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Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2015-09-27T20:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

Good Camera

I purchased the Coolpix P500 in 2011. I was hoping it would be like a DSLR, but it is small, has a short shutter speed (8"#, short range of ISO #160 to 3200#, takes 5 hours to charge, breaks if you don't take the lens cap off before turning it on #the lens cap restricts the lens from opening#, requires the EH-62A adapter to use while plugged in, doesn't focus well while zoomed in #takes up to 6 seconds#, has no thread for accessories, has no mic input for video, and has no hot shoe. Other than that, it is pretty good. It has the longest reach for superzooms of 2011 & 2012 and 12MP. Pretty darn good with taking pics of the moon, like 09/27/2015's super/blood moon.

leicammonochrom

2014-04-21T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Much to learn

I purchased the Coolpix P500 in 2011, my first digital camera. I wanted a light weight unit and didn't want extra lenses. This camera has proven to be easy to use with outstanding results. I've purchased a book about it so I am able to take advantage of the many, many features. I do wish it didn't have a propriety battery but this is my only complaint. Wonder results every time I use it.

Spanky

2014-03-01T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great camera for beginners

I love this camera so much. I enjoy taking photos with it. It is a must buy for beginners entering photographer. Only Cons that i have is that it doesn't have interchangeable lens :( if that was possible i would be complete. Overall amazing camera i give it 2 thumbs up

IloveNikon19

2013-08-04T20:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

Great product

Its nice... I have seen this product and used few times. Great product to use. Recommend those who are looking for a new camera.

ashashash

2013-07-16T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantasic for the everyday user!

Great camera! Much better than my cheaper point and shoot. The image quailty is great. Love the zoom. I'm learning all of the features, so many, and in turn it is giving me amazing photos to share with friends/family. The only cons would be is that the menus are old looking, still pretty user friendly and easy to use though. Also, when I take a video and zoom allllll the way in, it shakes alot.

NikonUser

2013-06-17T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The camera arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition.

The camera arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition. Adorama uses a fair rating system on their used cameras, and I would rate this camera to be in E++ near new condition and the price of the used camera saved me a lot compared to a new Nikon of similar type. The P500 is a great camera,especially for outdoor photography. I will buy from Adorama again.

Pete

2013-01-10T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Camera

it`s best camera in the range, i ve taken pics of moon, panorama..from this cam, and it`s best...

ajaya

2013-01-06T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

takes amazing pictures

I have just got this camera and love it. It is so easy to use and the look of it is excellent. Much better than canon and fuji.

snow

2012-12-03T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Rookie Photographer

Well, for beginners just like me this camera is awesome, picture quality, HD video, functions, etc, the only drawback is its battery, lasts less than average, so I had to purchase an extra one, but the camera itself is awesome.

JimboCol1976

2012-11-14T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent and easy to use!

I have used a few Nikon point-and-shoot cameras before, but I wanted another camera which would have more features but still fit in my budget. Wow, what a camera! The zoom and its quality at the maximum zoom is impressive. It has an excellent Macro mode, which is what I really need for photographing my jewelry and handicrafts. This was also perfect for my trip to Europe. I haven't used many of the features of this camera yet, but I know I will be further impressed with it. Nikon, thank you SO MUCH for your superb cameras!

Marissa

2012-09-24T20:00:00

Rated 2 out of 5

Horrible focus

I am a student and for my photography class i need to take pictures up close. I recieved this camera for christmas in 2011 just 9 months ago to this day. At first i loved the camera and thought it was amazing, now i cant focus on anything up close and the only way i can do that is take about 50 pictures for each subject and most of the time i need a tripod because it takes forever to take the picture. I will say sometimes i get a good picture but that is very rare.

Nick

2012-09-01T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing Camera

I love this camera. I used to use point and shoot cameras, but i decided to graduate. A couple of barn friends have the Cannon Rebel T3i and I really wanted something like that, but it was far to expensive, so we went with this. Its great for action shots whether it be jumping, or flat work its great for close ups to! I'm going to another horse show to try it out even more tomorrow, and after that I'm going on a nature hike. It truly is awesome, and these pictures were all taken with it! Love it!

erf2051

2012-08-31T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Pictures with ease.

I love this camera. I haven't ventured out much past the automatic mode, but it's so easy to use and the pictures are great. I love having the view finder if it's too bright in the sun.

