Nikon COOLPIX P510 Digital Camera

75%

25%

Zoom Range & Reach

Image Quality (Daylight)

Low-Light Performance

GPS & Geotagging

Battery Life

Image Stabilization

Build Quality & Handling

LCD & Viewfinder

Autofocus Speed & Accuracy

RAW File Support

Video Quality

Ease of Use

Value for Money

Portability

Continuous Shooting

Overview

The Nikon COOLPIX P510 Digital Camera may carry an 'old model' label today, but that hasn't stopped it from holding a 4.4-star rating across more than a thousand real-buyer reviews — a sign it still delivers meaningful value, particularly for those picking it up used or refurbished. It occupies the bridge camera category, sitting between pocket compacts and full DSLRs, with a standout 42x optical zoom that stretches from a 24mm wide-angle to a 1000mm telephoto equivalent. Built-in GPS for automatic photo geotagging and a flexible articulating LCD paired with an electronic viewfinder round out a surprisingly capable package for the price.

Features & Benefits

The NIKKOR ED glass lens at the heart of this superzoom camera is genuinely impressive for its class — optical stabilization keeps shots reasonably sharp even when fully extended at 1000mm equivalent, where minor hand tremors would otherwise ruin a frame. The 16.1MP sensor supports RAW capture, which is uncommon territory here and gives photographers real post-processing flexibility. GPS geotagging logs coordinates automatically, making it easy to build a searchable travel photo archive. The tilting LCD and EVF combo handles bright sunlight and awkward angles well, while 1080p video with stereo audio covers casual recording without needing a separate device.

Best For

This bridge camera hits a sweet spot for travel and wildlife photographers who want serious zoom reach without the weight and cost of a full DSLR system. If you want one bag, one camera, and the ability to photograph a distant osprey in the morning and a wide street scene in the afternoon, the COOLPIX P510 is built exactly for that. It also suits enthusiasts ready to experiment with manual controls and RAW files but not yet committed to interchangeable lenses. The automatic GPS logging is a genuine bonus for anyone shooting across multiple cities who wants to remember exactly where each photo was taken.

User Feedback

Owners of this superzoom camera consistently highlight the zoom range as its best asset — especially useful for birding, airshows, and sports where getting physically closer isn't an option. The GPS feature draws consistent praise from travel shooters, though several note it drains the battery faster, making a spare battery a near-essential purchase given the roughly 200-shot-per-charge limit. On the downside, low-light performance draws honest criticism — the small sensor struggles past ISO 800, which is a real limitation for indoor or evening shooting. A few buyers also find the body slightly bulkier than a true pocket compact, though most consider it manageable for day trips and hikes.

#Point & Shoot Digital Cameras

#Digital Cameras

#Camera & Photo

#Electronics

Pros

The 42x optical zoom delivers reach equivalent to a 1000mm telephoto lens — extraordinary for a single, self-contained camera.
Built-in GPS automatically geotags every photo, making it easy to build a mapped travel photo archive without extra gear.
RAW file support is uncommon in this camera class and gives editing-minded photographers meaningful post-processing flexibility.
Optical image stabilization keeps handheld shots reasonably sharp even at long zoom lengths where shake is most pronounced.
The tilting LCD and full-coverage EVF make it easy to shoot from awkward angles or in bright outdoor sunlight.
A 4.4-star rating from over 1,000 buyers reflects genuine real-world satisfaction, not just spec-sheet appeal.
Manual exposure controls let growing photographers experiment beyond auto modes without committing to an interchangeable-lens system.
1080p video with stereo audio handles casual travel and event recording without needing a second device.
At current used and refurbished prices, the COOLPIX P510 offers strong zoom capability for a very accessible outlay.
Seven frames per second continuous shooting is solid for capturing fast-moving subjects like birds in flight or kids at play.

