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Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Sigma SD15 front
Portability
59
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand 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
  • Older Model is Nikon D300S
Sigma SD15
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 750g - 144 x 107 x 81mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Previous Model is Sigma SD14
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Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Nikon D500 and Sigma SD15, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sigma. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the D500 (21MP) and SD15 (5MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D500 was manufactured 5 years after the SD15 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the D500 grades vs the SD15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Sigma SD15

 D500 SD15 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2010Newer by 72 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2359k460kClearer display (+1899k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sigma SD15 over the Nikon D500

 SD15 D500 

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Sigma SD15

 D500 SD15 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D500 provides external dimensions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") having a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) and the Sigma SD15 has dimensions of 144mm x 107mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

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Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the D500 against the SD15.

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the D500 and SD15 is 56 and 59 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D500 and SD15.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon D500 to offer greater detail due to its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The younger D500 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sigma SD15 as a Portrait photography camera
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D500
Street photography with Sigma SD15
68
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D500 Sports photography details
Sigma SD15 Sports photography details
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery life (1,240 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Travel photography camera
Sigma SD15 as a Travel photography camera
68
good battery life (1,240 CIPA)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
includes touch to focus
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
42
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 Landscape photography features
Sigma SD15 Landscape photography features
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good battery life (1,240 per charge)
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
51
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (5MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD15 as a Vlogging camera
31
touch screen
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
9
can't record video
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Nikon D500 vs Sigma SD15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Sigma SD15
 Nikon D500Sigma SD15
General Information
Brand Nikon Sigma
Model type Nikon D500 Sigma SD15
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-05 2010-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 5 True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 20.7 x 13.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 285.7mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 5MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 2640 x 1760
Max native ISO 51200 1600
Max boosted ISO 1640000 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 50 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 153 -
Cross type focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sigma SA
Total lenses 309 76
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 2,359 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.6x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 grams (1.90 lb) 750 grams (1.65 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 144 x 107 x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL15 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) SD/SDHC card
Storage slots 2 1
Cost at launch $1,497 $1,500