Portability
67Imaging
35Features
44Overall
38
Portability
64Imaging
57Features
85Overall
68
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Key Specs
Nikon P500
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 160 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
- 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
- Revealed February 2011
- Replacement is Nikon P510
Sony A57
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
- Revealed September 2012
- Older Model is Sony A55
- Replacement is Sony A58
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Overview
Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon P500 and Sony A57, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
The P500 was released 19 months before the A57 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the P500 grades vs the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix P500 & Sony SLT-A57. The complete galleries are available at Nikon P500 Gallery & Sony A57 Gallery.
Nikon P500 frontNikon P500 screen backSony A57 frontSony A57 screen back
Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony A57
| P500 | A57 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Nikon P500
| A57 | P500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | September 2012 |  | February 2011 | Fresher by 19 months |
| Screen type | Fully Articulated |  | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
| Selfie screen |  | Take selfies |
Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony A57
| P500 | A57 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus |  | Very precise focusing | ||
| Screen size | 3" |  | 3" | Same screen measurement |
| Screen resolution | 921k |  | 921k | Identical screen resolution |
| Touch screen |  | Neither has Touch screen |
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon P500 has physical measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).
Check out the Nikon P500 and Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. 
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the P500 and the A57.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P500 and A57 is 67 and 64 respectively.
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at technical specs. The graphic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the P500 and A57.
As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The P500 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A57 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older P500 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Nikon P500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
34
focusing manually
provides face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Street Comparison
Nikon P500 Street photography features
Sony A57 Street photography features
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average (494g)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Nikon P500
Sports photography with Sony A57
36
amazing zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Nikon P500
Travel photography with Sony A57
47
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
long zoom (810mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
more heavy than average (494 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse function
Landscape Comparison
Nikon P500 Landscape photography advice
Sony A57 Landscape photography advice
38
focusing manually
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse function
Vlogging Comparison
Nikon P500 Vlogging info
Sony A57 Vlogging info
26
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
more heavy than average (494g)
77
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
Nikon P500 vs Sony A57 Specifications
| Nikon Coolpix P500 | Sony SLT-A57 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Nikon | Sony |
| Model type | Nikon Coolpix P500 | Sony SLT-A57 |
| Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Revealed | 2011-02-09 | 2012-09-13 |
| Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | Expeed C2 | - |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12MP | 16MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 16000 |
| Maximum boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
| Minimum native ISO | 160 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection autofocus | ||
| Contract detection autofocus | ||
| Phase detection autofocus | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 15 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 3 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens zoom range | 23-810mm (35.2x) | - |
| Largest aperture | f/3.4-5.7 | - |
| Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
| Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of screen | Tilting | Fully Articulated |
| Screen sizing | 3" | 3" |
| Resolution of screen | 921k dots | 921k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Screen tech | TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating | Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440k dots |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 8 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/1500 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 12.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 8.00 m | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
| Microphone port | ||
| Headphone port | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 494 grams (1.09 pounds) | 618 grams (1.36 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") | 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | not tested | 75 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.0 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 785 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 220 pictures | 550 pictures |
| Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | EN-EL5 | NP-FM500H |
| Self timer | Yes (10 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Card slots | One | One |
| Price at launch | $399 | $1,000 |
