Clicky

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Nikon Z7 Mark II front
Portability
61
Imaging
80
Features
92
Overall
84

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Succeeded the Nikon D300S
Nikon Z7 II
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 705g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced October 2020
  • Previous Model is Nikon Z7
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both sold by Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the D500 (21MP) and Z7 II (46MP) and the D500 (APS-C) and Z7 II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor size.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The D500 was unveiled 5 years prior to the Z7 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon D500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon Z7 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the D500 grades against the Z7 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Nikon Z7 II

 D500 Z7 II 
Screen resolution2359k2100kCrisper screen (+259k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon Z7 II over the Nikon D500

 Z7 II D500 
IntroducedOctober 2020January 2016Newer by 58 months

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Nikon Z7 II

 D500 Z7 II 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3.2"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon D500 enjoys outer measurements of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") along with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) while the Nikon Z7 II has measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 705 grams (1.55 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the D500 against the Z7 II.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D500 and Z7 II is 56 and 61 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The picture here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the D500 and Z7 II.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The D500 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Nikon Z7 II will show greater detail having an extra 25 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged D500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography factors
Nikon Z7 II Portrait photography factors
79
focusing manually
good resolution (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
88
focusing manually
excellent megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Street photography camera
Nikon Z7 II as a Street photography camera
68
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
79
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Nikon D500 Sports photography advice
Nikon Z7 II Sports photography advice
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good resolution (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (1,240 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (46 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D500
Travel photography with Nikon Z7 II
68
better than average battery life (1,240 CIPA)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
good resolution (21MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
72
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
excellent megapixels (46MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon Z7 II as a Landscape photography camera
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
good resolution (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery life (1,240 per charge)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
88
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (46 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 Vlogging factors
Nikon Z7 II Vlogging factors
31
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Nikon Z7 II
 Nikon D500Nikon Z7 Mark II
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D500 Nikon Z7 Mark II
Category Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2016-01-05 2020-10-14
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 5 -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 46MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 8256 x 5504
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max boosted ISO 1640000 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 50 32
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 153 493
Cross focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon Z
Amount of lenses 309 15
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 2,359 thousand dot 2,100 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,690 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.8x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) Yes
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 860 grams (1.90 lbs) 705 grams (1.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 84 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1324 not tested
Other
Battery life 1240 shots 420 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) CFexpress (Type B), XQD, SD (UHS-II)
Storage slots Two Two
Price at launch $1,497 $2,997