Nikon D500

[Elliern]

I have been looking at a used D500 for birding. However, I currently have a D7500. Will I see much improvement shooting BIFs with the 500 vs the 7500? The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

 

[Wahrsager]

I have been looking at a used D500 for birding. However, I currently have a D7500. Will I see much improvement shooting BIFs with the 500 vs the 7500? The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

D500’s desirability and factors to consider besides weight, frame rate, buffer and number of focus points is button customization. I don’t know if the D7500 has the breadth of button customization the D500 offers which make it very adept at altering the mode of focus instantly and intuitively.

 

[Doug Haag]

I have been looking at a used D500 for birding. However, I currently have a D7500. Will I see much improvement shooting BIFs with the 500 vs the 7500? The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

The linked website will show you comparative sizes (and weights in the small text print below). https://camerasize.com/compare/#711,648

In the panel to the left, you can also switch to top and back views.

The D500 is 12% heavier. Even slightly heavier than the full frame D750.

With the D500 you are stepping up to a "pro" camera. Among other changes from your D7500, this means you will not have a PASM dial.

Since I am not a BIF photographer, others will have to advise on the differences from the D7500 in that genre.

 

[Ruekon]

I have been looking at a used D500 for birding. However, I currently have a D7500. Will I see much improvement shooting BIFs with the 500 vs the 7500? The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

Just go and get one. I have no experience with the D7500, but with the far predecessor D90. The D500 excels with a larger, brighter viewfinder, AF points all over the frame, more manual controls and sheer responsiveness. Along with a birding lens like 200-500/5.6, I consider the slightly larger body a benefit.

Try to get the "kit lens" 16-80/2.8-4 too. This turns the D500 into an excellent general purpose camera.

 

[BillD7000]

The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

I'm not really sure how similar the two cameras really are. I just taught a class and one of the participants had a D7500, which felt "blockier" to me. I didn't immediately notice it's lower weight.

In some key areas, the specs are substantially different: https://photographylife.com/nikon-d500-vs-d7500

The AF system of the D500 is phenomenal, and the best I've ever used (noticed especially when shooting streaking fighter jets). The keeper rate for me is near 100%, and it's RARE that my D500 misses focus. The build quality is super, the shutter has a longer life-rating, and the 10FPS is almost endless.

You'll have to get an XQD Card, but it also means you'll have an SD Card you can set as a backup.

There are "grey market" D500's available, and if that were the only option for purchasing a new one, I'd still do it. Just know Nikon likely won't touch it, even for service you're willing to pay for. That wouldn't stop me. This is the last great DX DSLR, and it looks highly doubtful that Nikon will supersede it with a newer DX DSLR.

--
billkeane.zenfolio.com

 

[Elliern]

I have been looking at a used D500 for birding. However, I currently have a D7500. Will I see much improvement shooting BIFs with the 500 vs the 7500? The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

Just go and get one. I have no experience with the D7500, but with the far predecessor D90. The D500 excels with a larger, brighter viewfinder, AF points all over the frame, more manual controls and sheer responsiveness. Along with a birding lens like 200-500/5.6, I consider the slightly larger body a benefit.

Try to get the "kit lens" 16-80/2.8-4 too. This turns the D500 into an excellent general purpose camera.

Thanks! I think I just might. Still reading user opinions and looking at You Tube videos but so far sounds good to me.

 

[Elliern]

The D500 has many more focus points and reportedly is faster, but the two cameras are similar.
How much heavier does the D500 feel? I seldom use a tripod for BIFs, so weight is a consideration. Want to be prepared for breeding season in the Spring.
I have read so many positive user reviews for the D500 that I am considering upgrading and trading in my D7500.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experience.

I'm not really sure how similar the two cameras really are. I just taught a class and one of the participants had a D7500, which felt "blockier" to me. I didn't immediately notice it's lower weight.

In some key areas, the specs are substantially different: https://photographylife.com/nikon-d500-vs-d7500

The AF system of the D500 is phenomenal, and the best I've ever used (noticed especially when shooting streaking fighter jets). The keeper rate for me is near 100%, and it's RARE that my D500 misses focus. The build quality is super, the shutter has a longer life-rating, and the 10FPS is almost endless.

You'll have to get an XQD Card, but it also means you'll have an SD Card you can set as a backup.

There are "grey market" D500's available, and if that were the only option for purchasing a new one, I'd still do it. Just know Nikon likely won't touch it, even for service you're willing to pay for. That wouldn't stop me. This is the last great DX DSLR, and it looks highly doubtful that Nikon will supersede it with a newer DX DSLR.