Sunsetshadow

2012-08-30T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

We LOVE this camera!

We use this camera for family get togethers and outdoor events. The zoom is great and it is easy to use. 98% of the pictures come out delightful ... very rarely do we miss a shot. It is a "slow" process from when you press the button to when the picture is taken, but we have adapted and rarely miss that perfect shot from the animals or the small children in the family.

Coolpix P.

2012-07-15T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

battery Issue

Nikon P500 such a great camera but i don't understand one thing Why battery life so short i mean i cant take more then 100 photos even my cam is new so i bought another battery to take a photos even that still got Problem with battery i hope to see some solution

Metro34496

2012-07-14T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

wonderful

This is a spectacular camera if you know how to use its functions. The panorama mode allows you very beautiful photos.

Francisco B.

2012-07-07T20:00:00

Rated 1 out of 5

Hate it

I have this camera, and I despise it pluses: It has nice filming quality Its 36x zoom is good negatives: It never focuses, EVER ever picture i take turns out blurry. It has nice filming quality, but when you zoom in while its filming it makes a loud zzzz noise The screen goes in every direction, but it DOESN'T turn around to face you if your trying to take a self portrait! The camera feels plastic When you film in slow motion, the film comes out dark. You could be in a fully lit room or outside and the film turns out so dark you cant even see your video when you record and you zoom, the camera doesn't focus on the object They tried to fit too many things in such a small camera. Too many scene selections too many options, it just gets your mind in a big jumble and its confusing

julialaurennn

2012-06-26T20:00:00

Rated 1 out of 5

Beyond poor battery life

I have had this camera for a year and half now and I have used it a total of five times because it will never charge long enough for me to take more than a few pictures... it has been like this since the day I bought it. I am offended that Nikon would put a product with this problem (I know thousands of other people have had the same problem), now I have spent more than 500 dollars on a camera that won't even turn on. Don't by this camera, you'll regret it.

Upset

2012-06-21T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Features in a Small Body

This camera is amazing. Before this I had a Canon and a Kodak, and neither of their features came close to this camera's features. The camera has amazing zoom, but, of course, it is hard to keep it still at 36x zoom (a tripod works fine). The only problem I had was the supplied charger (they might supply a new one now, but not when I got it). You have to keep the battery in the camera to charge it, so it is hard to charge multiple batteries. I would suggest getting the MH-61 charger. The zoom on the camera is amazing. The focus is a bit touchy, but it works. The high-speed video is really great, and the HD video is, well, high-definition.

Timey

2012-06-01T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

When I decided I was ready to upgrade from a basic point and shoot camera I did a lot of research....I mean A LOT. After comparing and going to multiple stores playing with displays and such, I finally decided the Nikon P500 was the perfect camera for me. I was a little wary though because I was purchasing it to mainly shoot bands and everyone had suggested I go with a DSLR instead. I have shot multiple shows and have been beyond impressed with the final outcome! I have friends who are actual photographers professionally and they have made comments about how well my pictures come out! I like the fact that I am able to customize the options to best suite the scenery, I can snap multiple pictures one after another without having to wait, the tilting screen is a must, being able to switch back and forth between the eyehole and the screen with ease makes things amazing. I recommend this camera for someone who loves to take pictures but isn't looking to spend a lot.

Bandshooter801

2012-06-01T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great pictures

I have had no problems with this camera. Some minor issues with :auto focus with full zoom, but with the different choices they have been overcome. All pictures have come out great and the zoom ability is amazing.

dancing b.

2012-05-29T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The Only Camera You'll Need

I bought this camera to prepare for a vacation where I knew I would need the zoom and have been practicing with it at home to get used to what it can do. It is amazing for catching pictures of wildlife and scenery. There is so much it can do that I haven't even tried yet and I know I won't be looking for another camera for a very long time. This one does it all. :)

Mavis

2012-05-24T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great Overall Camera

I absolutely love this camera! Pros! Zoom, focus while zooming, HD video (I took a pic of the moon and could see all the craters! Amazing) Cons! Not as good as taking a normal, non zoom picture, but an overall great camera

The P.

2012-05-12T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great camera & easy battery life fix!

