Nikon Coolpix B500

The Coolpix B500 is a bridge camera from Nikon, launched in 2016. It pairs a fixed lens with a body shaped like a small DSLR, measures 114 x 78 x 95 mm and weighs 541 g.

You frame everything on the 3-inch LCD, which tilts to help with overhead or waist-level shots, because there is no viewfinder. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth give the camera wireless connectivity.

Power comes from four AA batteries. Nikon rates an alkaline set at 600 shots, while the removable-battery format makes it practical to keep another matched set ready for a longer outing.

Stills begin with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor in the small 1/2.3-inch format. The ISO range runs from 125 to 6400, so sensitivity can be raised as light falls.

Optical image stabilisation reduces camera shake, so it can help at slower shutter speeds for static scenes. It does not freeze a moving subject, and clear results still depend on appropriate shutter speed, support and technique.

For action, the maximum burst rate is 7 fps, a peak figure that is not a promise of sustained shooting. The shutter reaches 1/4000, and focusing relies on a single autofocus point, which keeps things simple but limits where the camera can place focus.

The lens is fixed, so you cannot swap it for a wider or longer view, and with no viewfinder you compose every shot on the rear screen.

Video records in Full HD using MPEG-4 files, while standard modes include frame rates up to 60 fps. That combination covers everyday clips and smoother motion without implying that resolution and rate must be paired.

A built-in timelapse mode assembles sequences in the camera, which suits slow-moving subjects such as drifting clouds or a construction site recorded over days. The finished sequence compresses a long change into a short clip and avoids assembling every captured frame by hand later.

The moving screen helps with high or low camera positions while recording, and optical image stabilisation reduces camera shake in handheld clips. It does not stop subject movement. Full HD remains the resolution ceiling for ordinary recording and provides less cropping room than 4K.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots for image review and screen-based composition. It moves to help with waist-level or overhead framing. There is no touch control, so settings use the camera's physical controls.

A built-in flash gives you extra light for close indoor shots, though there is no support for an external flash when you need more power or direction. The built-in unit is convenient for nearby subjects, while the missing accessory option limits off-camera lighting, larger modifiers and multi-light setups.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth give the camera wireless connection options. There is no built-in GPS, so location data does not come from the camera itself, and there is no weather sealing, so the body needs shelter from rain and dust.

Storage goes on a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card. The body holds one card at a time, so choose enough capacity for stills and Full HD clips and handle the card carefully during important shoots.

Power comes from four AA batteries. Nikon rates alkaline cells at 600 shots, with endurance varying by battery chemistry and use. Keeping a matched spare set ready is practical for longer outings.

The removable AA format means a depleted set can be replaced between shoots. Keep four matched spare cells together so the camera can return to use without waiting for a charging break.