 

[cyuill2007]

I have hemmed and hawed about this issue as well. I had a chance to borrow and use a D7500 for a couple of hours while photographing birds. It was quite good. Certainly better than my D7000, which is now being used exclusively by my son. By all accounts, the D500 is even better. The D7500 has controls more consistent with D7xxx DSLRs. You can also use it to change menu settings. The D500 is more robustly built, has controls more like the D850 and D6, but has a touch screen that does not allow menu settings to change.

I may very well end up getting a D500. The cost of it, however, is a little steep for my budget.

Good luck with making a decision.

 

[Elliern]

I have hemmed and hawed about this issue as well. I had a chance to borrow and use a D7500 for a couple of hours while photographing birds. It was quite good. Certainly better than my D7000, which is now being used exclusively by my son. By all accounts, the D500 is even better. The D7500 has controls more consistent with D7xxx DSLRs. You can also use it to change menu settings. The D500 is more robustly built, has controls more like the D850 and D6, but has a touch screen that does not allow menu settings to change.

I may very well end up getting a D500. The cost of it, however, is a little steep for my budget.

Good luck with making a decision.

I have decided to trade in my D7500 for a used D500 at MPB. Makes the price much more acceptable and the condition rating for the D500 is “excellent”

 

[redhed17]

There are "grey market" D500's available, and if that were the only option for purchasing a new one, I'd still do it. Just know Nikon likely won't touch it, even for service you're willing to pay for. That wouldn't stop me. This is the last great DX DSLR, and it looks highly doubtful that Nikon will supersede it with a newer DX DSLR.

Just to point out for UK readers at least, Nikon will repair 'grey' imports. ;-) Thankfully they did for me, after damaging the rear LCD not long after I got it imported from Hong Kong.

As for the difference between the D7500 and D500, if the D500 is for birding, then the better AF, (both in number of focus points, and how the focus points cover a larger area of the scene), higher fps, much longer buffer, and I think, brighter viewfinder, make the D500 the much better option. Of course there are other factors to take into account, a slightly larger and heavier camera. More expensive, and potentially new cards to buy to get maximum performance, if needed.

I went from D200 > D300 >D300S > D500, and nearly went with Canon (7DII) pre D500, because I didn't like the compromises of the D7*** range in comparison to the D300S in some areas. As it is, I am very happy to have the best crop sensor DSLR (imho) that can do everything I need it for. :-D

 

[EricK214]

The answer in a word.... YES, YES, YES. The D500 has a larger, unlimited buffer, more FPS, and a far superior AF system. The rest of what the D500 has over the D7500 is generally lipstick on a pig. There are some other, better specs but for your answer, those are what will make using a D500 help you get superior images over a D7500

 

[cyuill2007]

Enjoy the new camera. Tell us what you think of it when you get the opportunity.

 

[Elliern]

The answer in a word.... YES, YES, YES. The D500 has a larger, unlimited buffer, more FPS, and a far superior AF system. The rest of what the D500 has over the D7500 is generally lipstick on a pig. There are some other, better specs but for your answer, those are what will make using a D500 help you get superior images over a D7500

 

[Elliern]

Enjoy the new camera. Tell us what you think of it when you get the opportunity.

Thanks, I will do that. They have to receive my 7500 and inspect it before they will ship the D500, so hopefully sometime next week it will ship

 

[Bill Ferris]

I see you're trading in your D7500 for a used D500 through MPB. Best of success with the trade-in and purchase.

When the D500 arrives, I would encourage you to invest some time getting to know Nikon's bank system. It's quite a bit different from the User1 and User2 banks in the D7500. Personally, when I first started using the D500's shooting and custom banks , I found them a bit frustrating. However, over time I've come to like the customization available in the system.

For example, I've created four sets of shooting/custom banks in my D500. They are "Birds," "Wildlife," "Landscape," and "Portrait." The primary differences between the banks are how I've setup autofocus. Through a combination of locking out certain AF modes that I don't want and assigning certain secondary AF modes to the PVW button and selector thumbstick, I've been able to work around some of the quirks of the system - you can't save an AF mode to either a shooting or custom settings bank - to have suite of primary and secondary settings immediately available when switching between my four banks.

The D500 is a great bird photography body. It can take a bit of time to get used to all the customization but once you have it dialed-in to match your needs and preferences, you're gonna love it.

