Sony A77 II vs Nikon D500

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Sony A77 II vs Nikon D500

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A77 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A77 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A77 II.
Compare Sony A77 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A77 II conclusion.

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.

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Differences

Sony A77 II advantages over Nikon D500

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More viewfinder magnification
0.73x vs 0.67x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.3 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
11.5 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Nikon D500 advantages over Sony A77 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 0.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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 480 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
99 vs 15
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher-res screen
590k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
153 vs 79
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 28 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A77 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

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Kit with 16-50mm Lens

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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

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.
Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.
Read our Sony A77 II Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Canon 70D

Sony A77 II

Canon 70D

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1149
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 70D

Nikon D500

Canon 70D

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

$1149
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon 70D

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1597
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Nikon D500

Canon 7D Mark II

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1597
APS-C

Built-in GPS
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Compared to Nikon D7200

Sony A77 II

Nikon D7200

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1097
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

Nikon D500

Nikon D7200

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1097
APS-C

Internal flash
More pixels

Compare Nikon D500 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Sony A77 II

Pentax K-3 II

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
In-camera panoramas

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs 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

Compared to Sony A68

Sony A77 II

Sony A68

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A77 II vs 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

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