperture
Exceptional 50x Zoom
Great Value for Price
Strong Overall Image Quality
Non-AA Proprietary Battery
Noisy or Grainy Video in Some Conditions
Weak Low-Light and Full-Zoom Aperture
6Premium
CCD color rendering and image qualityGreat value on the secondhand marketRugged, professional build qualitySlow write and focus speedSticky, degrading rubber gripPoor AA battery life
CCD color rendering and image quality
Great value on the secondhand market
Rugged, professional build quality
Slow write and focus speed
Sticky, degrading rubber grip
Poor AA battery life
7Budget
Constant f/2.8 apertureStrong 4K video and stabilizationGreat value for priceSmall sensor hurts low-light and noise performanceWeak or unreliable autofocusInconsistent still photo sharpness
Constant f/2.8 aperture
Strong 4K video and stabilization
Great value for price
Small sensor hurts low-light and noise performance
Weak or unreliable autofocus
Inconsistent still photo sharpness
8Mid
Exceptional 40x zoom rangeWeak low-light and indoor performance
Exceptional 40x zoom range
Weak low-light and indoor performance
9Budget
Clean, crisp image qualityGood value for the priceGreat choice for beginner photographersDifficulty transferring photos to phoneConfusing photo croppingNo Bluetooth connectivity
Clean, crisp image quality
Good value for the price
Great choice for beginner photographers
Difficulty transferring photos to phone
Confusing photo cropping
No Bluetooth connectivity
10Budget
Great value secondhandSharp CCD image qualityDurable, long-lasting buildInconsistent battery lifeNo HD video, limited frame rateVideo file/aspect ratio quirks
Great value secondhand
Sharp CCD image quality
Durable, long-lasting build
Inconsistent battery life
No HD video, limited frame rate
Video file/aspect ratio quirks
You are here
11Mid
Nikon Coolpix P500
Powerful zoom rangeGreat beginner/step-up cameraLong-lasting, durable cameraPoor battery lifeBlurry indoor low-light photosNo RAW mode or hotshoe
Nikon Coolpix P500
Powerful zoom range
Great beginner/step-up camera
Long-lasting, durable camera
Poor battery life
Blurry indoor low-light photos
No RAW mode or hotshoe

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The zoom range is the camera's signature strength. Multiple owners highlight the 36x optical zoom and 22.5mm wide-angle lens as major selling points, calling the zoom 'super super great' and noting it outperforms rivals like the Sony HX100V's narrower 27mm lens. Bird photography at full zoom, panoramic modes, and scenery shooting are all praised. Some also enjoy the 240fps slow-motion HS video mode, calling it the best feature of the camera for creative video work.

Battery life is a recurring frustration for owners. Several commenters report the battery draining after roughly 200 photos, dying quickly even after replacement, or requiring recharge every night before minimal next-day use. One user notes the charger design requires the battery to stay inside the camera during charging, meaning travelers need a spare battery. Despite this, one buyer chose the P500 specifically because its rechargeable battery beat a rival's 4-AA-battery design.

Video and low-light indoor performance draw mixed-to-negative feedback. Owners describe 1080p footage as heavily compressed with blocky detail and 'terrible' audio compared to true HD, and indoor photos without flash are frequently called blurry in artificial lighting. The camera also lacks RAW mode and a hotshoe for external studio flash, frustrating more serious photographers. Still, some report solid low-light point-and-shoot results and crisp flash and macro photos overall.

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