Nikon B500 vs Sony H200
The Nikon Coolpix B500 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2016 and January 2013. Both the B500 and the H200 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 15.2 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Coolpix B500 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon B500 and the Sony H200. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The B500 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the H200 is only available in black.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony H200 is notably larger (15 percent) than the Nikon B500. However, the H200 is slightly lighter (2 percent) than the B500. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the B500 nor the H200 are weather-sealed.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
# | Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nikon B500 | 114 mm | 78 mm | 95 mm | 541 g | 600 | n | Jan 2016 | 299 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony H200 | 123 mm | 83 mm | 87 mm | 530 g | 240 | n | Jan 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon SX520 | 120 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 441 g | 210 | n | Jul 2014 | 399 | ebay.com | |
4. | Nikon B600 | 122 mm | 82 mm | 99 mm | 500 g | 280 | n | Jan 2019 | 349 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon A1000 | 114 mm | 72 mm | 41 mm | 330 g | 250 | n | Jan 2019 | 429 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon P1000 | 146 mm | 119 mm | 181 mm | 1415 g | 250 | n | Jul 2018 | 999 | amazon.com | |
7. | Nikon W300 | 112 mm | 66 mm | 29 mm | 231 g | 280 | Y | May 2017 | 389 | ebay.com | |
8. | Nikon B700 | 125 mm | 85 mm | 107 mm | 565 g | 350 | n | Feb 2016 | 499 | ebay.com | |
9. | Nikon P900 | 140 mm | 103 mm | 137 mm | 899 g | 360 | n | Mar 2015 | 599 | ebay.com | |
10. | Nikon L840 | 113 mm | 78 mm | 96 mm | 538 g | 590 | n | Feb 2015 | 299 | ebay.com | |
11. | Panasonic FZ80 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 119 mm | 616 g | 330 | n | Jan 2017 | 399 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony HX80 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 245 g | 390 | n | Mar 2016 | 349 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony H400 | 130 mm | 95 mm | 122 mm | 628 g | 300 | n | Feb 2014 | 319 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony H300 | 128 mm | 89 mm | 92 mm | 590 g | 350 | n | Feb 2014 | 219 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The H200 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the B500, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.
While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the B500 offers a slightly higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 15.2 MP of the H200. This megapixels advantage translates into a 11 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the B500 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 1.36μm for the H200). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the B500 is much more recent (by 3 years) than the H200, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The Nikon Coolpix B500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (no boost).
In terms of underlying technology, the B500 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the H200 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
# | Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nikon B500 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60i | 20.3 | 11.7 | 810 | 48 | |
2. | Sony H200 | 1/2.3 | 15.2 | 5184 | 2930 | 720/30p | 19.9 | 11.2 | 529 | 44 | |
3. | Canon SX520 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.1 | 11.5 | 672 | 46 | |
4. | Nikon B600 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1095 | 52 | |
5. | Nikon A1000 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1095 | 52 | |
6. | Nikon P1000 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1044 | 51 | |
7. | Nikon W300 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 12.0 | 938 | 50 | |
8. | Nikon B700 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.4 | 11.8 | 818 | 48 | |
9. | Nikon P900 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 727 | 47 | |
10. | Nikon L840 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60i | 20.2 | 11.6 | 721 | 47 | |
11. | Panasonic FZ80 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 900 | 49 | |
12. | Sony HX80 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 1080/60p | 20.4 | 11.8 | 822 | 48 | |
13. | Sony H400 | 1/2.3 | 19.9 | 5152 | 3864 | 720/30p | 20.1 | 11.4 | 630 | 45 | |
14. | Sony H300 | 1/2.3 | 19.9 | 5152 | 3864 | 720/30p | 20.1 | 11.4 | 630 | 45 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the B500 provides a higher video resolution than the H200. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the Sony is limited to 720/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The B500 and the H200 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon B500 and Sony H200 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
# | Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nikon B500 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.4/s | Y | Y | |
2. | Sony H200 | none | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/1500s | 0.8/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon SX520 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 1.6/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Nikon B600 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 7.4/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Nikon A1000 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1036 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Nikon P1000 | 2359 | n | 3.2 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Nikon W300 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Nikon B700 | 921 | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
9. | Nikon P900 | 921 | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
10. | Nikon L840 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.4/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Panasonic FZ80 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
12. | Sony HX80 | 638 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
13. | Sony H400 | 210 | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 0.7/s | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony H300 | none | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/1500s | 0.8/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
Both the B500 and the H200 have zoom lenses built in. The B500 has a 22.5-900mm f/3.0-6.5 optic and the H200 offers a 24-633mm f/3.1-5.9 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Nikon provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Sony. The B500 offers the faster maximum aperture.
