Nikon Coolpix P900 vs Nikon Coolpix P520

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon Coolpix P900 and the Nikon Coolpix P520, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Nikon Coolpix P900 was introduced in March 2015 and Nikon Coolpix P520 was introduced in January 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon Coolpix P900 over Nikon Coolpix P520.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon Coolpix P520 over Nikon Coolpix P900.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Nikon Coolpix P900 has a 3.0" screen with 921k dot resolution and Nikon Coolpix P520 has a 3.20" screen with 921k dot resolution. Both have Fully Articulated screens. Fully articulated screen makes cameras selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting.

Viewfinder

Nikon Coolpix P900 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder with 921k dot resolution and Nikon Coolpix P520 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder. They both have 100% coverage.

BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon Coolpix P900 features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 12,800 in boosted mode. Nikon Coolpix P520 features a 18.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.16 x 4.62 mm and a total area of 21.3 mm². Its native ISO range is 80 - 3,200.

The cameras have BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

Nikon Coolpix P900 is equipped with Expeed C2 processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. Nikon Coolpix P520 can take pictures up to 4896 x 3672 resolution.

Nikon Coolpix P520 has an image stabilization.

Built-in GPS

Cameras have built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) technology which allows you to automatically tag the location where you took your photos. You can later categorize, organize, and search for photos based on location. This is very useful for travel and outdoor photographers for documenting the locations where images were captured.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in GPS.

Built-in Wi-Fi on Nikon Coolpix P900

Nikon Coolpix P900 has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.

Bluetooth

Nikon Coolpix P900 and Nikon Coolpix P520 have built-in Bluetooth which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.

NFC

Cameras have Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.

Battery

Nikon Coolpix P900 comes with EN-EL23 battery pack with battery life of 360 shots and Nikon Coolpix P520 comes with EN-EL5 battery pack with battery life of 200 shots.

External Storage Slots

Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Shutter

Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon Coolpix P900, and up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon Coolpix P520. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 7.0 fps.

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 11.50 m at Auto ISO on Nikon Coolpix P900..

Nikon Coolpix P900 body has dimensions of 140 x 103 x 137 mm (5.51 x 4.06 x 5.39") and Nikon Coolpix P520 body has dimensions of 125 x 84 x 102 mm (4.92 x 3.31 x 4.02"). Nikon Coolpix P900 weighs 899 g (1.98 lb / 31.71 oz) and Nikon Coolpix P520 weighs 550 g (1.21 lb / 19.40 oz).

Nikon Coolpix P900

Nikon Coolpix P520

140 mm

103 mm

125 mm

84 mm

103 mm

84 mm