Nikon P500 vs Sony A3000

Cameras
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Nikon P500 vs Sony A3000

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.1 megapixels
23.00mm - 810.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon P500 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the P500.

APS-C 357.3mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A3000 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A3000 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A3000.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A3000 conclusion.

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Differences

Nikon P500 advantages over Sony A3000

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~1.50 vs 2.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
921k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.16 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Faster JPEG shooting
8.0 fps vs 3.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Sony A3000 advantages over Nikon P500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.25 vs 1.54 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

470 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
20.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
30 vs 8 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
11 vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/1500 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
16000 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

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Buy the Nikon P500

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Buy the Sony A3000

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon P500 Express Review

Absolutely incredible value; Includes a stabilized kit lens; More versatile than a fixed-lens bridge camera; Comfortable body with good ergonomics; Great image quality; Good autofocus performance; Decent battery life.
Feels a bit plasticky; Slow burst shooting with limited buffer; Sluggish to power on or switch modes; Low-res EVF and LCD monitor; Can't review images using EVF; No video output; Weak flash; Battery charges in-camera.
Read our Sony A3000 Review

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm S4000

Nikon P500

Fujifilm S4000

$400
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
More dots on screen

$205
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon P500 vs Fujifilm S4000

Sony A3000

Fujifilm S4000

$500
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$205
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Fujifilm S4000

Compared to Pentax K-01

Nikon P500

Pentax K-01

$400
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon P500 vs Pentax K-01

Sony A3000

Pentax K-01

$500
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Pentax K-01

Compared to Olympus SP-820UZ

Nikon P500

Olympus SP-820UZ

$400
1/2.3 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$299
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More pixels

Compare Nikon P500 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Sony A3000

Olympus SP-820UZ

$500
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$299
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A3000 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Compared to Canon SX520 HS

Nikon P500

Canon SX520 HS

$400
1/2.3 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Bigger pixels

$345
1/2.3 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Manual focus

Compare Nikon P500 vs Canon SX520 HS

Sony A3000

Canon SX520 HS

$500
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$345
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
HDMI out

Compare Sony A3000 vs Canon SX520 HS

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Nikon P500

Sigma sd Quattro

$400
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon P500 vs Sigma sd Quattro

Sony A3000

Sigma sd Quattro

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

$699
APS-C

On-sensor phase detect
HDMI out

Compare Sony A3000 vs Sigma sd Quattro

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