 

[Elliern]

I see you're trading in your D7500 for a used D500 through MPB. Best of success with the trade-in and purchase.

When the D500 arrives, I would encourage you to invest some time getting to know Nikon's bank system. It's quite a bit different from the User1 and User2 banks in the D7500. Personally, when I first started using the D500's shooting and custom banks , I found them a bit frustrating. However, over time I've come to like the customization available in the system.

For example, I've created four sets of shooting/custom banks in my D500. They are "Birds," "Wildlife," "Landscape," and "Portrait." The primary differences between the banks are how I've setup autofocus. Through a combination of locking out certain AF modes that I don't want and assigning certain secondary AF modes to the PVW button and selector thumbstick, I've been able to work around some of the quirks of the system - you can't save an AF mode to either a shooting or custom settings bank - to have suite of primary and secondary settings immediately available when switching between my four banks.

The D500 is a great bird photography body. It can take a bit of time to get used to all the customization but once you have it dialed-in to match your needs and preferences, you're gonna love it.

 

[bluzman]

I have decided to trade in my D7500 for a used D500 at MPB. Makes the price much more acceptable and the condition rating for the D500 is “excellent”

Ellie,

Congrats on your choice. By the time I saw your original post, you had already made this decision. FWIW, I recently got a lightly used (shutter count less than 5K) D500 from MPB. I kept my D7500 and instead I traded a D750 and all but two of my FX lenses. The ones I kept are:

• Sigma 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 DG (FX) OS HSM C (bought in 2019 for the D7500)
• Nikon AF-P FX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR (bought in 2020 for the D750)

both of which are great for wildlife.

As others have noted, the D500 is really a pro configuration body (no PSAM dial, no Scene or full Auto, no built in flash, etc). OTOH, its AF capability, frame rate, buffer depth and more, make what it doesn't have seem inconsequential.

Once you acclimate yourself to the ergonomics of the D500 and get comfortable with what you can do with it, I think you're going to be very happy with your choice.

Have fun with your new acquisition. Looking forward to seeing your images. :-D

 

[da7329]

Hi Ellie

You will notice the difference between the D500 and d7500. Nikon always makes sure there higher end models out perform the lower end models and are much more robust. My wife has been using her D500 with a tamron or sigma 100-400 most of the time for about 3 or 4 years now. It is her go to camera. I have many she has tried but she always comes back to the D500. She is not so technical inclined but has no problem with the D500. Just set up back button AF with AFC mode. Shoot in manual mode with auto iso and your good to go. You can customize it a lot if you wish but the simple setup will get you thousands of good shots.

How have you been getting along with the d7500 and 100-400? Not heard from you for sometime.

DA

 

[MrMcMonkeyMcBean]

I've had the D7100, D7200, and the D7500. I bought the D500 and then a second one and they have ended my upgrade desires. Get the D500 and never look back, you won't regret it.

 

[Elliern]

Hi Ellie

You will notice the difference between the D500 and d7500. Nikon always makes sure there higher end models out perform the lower end models and are much more robust. My wife has been using her D500 with a tamron or sigma 100-400 most of the time for about 3 or 4 years now. It is her go to camera. I have many she has tried but she always comes back to the D500. She is not so technical inclined but has no problem with the D500. Just set up back button AF with AFC mode. Shoot in manual mode with auto iso and your good to go. You can customize it a lot if you wish but the simple setup will get you thousands of good shots.

How have you been getting along with the d7500 and 100-400? Not heard from you for sometime.

DA

Hi DA! I haven’t been on in quite awhile because I haven’t been out shooting in a few months. Partly due to medical issues and partly because I have been spending more time with great grandsons in NC. I was designated baby sitter while my grandson slowly moved to their new home 90 minutes away from their old home. Because he worked 6-7 days a week and 10 to 12 hours a day it was a slow and difficult process. (Fortunately he is no longer with that company and now has more normal hours.)
I still have issues with the Tamron lens. Still not sure if it’s me or the lens. I considered trading it in on something else, just not sure if it is faulty or not. But I guess I would find out if I tried trading it. I am seriously considering it. I’m looking forward to trying out the D500. I’m not sure what’s the best type of memory card though. I was going to post that question in the forum. Just started researching it and there seems to be a variety of strong opinions. Which card does your wife use?
The D500 sounds like it would be great for birding, hopefully I will get comfortable with it quickly in order to give it a good test run. I only have 7 days return window.