Nikon P500 Evaluation

Nikon P500 Overview

by Shawn Barnett and Stephanie Boozer
Evaluation Posted: 05/25/2011

Maybe the last word all-in-one digital digicam, the Nikon P500 is like having a digital SLR and a really giant bag of lenses and adapters, all compressed into one small, mild package deal.

Whereas lengthy zooms was restricted on the wide-angle finish, the Nikon P500 sports activities an ultra-wide-angle lens, beginning at 22.5mm! Meaning much less stepping again to get all of it in; in actual fact, many customers will do effectively to zoom in a bit for many pictures. That is made simpler because of the inclusion of a further zoom management on the facet of the lens, which helps you stay a little bit extra regular as you zoom all the way in which in to 810mm equal. That is such a protracted zoom that although Vibration Discount helps, it is laborious to maintain on the right track with out a regular hand.

A 12.1-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor is optimized for good efficiency in low mild, and the Nikon P500’s EXPEED C2 twin picture processor lends a hand to make the Nikon P500 a zippy performer in additional methods than one. The speedy processor additionally allows a couple of particular modes, together with Simple Panorama and Backlighting/HDR modes.

A steady mode can seize as much as 5 frames at eight frames per second, as effectively, making the Nikon P500 an awesome selection for informal sports activities capturing. Video is one other main function of the Nikon P500: it will probably file Full HD motion pictures (1080p) with stereo sound.

Additional sweetening the deal is a high-resolution, 3-inch, tilting LCD for grabbing photographs from extra aggressive angles. At 921,000 dots, the Nikon P500’s LCD is nice to work with, making focus checking that rather more simple.

The Nikon Coolpix P500 began delivery in March 2011 for US$399.95, and is accessible in black and crimson.

Nikon P500 Consumer Report

by Shawn Barnett

One among Nikon’s hottest digital digicam strains is its lengthy zoom collection, a dominating pressure now led by the 36x Nikon P500. The P500 breaks new floor, not simply with its surprisingly wide-angle start line of twenty-two.5mm, but additionally with its 810mm equal telephoto attain, one that may retrieve particulars you actually cannot see with the bare eye. Such dramatically totally different focal lengths deliver with them numerous potential issues, which we’ll cowl. The issues are apparent, actually; nor are they detrimental to the digicam total, they’re simply points to grasp when capturing a digicam that covers such extremes. See “Taking pictures with the Nikon P500” under for extra particulars.

The Nikon P500 is its ordinary small, mild, good-looking self, with only some instantly apparent modifications from its predecessor, the P100. First, and comparatively prominently within the photograph at proper is the brand new various zoom toggle on the facet of the lens barrel. Although the zoom across the shutter button nonetheless works, you should utilize this new zoom toggle to greatest benefit when zoomed out to 810mm, because it encourages a two-hand maintain for larger stability, whether or not you utilize the digital viewfinder or the LCD.

The rubber grip now has a diamond-cut texture wrapping across the entrance. It not solely appears cool, it improves the grip noticeably. Simply contained in the grip floor, there is a raised ridge to assist your fingertips get a very good maintain, even whenever you carry the digicam with out a strap, as I normally do. It is reassuring, and actually practical design. Above proper of that’s the very vibrant amber AF-assist lamp. Simply above the left zoom toggle is the flash launch button, the place most everybody with lengthy zoom or SLR digital digicam expertise expects it to be.

On the again, the 3-inch LCD dominates the world, protruding from the again because it does to make room for the vertically articulating mechanism. The display swivels up greater than 90 levels for straightforward ground-level photographs, or down nearly 90 levels for over-the-crowd photographs.

The LCD is additional enhanced with a higher-resolution display: the 921,600 dots normally reserved for the massive digital SLRs, spectacular at this value level. The 230K-dot EVF is much more granular than the rear LCD; the eyepoint is sweet sufficient, although, that my glasses do not contact the rubber eyepiece, which is healthier than most cheap SLRs.