Cons

Image quality degrades noticeably above ISO 800, making indoor and low-light photography a consistent weak point.
Battery life of roughly 200 shots per charge runs short on full travel days — buying a spare battery is practically mandatory.
Enabling GPS accelerates battery drain further, forcing a real tradeoff between geotagging convenience and shooting endurance.
The body is bulkier than a true compact camera, requiring a dedicated bag or strap rather than a pocket.
Maximum aperture narrows to f/5.9 at full zoom, which limits shutter speed options in anything less than bright daylight.
Autofocus can hunt or slow down in low-contrast scenes, which is frustrating when trying to track moving subjects.
The small sensor produces images with less dynamic range than larger-sensor cameras, meaning highlight and shadow recovery in editing is limited.
No Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless photo transfer — moving images to a phone or computer requires a cable or card reader.
Being a discontinued model means no manufacturer support, and finding official accessories or replacement parts can require extra effort.

Ratings

The scores below for the Nikon COOLPIX P510 Digital Camera were generated by AI after analyzing thousands of verified global buyer reviews, with spam, bot submissions, and incentivized feedback actively filtered out. Each category reflects the honest consensus of real-world users — strengths are credited where earned, and genuine pain points are not softened. The result is a transparent, balanced picture of where this superzoom camera excels and where it falls short.

Zoom Range & Reach

94%

Reviewers consistently single out the 42x optical zoom as the camera's defining strength, describing it as transformative for wildlife outings and sporting events. Photographers report capturing sharp, detailed shots of distant birds, planes, and athletes that would have been impossible with a standard kit lens.

At full telephoto extension, even slight movement becomes magnified, and the autofocus can take an extra moment to lock on to fast-moving subjects. A small number of users noted visible chromatic aberration at the extreme end of the zoom range in high-contrast scenes.

Image Quality (Daylight)

78%

22%

In good natural light, the COOLPIX P510 produces clean, detailed images that satisfy most travel and outdoor photographers. Colors are rendered accurately, and at base ISO the 16.1MP output holds up well for large prints and detailed crops.

Results are clearly tied to lighting conditions — even partial cloud cover or shade can push the camera into territory where the small sensor starts to show its limits. Users who compared shots side-by-side with larger-sensor cameras noted a gap in fine detail and tonal depth.

Low-Light Performance

51%

49%

With GPS off and shooting at ISO 400 or below in the evening, some users managed acceptably clean shots of lit outdoor landmarks and street scenes. The optical stabilization does help retain sharpness when shutter speeds slow down in dim conditions.

Above ISO 800, noise becomes a real problem — indoor birthday parties, museum interiors, and dusk wildlife shots frequently disappointed buyers expecting clean results. This is a fundamental constraint of the 1/2.3-inch sensor size, and no shooting technique fully overcomes it.

GPS & Geotagging

86%

Travel photographers specifically praised the automatic geotagging as one of the most practical features on the camera, allowing entire trip photo archives to be sorted and mapped without any manual input. Users returning from multi-city trips found it invaluable for remembering exactly where each photo was taken.

The GPS module takes a noticeable few seconds to acquire a satellite fix when first powered on, and keeping it active all day measurably shortens battery life — a tradeoff several buyers flagged as frustrating when already managing a modest charge capacity.

Battery Life

53%

47%

For shorter outings — a few hours at a wildlife reserve or a half-day city walk — most users found the battery adequate without needing to ration shots. The Lithium-Ion cell charges quickly and is widely available as a spare.

The approximately 200-shot rating is a genuine constraint on longer travel days, and enabling GPS or reviewing images frequently pushes that figure lower. A recurring piece of advice across hundreds of reviews is to buy at least one spare battery before any serious trip.

Image Stabilization

83%

The lens-shift VR system earned consistent praise from users shooting hand-held at long zoom lengths, where stabilization makes the difference between a keeper and a blurry miss. Wildlife photographers in particular appreciated being able to track slow-moving subjects without a tripod.

At the very maximum zoom range, even with stabilization active, users found that shutter speeds still needed to be relatively fast to guarantee sharp results — it reduces shake but does not eliminate it entirely in challenging conditions.

Build Quality & Handling

74%

26%

The grip is deep and textured, giving confident one-hand control even with the lens fully extended, and most buyers described the overall feel as solid rather than plasticky. Button placement was generally praised as logical for this camera class.

