Nikon D7500 vs Sony A9

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Nikon D7500 vs Sony A9

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

Go in depth with our full Nikon D7500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D7500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D7500.
Compare Nikon D7500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D7500 conclusion.

35mm 847.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Sony A9 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A9 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A9.
Compare Sony A9 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A9 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II
Compare Nikon D7500 vs Sony A9 II

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Differences

Nikon D7500 advantages over Sony A9

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$997 vs $2995*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

950 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Less shutter lag
0.07 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A9 advantages over Nikon D7500

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
Bigger pixels
~ 5.93 vs 4.22 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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.
A9 test data on DxO Mark D7500 test data on DxO Mark

3,517 vs 1,483 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 8.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
364 vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 8.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
240 vs 47 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D7500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A9 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 16-80mm lens
Kit with 18-140mm lens
Kit with 18-300mm lens

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Buy the Sony A9

Body Only

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Review Excerpt

New carbon fiber body is light, compact and very comfortable; Same excellent image quality as the flagship D500; Quick 8.2 frames per second burst shooting with generous buffer; Very fast, accurate autofocus; Tilting touch-screen display; Very good battery life; Records ultra high-def 4K and 60fps Full HD too.
Only a single flash card slot; Doesn't support portrait / battery grip accessories; No rear infrared receiver any more; non-CPU AI lenses will be manual only; 4K video comes with a heavy crop; Movie AF is prone to hunting, Extended ISO sensitivities are a gimmick.
Read our Nikon D7500 Review

New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.
Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.
Read our Sony A9 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7200

Nikon D7500

Nikon D7200

$864
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$1016
APS-C

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Nikon D7200

Sony A9

Nikon D7200

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1016
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D7500

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$864
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2995
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3802
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Canon 80D

Nikon D7500

Canon 80D

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

$935
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
NFC

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Canon 80D

Sony A9

Canon 80D

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$935
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon 80D

Compared to Pentax K-70

Nikon D7500

Pentax K-70

$864
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Pentax K-70

Sony A9

Pentax K-70

$2995
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A9 vs Pentax K-70

Compared to Canon 77D

Nikon D7500

Canon 77D

$864
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D7500 vs Canon 77D

Sony A9

Canon 77D

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon 77D

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