Left of the digital viewfinder is the show choice button, with which you select between the LCD and EVF, and the dioptric correction dial juts out from the facet of the EVF. The DISP button cycles by way of three obtainable show modes, and the comparatively distinctive Film mode selector/Report button is correct of that; its swap chooses between the pre-selected Excessive-speed (HS) and Excessive-definition (HD) film modes. A press on the crimson heart button begins and stops recording.

Proper of that, the Command dial permits biking by way of publicity choices, like Program Shift, the place you alter the mix of shutter pace and aperture whereas the digicam maintains the right publicity for the scene. When capturing in full Guide mode, urgent the precise arrow key on the 4-way controller switches between aperture and shutter pace settings, which you’ll then alter with the Command dial.

Menu, Playback and Delete buttons are fairly simple, and the 4-way controller can also be simple to grasp. A easy rubber pad serves as a thumbgrip, strengthened by a delicate however efficient ramp on the far proper.

The highest view exhibits a really SLR-like high deck, with a greater have a look at the flash button on the left facet, and the stereo mics simply above the flash. The Mode dial is correct of that, with fairly stiff detents, however the unlucky skill to relaxation between click on positions, as is inadvertently proven in our product shot at left. I did not have an issue with this, however it will probably trigger confusion from time to time.

Virtually invisible on this shot is the small black Steady mode button, which brings up a small record of obtainable steady modes, together with excessive pace, low pace, and pre-capture.

The ability button is ringed by a inexperienced mild when first powered on; it additionally offers you cost standing when the Nikon P500 is linked to a pc or charger through USB, glowing a vibrant orange whereas charging, inexperienced when totally charged.

Small metallic strap lugs are higher for video, as a result of the cloth-to-metal contact creates little noise. Nikon makes use of D-rings on their SLRs, which raises the probability of such shut rattling sound getting into movies made with the cameras.

Sensor and processor. Usually reserved for SLRs, this part is warranted for the Nikon P500, as a result of it has some particular {hardware} below the hood. Its 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor is designated “bottom illuminated” as a result of it’s engineered such that the delicate facet of the sensor has no layers of metallization casting shadows on the light-sensitive areas; as an alternative, all that “wiring” is on the opposite facet of the sensor. This implies extra mild reaches every photosite.

Making the deal extra candy is the brand new Expeed C2 twin picture processor. The brand new processor is alleged by Nikon to hurry up picture processing, enable for extra cautious noise discount, and proper lens distortion for each stills and films earlier than both are saved to the cardboard. Particular video speeds and even high-speed nonetheless modes are doable because of this new processor.

Lens. Starting from 22.5 to 810mm is a formidable feat for any $400 digital digicam to realize. Observe, although, that the utmost aperture is f/3.4 on the huge end–smaller than the P100’s f/2.8–zooming to f/5.7. Nonetheless, to the skilled lengthy zoom photographer, it’s going to be an incredible device. In fact, the issue with making a digicam that goes to extremes is that that is the place most of its customers will use the digicam, not less than at first. Most everybody shoots photos of their mates and social occasions on the default setting, which is normally the widest angle obtainable. The Nikon P500’s widest setting is simply too huge for many people-pictures, introducing distortion that stretches heads and distorts our bodies with unflattering outcomes. On the constructive facet, it grabs darn close to every part that comes nearby of the lens, not less than in comparison with another lengthy zoom digicam you have ever used.

On the telephoto finish you run into the alternative drawback: Discovering your required topic among the many quickly shifting picture introduced within the viewfinder. The view at 810mm is so tight that you will need to begin about midway zoomed and monitor it in because the zoom progresses to assist carry on goal; in any other case it is like looking for a star by way of a telescope. And as soon as you have discovered it, the following drawback is holding the digicam regular sufficient to maintain it framed, not to mention get a blur-free shot. Nikon employs each sensor-shift picture stabilization and digital picture stabilization, which we presume is digital picture monitoring by cropping the picture considerably and letting the processor monitor movement, contributing a little bit additional correction by shifting the picture seize space as effectively. And even with all that, two of our most secure SLRgear stabilization-testing shooters had bother maintaining a topic centered at that focal size.

In brief, the message is that skilled lengthy zoom customers seldom shoot on the excessive ends, particularly for folks photos, as an alternative zooming sufficient to crop the extraneous matter from the body, leaving solely the topic. That is the great thing about a zoom that is so lengthy and so huge; you have got that many extra selections.