This is a wonderful camera, it is light, offers extensive settings for nearly any situation, the screen is large and pulls out for easy adjustment. It does a wonderful job with close up shots and both indoor and outdoor settings. I often experiment with waterfall photos using different shutter speeds, the results are amazing! When I first bought the camera, the battery life was horrible even on a full charge. However, after searching the Nikon website I found a firmware update. The camera now works perfectly, I'm able to shoot an abundance of photos, review them, edit, etc. with a very long battery life.

Alex's M.

2012-05-09T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Love It

I really liek this camera! Its awseome..the only thing i dont like is that is doesnt take good sport pictures but other than that its AWESOME!!!

PhotaChic

2012-05-05T20:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

great when it worked

I got the p500 as a christmas present and went picture taking crazy. within 2 weeks however, the camera died, held no charge and just didnt work. I took it to the camera shop where it was purchased and they were baffled. So many things were wrong. The pictures were saved to the camera but not the disk, he offered to see if Nikon could fix it, but no dice. So in the end he gave me a 100% exchange. The camera was back in the mix and I was taking pictures again. However about two weeks ago I was getting ready for a bachelor party and wedding next week, and come to find..... the same problems have come up. The reviews for the P500 I've seen elsewhere were all negative, not until just now haveI seen positive reviews, and I want to be able to use the camera. It's very frustrating.

Chris

2012-05-04T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome Camera

I got my first camera from Nikon when I was about 10 and I fell in Love with photography and I'm now 15 and I wanted to upgrade my point and shoot camera to an SLR camera but the SLR camera that I was looking at was to much money at the moment so I decided to get this camera till I could afford an SLR and I automatically fell in love with this camera the pictures it takes are amazing I know Nikon cameras are good quality but the photos this camera takes are photos I was expecting in a more expensive camera I am very pleased with this purchase and I will make my next camera purchase from Nikon this camera will definitely satisfy me till then I enjoy taking pictures of my pets,wildlife,nature and anything else I find interesting or that captures my eye and this camera does a very good job of capturing every moment

Flashster78

2012-04-20T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

i love it!

i love it! i have no complaints its soo simple to work!

Bre

2012-03-26T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Nikon P500

This is my wifes camera. She had a 2 year-old Nikon P100, which she dropped & was going to cost alot to get fixed. It was a great camera , however this newer model is alot better. She loves It. Keep up the good work.

Kool51

2012-03-24T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Amazing Camera!!

I just recieved this camera in red for Christmas a couple months ago. I do not use this P500 as much as I want to just because it is large and hard to carry around sometimes. This camera takes amazing picture and has a great selection of settings and zoom. The only thing I would love even more about this camera is if it had a built in fisheye setting, but other than that this is a great camera for it's price and I definitely recommend buying it. :) I would also like to know if there are any additional lenses you can buy for it?

P500 o.

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Nikon P500 Specifications

  • Camera Type

    Compact Digital Camera

  • Effective Pixels

    12.1 million

  • Image Sensor

    CMOS

  • Sensor Size

    1/2.3 in

  • Total Pixels

    12.75 million (approx.)

  • Lens

    36x optical Zoom, NIKKOR ED glass lens

  • Lens Focal Length

    4.0-144.0mm (angle of view equivalent to that of 22.5-810mm lens in 35mm [135] format)

  • Lens f/-number

    f/3.5-5.7

  • Lens Construction

    14 elements in 9 groups

  • Lens Zoom

    36x

  • Digital Zoom

    Up to 4x (angle of view equivalent to that of approx. 3240mm lens in 35mm [135] format)

  • Vibration Reduction

    Combination of Image-sensor shift and Electronic VR (still pictures), Electronic VR (movies)

  • Autofocus (AF)

    Contrast-detect AF

  • Autofocus (AF) Focus-area selection

    Auto (9-area automatic selection)
    Center
    Face priority
    Manual with 99 focus areas
    Subject tracking

  • Focus Range

    [W]: Approx. 1 ft. 8 in. (50 cm.) to infinity
    [T]: Approx. 7 ft. 3 in. (2.2 m.) to infinity
    Macro close-up mode: [W]: Approx. 4 in. (10 cm.) to infinity
    Macro close-up mode: Approx. 0.4 in. (1 cm.) to infinity (at three increments from the maximum zoom position to the telephoto position)

  • Focus Lock

    Yes

  • Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points

    9

  • Viewfinder

    0.24 in. TFT LCD, approx. 230,000 dot with diopter adjustment

  • Monitor Size

    3.0 in. diagonal

  • Monitor Type

    Vari-Angle TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating

  • Monitor Resolution

    921,000-dots

  • Monitor Frame coverage (shooting mode)

    97% horizontal (Approx.)
    97% vertical (Approx.)

