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Anyone choose a 7500 over the 500?

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stevef1961

stevef1961

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Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
 
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi stevef1961,

Maybe you would get more answers to that question in the Nikon DX SLR forum, where the D7500 users reside?


JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
 
I'm one who debated for quite a long time between the 7500 and 500. I eventually decided to get the D7500 based strongly on the Thom Hogan review that I've linked below. One major reason I chose the 7500 was that I really wanted the built in flash, which was absent on the 500. I have been 100% pleased with the 7500. It's wonderful for shooting BIFS (with my 100-400 Sigma) and overall, it has a great many of the same features as the 500. The big difference is the number of focus points, but the 51 points/9 cross points seem pretty darn good to me.

At the time I bought, the 7500 was not on sale, nor was the 500, so the price difference was quite substantial. However if I were buying today, I'd still buy the 7500 because of the flash, which I use quite regularly including as outdoor fill flash.

 
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
7500 was never a consideration, you'll probably find for most people it's 750 vs 500
 
I actually wound up buying the 500 after months wondering which one. I had the chance to use the D500 a couple of times in the field and only held the 7500 once in Best Buy. Guess I'll never know if the extra $1,000 (XQD, SDXC, wired and wireless remotes) I paid for the D500 was worth it. Coming from the D7100...I sure do love the focusing system, 10 fps and unlimited buffer of the D500.
 
I have extensively used both, then switched to D4 and D4s for low light reasons.

Anyhow I found the 7500 to be almost as good as the 500 for action shooting. But for professional use I had to have double slots. And I also require a true (not kludged together) vertical grip. I know I have a horizontal bias when I don't have a vertical grip.

If I were just wanting to shoot my kids doing sports? I'd do the 7500.
 
I have a D500, but have never used a D7500.

I would say that what you shoot should be a major factor in your decision. If you shoot a lot of sports or fast action, like birds, then the AF, fps, and buffer of the D500 might be worth the extra cost.

I am quite sure you can still get excellent results with the D7500, but the keeper rate might be little less.
 
n057 said:
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi stevef1961,

Maybe you would get more answers to that question in the Nikon DX SLR forum, where the D7500 users reside?

JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Click to expand...
Thanks but I’d rather hear from people more biased to the D500. Thanks for the suggestion though
 
CMCM said:
I'm one who debated for quite a long time between the 7500 and 500. I eventually decided to get the D7500 based strongly on the Thom Hogan review that I've linked below. One major reason I chose the 7500 was that I really wanted the built in flash, which was absent on the 500. I have been 100% pleased with the 7500. It's wonderful for shooting BIFS (with my 100-400 Sigma) and overall, it has a great many of the same features as the 500. The big difference is the number of focus points, but the 51 points/9 cross points seem pretty darn good to me.

At the time I bought, the 7500 was not on sale, nor was the 500, so the price difference was quite substantial. However if I were buying today, I'd still buy the 7500 because of the flash, which I use quite regularly including as outdoor fill flash.

http://www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/current-nikon-dslr-reviews/nikon-d7500-camera-review.html
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I’m going to read that review.
 
Alex Ridgway said:
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
7500 was never a consideration, you'll probably find for most people it's 750 vs 500
Click to expand...
I’ve got the D750 (and like it very much) but for wildlife you can never have too much reach. That’s why I’m debating a dx versus a mega megapixel sensor.

I spent much of last winter outside with snowy owls and while I got quite a few satisfactory shots, I know for sure I missed more than a couple.
 
NikonNature said:
I have a D500, but have never used a D7500.

I would say that what you shoot should be a major factor in your decision. If you shoot a lot of sports or fast action, like birds, then the AF, fps, and buffer of the D500 might be worth the extra cost.

I am quite sure you can still get excellent results with the D7500, but the keeper rate might be little less.
Click to expand...
My keeper rate with snowy owls and the 750 was good... but I want to give myself the best opportunity for a real WOW image.
 
stevef1961 said:
n057 said:
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi stevef1961,

Maybe you would get more answers to that question in the Nikon DX SLR forum, where the D7500 users reside?

JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Click to expand...
Thanks but I’d rather hear from people more biased to the D500. Thanks for the suggestion though
Click to expand...
Ah then, I already had a D500 when the D7500 got announced. Looking at the specs, I would still have gotten the D500.


JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
 
The D500 and D7500 share the same sensor and processor so, from strictly an image quality standpoint, they should be indistinguishable. The D7500 has the same autofocus system as the D750 so, if you're pleased with that camera's AF, you should be at least as happy with the D7500 and perhaps a bit more so due to the wider coverage of the DX sensor. Do you like the User 1 and User 2 modes of the D750? If so, you may find the D7500 more familiar as it has the same interface.

Personally, I chose the D500 for its flagship autofocus system, best-in-class burst rate and buffer and a few other reasons. The D500 can be used with a battery grip, which is important to me. While I typically shoot in landscape orientation, I use portrait orientation with enough frequency to make that of real value to me. Also, the dedicated AF-ON button and thumbstick are nice features. I'm a dedicated back-button focus shooter. I use the thumbstick with great frequency; often when I'm in the midst of photographing a bird or land animal.

The D500 eyepiece also delivers a more magnified view of the composition. It needs less light to focus. The rear LCD displays a higher resolution image, which makes review and evaluation of photos a bit easier. And the build quality is better. To be fair, however, I'm an infrequent traveler to rugged, remote locales. In other words, I'm not that hard on my gear.

Returning to the subject of User modes, I have to say this was probably the biggest adjustment for me, as someone who'd been using a D600/610 for wildlife photography before upgrading to the D500. I loved the User modes and it took some time to become comfortable with the Banks in the pro body. I still prefer User modes to Banks but also find I'm almost exclusively in full manual, which largely negates any benefits of one over the other.

So, from strictly a performance standpoint, both bodies can be used to make great images. I would argue the D500 has the edge in several significant categories. I also think the D500 offers clear advantages in user interface...with one caveat. If you like the User modes, don't particularly care to shoot with a grip or prefer something a bit smaller & lighter, I'd recommend the D7500.

Otherwise, if your budget allows and you want the best performance, get the D500.
 
stevef1961 said:
NikonNature said:
I have a D500, but have never used a D7500.

I would say that what you shoot should be a major factor in your decision. If you shoot a lot of sports or fast action, like birds, then the AF, fps, and buffer of the D500 might be worth the extra cost.

I am quite sure you can still get excellent results with the D7500, but the keeper rate might be little less.
Click to expand...
My keeper rate with snowy owls and the 750 was good... but I want to give myself the best opportunity for a real WOW image.
Click to expand...
That's the crux of the situation. As a bird or action camera, the D500 is the definitely the better choice (I second everything Bill said). So the question is, is it worth it to you to spend more in pursuit of the WOW images? It's something only you can answer, but another way of looking at it is, will you regret it or second guess yourself if you went with the D7500?
 
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?
Click to expand...
The D7500 hadn't been released when I bought my D500 -- fortunately :-) Did never try a D7500, but had a D90 before.

The D500 is just perfect for me: ultimate OVF, AF covering the whole frame and delivering lots of keepers, illuminated buttons for sensitive events and astro, inspiring UI for manual control, good display resolution, right body size for small and large lenses.

It's up to you to judge about the percentage of those differences.
 
Bill Ferris said:
The D500 and D7500 share the same sensor and processor so, from strictly an image quality standpoint, they should be indistinguishable. The D7500 has the same autofocus system as the D750 so, if you're pleased with that camera's AF, you should be at least as happy with the D7500 and perhaps a bit more so due to the wider coverage of the DX sensor.
Click to expand...
Since you mention the wider AF coverage of the sensor on the D500, I have a question. With the 153 focus points covering a wider area than the D7500's 51 points, does that make a difference if you are using either the Group AF or Single point focus when following a flying bird? Do all the extra points play any role in that situation?
 