Menu. Largely unchanged from the earlier mannequin, the Menu is relatively effectively organized, with objects you’d most need to change proper on the high of the record: Picture High quality, Picture Dimension, Optimize picture, White steadiness, and ISO sensitivity on the high of the record.

Auto panorama modes. The twin processors additionally enable for a brand new trick for Nikon: Simple Panorama. Moderately than shoot a collection of rigorously captured photos and have them stitched within the digicam or on a pc, the Nikon P500 means that you can seize both 180-degree or 360-degree panoramic photos by simply urgent the shutter and sweeping the digicam over the picture space. It is fairly simple, and appears to work fairly effectively. When you press the shutter button on this mode, the digicam prompts you with a cross with 4 arrow suggestions, telling you which you can sweep in any considered one of 4 instructions: up, down, left or proper. When you begin to transfer in a route, the digicam begins capturing, and a small slider seems on the underside of the display, indicating how a lot additional it is advisable sweep. When it reaches the top, the Nikon P500 begins to course of and save the picture. It additionally works with the digicam oriented vertically.

The 180-degree panorama choice sweeps output a 3,200×560-pixel picture, whereas 360-degree sweeps yield a 6,400×560-pixel picture.

Steady. The Nikon P500 can seize 5 full-resolution photos at about 8 frames per second in a single burst. That is as quick as a high-end digital SLR, although buffer depth is sort of shallow. A number of the competitors on this class can do as much as 10 and even 40 frames per second, for reference.

Like these others, particularly the Sony HX1 and Casio FH20, the Nikon P500 does another tips with this excessive pace seize functionality. Separated into separate Scene modes on the Mode dial, these multi-shot modes seize a number of photos and mix them into one to compensate for troublesome lighting conditions. Backlighting Scene mode, for instance, captures a number of photos at totally different shutter speeds to seize each the shadows and vibrant highlights and merge them to create a particular HDR (Excessive-dynamic-range) picture proper contained in the digicam; in all cases I’ve tried it, the digicam has requested me to boost the flash earlier than it could take the shot. Evening Panorama mode can also be extra refined, capturing as much as 5 excessive shutter pace photos into one single picture and mixing them into one, permitting a consumer to get a shot in low mild that will usually require a gradual, non-handholdable shutter pace. The standard Evening portrait mode, which nonetheless makes use of a flash (the digicam insists), can also be enhanced by seize of separate photos, one with flash, the others with out, to create a well-lit picture that maintains the ambient mild in darkish settings.

In fact, there’s additionally the brand new pre-capture mode, which makes use of the facility of CMOS sensor and processor to repeatedly seize photos earlier than you press the shutter button; sadly, the Nikon P500 reduces the picture measurement to 2 megapixels on this mode. You can too go for 120 frames per second at 1 megapixel or 60 frames per second at 2 megapixels. Previous Nikon standbys like Greatest shot selector (BSS), Multi-shot 16, and the Interval timer are additionally a part of the Nikon P500’s drive mode choices.

Film Excessive Pace vs. Excessive Definition. Film choices are cut up between Excessive Pace and Excessive Definition, and you’ll quickly select one or the opposite with the Film mode swap on the again of the digicam. Which of the numerous modes you select to make use of inside these two choices should be preselected within the Film menu. Film modes embrace 1,920 x 1,080 Effective, 1,920 x 1,080, 1,280 x 720, 960 x 540, and 640 x 480, all at 30fps, recorded in H.264/MPEG-4 format. Excessive pace choices embrace 320 x 240 at 240 fps, 640 x 480 at 120 fps, 1,280 x 720 at 60 fps, and 1,920 x 1,080 at 15 fps.

Storage and battery. Photos and video are saved on SD, SDHC, and SDXC playing cards, and there is a built-in reminiscence of 102MB. Nikon recommends utilizing SD playing cards with a pace Class of 6 or larger for recording HD video.

