Nikon Coolpix P520

15 reviews

Jun, 2013

Positive
Responsiveness (4)
Value for money (3)
Portability (2)
Image quality (2)
Contrast (1)

Negative
Battery (4)
Focus (4)
Performance (4)
Build quality (3)
Sensor (3)

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 15 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers are impressed by the portability and image quality. The value for money and responsiveness also get good feedback, whereas the build quality and sensor get critical opinions. There are some mixed opinions about the lens.

screen, responsiveness, value for money, image quality, portability

performance, focus, battery, sensor, build quality

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Nikon Coolpix P520 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

See all Nikon Digital Compact Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 15 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

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Features

Screen
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Lens
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Showing 8 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (7)

Expert review by: Joshua Goldman (cnet.com)

Nikon Coolpix P520 (Dark Grey)

Editors' note: Several of the design, features, and shooting options are identical between the Nikon Coolpix P520 and the Coolpix P510 we reviewed earlier, so readers of the earlier review may experience some deja vu when reading the same sections below.

Give the Nikon Coolpix P520 plenty of light and it can turn out some excellent photos throughout its 42x zoom range. It has a lot of shooting options for those who like to fiddle with settings or straight snapshooters; a nice flip-out rotating LCD; and...

Its autofocus system is slow when the lens is zoomed in, especially when compared with other models in its class; battery life is short; and the camera feels cheaply constructed.

More point-and-shoot than dSLR in terms of features and performance than some competing high-end megazooms, the Nikon Coolpix P520 is a very good camera for those after a big zoom range, better control over results, and fine picture quality.

Apr, 2013

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Consumer review by: jhechotek (cnet.com)

"I returned it for a REFUND"

I took it out into the field at Hawk Mountain and the camera's performance was unacceptably sluggish. The image processing "lag time" was AWFUL even with a Sandisk Extreme Pro SDHC 95mb/s. The autofocus was both noisy & slow...also very inaccurate...

Lightweight, GPS, WiFi capable (with accessory)

Shutter "Lag Time", Slow auto-focus, too many on-screen menus (not enough buttons)

Apr, 2013

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Consumer review by: Len_Lundgren (cnet.com)

"Does every thing well, except the JPG algorithm."

The JPG algorithm has only 2 settings, Bad and Very bad, or Fine and Normal. I took a long distance photo on a cloudy/foggy day with the jpg set to fine. The photo came out as expected- foggy. There were some jpg contours, but not really noticeable. Of...

Zoom is fantastic. Anti-shake enables almost full zoom hand held. In bright sunlight everything is great.

JPG algorithm needs Nikon's very fine and raw settings, or make the normal setting very fine and raw the second.

Apr, 2013

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Consumer review by: Nat Napoletano (newegg.com)

Good Camera, But Not Great

What Canon did right: The super zoom is much more powerful, 50X vs 41X. The Canon lens is truly remarkable. You could photograph the moons of Jupiter on a clear night. I tested it next to the Nikon on distant road signs and you could read text from a...

Everything is relative so I will be comparing Nikon’s Coolpix P250 to its main competitor the Canon SX50 (they sell for the same price) ; What Nikon did right ; Under ideal conditions, the 16 megapixel Nikon creates images with higher resolution than...

What Nikon did wrong ; There are focus problems when using the self timer and in movie mode. If you start the movie recording, and then step in front of the camera, it mostly focuses on the back wall and your face is fuzzy. The camera never seems to...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by: Amy Davies (techradar.com)

Nikon Coolpix P520 review

42x optical zoom bridge camera put to the test

42x zoom ; Articulating, high-res screen ; Full manual control

No raw capture ; Limited EVF ; No quick menu

Apr, 2013

Partner Source

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Expert review by: Matt Golowczynski (trustedreviews.com)

Nikon Coolpix P520

A 42x optical zoom camera at a tempting price

Massive zoom lens ; First class LCD screen ; Very good value

Iffy GPS accuracy ; Build quality only so-so

There are two zoom controls – one located on the top plate next to the shutter release, and a second along the barrel of the lens. The control on the lens is a nice idea, but it’s not that useful – more often than not you’ll use the control located by...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by: Shawn Low (asia.cnet.com)

Quick hands-on: Nikon Coolpix P520

YOKOHAMA, Japan-- When we first saw it at the Nikon booth, the P520 looked little tacky with its glossy finish, but still felt solid enough to take a few bumps. Gripping it for the first time, we felt right at home with the shooter's ergonomic grip...

Jan, 2013

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Expert review by: Matt Golowczynski (whatdigitalcamera.com)

Nikon COOLPIX P520 review

The Nikon Coolpix P520 boasts the most powerful lens in Coolpix camera yet, incorporating a 42x optical zoom lens which provides an effective focal range of 24-1000mm. How does the rest of the...

GPS system can work well (if tended to), excellent LCD, price, overall image quality

GPS can deliver erroneous results (and sometimes none at all), build quality