Nikon D500 vs Nikon Z7 II

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.

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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.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon D500 and Nikon Z7 Mark II. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon D500 Gallery and Nikon Z7 II Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.