The Nikon P500 makes use of a slim 3.7V, 1,100mAh rechargeable lithium-ion EN-EL5 battery, able to capturing as much as 220 photographs, or about 1 hour and 20 minutes of 1080p recording.

Taking pictures with the Nikon P500

Easy accessibility to the capabilities I need is the principle function I search for in a digital digicam, and the Nikon P500 offers me that. Some cameras are so succesful, it is blinding to dig into the menus, and it’s important to if you wish to change main settings. I do not really feel that approach with the Nikon P500. And as I discussed within the menu part above, after I do go into the menus, I discover what I would like proper up entrance. I like that.

In comparison with the P100, one of many Nikon P500’s fundamental options are extra readily accessible: Drive modes. That is accurately, particularly in a digicam with such a wide selection of obtainable drive modes. Nikon’s Greatest Shot Selector mode is without doubt one of the extra constantly provided and constantly ignored options that now has extra purpose to be publicized. The actual fact is that even with twin picture stabilization, it may be troublesome to get a tack sharp shot at full telephoto with the Nikon P500. Its 810 millimeters equal at most telephoto is a loooong lens, and handholding it’s robust. However with BSS on, simply maintain the lens on the right track in addition to you’ll be able to, and maintain the shutter button down. The Nikon P500 will seize ten photos and select the least blurry shot to avoid wasting to the cardboard. It isn’t excellent, as a result of the picture jumps round a lot, making it troublesome to border at 810mm, nevertheless it’s a good suggestion in the event you actually need that shot and haven’t got a tripod or different object at hand towards which to brace the digicam.

The Nikon P500 is simply the precise form and measurement for a day on the airshow or the park. It isn’t too cumbersome hanging round your neck, and matches effectively in a hand after I really feel the necessity to defend it or hold it on the prepared. I like the grip, although I do fear that it would chafe a little bit on extra tender arms with the diamond sample it has up entrance. My reviewer’s arms are positive thus far, after two days of utilizing the Nikon P500, so these with rougher jobs than manning a keyboard all day ought to be simply positive.

Although I like the brand new zoom management on the left facet, I discover myself nonetheless utilizing the zoom ring across the shutter, since a lot of the cameras I take advantage of have their zoom management there. With my fingers below the lens barrel, my thumb finds the management immediately, however I would have to coach it to deal with the delicate movement essential to zoom like that. It is also a little bit extra helpful when utilizing the EVF moderately than after I’m holding the digicam out in entrance of me; when utilizing the EVF, the digicam is braced towards my face effectively sufficient that utilizing the extra conventional zoom toggle is simply as simple.

Holding the Nikon P500 out in entrance of me, composing photos on the LCD, it appears extra pure to assist the left facet of the digicam with my center finger, whereas my index finger works the zoom, however once more, this movement is not that a lot better than simply utilizing the zoom ring. I additionally are likely to shift cameras from hand handy as I am strolling and capturing, and I used to be often shocked that my left hand had began the zoom slowly creeping out to its extra susceptible telephoto place with out my data. That may occur as simply with the zoom toggle, I suppose, nevertheless it’s simply not one thing I used to be anticipating, so Nikon P500 house owners would do effectively to watch out.

After I was out capturing in my ordinary stomping grounds, I observed a peculiar distinction: It was the acute wide-angle lens’s tendency to seize every part in sight; greater than I would even thought of photographing. I’ve grown accustomed to pondering in 28mm phrases, and 24mm tends to fulfill me. It is unusual, because it’s solely one other 1.5mm wider, however the Nikon P500’s 22.5mm wide-angle captures noticeably extra. Photographs I normally make of specific buildings require me to border my photos by rigorously shifting left or proper to dodge giant bushes which can be in the way in which. At 22.5mm, I discovered myself as an alternative together with these bushes as a part of the composition. It turned a part of a brand new story in my ordinary pictures simply how far among the very giant Georgia bushes rose excessive into the air over in any other case imposing constructions.

Simply as I warned, I, too, was enticed by the huge wide-angle view. That, after all, generally is a mistake, even in panorama images, so after a couple of photographs, I used to be zooming extra to crop issues, or getting shut to make use of the distortion to assist exaggerate sizes. I truthfully wasn’t usually drawn into zooming to excessive telephoto fairly often, however that will change on the zoo.

