Nikon Coolpix B500 40x Optical Zoom Digital Camera W/ Built-in Wi-fi Reviews
If your phone simply isn't doing it for you when it comes to taking photos, but y'all don't really need a bulky DSLR camera, at that place is something that might exist but perfect for you, especially if you don't desire to spend a lot of money.
Nikon B500 is a DSLR-styled travel super-zoom photographic camera with a surprisingly powerful feature-set for the money. This is the improved version of L840 with the add-on of built-in Wi-Fi and NFC pairing.
Most cameras that yous could observe on the listing of the best digital cameras on a budget don't incorporate many loftier-end features simply with its main selling point, above-average 40x optical zoom range, likewise every bit a few other handy features, Nikon B500 might be found on the top of the best bespeak and shoot digital cameras list.
Nikon Coolpix B500 Features
Optical Paradigm Stabilization
Optical Paradigm Stabilization
Bank check Price and Reviews of the B500 on Amazon.
Build and Pattern
This isn't exactly a small photographic camera that tin can fit into your pocket. Really, information technology is a petty bulky for a point and shoot camera, but it's still a lot smaller than a DSLR. Its size leaves room for large right-hand grip that allows you to concur the camera comfortably. It besides has a 40X optical zoom lens, which provides a maximum 900 mm telephoto setting that should meet your needs much of the time, but larger zoom lenses are available in the market if you need them.
Bombardment
Ane of the things that brand this camera my favorite is the combination of long battery life and Wi-Fi. This characteristic is quite easy to use and without having to worry about draining the battery too quickly.
User-friendly AA battery power is particularly useful when you lot travel out in the wild, abroad, or just lose the battery charger.
LCD
With the 3.0-inch LCD 90 degrees tiltable screen, it is like shooting fish in a barrel to shoot when you take the camera fastened to a tripod and it is a lot easier to shoot loftier or depression-angle shot composition merely information technology can't be rotated 180° for selfie-snapping.
All the same, information technology doesn't swivel horizontally and it doesn't include the viewfinder which is a little disappointing since it is a lot easier to frame, focus and control camera shake with it.
Resolution
Nikon Coolpix B500 shares the same 16-megapixel resolution with its predecessor L840 and a sensitivity range of ISO6400. It besides features full HD 1080p video recording with stereo sound and it'southward able to shoot full-resolution stills at seven.4fps.
It is really easy to utilise with an intelligent scene-detecting automatic shooting mode and it includes some unique filter effects and an automatic panorama manner for creative shooting.
Physical Design and Controls
The design is basic as it comes. It is slightly larger than the camera it replaces with a typical bridge photographic camera blueprint, measuring 113.5 10 78.3 x 94.ix mm (4.5 10 iii.i x 3.8 in.) but this is nevertheless relatively compact for its class. It weighs 542g which is reasonable considering it'due south powered by iv AA batteries.
If you take used a regular compact camera earlier you will be familiar with the control layout instantly. The buttons are kept to a minimum, but they are sensibly laid out.
There are also the side-mounted zoom controls. The 921k-dot resolution and broad viewing angles LCD monitor replace the viewfinder. Information technology doesn't accept a lot of ports (only HDMI and USB) and it takes ordinary SD cards for retentivity, every bit well equally SDHC and SDXC. Performance (image quality) This probably isn't the biggest strength of the Coolpix B500.
Image Quality
The small image sensor of ane/two.3-inch limits its chapters to brand high-quality images. Don't go me wrong, it doesn't create poor photos, just its small image sensor simply doesn't allow high-quality large print. Images snapped in daylight are colorful, vibrant and accurately exposed. They wait very good viewed at typical sizes.
Nonetheless, the camera'southward pocket-sized sensor limitations are obvious. Zoomed in to 100% image size you lot can encounter that details aren't as crisp as you might expect. It becomes even more evident when shooting distant particular in landscapes.
Depression Light Performance
Shooting in low lite causes, even more, detail loss only grain is well subdued at ISO 800 and you can even so become some usable images up to ISO 1600. Since it doesn't have an optical or electronic viewfinder, information technology is really of import that information technology has the Vibration Reduction organisation feature that works well on this model to foreclose camera milk shake. This is especially important when you aren't using the tripod, merely hand holding the camera.
Burst Mode
The burst mode options are impressive. Ordinarily, big zoom cameras have slow autofocus and flare-up modes which make them perform slowly, but this ane can record total-resolution JPEG images at speeds of seven.four frames per 2nd. Isn't it amazing how information technology outperforms some of the all-time DSLR cameras? There is ane limitation: burst mode at 7.4 fps is express to vii frames.
However, the depression light image quality you tin can accomplish with this camera is below average, simply as with any large zoom camera with a pocket-sized image sensor, but Nikon provided a popup flash unit which is important for this kind of photographic camera.
