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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Nikon D6 front
Portability
50
Imaging
74
Features
85
Overall
78

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D300S
Nikon D6
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400 (Expand to 3280000)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1270g - 160 x 163 x 92mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D5
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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Nikon D500 and Nikon D6, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Pro DSLR and they are both produced by Nikon. The resolution of the D500 (21MP) and the D6 (21MP) is fairly close but the D500 (APS-C) and D6 (Full frame) use totally different sensor size.

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The D500 was announced 5 years before the D6 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D6 being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the D500 grades vs the D6 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Nikon D6

 D500 D6 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Nikon D6 over the Nikon D500

 D6 D500 
IntroducedFebruary 2020January 2016More recent by 49 months

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Nikon D6

 D500 D6 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3.2"3.2"Identical display size
Display resolution2359k2359kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D500 has got outer dimensions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) while the Nikon D6 has sizing of 160mm x 163mm x 92mm (6.3" x 6.4" x 3.6") with a weight of 1270 grams (2.80 lbs).

See the Nikon D500 and Nikon D6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the D500 and the D6.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D500 and D6 is 56 and 50 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The graphic here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D500 and D6.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The D500 offers the smaller sensor which will make getting shallow DOF trickier. The older D500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D500
Portrait photography with Nikon D6
79
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
84
has manual focus
resolution is good (21MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Street photography camera
Nikon D6 as a Street photography camera
68
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
62
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
weather proof
very good ISO range (102,400)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D500
Sports photography with Nikon D6
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (1,240 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
80
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is good (21MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery (3,580 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D6 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery pack (1,240 shots)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
includes focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
good battery (3,580 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
provides focus via touch
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D6 as a Landscape photography camera
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (1,240 CIPA)
two card slots
no image stabilization
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
resolution is good (21MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (102,400)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good battery (3,580 shots)
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 Vlogging info
Nikon D6 Vlogging info
31
screen is touchscreen
has face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
30
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Nikon D6
 Nikon D500Nikon D6
General Information
Brand Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D500 Nikon D6
Category Advanced DSLR Pro DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-05 2020-02-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 5 Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 21MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 5568 x 3712
Maximum native ISO 51200 102400
Maximum boosted ISO 1640000 3280000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 50 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 153 105
Cross type focus points 99 105
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Nikon F
Number of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution of display 2,359k dot 2,359k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.72x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 900 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Normal, redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, rear-curtain sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 gr (1.90 pounds) 1270 gr (2.80 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 160 x 163 x 92mm (6.3" x 6.4" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1324 not tested
Other
Battery life 1240 photographs 3580 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) Dual XQD/CFexpress slots
Storage slots Two Two
Pricing at launch $1,497 $6,496