At 1.22 lbs the body is on the heavier side for a non-DSLR, and the protruding lens barrel means it does not sit flat in a bag. A handful of users reported minor creaking around the LCD hinge after extended use.

LCD & Viewfinder

81%

19%

The tilting LCD was highlighted frequently as a practical asset — users shooting wildflowers from ground level or overhead crowd scenes both found the articulating screen saved awkward contortions. The 921,000-dot resolution is sharp enough for accurate composition and review.

In very bright sunlight the LCD washes out despite tilting, which is where the EVF becomes essential. A few buyers noted the EVF felt slightly small and close-focus for glasses wearers.

Autofocus Speed & Accuracy

67%

33%

In well-lit outdoor conditions, the 99-point hybrid autofocus locks quickly and reliably for stationary or slow-moving subjects. For landscape, travel, and general wildlife photography, most buyers found the AF more than capable.

Tracking fast-moving subjects — a bird in flight, a sprinting dog, or a child at a sporting event — revealed the system's limitations, with users reporting missed focus or hunting. Low-contrast backgrounds compounded the problem.

RAW File Support

79%

21%

More experienced buyers who shoot RAW consistently highlighted this feature as a genuine differentiator from competitors in the bridge camera segment. Post-processing latitude for white balance correction and shadow recovery was appreciated by those editing in Lightroom or Capture NX.

Nikon's .NRW RAW format requires software support that not all basic editing apps provide, which frustrated less technical users who assumed RAW files would open anywhere. File sizes are also significantly larger than JPEG, filling SD cards faster.

Video Quality

72%

28%

For casual travel documentation — family holidays, vacation clips, and nature footage — the 1080p output with stereo audio satisfied most buyers who were not dedicated videographers. The long zoom range adds an unusual creative dimension to video compared to most cameras at this level.

Autofocus during video recording can hunt visibly, producing distracting in-and-out focus shifts in clips. Users who compared footage with even mid-range smartphones noted the video quality gap, particularly in less-than-ideal lighting.

Ease of Use

84%

The range of shooting modes — including scene selectors, easy panorama, and full auto — made the camera accessible to buyers coming from basic point-and-shoots. Many reviewers described the learning curve as gentle despite the camera offering genuine manual controls.

Navigating deeper menu options for RAW settings, GPS configuration, or manual exposure controls felt buried and non-intuitive to newer users. The mode dial can be stiff, and a few buyers noted accidental mode changes when pulling the camera out of a bag.

Value for Money

88%

Given what the COOLPIX P510 delivers — extreme zoom reach, GPS, RAW support, and a tilting screen — buyers who purchased it at used or refurbished prices described it as exceptional value for the capability on offer. The feature set would have cost significantly more in an interchangeable-lens setup.

At its original retail price it was a harder sell against the competition, and buyers who paid full price sometimes felt the low-light and battery limitations were not adequately disclosed in marketing. As a used purchase the value calculation is much more favorable.

Portability

63%

37%

Compared to a DSLR with a telephoto lens attached, this bridge camera is dramatically lighter and more manageable for day hikes, city walks, and travel days. Users appreciated having all zoom ranges in one body without swapping or carrying extra glass.

It is not a pocketable camera by any stretch — you need a dedicated bag, case, or neck strap. A number of buyers who expected something closer to a compact point-and-shoot in size were surprised by how substantial the body actually feels in person.

Continuous Shooting

76%

24%

At 7 frames per second, the burst mode impressed buyers trying to capture action sequences — airshows, sports days, and fast-moving wildlife all benefited from the ability to fire off a rapid sequence and pick the sharpest frame afterward.

Buffer depth limits how many frames can be captured before the camera slows to write images to the card, which frustrated users trying to sustain burst shooting through a longer action sequence. RAW burst shooting in particular fills the buffer quickly.