  • Monitor Frame coverage (playback mode)

    100% horizontal (Approx.)
    100% vertical (Approx.)

  • Storage Media

    SD memory card
    SDHC memory card
    SDXC memory card

  • Internal Memory

    Approx. 102MB

  • Storage File System

    DCF
    EXIF 2.3
    DPOF compliant

  • Storage File formats

    Still pictures: JPEG
    Sound files (Voice Memo): WAV

  • Movie

    Audio file format: AAC stereo
    Movie file format: MPEG-4 AVC H.264

  • Voice Memo Function

    Yes

  • Image Size (pixels)

    4000 x 3000 (12M)

  • ISO Sensitivity

    Auto (auto gain ISO 160-800)
    High ISO Sensitivity auto (ISO 160-1600)

  • Lowest ISO Sensitivity

    160

  • Highest ISO Sensitivity

    3200

  • Exposure Metering

    256-segment matrix, center-weighted, spot, spot AF area (with support for 99 focus areas)

  • Exposure Control

    Programmed auto exposure with flexible program
    Aperture-priority auto
    Exposure bracketing
    Exposure compensation (-2.0 to +2.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV)
    Manual
    Motion detection
    Shutter priority auto

  • Exposure Modes

    Aperture-Priority Auto (A)
    Manual (M)
    Programmed Auto (P)
    Shutter-Priority Auto (S)

  • Automatic Exposure Scene Modes

    Yes

  • Scene Modes

    Back Light
    Beach
    Black and White Copy
    Close Up
    Dusk/Dawn
    Fireworks Show
    Food
    Landscape
    Museum
    Night Landscape
    Night Portrait
    Panorama
    Party/Indoor
    Pet Portrait
    Portrait
    Scene Auto Selector
    Snow
    Sports
    Sunset

  • In-Camera Image Editing

    Black Border
    Crop
    D-Lighting
    Filter Effects
    Quick retouch
    Skin softening
    Small Pic

  • Exposure Compensation

    +/- 2 EV in steps of 1/3

  • Exposure Lock

    Yes

  • Exposure Bracketing

    Yes

  • White Balance

    Auto, Manual

  • Shutter

    Mechanical and CMOS electronic shutter

  • Shutter Speed

    1/1500-2 sec. (P, S mode)

  • Top Continuous Shooting Speed

    Up to 5 shots at approx. 8 frames per second (at full resolution)

  • Continuous Shooting Options

    Continuous H
    Continuous H 60
    Continuous H 120
    Continuous L

  • Self-timer

    Can be selected from 10 and 2 seconds duration

  • Built-in flash Range (approx.)

    [W]: 0.5 to 8.0 m (1 ft. 8 in. to 26 ft.)
    [T]: 2.2 to 4.5 m (7ft 3 in. to 14 ft.)

  • Built-in Flash Control

    TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes

  • Built-in Flash

    Yes

  • Interface

    Hi-speed USB

  • Interface Data transfer protocol

    MTP, PTP

  • Video Output

    NTSC, PAL

  • HDMI Output

    480p
    720p
    1080i

  • I/O terminal

    Audio/video (A/V) output
    Digital I/O (USB)
    HDMI Mini Connector (HDMI output)

  • Supported Languages

    Arabic
    Czech
    Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
    Danish
    Dutch
    English
    Finnish
    French
    German
    Greek
    Hungarian
    Indonesian
    Italian
    Japanese
    Korean
    Norwegian
    Polish
    Portuguese
    Romanian
    Russian
    Spanish
    Swedish
    Thai
    Turkish
    Ukrainian

  • Power Sources

    One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied)

  • Charging Time

    4 hours and 50 minutes (when using Charging AC Adapter EH-69P) (Approx.)

  • Battery / Batteries

    Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5

  • Battery Life (shots per charge)

    Nikon Rechargeable: 220 shots (CIPA)

  • Tripod Socket

    1/4 (ISO 1222)

  • Dimensions (H x W x D)

    3.3 x 4.6 x 4.1in / 83.7 x 115.5 x 102.5mm (excluding projections)

  • Weight

    17.5 oz. (494g) (with battery and SD memory card)

About Nikon COOLPIX P500 12.1 MP Black Digital Camera

FEATURED REVIEWS

Phenomenal Camera!!!

