Reasons to choose Coolpix P500
Released in 2011, Coolpix P500 has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 12 MP effective resolution, and a 494 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon Coolpix P500
vs Nikon Coolpix P90
VS
Sensor area
28 mm²
Coolpix P50028 mm²
Coolpix P90- Area ratio
- 1.03:1
- Absolute difference
- 1 mm²
- Relative difference
- 2.6%
The Coolpix P500 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
Coolpix P500MetricCoolpix P90
12 MPEffective pixels12.1 MP
6.16 × 4.62Sensor6.08 × 4.56
1.54 µmPixel pitch1.51 µm
2.37 µm²Pixel area2.29 µm²
42.17 MP/cm²Pixel density43.64 MP/cm²
5.62Crop factor5.69
—Maximum video—
494 gWeight460 g
SDHC, SDXC, Secure DigitalStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Nikon EN-EL5 Lithium-Ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryNikon EN-EL5 Lithium-Ion Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The Coolpix P500 has the larger sensor area. The Coolpix P90 has the lighter body. The Coolpix P90 has the higher effective resolution. The Coolpix P500 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Coolpix P90
Released in 2009, Coolpix P90 has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 12.1 MP effective resolution, and a 460 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.