Video on the Nikon Coolpix P500 is accessed very simply because of the distinguished Report button on the again. Built-in across the button is a selector swap for selecting between HD and Excessive pace video. I solely shot HD video for this overview, nonetheless. Whereas capturing, zooming begins moderately abruptly, not beginning easily as we’ve seen on different fashions, and the zoom is so excessive that it’s devilishly laborious to carry nonetheless when you’re dedicated to 810mm. (The slightest movement is even picked up with the digicam mounted on a tripod at that focal size.)

The opposite facet I explored in larger depth was the Simple Panorama mode. I feel Nikon’s method right here could also be even simpler than Sony’s, which is notable, on condition that Sony pioneered the entire concept of “sweep panorama.” To shoot a panorama with the P500, you simply choose the mode (it is within the Scene menu), press the shutter button and begin sweeping this manner or that; the digicam figures out which route you are sweeping in with out you having to preselect the route beforehand.

It’s a must to select a static topic and sweep considerably evenly, and it appears it is advisable keep a comparatively straight horizon line, however I rapidly acquired used to it. I discovered that if I simply stored up a gentle pace and pivoted with my backbone, the pictures stitched simply positive, with few errors. (I am not essentially advocating this observe as a very good one; it is simply what I did.) Doing a 360 was a little bit harder, as my backbone does not go all the way in which round like that, however the digicam did effectively as I simply rigorously stepped round in a circle. As soon as I would accomplished the circle, the digicam stopped, processed for a couple of seconds and served up a pleasant 360-degree strip. I pressed Play, then OK, and it began to play again the pan, within the route I would moved, prefer it was simple. My 13-year-old daughter picked up the digicam and found the mode by chance and knew precisely what she was doing as quickly because the 4 arrows appeared on the display, “Hey, I am capturing a panorama!” That was a second to see.

The P500 additionally features a Backlight mode that provides flash to a scene, however in the event you activate HDR mode, the digicam will seize two photos and mix them into one picture that features extra element within the shadows and highlights than you’d usually get with a single shot.

Outcomes had been considerably washed out in my pattern photos, however maybe a extra dramatic scene would look higher.

I did not really feel like I needed to wait overly lengthy for something on the Nikon P500, which considerably raises my opinion of it. As with every super-zoom digicam, it is essential to set expectations on picture high quality: Whereas potential events shouldn’t deceive themselves into pondering that the Nikon P500 will ship SLR-quality photos in close to darkness at excessive pace at full telephoto, nor that its photos will likely be pretty much as good as a extra conservatively endowed digicam, like a P7000, nevertheless it’ll in all probability ship some good photos that you simply’d not going get with both of these cameras with out spending 1000’s extra on an enormous telephoto lens (and/or cropping closely).

As a result of the lab wasn’t capable of shoot our normal indoor check photographs at full 36x telephoto, I went forward and shot a few of a brick wall with the digicam mounted on a tripod to provide some concept of the quantity of blur at telephoto. My huge and tele photographs of the constructing in Woodstock above present the impact considerably, however an excessive amount of of that could possibly be noise suppression; the brick wall photographs I captured listed here are in full daylight, with extra closeup element on the bricks themselves.

It is fairly dramatically gentle on the edges of the body, particularly on the left. It isn’t the worst we have seen, and it is under no circumstances shocking given the 36x attain of this lens. Know that your edges will likely be blurry at this setting, and you will be positive. You simply have to ensure your topic is close to the middle of the picture, and also you in all probability will not discover the gentle sides in any respect.

With the warning that you shouldn’t all the time shoot on the excessive ends of this zoom, I feel the Nikon P500 will likely be a really enjoyable photographic device for lots of long-zoom-loving photographers, and it is obtainable on the fairly first rate value of US$399.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Lens High quality

Observe: The Nikon Coolpix P500’s 36x lens covers a 35mm equal of twenty-two.5-810mm. To accommodate our lab area, telephoto lab photographs under had been taken with the lens at 21x, or 82.9mm.