The B500 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the H200 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Coolpix B500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
# | Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nikon B500 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
2. | Sony H200 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
3. | Canon SX520 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
4. | Nikon B600 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Nikon A1000 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Nikon P1000 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Nikon W300 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Nikon B700 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
9. | Nikon P900 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
10. | Nikon L840 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
11. | Panasonic FZ80 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
12. | Sony HX80 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
13. | Sony H400 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
14. | Sony H300 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - |
It is notable that the B500 offers wifi support, while the H200 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Both the B500 and the H200 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The B500 was replaced by the Nikon B600, while the H200 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the B500 and H200 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon B500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony H200 Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon B500 better than the Sony H200 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.
Arguments in favor of the Nikon Coolpix B500:
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 460k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/1500s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7.4 vs 0.8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.0 vs f/3.1).
- Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
- More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
- More compact: Is smaller (114x78mm vs 123x83mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (600 versus 240) on a single battery charge.
- Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
- Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- More modern: Reflects 3 years of technical progress since the H200 launch.
Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200:
- More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in January 2013).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the B500 is the clear winner of the match-up (14 : 2 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon B500 and the Sony H200 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the B500 and the H200 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
# | Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Nikon B500 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Jan 2016 | 299 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony H200 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jan 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon SX520 | .. | + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jul 2014 | 399 | ebay.com | |
4. | Nikon B600 | .. | + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | Jan 2019 | 349 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon A1000 | .. | + + | 3.5/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | Jan 2019 | 429 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon P1000 | .. | + | 3.5/5 | 73/100 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jul 2018 | 999 | amazon.com | |
7. | Nikon W300 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2017 | 389 | ebay.com | |
8. | Nikon B700 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2016 | 499 | ebay.com | |
9. | Nikon P900 | .. | .. | .. | 77/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2015 | 599 | ebay.com | |
10. | Nikon L840 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2015 | 299 | ebay.com | |
11. | Panasonic FZ80 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 399 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony HX80 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Mar 2016 | 349 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony H400 | .. | o | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Feb 2014 | 319 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony H300 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2014 | 219 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 400D vs Nikon B500
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon B500
- Canon G1 X vs Sony H200
- Canon G7 X Mark III vs Nikon B500
- Fujifilm X-A2 vs Nikon B500
- Leica M-E Typ 240 vs Nikon B500
- Nikon B500 vs Nikon D3200
- Panasonic FZ82 vs Sony H200
- Panasonic GH3 vs Sony H200
- Pentax Q vs Sony H200
- Sony A7 IV vs Sony H200
- Sony H200 vs Zeiss ZX1
Specifications: Nikon B500 vs Sony H200
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Fixed lens compact camera |
Camera Lens | 22.5-900mm f/3.0-6.5 | 24-633mm f/3.1-5.9 |
Launch Date | January 2016 | January 2013 |
Launch Price | USD 299 | USD 249 |
Sensor Specs | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | 1/2.3" Sensor |
Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 6.17 x 4.55 mm |
Sensor Area | 28.0735 mm2 | 28.0735 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | 7.7 mm |
Crop Factor | 5.6x | 5.6x |
Sensor Resolution | 15.9 Megapixels | 15.2 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels | 5184 x 2930 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 1.33 μm | 1.36 μm |
Pixel Density | 56.73 MP/cm2 | 54.10 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/60i Video | 720/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 80 - 6,400 ISO | 100 - 3,200 ISO |
Screen Specs | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
Viewfinder Type | no viewfinder | no viewfinder |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 921k dots | 460k dots |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Continuous Shooting | 7.4 shutter flaps/s | 0.8 shutter flaps/s |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | MS or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | no | no |
Connectivity Specs | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
External Flash | no Hotshoe | no Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | no HDMI |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | no Wifi |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | no NFC |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | no Bluetooth |
Body Specs | Nikon B500 | Sony H200 |
Battery Type | Nikon 4xAA | Sony 4xAA |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 600 shots per charge | 240 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
114 x 78 x 95 mm (4.5 x 3.1 x 3.7 in) |
123 x 83 x 87 mm (4.8 x 3.3 x 3.4 in) |
Camera Weight | 541 g (19.1 oz) | 530 g (18.7 oz) |
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