Phenomenal entry-level camera for birders! Brief Comparison P500 vs. P510

I have been owners of the previous model P500 that I just buy myself an enthusiastic "Vogelknippser" * had * ;-)) And because I just could not believe that in such a camera can grab KB-focal lengths over 800 mm, you then also can use out of hand ...

But it is, in fact! Stabilization is so effective that you can make blur-free images even at the full zoom. For Spiegelrefex Friends must lie several thousand EU ... And lugging around many kilos!

Of course restrictions, no question. Pictures of SLR with appropriate optics are still a good deal sharper, a viewfinder-view through the lens is not the same as the poor electronic viewfinder, it is hardly possible, so the focus to assess (return display is very OK) , the processor has its hands full trying to get the functions offered on the series and many there are here and there-use restrictions. But it works! And that's actually a real milestone forward, I think.

I have the impression that the NIKON engineers have been engaged in two cameras to pack as much as possible according to the prior art in a camera that costs as little as possible. This opens up the less well-heeled beginners completely new possibilities and makes other hand, in the long term hunger for more ... ;-)) The equipment is really excessively brief. Because of course, you need an external charger (loads much faster and above all independent of the camera) and at least a second battery. But since you can both buy more for very little money, do not bother me. Lieber more technology in the camera!

When I heard of P510 - and above all of the magic number 1000 mm KB-focal length - because I could not help and I've also gained equal this. Well I made the first one thousand pictures with it and can compare quite fresh and represent the crucial (for me) differences:

- The Max focal length is phenomenal, and the stabilizing work continues - super ;-))

- Autofocus obviously other logarithms than the P500: He is in normal operation a good deal faster than before. But when the light (eg bird deep in the bush in the shade) is running, then the P510 of breath is clearly more out, and you have to manually focus (when the bird is so nice, and sit so long remains ... ;-) ). The manual focusing is not easy for both cameras and requires a lot of practice. There are much better methods. But - I repeat - it * is *, which is a refreshing change to many other cameras.

- The best ISO setting is at P510 now ISO 100, compared to only ISO 160 with the P500, which was hard for me at the border of the still acceptable. This has a very beneficial effect on the detail and sharpness of the images, and you can see significant improvements!

- The 16 megapixels in the P510 - compared to 12 megapixels earlier - have no effect on negative. I think nothing of the megapixel hype because of costs only light and brings a lot more additional noise. The higher resolution makes a then most still little. Even the worse autofocus in the dark (so) it safe to the account of the pixel expansion. But - as I said - it's not as bad as I had assumed, because the new sensor appears to be a bit brighter.

- The L-series mode - for me as Vogelknippser the only sensible, because it makes possible a rapid, continued photographing - is now much slower than at the P500: Only about 1 frame / s is possible. The P500 was there significantly faster. There are long "breathing space" required for the camera to save (the 16-MP images are indeed in terms of data much larger), and where you can not see the live image ... In the spot, the P500 is a lot of action joyful because with her it breaks me are hardly noticed.

- The max. Wide is now somewhat lower than before (24 mm>
CONCLUSION: We can not and must not be compared with SLR cameras these cameras, because that would be, if only because of 5 - 10 times highly unfair price such equipment. With two cameras but you get the * option * to take part in all the current achievements of photo technique. Of course they are not as fast, the quality of the images is not as high, the opportunities are limited here and there. But it works ;-))

The choice between P500 and P510 is difficult. The P500 is generally easier to handle and a good bit of action joyful what the beginner comes to meet safe. The P510 offers better picture quality and a monstrous 1000 mmm - Tele but is cumbersome and slow, and the autofocus is in extreme zoom range in low light rather out (!).

EDIT: In the gallery I have two bird shooting set, demonstrating that when the zoom is fully proper recording is possible.

EDIT2: The video function of the P510 has an annoying problem with the focus: When you start the video recording, the autofocus, to depart the whole focus range and reset starts, and even if you had the current situation focuses already great! That lasts, and it is not sure that will be there again properly focused. That should really be changed in the firmware, and I can not remember that the P500 was so.

Best remedy for this: As usual auto focus (press shutter release button halfway), switch the focus to manually start recording a video. So the focus is maintained.

EDIT3: If you once had forgotten to remove the lens cap, the P500 reported this when switching on, you had to turn off, cover off, turn it back on again. When the P510 is now easier, because the lens cover moves when turning easy with 'out ;-)) One must take it off only afterwards, and off you go.