Sharpness: The wide-angle finish of the Nikon Coolpix P500’s zoom exhibits reasonable blurring within the corners of the body in comparison with what we see at heart, and blurring extends additional into the picture space than we would like. At 21x telephoto, blurring is robust within the left corners of the body, but additionally current on the precise. Once more, blurring extends pretty far in towards heart. Observe that these photographs are taken at most aperture, so nook sharpness might change when the lens is stopped-down.

Additionally included are crops from the outside photographs talked about above, finished at 22.5 and 810mm. The complete telephoto photographs are fairly a bit blurrier within the corners than 21x.

Geometric Distortion: There’s a small quantity of pincushion distortion at wide-angle (0.2%), little doubt from the digicam’s processor making an attempt to fight what barrel distortion the lens is producing. At 21x telephoto, we solely caught one pixel of barrel distortion (~0.03%). Fairly good outcomes right here.

Chromatic Aberration: Chromatic aberration at wide-angle is excessive and really vibrant, with distracting purplish-blue pixels. At 21x telephoto, the impact is once more sturdy. In each circumstances, nonetheless, blurring within the corners of the body is probably going intensifying the impact.

Macro: The Nikon Coolpix P500’s Macro mode captures a really small minimal space of 1.22 x 0.91 inches (31 x 23mm), which is healthier than most. Nonetheless, particulars are barely gentle, although nonetheless pretty distinct on the greenback invoice. Blurring is robust within the corners, and chromatic aberration is a bit invasive. (Blurring within the corners is a typical drawback amongst shopper digital cameras in macro mode.) The digicam focuses so carefully that the flash does not have sufficient room to work. Outcomes are dimmer than the ambient mild publicity. Each photographs have considerably uneven exposures, although with macro capturing as shut as 0.4-inch, this is not uncommon.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Viewfinder Accuracy

Viewfinder Accuracy: The Nikon Coolpix P500’s LCD monitor confirmed about 100% protection accuracy at wide-angle, and about 99% at telephoto, which is fairly good. The digital viewfinder is alleged to have the identical protection, although we did not check that.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Picture High quality

Shade: The Nikon Coolpix P500 produced pretty good shade. Saturation is not too far off for sturdy greens and oranges, although yellows are a bit muted and vibrant reds and blues are pumped a little bit excessive. Hue is off for oranges, that are pushed towards yellow, in addition to cyans, that are considerably shoved towards blue. Reds are shifted towards orange as effectively. Lighter pores and skin tones are just a bit pinkish, whereas darker pores and skin tones present a extra noticeable push towards orange. Although outcomes aren’t essentially the most correct we have seen, shade is mostly good and pleasing.

Incandescent: Each the Guide and Incandescent white steadiness settings carried out fairly effectively right here. Whereas Guide was essentially the most technically correct total, it additionally feels a bit cool. Incandescent turns in barely heat outcomes, however many customers might desire this as a result of it retains the extra pure feeling of the ambient mild. Auto resulted in too sturdy of a crimson solid.

Decision: Our laboratory decision chart revealed sharp, distinct line patterns all the way down to about 1,800 strains per image peak in each instructions. Extinction of the sample occurred at round 2,250 strains per image peak.

Flash: Our manufacturer-specified testing (proven at proper) does not work effectively at huge angle when the reported distance goes past 16 ft, as a result of that takes the digicam out of the principle lab, so the wide-angle result’s inconclusive. The telephoto check got here out fairly vibrant on the rated distance of 14 ft, although ISO was boosted as much as 800.

Auto flash produced barely dim ends in our indoor portrait scene, with little or no ambient mild affecting the colour steadiness at 1/40 second, ISO 200. At this shutter pace, most individuals ought to have the ability to sufficiently hand-hold the digicam with out worrying an excessive amount of about blurring from digicam motion, particularly with the assistance of the P500’s picture stabilization. Shot taken at ~5 ft (~1.5m) on a secure tripod.

ISO: Noise and Element: Element is truthful at ISO 160 and 200, although some softening is already seen even this low. At ISO 400, particulars are significantly softer. Chroma (shade) noise is faintly noticeable within the darker areas, however luminance noise turns into extra prevalent as sensitivity will increase. Noise suppression efforts additionally contribute to lack of element. Outcomes at ISOs 1,600 and three,200 present a lot cooler shade balances and darker exposures, in addition to very sturdy blurring. See Printed part under for a way this impacts prints.