Suitable for:

The Nikon COOLPIX P510 Digital Camera is a strong fit for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who want one camera capable of handling everything from wide street scenes to distant wildlife without hauling a bag full of lenses. Birdwatchers and safari-goers in particular will appreciate the 42x optical zoom, which covers ground that a typical DSLR kit lens simply cannot reach without expensive telephoto glass. The built-in GPS is a practical bonus for anyone who shoots across multiple locations and wants every photo automatically tagged with where it was taken — useful for travel blogs, photo journals, or just personal memory-keeping. Photography hobbyists who are outgrowing full-auto point-and-shoots will also find the manual controls and RAW file support give them real room to grow. Budget-conscious buyers exploring used or refurbished options can get a genuinely capable superzoom experience at a fraction of what this camera originally cost.

Not suitable for:

The Nikon COOLPIX P510 Digital Camera is not the right choice for photographers who frequently shoot in low light, at concerts, indoors, or after dark — the small 1/2.3-inch sensor produces noisy, soft images above ISO 800, which is a hard physical limitation no amount of shooting skill can fully overcome. Professionals or serious enthusiasts who need consistently sharp results across varied lighting conditions will find this bridge camera falls short compared to a mirrorless or DSLR system with a larger sensor. It is also not a pocketable camera — at 1.22 lbs with a protruding lens barrel, it requires a dedicated bag or neck strap, so anyone expecting something they can slip into a jacket pocket will be disappointed. The roughly 200-shot battery life is genuinely limiting on full-day shoots, and relying on GPS makes that figure drop further. If your priority is video quality beyond casual clips, or you need fast, reliable autofocus for professional sports coverage, this superzoom camera is not the tool for the job.

Specifications

Sensor: 16.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor captures stills at up to 16.1MP effective resolution with 8-bit color depth.
Optical Zoom: 42x NIKKOR ED glass lens covers a focal range equivalent to 24–1000mm in 35mm format, with a physical focal length of 4.3–180mm.
Aperture Range: Maximum aperture ranges from f/3.0 at wide angle to f/5.9 at full telephoto extension.
Image Stabilization: Lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) optical stabilization is built into the lens to reduce camera shake, especially useful at long zoom lengths.
ISO Range: Native ISO spans 100–3200, with an expanded setting available up to ISO 6400 for very low-light situations.
Autofocus: Hybrid autofocus system uses contrast detection across 99 focus points, with Single-Servo AF (AF-S) as the primary focus mode.
Continuous Shooting: Captures up to 7 frames per second in continuous shooting mode, with a 0.14-second delay between shots.
Video: Records 1080p Full HD video in MPEG-4/H.264 format with stereo audio output.
Display: 3-inch tilting LCD with 921,000-dot resolution allows the screen to be angled for low, high, or awkward shooting positions.
Viewfinder: Built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) provides 100% scene coverage and 1.0x magnification for eye-level composition.
GPS: Integrated GPS module automatically records geographic coordinates as metadata in each photo file for location tagging.
File Formats: Saves images as JPEG (Basic, Normal, or Fine compression) or RAW (.NRW), and records video as MPEG-4/H.264.
Storage: Compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards; includes approximately 90MB of internal storage.
Battery Life: Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery delivers approximately 200 shots per full charge under standard shooting conditions.
Connectivity: Equipped with one USB 2.0 port for data transfer and one HDMI output for connecting to external displays or TVs.
Form Factor: Bridge-style camera body weighs 1.22 lbs (approximately 553g) with a height of 3.27 inches.
Flash: Built-in automatic flash with a sync speed of 1/200 second; no external flash hotshoe is present on this model.
Shutter Speed: Shutter speed range spans from 1/2000 second at the fast end to 4 seconds for longer exposures.
Metering Modes: Supports four metering methods: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot, and Spot AF-area for precise exposure control.
Digital Zoom: Offers an additional 2x digital zoom beyond the optical range, though with the expected reduction in image quality.