Flash
The popup flash lifts well higher up the camera body which helps to avert shadows and nighttime corners that might appear from the extended lens blocking the light provided from the flash. At that place are 4 flash modes: Machine, Auto red-eye reduction, fill, and slow sync.
The huge zoom is really what sells this photographic camera, but unfortunately, it comes with a flaw. The more you zoom the more sharpness y'all lose.
If you go and zoom in all the manner yous will see that the prototype quality decreases notably. It won't ruin your epitome, you will still be able to use it, merely y'all will too be able to detect the noise in your image if you are looking for it.
Acquire more near the Nikon Coolpix B500 on Amazon.
What type of photography is Nikon Coolpix B500 skilful for?
Even if y'all already like this camera based on what you read above, you yet might ask yourself is this photographic camera for you. The showtime thing y'all take to clarify with yourself is what you are going to use it for (what type of photography).
When you know that it'southward easier for me to help you past showing you what are the most of import features that a camera has to take for each blazon of photography and how good they are on B500. In this section, we will review and Nikon B500 in five different photography areas.
Portrait Photography
| Image Stabilization |
| Sensor resolution 16.0 MP |
| Ergonomic & Handling |
| 1/2.3″ Sensor size |
| No RAW shooting |
| No External flash shoe |
| No Congenital-in viewfinder |
| No Manual focus fashion |
| No manual exposure mode |
Image Stabilization diminishes the impacts of photographic camera shake at long exposures and long focal lengths in this way guaranteeing sharper images which is bang-up for portraits.
The sensor resolution of 16 MP certainly isn't the best in its class but information technology can however manage relatively big prints of your portrait shots. Good handling with a camera is actually important during portrait shooting, simply as good placement of the physical controls on the camera body.
Ergonomics and treatment of B500 are adept, with a adequately large safety hand grip and pollex grip on the back. Controls are well labeled and common settings for shooting style and exposure.
In that location is no viewfinder, so you take to rely on the LCD screen for framing your shots. It tilts to help with viewing, and quality is good.
As far as the sensor, it is on the pocket-size side to achieve that shallow depth of field and blurry groundwork that you lot absolutely need for portraits.
For a great portrait shot, you lot really need to blast the focus perfectly, and without manual focus mode, this tin can be a challenge.
All of that leads the states to the determination that Nikon Coolpix B500 is a beneath-average candidate for portrait photography.
Street photography
| Live-view |
| Confront-Detection Focusing |
| Tilting LCD Screen |
| Image Stabilization |
| 23 mm wide-bending coverage |
| Medium-sized trunk |
| No Built-in viewfinder |
| No Transmission focus mode |
| No RAW shooting |
| 1/2.3″ sensor size |
Alive-view is very useful for street photography where you don't want to go people's attention. It is a substitute for a viewfinder that this camera doesn't take anyhow.
The lack of viewfinder forces you to hold the camera abroad from the body and that is non very stable, particularly if you are using some heavy camera lenses. Too, it can be actually hard to read the LCD screen in the brilliant sunlight.
Thankfully there is the Paradigm Stabilization that reduces the impact of camera shake ensuring sharper images and tilting screen gives you the power to shoot in non-conventional positions (waist level, for case), which is great considering it gives you lot the opportunity to be more creative and subtle in the streets.
A really helpful feature for street photography is a face detection focusing mode where you focus on the face (evidently). Isn't it great how information technology allows you to focus on framing and some other adjustments while the camera focuses for you?
All the same, at that place are some things nosotros don't like about this camera when it comes to street photography, like manual focus manner. One of the well-nigh popular techniques amongst street photography is Zone focusing and it requires manual focusing fashion. Well, with this camera you can't practise that.
Although the JPEG files are more attractive out of the camera, RAW files contain much more than color information and it is great to accept both shooting capabilities bachelor.
RAW also gives y'all space for mail preparing without huge quality loss and those files provide more than extensive dynamic range and choice to recover shadow and highlight cut-out to some degree. Unfortunately, L840 has only JPEG files available.
Higher up all, this camera struggles in low light situations considering of its pocket-size sensor.
In the terminate, all of that makes information technology an average candidate for this type of photography.
Sports Photography
| 7.4 fps continuous shooting |
| i/4000 Shutter speed |
| Battery life 590 shots |
| Congenital-in Wi-Fi |
| Image Stabilization |
| Ergonomics & Treatment |
| Environmental Sealings |
| No Manual exposure mode |
| No Manual focus style |
| No Congenital-in viewfinder |
| No External flash shoe |
| No RAW shooting |
Continuous shooting is i of the most important features when it comes to sports photography, along with the shutter speed. In this type of photography, faster is always ameliorate and 7.iv fps is pretty fast.
