Nikon P1000 vs Sony ZV-1

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2018 and May 2020. Both the P1000 and the ZV-1 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (P1000) and an one-inch (ZV-1) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon P1000		Sony ZV-1
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-3000mm f/2.8-8.0		24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.2 LCD, 921k dots		3.0 LCD, 922k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second		24 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge		260 shots per battery charge
146 x 119 x 181 mm, 1415 g		105 x 60 x 44 mm, 294 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Coolpix P1000 and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon P1000 and the Sony ZV-1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony ZV-1 is considerably smaller (64 percent) than the Nikon P1000. Moreover, the ZV-1 is substantially lighter (79 percent) than the P1000. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the P1000 nor the ZV-1 are weather-sealed.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Nikon P1000	5.7 in	4.7 in	7.1 in	49.9 oz	250	n	Jul 2018	999
	Sony ZV-1	4.1 in	2.4 in	1.7 in	10.4 oz	260	n	May 2020	799
	Canon G5 X Mark II	4.4 in	2.4 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	230	n	Jul 2019	899
	Canon G7 X Mark III	4.1 in	2.4 in	1.6 in	10.7 oz	235	n	Jul 2019	749
	Leica D-LUX 7	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Nov 2018	1,195
	Leica V-LUX 2	4.9 in	3.1 in	3.7 in	18.3 oz	410	n	Sep 2010	849
	Nikon B600	4.8 in	3.2 in	3.9 in	17.6 oz	280	n	Jan 2019	349
	Nikon A1000	4.5 in	2.8 in	1.6 in	11.6 oz	250	n	Jan 2019	429
	Nikon P900	5.5 in	4.1 in	5.4 in	31.7 oz	360	n	Mar 2015	599
	Nikon Coolpix A	4.4 in	2.5 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	230	n	Mar 2013	1,099
	Panasonic LX100 II	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Aug 2018	999
	Sony RX100 VII	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.7 in	10.7 oz	260	n	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony HX99	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.4 in	8.5 oz	370	n	Aug 2018	449
	Sony HX95	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.4 in	8.5 oz	370	n	Aug 2018	429
	Sony WX800	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.4 in	8.2 oz	370	n	Oct 2018	399
	Sony RX100 III	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.2 oz	320	n	May 2014	799
	Sony RX100 II	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.5 in	9.9 oz	350	n	Jun 2013	749
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Metric

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The ZV-1 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the P1000, 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. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon P1000 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony ZV-1 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the ZV-1 is 314 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.7. The sensor in the P1000 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the ZV-1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 20MP, the ZV-1 offers a higher resolution than the P1000 (15.9MP), but the ZV-1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 1.33μm for the P1000) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the ZV-1 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 10 months) than the P1000, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the P1000 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony ZV-1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZV-1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon P1000 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Nikon P1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony ZV-1	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Leica D-LUX 7	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Leica V-LUX 2	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
	Nikon B600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Nikon A1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Nikon Coolpix A	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.4	13.8	1164	80
	Panasonic LX100 II	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63
	Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
	Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the P1000 has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the ZV-1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon P1000 and Sony ZV-1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Nikon P1000	2359	n	3.2	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
	Sony ZV-1	none	n	3.0	922	swivel	Y	1/2000s	24.0	n	Y
	Canon G5 X Mark II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	Leica D-LUX 7	2764	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
	Leica V-LUX 2	202	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0	Y	Y
	Nikon B600	none	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.4	Y	Y
	Nikon A1000	1166	n	3.0	1036	tilting	Y	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
	Nikon P900	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
	Nikon Coolpix A	optional	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/2000s	4.0	Y	n
	Panasonic LX100 II	2764	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
	Sony RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0	921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0	Y	Y
	Sony HX99	638	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony HX95	638	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony WX800	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The P1000 has one, while the ZV-1 does not. While the built-in flash of the P1000 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the ZV-1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon P1000 and the Sony ZV-1 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the P1000 and the ZV-1 have zoom lenses built in. The P1000 has a 24-3000mm f/2.8-8.0 optic and the ZV-1 offers a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Nikon and Sony provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the Sony has less tele-photo reach at the long end. The ZV-1 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The P1000 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZV-1 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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 P1000 and Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Nikon P1000	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Sony ZV-1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon G5 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Leica D-LUX 7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Leica V-LUX 2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon B600	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Nikon A1000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Nikon P900	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Nikon Coolpix A	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Panasonic LX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Sony RX100 VII	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony HX99	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony HX95	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony WX800	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 III	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Both the P1000 and the ZV-1 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The P1000 replaced the earlier Nikon P900, while the ZV-1 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon P1000 and the Sony ZV-1? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon Coolpix P1000:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in July 2018).

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (24 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/1.8 vs f/2.8).
• More compact: Is smaller (105x60mm vs 146x119mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 1121g or 79 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 10 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the ZV-1 is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 7 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro 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 P1000 and the Sony ZV-1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the P1000 or the ZV-1. 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 hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Nikon P1000	+	73/100	3.5/5	4.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	999
	Sony ZV-1	..	85/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	May 2020	799
	Canon G5 X Mark II	+	82/100	..	..	4/5	Jul 2019	899
	Canon G7 X Mark III	+ +	81/100	4/5	..	..	Jul 2019	749
	Leica D-LUX 7	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Nov 2018	1,195
	Leica V-LUX 2	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2010	849
	Nikon B600	+	..	3.5/5	..	3/5	Jan 2019	349
	Nikon A1000	+ +	..	3.5/5	..	3/5	Jan 2019	429
	Nikon P900	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2015	599
	Nikon Coolpix A	+	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2013	1,099
	Panasonic LX100 II	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	999
	Sony RX100 VII	..	..	4/5	..	5/5	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony HX99	..	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	Aug 2018	449
	Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	429
	Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	399
	Sony RX100 III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	799
	Sony RX100 II	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	749
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon P1000 vs Sony ZV-1

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.

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