Print High quality: ISO 160 photos look good printed at 16×20 inches.

ISO 200 photos additionally look good at 16×20, however there may be some minor softening in positive element.

ISO 400 photos are usable at 13×19 inches, however look higher at 11×14.

ISO 800 photos are a bit too gentle for 11×14, however tighten proper up at 8×10.

ISO 1,600 photographs are usable at 8×10, particularly with darker topics, however 5×7 sizes look higher.

ISO 3,200 photographs look good at 5×7, if a little bit darkish.

Total, it is a good efficiency for the Nikon P500, with its highest ISO setting yielding an honest 5×7.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Efficiency

Startup Time: The Nikon P500 takes only one.5 seconds to energy on and take a shot. That is very quick for an ultra-zoom digicam.

Shutter Lag: Full autofocus shutter lag could be very quick, at 0.158 second at huge angle and 0.119 second at full telephoto; sooner than most DSLRs. Prefocused shutter lag is 0.012 second, which is great.

Cycle Time: Cycle time is about common, capturing a body each 1.57 seconds in single-shot mode. Full-resolution Steady H mode is rated at 8 frames per second for five frames, which is sort of quick. Varied different steady modes can be found, together with a 120 frames-per-second mode that captured a blazing-fast burst of fifty one-megapixel photos at 119.8 frames per second.

Flash Recycle: The Nikon Coolpix P500’s flash recycles in about 7.5 seconds after a full-power discharge, which is on the gradual facet.

Low Gentle AF: The digicam’s AF system was capable of focus down to only above the 1/4 foot-candle mild stage with out AF help, although the digicam was capable of focus in full darkness with the AF help lamp enabled.

USB Switch Pace: Linked to a pc or printer with USB 2.0, the Nikon Coolpix P500’s obtain speeds are reasonably quick. We measured 4,942 KBytes/sec.

Within the Field

The retail package deal accommodates the next objects:

• Coolpix P500
• Lens cap
• Lens cap leash
• EN-EL5 Battery (Lithium-ion)
• Battery cap
• Charger (through USB cable)
• AV cable
• USB cable
• Digicam neck strap
• Fast begin handbook
• Consumer Guide on CD
• View NX2 CD

Advisable Equipment

• Additional battery pack for prolonged outings
• Massive capability SDHC reminiscence card. Today, 4GB is an efficient tradeoff between price and capability, however in the event you plan to seize many film clips, 8GB ought to be a minimal.
• Digicam case

Nikon P500 Conclusion

A particularly huge and lengthy zoom, a straightforward interface, and really quick autofocus mix to make the Nikon Coolpix P500 a wonderful companion digicam. Taking pictures with the P500 jogged my memory of how a lot enjoyable images may be, and that is a pleasant intangible function for a digicam to have.

Although it is essential to keep away from capturing at wide-angle on a regular basis, particularly for folks photos, it is actually wonderful to have such a really wide-angle lens obtainable whenever you want it. Taking photos that seize extra of your environment is a novel technique to make your pictures stand out, simply as selectively cropping your photos creates a special type of curiosity. Cropping issues out additionally turns into simpler with that 810mm potential. Whereas some zooms underwhelm with their modest attain, the Nikon P500 exceeds all others, permitting you to get nearer than you ever thought doable, however have all the time needed. So in a single digicam, you have got the widest view you will discover, and the power to crop extra tightly than you thought doable.

Softness within the corners is to be anticipated from excessive lengthy zooms, and it does get fairly gentle, however maintaining your topic in or close to the middle, particularly at telephoto, mitigates the issue pretty effectively.

Additional modes like Simple Panorama and Backlighting/HDR are useful for his or her functions, however a lot of the magic of the Nikon P500 is within the good optical high quality and sheer vary of the 23-810mm lens. The Nikon P500 was a kick to make use of and checks effectively sufficient to make an enthusiastic Dave’s Choose.

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