By Bazinga

I absolutely Love this camera. This review is really for the people wondering the truths about this camera to show you how it really is not to convince you to buy it. PROS: 1. The first pro if this camera is the 36x OPTICAL zoom it is unbelieveable and if thats not enough for you there is an additional 4x DIGITAL zoom which if you hold the camera still enough (with hands you dont NEED a tripod) it takes great photos even from a huge distance. 2. The manual modes are great also. Programed auto...

View full Review

Fantasic for the everyday user!

By NikonUser

Great camera! Much better than my cheaper point and shoot. The image quailty is great. Love the zoom. I'm learning all of the features, so many, and in turn it is giving me amazing photos to share with friends/family. The only cons would be is that the menus are old looking, still pretty user friendly and easy to use though. Also, when I take a video and zoom allllll the way in, it shakes alot.

Nikon COOLPIX P500 12.1 MP Black Digital Camera Features

  • You've never been closer to the action than you are with this 36x wide-angle optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens. Its optical zoom (22.5-810mm) pulls you in from wide panoramas to crisp close ups. Plus, a side zoom control marks the end of shaky zooms
  • whether you're shooting a mountain vista or zooming in on a snowboarder, say goodbye to missed shots. This lens catches it all. It even allows for macro shooting as close as 0.4 inches!
  • You'll never miss a shot with this versatile camera because it starts right up, has a quick autofocus and shoots five shots in approximately one second-at full resolution
  • Plus, multiple Continuous Modes allow for a variety of high speed shooting options up to a blazing 120 frames per second (reduced resolution)
  • When a single picture just isn't enough, the versatile Coolpix P500 features a One-Touch record button that lets you shoot Full HD (1080p) movies at 30fps while recording audio with a built-in stereo microphone
  • It's great for sporting events because it will record high speed activity in slow motion, catching action missed by the human eye. The Coolpix P500 also has an HDMI-CEC output for simple playback on your HDTV or computer-so now it's as easy to watch your own movies as it is to shoot them
  • Coolpix P500 includes Easy Panorama Mode that combines multiple shots into a seamless 180- or 360-degree panoramic picture. Simply move the camera as you shoot and let the Coolpix P500 combine the shots for you
  • Choose from 19 different Scene Modes or let the camera automatically select the most appropriate settings. Either way, you'll have a panoramic shot that captures the size, scope and splendor of the most majestic scenes imaginable
  • The Coolpix P500 is master of convenience-and the ideal choice for capturing fast action, low-light images, panoramas and stunning portraits. And its Smart Portrait System includes a Blink Warning that warns you when your subject may have blinked
  • It also includes in-camera Red-Eye technology that automatically fixes red-eye, a Face-Priority feature that can focus up to 12 faces and a Skin Softening feature that smoothes out skin tones at three different levels
  • This versatile camera even allows for macro shooting as close as 0.4 inches. Plus, it comes with a rechargeable Li-ion battery that lasts for approximately 220 pictures
  • With its 12.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, dual image processors and Nikon's EXPEED C2 image processing engine, it frees you to shoot highly detailed images with minimal noise and distortion
  • The Coolpix P500 armed with ISO speeds up to 3200 and equipped with a five-way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System reduces the streaky images associated with shaky cameras
  • The Coolpix P500 even has a motion detector that identifies moving subjects and then adjusts the camera's settings to ensure that you won't miss a frame of the action
  • The Coolpix P500 is all you need to shoot eye-catching photographs, thanks to the three-inch, tilting, vari-angle monitor. This 921,000-dot display not only makes it easy to capture, review and share images, but it also enables you to shoot from unusual angles and tricky vantage points
  • The Clear Color Display has a brightness adjustment and an anti-glare coating, so it remains vivid in the most challenging lighting conditions. And for those who want even more compositional freedom, the versatile Coolpix P500 comes with an eye-level electronic viewfinder
  • Whether you're shooting a scenic overlook or a competitive speedboat race, the Coolpix P500 captures images the way you want them. It lets you select aperture and shutter priorities and includes a Manual Exposure Mode that puts you in complete control
  • And shooting at night is a breeze with the Advanced Night Landscape and Advanced Night Portrait Modes. Simply press the shutter release and the Coolpix P500 will shoot multiple shots and automatically combine them into a single, superior image