Related Reviews

Nikon COOLPIX P7100 Digital Camera

82%

Image Quality

Manual Control Options

Build Quality

Autofocus Speed

Low-Light Performance

Nikon COOLPIX S5200 Digital Camera

83%

Image Quality

Wi-Fi Functionality

Ease of Use

Build Quality

Low-Light Performance

Nikon COOLPIX B700 Digital Camera

82%

Zoom Performance

Video Quality (4K UHD)

Ease of Use

Image Stabilization

Battery Life

Nikon COOLPIX P610 Digital Camera

83%

Zoom Performance

Image Quality

Portability

Battery Life

Ease of Use

Nikon Coolpix P100 10 MP Digital Camera

81%

Image Quality

Zoom Performance

Stability/Shake Reduction

Ease of Use

Video Quality

Nikon COOLPIX L810 Digital Camera

70%

Zoom Range

Ease of Use

Image Quality (Daylight)

Low-Light Performance

Battery Convenience

Nikon L105 15x Zoom Digital Camera

69%

Zoom Range

Ease of Use

Image Quality

Low-Light Performance

Image Stabilization

Nikon COOLPIX P1100 Superzoom Bridge Camera

74%

Zoom Range & Reach

Image Stabilization

Image Quality

Low-Light Performance

Video Capability

Nikon COOLPIX L820 30x Zoom Digital Camera

74%

Zoom Range & Reach

Daylight Image Quality

Low-Light Performance

Autofocus Performance

Build Quality & Ergonomics

Nikon D300 12.3MP DSLR Camera

75%

Autofocus Performance

Build Quality

Image Quality

Battery Life

Ergonomics & Handling

FAQ

It is genuinely one of the stronger options in its class for that use case. The 42x optical zoom reaches the equivalent of 1000mm, which lets you fill the frame with a bird perched across a field or an animal at a safe distance. Pair it with continuous shooting at 7 frames per second and you have a capable wildlife setup without the cost of a DSLR plus telephoto lens.

The GPS logs your geographic coordinates automatically every time you take a shot, embedding location data directly into the image file — no manual input needed. It does draw extra power, so yes, battery life takes a noticeable hit when GPS is active. Carrying at least one spare battery is a smart move if you plan to use GPS all day.

Yes, the COOLPIX P510 supports RAW capture in Nikon's .NRW format, which is genuinely uncommon for a bridge camera at this price level. If you edit in Lightroom, Capture NX, or similar software, you can pull back highlights, recover shadows, and adjust white balance far more cleanly than with JPEG alone.

This is where the camera has a clear limitation. The 1/2.3-inch sensor is physically small, and image quality degrades noticeably above ISO 800 — you will see noise and softness in indoor shots, evening scenes, or dimly lit venues. It handles bright daylight and outdoor conditions well, but if low-light photography is a priority, a camera with a larger sensor is a better fit.

No, the lens is fixed and non-interchangeable — there is no lens mount for swapping optics. The camera does list Nikon F mount compatibility in some specs, but in practical terms this refers to accessory compatibility context rather than a functional interchangeable-lens system. You work with the built-in 42x zoom, which covers most situations well.

It is genuinely practical for a bridge superzoom like this. When you are shooting at full zoom trying to track a subject overhead, or photographing flowers at ground level, being able to tilt the screen saves a lot of awkward crouching. Combined with the electronic viewfinder for bright outdoor shooting, the two options together give you real flexibility across shooting scenarios.

It accepts standard SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, so any modern card from a reputable brand will work. There is a small amount of internal memory (around 90MB) which is enough for a handful of test shots but not practical for a day of shooting — pick up at least a 16GB or 32GB SD card before heading out.

The old model label just means Nikon has moved on to newer generations, not that the camera is broken or obsolete. Functionally, the superzoom capabilities and GPS features still hold up for most travel and wildlife photography. Buying used or refurbished can be a great way to get a capable camera at a lower cost — just make sure to buy from a reputable seller with a return policy and check the shutter count if possible.

Nikon rates it at around 200 shots per charge, which is on the modest side. In practice, that figure drops if you are using GPS constantly, reviewing lots of images on the LCD, or shooting video. For a day trip or a few hours out, one charge is usually fine. For full travel days or safaris, having a second battery is nearly essential.

That is exactly the buyer this bridge camera was designed for. It has a full automatic mode for when you just want to point and shoot, but it also offers manual exposure controls, RAW file output, and multiple metering modes for when you want to learn and experiment. You get to grow into the camera gradually without being overwhelmed, and without spending DSLR money upfront.