• Nikon CoolPix P500

    Nikon CoolPix P500

    Jayesh Limaye, Apr 14, 2011 1305 hrs IST

    Will it bridge the gap between DSLRs and mainstream digicams?

    Good color reproduction and image quality, good 1080p video recording, superb LCD display, 36x optical zoom, rugged build, ergonomics, hybrid image stabilization, auto-bracketing

    Noise at ISO 400 and higher, image quality could have been better, lowest ISO 160, no automatic panorama stitch mode

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D-SLRs are an object of aspiration and desire, but the prohibitive cost has been a major deterrent. As if to address this issue, camera manufacturers have attempted to bring the best of both worlds - relatively affordable price and certain features of high-end digital cameras. This constitutes an important camera segment in today's market.

Nikon has positioned its CoolPix P500 in this segment. The camera looks very similar to its DSLR range and back-illuminated 12 MP CMOS sensor. It is an upgrade to the P100 with a higher optical zoom of 36X from the earlier 26X and a few design changes such as an additional zoom rocker present on the barrel to be used by the left hand. Is it really a worthy upgrade? Let us find out.



Bundle

  • Nikon CoolPix P500
  • Lens cover
  • Neck strap
  • Data cable
  • A/V cable
  • Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL5
  • Battery charger
  • Software disc
  • User manual

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Related Links
Nikon CoolPix P100
Nikon Intros New DSLR D80
Nikon launches D5100 in India
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Nikon CoolPix P500 nikon digital camera



Discussion Board
(17) Comments
Vinay
,Mumbai, on Apr 17, 2011 09:34 AM
Can you ISO samples taken at nite or low light,best sample for comparison would be low-high iso of a distant view at night..the only issue i have with you current samples is that the base subjects them selves have a grainy texture (like the labels on crayons) hence the end texture may have more that in practice noise added.So its better compared with practical cases.
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Jayesh Limaye
,Techtree, on Apr 17, 2011 10:15 AM
will surely include low light samples in the future. the crayons with textured paper covers were used to make effects of higher ISO distortion readily visible
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H0rny
, 4 Crayons, on Apr 17, 2011 12:05 PM
Can you please include more pictures of crayons? They turn me on! Saxxy crayons; what all am I going to do with you. And Mr. Vaseline, you too! *muah*
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R.S. Madhukar
,Gurgaon, on Apr 15, 2011 04:42 AM
Hey, it is expected that you use the article before you review it. I have been using it for about 3 weeks. It has automatic panorama stitch 180 degrees and even 360 degrees. The low light performance is very good. Yes, it is not as good as middle range and higher SLRs. What you intend to do with 400 ISO shot, to blow 1000mm x1000mm ?.
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Kamal
,Mumbai, on Apr 15, 2011 08:27 AM
It doesnt have automatic panorama stitch. I found out only after I bought it. I should have read some online review like this before buying
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Melvina
,aMkzZQLpJzGsJOpVzU, on Oct 17, 2011 08:50 AM
Frankly I think that's asobutlely good stuff.
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Nico Teering
,Drunen, on Apr 22, 2011 11:27 AM
CAN IT STITCH OR NOT? On the website http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CP500/CP500A.HTM I read: Auto panorama modes. The dual processors also allow for a new trick for Nikon: Easy Panorama. Rather than shoot a series of carefully captured images and have them stitched in the camera or on a computer, the Nikon P500 allows you to capture either 180-degree or 360-degree panoramic images by just pressing the shutter and sweeping the camera over the image area. It's pretty straightforward, and seems to work pretty well. Once you press the shutter button in this mode, the camera prompts you with a cross with four arrow tips, telling you that you can sweep in any one of four directions: up, down, left or right. Once you start to move in a direction, the camera starts capturing, and a small slider appears on the bottom of the screen, indicating how much further you need to sweep. When it reaches the end, the Nikon P500 starts to process and save the image. It also works with the camera oriented vertically. The 180-degree panorama option sweeps output a 3,200x560-pixel image, while 360-degree sweeps yield a 6,400x560-pixel image.
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Sunil
,Trivandrum, on Apr 19, 2011 05:14 PM
http://www.missuall.com/nikon-coolpix-p500/ Hmm this looks really familiar...so who did the original review?
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Perumalsamy
,Madurai, on Apr 16, 2011 08:12 PM
nice. its price ?
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HARSH
,PUNE, on Apr 15, 2011 01:05 AM
FUJIFILMS HS20EXR IS NOW AVAILABLE IN MARKET SO NO MEANING IN HS10. ALSO PANASONIC FZ35 IS BEST COMPARED TO CANON SX20IS. BTW TECHTREE NEVER ALLOWED ME TO SUBMIT COMMENTS AT 1ST GO THE DUMBEST IMPLEMENTATION OF CAPTCHA NEVER AGREES TO WHAT I ENTER. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN PROVIDE A SCREENSHOT ELSE I WOULD HAVE.
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MARSH
,PUNE, on Apr 15, 2011 10:33 PM
TYPING IN ALL CAPS MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A RETARDED MONKEY.
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varun
,mumbai, on Apr 15, 2011 12:45 PM
im still happy with my nikon p80
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pinakel
,kolkata, on Apr 14, 2011 03:37 PM
plz review fujifilm finepix hs10 ....... it has manual zoom for saving battery life
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Abhijeet
,Mumbai, on Apr 15, 2011 10:09 AM
hey I used the hs10 for ten days and returned it. bought a p100 amd am happy with it.
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pinake
,kolkata, on Apr 14, 2011 03:37 PM
plz review fujifilm finepix hs10 ....... it has manual zoom for saving battery life
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DemoniK
,New Delhi, on Apr 14, 2011 02:36 PM
There should be a list of best cameras for various price points. Like for mobile section. There are just so many products out there that its easy to get confused & decision making becomes tough unless you test the product yourself.
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sunil
,Delhi, on Apr 14, 2011 02:46 PM
Have tested various cameras at this price range including Panasonic, Nikon, Sony, Canon, pantax, Olympus. By Far Canon SX20 IS is best with the Image quality and video even puts HD camcorders to shame.. second position is achieved by Panasonic FZ 38.
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