Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
We've carried out lab tests on the Nikon P610 across its ISO range for resolution. We've also picked out three of its chief rivals so that you can compare their performance directly.
The rivals we've chosen are:
Sony HX400V: One of the better bridge cameras around right now, with a 50x zoom offering good performance at both ends of the range. You can't shoot raw files, though.
Canon SX60 HS: Canon's top bridge camera has a 65x zoom, fully articulating rear display and can shoot raw files.
Panasonic FZ1000: We've also included the Panasonic, even though the zoom range is shorter, because it has a much larger 1-inch sensor – and this has a dramatic impact on the image quality.
We test camera resolution using an industry-standard ISO test chart that allows precise visual comparisons. For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our camera resolution test process.
Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:
Analysis: The Nikon P610 and Canon SX60 show identical results right up to IS1600. The Canon offers better resolution at ISO 3200. Both are slightly better than the Sony HX400V up to this point, though the differences are small and you might not notice in everyday photography.
These results are what we've come to expect from cameras with 1/2.3-inch sensors. These sensors can give acceptable results at low ISO settings but the quality quickly falls away further up the ISO range.
The figures from the FZ1000 are very different. Its larger sensor gives it a clear resolution advantage at low-medium ISO settings, and at higher sensitivities the gap grows larger still. The FZ1000 is more expensive and has a shorter zoom range than other bridge cameras, but the jump in quality makes it worth it, and that's why the FZ1000 is currently our top bridge camera.
