Sorted as a collective and enhanced alternative for mobile cameras, the Nikon Coolpix B500 is one that sparks many conversations. More economical option doubled with the exclusion of the bulkiness of a DSLR is this camera described modestly.
As such, the envisioned target audience is amateurs and feasibly enthusiasts looking for a simple holdup or travel camera.
If you are a blogger, looking for an entry-level vlogging camera then this could be a great choice for you.
Specification roundup
Nikon B500 is a foldaway super-zoom camera with an astoundingly prevailing feature-set for the money. This is the enhanced version of L840 with the toting of built-in Wi-Fi and NFC pairing. It offers a 16-megapixel sensor, which is combined with a 40x optical zoom.
One can also initiate a digital zoom up to 80x. It offers an extensive range of shooting modes, but lacks manual control and cannot shoot in raw format.
It skins SnapBridge technology, which allows one to sustain a continual Bluetooth link with their smartphone to send images as you take them, equipped to be shared on networking sites and the like. Other exciting features include a 3.0-inch angling screen, featuring a 921k-dot resolution, intrinsic Wi-Fi and Full HD video recording.
Build and design
It is not so small to fit enough into one’s pocket. Essentially, it is moderately bulky for a point and shoots camera, but a lot smaller for a DSLR. Its dimensions provide for a large right-hand grip that allows one to hold the camera securely.
It comes with a 40X optical zoom lens, which provides an all-out 900 mm telephoto setting that should easily meet one’s requirements but greater zoom lenses are available in the market just in case you need them.
Battery Life
The camera has received wide acclamations for its battery life and is favored for its in-built wifi. This feature is quite convenient in addition to being stress-free as one does not have to concern about draining the battery.
The opportune AA battery power is particularly worthwhile when one travels out in the wild. Or just as appropriately, if one were to misplace the battery charger.
LCD
Furnished with a 3.0-inch LCD 90 degrees tiltable screen, it becomes convenient to shoot when one has the camera mounted on a tripod. Appropriately, shooting high or low-angle shot composition becomes easy. However, quite a bummer is that it cannot be alternated 180° for selfie-snapping.
Nevertheless, it does not rotate horizontally and does not contain the viewfinder. This is indeed a little substandard since it is easier to frame, focus and regulate camera shakes with it.
Resolution
Nikon Coolpix B500 bonds the identical 16-megapixel resolution with its forerunner L840 and a sensitivity assortment of ISO6400. It also landscapes a complete HD 1080p video recording with stereo sound and is able to shoot full-resolution stills at 7.4fps.
It is really easy to use with an able instinctive scene-detecting shooting mode. It comprises some inimitable filter effects and a programmed panorama mode for artistic shooting.
Physical Design and Controls
The design is rudimentary and uncomplicated as it comes. It is marginally larger than the camera it substitutes with an archetypal bridge camera design and measures 113.5 x 78.3 x 94.9 mm. This is still comparatively compacted for its class. It weighs 542 g which is evenhanded considering it is powered by 4 AA batteries.
The control layout is efficiently one that is no different from a compact camera with the buttons kept to bare minimum and levelheaded laid out.
There are side-mounted zoom panels. The 921k-dot resolution and wide viewing angles LCD monitor substitutes the viewfinder. It has only HDMI and USB port and takes normal SD cards for memory, along with SDHC and SDXC.
Image Quality
The image sensor of 1/2.3-inch confines its capability to create high-quality images. This is not to mean it creates poor images but its small sensor basically does not permit high-quality large print. On the flipside, images snapped in daylight are lively, effervescent and correctly exposed. They look decent viewed at typical sizes.
However, zoomed in to 100% image size, one can see that details aren’t as crisp as one might anticipate. It becomes even more obvious when shooting faraway details in landscape photography.
Low Light Performance
Shooting in low light results in loss of detail but the grain is well restrained at ISO 800 and one can get functional images up to ISO 1600. Since it is deficient from an optical or electronic viewfinder, it is really significant that it has the Vibration Reduction system feature that works well on this model to prevent camera shake. This is particularly important when one is not using the tripod, but instead, hand holding the camera.
Burst Mode
The burst mode choices are remarkable. Typically, large zoom cameras have measured autofocus and burst modes which make them perform sluggishly, but this one can record full-resolution JPEG images at the swiftness of 7.4 frames per second. By default, it outpaces some of the best DSLR cameras. There is however one drawback: burst mode at 7.4 fps is restricted to 7 frames.
However, the low light image excellence you can derive with this camera is middling, just as with any large zoom camera with a trifling image sensor, but Nikon delivered a popup flash unit which is imperative for this class of camera.
Flash
The popup flashes highs well overhead the camera body which aids to dodge shades and shadowy bends that might appear from the protracted lens obstructing the light provided from the flash. Auto, fill, slow sync, Auto red-eye reduction, are the different flash modes available.
The huge zoom is a distinctive highlight of the camera but it is not without its flaw. Loss of sharpness and image quality as one zoom in closely is a true bummer.
Chromatic Aberrations
Given the assortment of the zoom lens, the Nikon Coolpix B500 shows some observable purple fringing in expanses of elevated contrast.
Sharpening
The camera images from the Nikon Coolpix B500 are marginally soft at the default sharpening settings. You can otherwise alternate the in-camera perfecting level to ensemble your needs and requirements.
Macro
The Nikon Coolpix B500’s lens will emphasize as close as 1cm from a subject. Conversely, the depth of field becomes very low at this enormously close distance.
Panoramas
The Easy Panorama mode syndicates manifold shots into a unified 180- or 360-degree panorama.
Practical Applications
- Portrait photography
- Street photography
- Sports photography
- Daily photography
- Landscape photography
Conclusion
In consideration of its price, it does perform pleasingly and does not disappoint. One can produce decent images and videos with the help of these. Many people also favor the appearance and impression of a bridge camera, and this one feels pleasant and comfy to hold.
The screen tilting aids with some stroppy angles, and though it would be agreeable to have a viewfinder, it’s not a deal-breaker when one can slant the screen away from punitive sunlight.
One can take assume a bit of control in wholly automatic modes, but one would not be able to alter aperture, shutter speed, or shoot in raw format.
Verdict
This camera cannot demand to be the all performing flag bearer. From the above heads, it is evident that it is not suitable for any professional photography. However, with an attainable price label, it lures many amateurs into it. This is a superlative selection for those on a budget since it bargains a slice of the finest parts of today’s point-and-shoots with a portion of us components of 90s cameras.
