Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you Accept
X
WWDC: Everything Apple AnnouncedCNET CouponsSleep With Socks OnBest Solar CompaniesRemote Working in ParadiseBest Satellite Internet ProvidersCurrent Mortgage RatesMeal Subscription vs. Takeout

Exclusive: Nikon Coolpix P500 full review

The P500 has a lens so wide and long it's likely to make other megazoom owners feel inadequate.

Joshua_Goldman.jpg
Joshua_Goldman.jpg
Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
See full bio
Joshua Goldman

It seems we're in the midst of a full-on zoom lens war. The last couple years have seen manufacturers cram longer and longer lenses into compact camera bodies. While I wouldn't say this is a good thing, it's certainly something consumers want.

The two that currently rank as the longest are Canon's PowerShot SX30 IS and Nikon's Coolpix P500. Going just by their magnification numbers, the Nikon comes out on top with its 36x f3.4-5.7 21.5-800mm lens (35mm equivalent). However, the Canon doesn't start out as wide, so its 35x zoom is longer, going from 24-840mm. The Canon has a brighter lens, too, starting at f2.7.

Lens specs aside, the Nikon gets the edge on the Canon with fast shooting performance and better design. The Canon has better photo quality at its lower ISO sensitivities, which resulted in a higher photo-quality rating, but not by much. Neither are great above ISO 400, so low-light photos are, well, not great.

Still, if you can overlook their photo faults, these cameras and their lenses are pretty incredible given the price, size, and weight of the cameras. And for those who maybe don't need the longest lens, but want more control over final results, check out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100.

Read the full review of the Nikon Coolpix P500.

Related links
• Long shots: Full-size megazooms compared
• More zoom, less room: Compact megazooms compared