Nikon D500 vs Canon EOS M5

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Nikon D500 vs Canon EOS M5

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APS-C 369.0mm²
20.9 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D500.
Compare Nikon D500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D500 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M5 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M5.
Compare Canon EOS M5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M5 conclusion.

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Differences

Nikon D500 advantages over Canon EOS M5

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D500 test data on DxO Mark EOS M5 test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 12.4 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1240 vs 295 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.2 fps vs 9.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 27 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 18 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon EOS M5 advantages over Nikon D500

Less expensive
$899 vs $1597
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Longer video battery life
85 vs 50 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
60 mm vs 81 mm
Thinner
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M5 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D500

Body Only

Body Only
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition
Kit with 16-80mm f/2.8-4 Lens

All D500 Deals

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Buy the Canon EOS M5

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)

All EOS M5 Deals

Review Excerpt

Superb image quality; Great high ISO performance; Rugged, comfortable camera body; Sharp articulating touchscreen display; Excellent AF point frame coverage; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K UHD video; Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth.
Somewhat large for an APS-C camera; Expensive for a DX camera; 4K UHD video doesn't offer full DX field-of-view; No built-in flash; Still uses contrast-detect for Live View AF; Dual slots use two different card types (XQD and SD).
Read our Nikon D500 Review

Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Built-in electronic viewfinder; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.
High ISO image quality and dynamic range aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Native EF-M lens selection is still limited; Below average battery life.
Read our Canon EOS M5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D500

Pentax K-3 II

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Canon EOS M5

Pentax K-3 II

$787
APS-C

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Sony A68

Nikon D500

Sony A68

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A68

Canon EOS M5

Sony A68

$787
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$598
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Sony A68

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Nikon D500

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Focus peaking
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D500 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Canon EOS M5

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$787
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Pentax KP

Nikon D500

Pentax KP

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax KP

Canon EOS M5

Pentax KP

$787
APS-C

Touchscreen
NFC

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Canon EOS M50

Nikon D500

Canon EOS M50

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$579
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon EOS M50

Canon EOS M5

Canon EOS M50

$787
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$579
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Canon EOS M50

Compare Other Cameras?