The plastic chassis feels reasonably robust, and if the plain black finish is a turn off, the Plum finish might appeal more. It’s quoted at 600 shots but I got over 1,000 from a single charge using Duracell 2,500mAh rechargeables. Proprietary li-ion batteries for other cameras can cost up to £60. The upside is that it’s much cheaper to buy an additional set to carry as a backup. AAs are bulkier and heavier, and a set of branded batteries and a charger will set you back around £20. It helps that the screen tilts up and down, allowing for comfortable shooting with the elbows braced against the body for stability.Īnother cost-saving measure is the use of four AA batteries rather than the usual lithium ion cell. I must admit that I didn’t miss it desperately.
The lack of a viewfinder is perhaps the most significant - it’s a common feature among bridge cameras but it’s a relatively expensive component. Nikon has had to make some compromises to bring this camera in at a low price. This 40x zoom range is bettered by certain other bridge cameras but this is still an enormous range by any normal measure. The difference is in its ability to zoom from a super-wide-angle 22.5mm (equivalent) focal length to a paparazzi-like 900mm. With its small sensor and unremarkable lens aperture, it’s not really any better when shooting in low light. The Nikon won’t always outperform a smartphone, though. READ NEXT: The best compact, DSLR, Bridge and CSC cameras you can buy Features and design It doesn’t bother with enthusiast-friendly features such as a viewfinder, manual exposure or RAW shooting, but at £219, it’s a viable Christmas present or impulse purchase for people who want something more capable than their phone camera.
As such, Nikon may be onto something with the budget-friendly B500. Compact cameras are in decline with the rise of smartphones, but there aren’t any smartphones with a 40x zoom.
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