Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7

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Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7

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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.

35mm 858.0mm²
45.7 megapixels
ISO 64 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon Z7 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon Z7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Z7.
Compare Nikon Z7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon Z7 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon Z7 II
Compare Z7 vs Z7 II
Compare Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II

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Differences

Nikon D500 advantages over Nikon Z7

Less expensive
$1597 vs $3097
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 400 shots
Capture more photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
10.2 fps vs 9.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.2 fps vs 9.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 23 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon Z7 advantages over Nikon D500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
Z7 test data on DxO Mark D500 test data on DxO Mark

2,668 vs 1,324 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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
Newer
6 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.67x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
45.7 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
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 panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Z7 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 Nikon Z7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens and FTZ adapter

All Z7 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

Familiar design in a compact form; Rugged build quality; Gorgeous EVF; Excellent image quality; Good autofocus; In-body image stabilization; Good 4K video recording.
Single card slot; Not as good at subject tracking as some Nikon DSLR cameras; Limited native lens selection (although adapter works well); Limited buffer depths.
Read our Nikon Z7 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

Nikon Z7

Pentax K-3 II

$2147
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Nikon Z7 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

Nikon Z7

Sony A68

$2147
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Sony A68

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

Nikon Z7

Pentax KP

$2147
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Nikon Z6

Nikon D500

Nikon Z6

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1396
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7

Nikon Z6

$2147
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Nikon Z6

Compared to Canon EOS R

Nikon D500

Canon EOS R

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon EOS R

Nikon Z7

Canon EOS R

$2147
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon EOS R

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