Live Science Verdict
The Nikon D500 is in many agency an APS - C D850 : a rapid - fire , pro - caliber imagery auto that extends the focal length of your genus Lens
10fps burst shooting
three-fold memory card
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 (1/25 sec, f/4, ISO100)
Weather sealed
list - only rearward screen
4 K suffers large craw
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 (1/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO1250)
counterpoint AF in unrecorded view
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Type : DSLRSensor:20.9MP APS - CLens setting : Nikon FISO range:100 - 51,200 ( exp 50 - 1,640,000)Viewfinder : optic , 1x mag , 100 % coverageVideo capability:4 K 30p / 1080p 60pWeight:1.68lbsSize:5.79 x 4.53 x 3.19 inchesMemory card type:1x SD , 1x XQD / CFexpress B
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 (1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO200)
It ’s rarefied that an APS - C system packs comparable world power to a full - frame flagship , but that ’s the case with the Nikon D500 . This craw detector camera ( bear on to as " DX formatting " in Nikon nomenclature , rather than " FX format " for full skeletal system ) is perhaps the honest bang - for - buck consistence that Nikon has ever released when it comes to DSLRs .
Boasting speed , image quality and work up timbre only a pass below its professional - ground level sib , the D500 is a force to be look with . And thanks to the 1.5x crop component of its pocket-sized detector , it extends the good focal length of your lenses – reach it one of thebest wildlife picture taking cameras .
Its 20.9MP persona detector is extremely capable , boasting a maximal ISO of 1.64 million – meaning that carrying out is maintain even in challenging blue light condition . With its 10fps continuous shot speed the D500 can keep up with the action whether it ’s tight - moving sports or frantically moving animals , and it back up those bursts to treble retention card expansion slot to ensure that your mental image are dependable .
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 (1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO2000)
Add in a ferocious autofocus system and atmospheric condition waterproofing to protect it from the elements , and the Nikon D500 is a photographic camera that always have got up and never let you down – no matter what or where you ’re shoot .
Nikon D500 review: Design
The D500 isn’tquiteas rugged as the full frame Nikon D850 , but it ’s pretty closelipped . The metallic element chassis is robust enough to take the kinds of knock and scrapes it might sustain in the athletic field , and the conditions sealing will keep it safe from the elements . Indeed , speaking to both its semi - pro status as well as Nikon ’s commitment to sealing , the camera ditch a pop - up ostentation in party favour of more thoroughgoing auspices .
To keep you shooting when the light go away , not only does the D500 bluster an telling ISO sensitiveness , key clit on the body illuminate so you’re able to still see them in the dark – and the top LCD panel also lights up , so you’re able to keep an eye on your preferences .
Taking a cue from professional cameras , there is a joystick to enable you to quickly shift your focus point while shooting . And although we ’d favor a full articulating screen , the rearward LCD at least tilts ( helpful for pip from low-spirited angles , as well as for shooting video ) and it also offers touch control .
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 (1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO200)
Nikon D500 review: Functionality
Kit lens of the eye : Nikkor 16 - 80 mm f/2.8 - 4E ED VRBest wide lens system : Tamron 10 - 24 mm f/3.5 - 4.5 Di II VC HLDBest zoom electron lens : Nikkor AF - P 70 - 300 mm f/4.5 - 5.6E ED VRSpare stamp battery type : Nikon EN - EL15
As telling as the Nikon D500 ’s power to lurch off uninterrupted burst of 10 frames per secondly , even more impressive is its buffer storage capacity . The camera can charm up to 200 14 - bit uncompressed RAW files – more than enough to see that you do n’t overleap a split second of action .
On top of the 20.9MP stills ( which backpack more or less more resolve than those of the Nikon D6 , which was the Big N ’s flagship professional camera until the launching of the Nikon Z9 ) , the D500 can capture crisp 4 jet video up to 30p with a sizable 144Mbps bitrate – though abide in mind that this raise a serious harvest ( more on that below ) .
To maximize both the blaze out fusillade speed and the 4 K bitrate , the camera put up both standard Mount Rushmore State circuit card as well as the lightning - fast XQD and CFexpress Type B data format . ( The former is overpriced and a minuscule out-of-date now , so make indisputable to opt for the now - stock CFexpress data formatting . ) This means that you may take your existing SD cards and get shooting correctly away , without having to enthrone in the young memory touchstone flop off the squash racquet .
Nikon D500 review: Performance
The D500 is an right-down workhorse . If you ’re photographing fauna or action at law , kick the options into gamey speed shot mode and the camera will political machine - gun frames at a angry pace . And it ’s all powered by a brightly full-bodied autofocus organization , which sustain data track of your subjects even in dense foliage that confound other camera .
The image files are pristine and packed with point , despite the relatively low-down resolution . And the 1.5x crop ingredient enables you to squeeze even more reach out of your lens ; it turned our 200 - 500 millimeter zoom into a 300 - 750 mm , meaning that we could satiate the frame without having to crop into our precious pixels .
Sadly the carrying into action does n’t quite conduct over to telecasting . In addition to the 1.5x crop factor evoke by the APS - C sensor sizing , an additional crop is applied when shooting in 4 K – this result in a 2.25x crop that makes it very unmanageable to flash anything with a wide slant ( our 16 - 35 mm , for example , became a 36 - 79 mm in 4 K ) .
to boot , shooting in video recording means losing the brilliant autofocus , since live view fashion is relegate to contrast - detect AF – which lead in a lot of hunt and pulsing in your shots .
This means that the D500 is n’t the best solution if you pullulate video recording . However , for still , it ’s an absolute fauna – particularly if you involve more reach without cause to buy young glass .
Should you buy the Nikon D500?
Whether you ’re looking for an affordable option to a full anatomy DSLR , or you desire to work the focal length advantages of the craw sensor formatting , the Nikon D500 delivers absolutely sensational results .
While it would n’t be our go - to photographic camera for shooting television , in terms of stills we plainly ca n’t blame it . Burst shooting that ’s as quick as a hiccup , autofocus that ’s every turn as agile , simulacrum caliber that ’s worthy of wall prints and publication , and battery life that will last you hours upon hour in the field … it ’s everything you could call for for .
If this product isn’t for you
For beginners , families and anyone who wants to take great picture with minimal fiddling or noesis , we propose theNikon Coolpix P1000 . The image character is a few notches below the D500 , but it has an unprecedented cooking stove of 24 - 3000 mm – it ’s virtually every camera lens you ’ll ever need , all in one .
If you ’re attend for a full anatomy camera , theNikon D850boasts virtually all the strengths of the D500 but with a larger , 45.7MP sensor , and superior ISO performance and conditions waterproofing ( though the D500 actually beats it in terms of continuous burst speed ) .
Fancy move mirrorless ? If you ’re not wedded to the Nikon ecosystem , we urge the mightyCanon EOS R5 . It ’s a much pricier option , but it boasts the best animal AF organization we ’ve ever used , captures gorgeous 45MP images , shoots sensational 8 grand video ( and enables you to extract 35MP stillness from the footage ) and also offers completely silent shot , so as to not startle your matter .
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 (1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO200)
