I’ve had the Nikon Coolpix B500 for less than two weeks (it was a well-received birthday gift), but I’ve already fallen in love with its amazing features. Now, I’d like to preface this article with a disclosure: I am not a camera expert, by any means. Most of the flashy technical jargon flies over my head. Quite simply, I wanted a camera that could take quality images and video without spending an outrageous amount of money. Such a desire partnered me with the Nikon Coolpix and the rest is history! Therefore, if you’re looking for an in-depth professional review, then you might have better luck elsewhere. However, for those of you who are like me, and don’t really understand most of what expensive cameras can offer, then this review will be perfect!
Photos
The most important aspect of a camera, at least in my opinion, is the quality of its images. After all, what else would you really need a camera like this for? Personally, I wanted this camera because I needed pictures for our blog, and I wanted them to be fairly nice. Unlike my last camera, which was also a Nikon, whose pictures seemed to come out with far more pixels than my eyes could handle. Thankfully, the images I’ve taken on my new Coolpix, which you can see throughout our blog and on our social media, are far superior. The camera itself comes with an impressive point-and-shoot feature, which basically means you can aim the lens at most objects and the camera will adjust the settings for you. On Easy Auto Mode, this is a great feature because I don’t have to worry about understanding what more of the advanced features can actually do, although I have been experimenting.
However, by far the best thing about this camera is its awesome telephoto lens. I’ve included a beautiful image of the sky that I took recently with my camera, and it’s super clear and amazingly detailed. I also have a picture of the stars attached and you can easily locate each individual star without a sign of the usual blurriness I get with most cameras. In fact, I would think that the telephoto lens would be perfect for sports events or concerts when you’re sitting far away. Moreover, the camera has a special feature built in just for those difficult action shots. Finally, when you’re busy using the zoom feature, you might lose sight of your subject, but the camera has a nifty feature called Target Finding AF which helps you find your intended subject while also adjusting the camera for maximum results.
Video
Let’s be honest, it’s really difficult to hold your hand steady when you’re trying to film. Thankfully, the Nikon Coolpix comes equipped with an amazing VR image stabilization feature that compensates for the dreaded camera shake. You can also film in full HD with a resolution of 1080p which seems to be the standard for most YouTube videos. Of course, for a camera at this price, you shouldn’t expect anything truly cinematic-like an episode of Game of Thrones. However, I’m pretty impressed with what I can film given the camera’s price and included features. For most basic filming, which I don’t really do much of anyway, this is the perfect little camera!
Lastly, I think it’s really important to point out another physical camera feature: the tilting LCD display. Trust me, this makes it so much easier to capture difficult shots and monitor what you are video recording. For example, if you’re attempting to film something from a high angle, then it’s nice to be able to monitor the screen without having to contort your body into painful positions.
Overall
Apparently, there’s a Superlapse Movie feature that I definitely need to try out on the camera. It’s great for first-person perspectives and sports scenes. I really need to sit down and read the manual, and I highly encourage you to do the same. Although you might find it sufficient to take simple photos and videos, it still might be worth it to eventually learn all those cool features Nikon added to its Coolpix camera series.
To conclude, I’d also like to briefly mention the camera’s wireless transmission capability. Basically, by downloading the SnapBridge app from the app store (or whatever you use with your mobile), you can connect your Coolpix camera to your phone for easy transmittable images. I love this feature because I can instantly have my camera photos on my phone to download to my computer or use it for social media.
Ultimately, this camera is really nice for beginners (like me!). It’s Auto Mode feature is no joke, and its dynamic zoom allows for amazing flexibility. The video feature is insane and by far surpasses my previous cameras. Lastly, I’d like to mention that this camera does require double-A batteries. However, it’s been weeks since I started using my camera and I’m still using the batteries that came with my box. Of course, I have also purchased rechargeable batteries that you can basically buy anywhere so you can constantly have a supply of batteries ready to go!