In combination with fast plenty 1/4000s shutter speed this photographic camera tin can track and freeze most whatever sports action. Even so, this kind of shooting lasts for a long fourth dimension in about sports events which drains the bombardment pretty fast, but with a bombardment life of 600 shots per change, you won't have to change batteries a lot of times in the middle of an event.
Likewise, with the congenital-in Wi-Fi, y'all can transfer files simultaneously without having to alter the retentivity card which is actually useful in situations similar sports events.
Since all of the subjects are moving in this type of photography, you will really exist happy that you take the image stabilization that will reduce any kind of camera shake while you are tracking your subject.
The trunk might not exist equally practiced every bit a DSLR but it will be good enough for about of the conditions you might notice yourself in.
However, a lot of sports events are held outdoors in all atmospheric condition conditions, and you will demand your camera to be ready for some bad weather condition because exposure to dust and water is very common in this photography category.
Unfortunately, B500 didn't prove to be really skillful in difficult conditions. As well, the lack of manual exposure way in these weather condition might pb you to a loss of shadow and highlight clipping while the lack of manual focus mode can lead you to a loss of the photo.
These compact cameras are already not dandy at focusing on moving objects and if it doesn't lock the focus your camera may even not fire at all, and so the transmission focus would exist very useful in these situations.
The viewfinder would also brand information technology so much easier for a photographer to shoot in these situations, but as we already know B500 doesn't have one.
Nosotros also know that information technology has an image stabilization that covers for the photographic camera shake, just is that plenty in these situations?
Sometimes is really hard to read the LCD, especially under brilliant sunlight and that is something that prototype stabilization tin can't cover.
This is some other type of photography where Nikon B500 Coolpix proved to be barely average.
Daily Photography
| Optical Zoom 38x |
| Medium body |
| Weight 538g |
| i/2.three sensor |
| No RAW shooting |
This great optical zoom of 40x is just amazing for daily photography because it gives you a lot of flexibility since this is going to be the just photographic camera you'll employ during the mean solar day.
Also, if you are going to carry it effectually the whole day, you will want it to exist small and lightweight. Well B500 is relatively smaller and lighter than whatsoever DSLR, just withal non calorie-free enough.
The weight of 540g may non be very comfortable for yous, but it's still a good compromise between size, weight, and functionality.
The small sensor of 1/2.3 struggles in low light situations sometimes, and without the RAW shooting capability, information technology can lose color and overall quality in some situations.
One time once again, this is the category where the Nikon Coolpix B500 proved to exist an boilerplate candidate.
Landscape Photography
| 23 mm Wide-angle coverage |
| Sensor resolution sixteen.0 MP |
| No Transmission exposure mode |
| No Manual focus mode |
| No RAW shooting capability |
| 1/two.three″ Sensor size |
| No environmental sealing |
Broad-angle lenses are just perfect for landscape photography because of their capability to capture wider scenes. That is why B500'south 23mm wide-angle coverage is only smashing for shooting landscapes.
However, the 16.0 MP sensor resolution definitely isn't the best for capturing landscapes, simply you tin still attain large prints with good framing.
That was the good part. Now, let's see what's non so skillful.
For a mural, the shot is very of import to take a correct exposure and almost of the time machine exposure tin exercise a pretty skilful job, but it may still fail in some difficult atmospheric condition.
Shooting landscapes are obviously done outside and difficult conditions are very common, that's why we don't similar the lack of manual exposure. Without manual exposure in these conditions, you will have a lot of shadows and highlight clipping.
Another thing missing is a manual focus fashion. Nosotros already mentioned it earlier in every section. It is really a big flaw in my opinion because it tin crusade you a loss of sharpness.
Manual focus mode minimizes the areas that are out of focus and autofocus might not always give you the best results.
With no RAW shooting capability that you might demand in some weather, y'all take a chance losing some color quality. Isn't information technology plenty that it already has a small sensor that struggles in low light situations?
Information technology is obvious that in this category B500 is a poor candidate.
Determination
Every bit you can see, we have a camera that we cannot merits to be perfect for any of these five types of photography, simply it can still do a proficient job if you need it for street, sports or daily photography.
However, because its price, this photographic camera produces decent photos and videos. Likewise, being able to employ batteries that you tin can find and buy at whatever store is more awesome than annoying.
This is an ideal option for those on a budget since information technology offers a portion of the best parts of today's point-and-shoots with a portion of the well-known components of 90s cameras.
Certainly, you tin can't mix upwardly B500 with a professional person camera, just it is slap-up for traveling and get-away photos for Facebook and Instagram.
Enquiry the Nikon B500 on Amazon.
Source: https://photographyspark.com/nikon-coolpix-b500-review/