CMCM said:
Bill Ferris said:
The D500 and D7500 share the same sensor and processor so, from strictly an image quality standpoint, they should be indistinguishable. The D7500 has the same autofocus system as the D750 so, if you're pleased with that camera's AF, you should be at least as happy with the D7500 and perhaps a bit more so due to the wider coverage of the DX sensor.
Click to expand...
Since you mention the wider AF coverage of the sensor on the D500, I have a question. With the 153 focus points covering a wider area than the D7500's 51 points, does that make a difference if you are using either the Group AF or Single point focus when following a flying bird? Do all the extra points play any role in that situation?
Click to expand...
That's a great question. If using a central AF point or a central cluster (dynamic or group) of AF points, I would expect the difference in performance to be more subtle than dramatic. The newer system may be a bit more tenacious in tracking or holding focus. There are scenarios in which I select an outer AF point when the modestly-larger coverage area of the 153-pt system can be an advantage.

I don't use 3D mode so, can't speak to any differences or advantages in performance of one system over the other on that subject. If others have done a direct comparison of the two in 3D, I'd be interested in their experiences.
 
Bill Ferris said:
CMCM said:
Bill Ferris said:
The D500 and D7500 share the same sensor and processor so, from strictly an image quality standpoint, they should be indistinguishable. The D7500 has the same autofocus system as the D750 so, if you're pleased with that camera's AF, you should be at least as happy with the D7500 and perhaps a bit more so due to the wider coverage of the DX sensor.
Click to expand...
Since you mention the wider AF coverage of the sensor on the D500, I have a question. With the 153 focus points covering a wider area than the D7500's 51 points, does that make a difference if you are using either the Group AF or Single point focus when following a flying bird? Do all the extra points play any role in that situation?
Click to expand...
That's a great question. If using a central AF point or a central cluster (dynamic or group) of AF points, I would expect the difference in performance to be more subtle than dramatic. The newer system may be a bit more tenacious in tracking or holding focus. There are scenarios in which I select an outer AF point when the modestly-larger coverage area of the 153-pt system can be an advantage.

I don't use 3D mode so, can't speak to any differences or advantages in performance of one system over the other on that subject. If others have done a direct comparison of the two in 3D, I'd be interested in their experiences.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your response! I don't use 3D either, but for BIFS I mostly use the Group AF. I also use BBF and this combo seems to work extremely well on my D7500. What I've been trying to figure out is how the AF system on the D500 might differ. I know there are 99 cross points on the D500 and that sounds like a possible advantage for a lot of things. I'm really happy with my D7500 but of course I always find myself wondering about the D500. Much is similar on the two cameras, but things that stand out for me is the better viewfinder (100% vs 95% coverage), and better resolution on the LCD, although I've read reviews (Thom Hogan perhaps??) that said the difference isn't as much as you might think due to a differene in how the LCD is made. I find the LCD on my D7500 to be bright, sharp and really good, and I like its touch functions (wish there were a few more). The other difference is the 8fps vs 10 fps, and the D500 has a larger buffer, but yet, I don't even shoot at 8 fps and I've never seen a problem with the 7500's smaller buffer (which is still nice and large).

I do find having the built in flash important, however.
 
Bill Ferris said:
The D500 and D7500 share the same sensor and processor so, from strictly an image quality standpoint, they should be indistinguishable. The D7500 has the same autofocus system as the D750 so, if you're pleased with that camera's AF, you should be at least as happy with the D7500 and perhaps a bit more so due to the wider coverage of the DX sensor. Do you like the User 1 and User 2 modes of the D750? If so, you may find the D7500 more familiar as it has the same interface.

Personally, I chose the D500 for its flagship autofocus system, best-in-class burst rate and buffer and a few other reasons. The D500 can be used with a battery grip, which is important to me. While I typically shoot in landscape orientation, I use portrait orientation with enough frequency to make that of real value to me. Also, the dedicated AF-ON button and thumbstick are nice features. I'm a dedicated back-button focus shooter. I use the thumbstick with great frequency; often when I'm in the midst of photographing a bird or land animal.

The D500 eyepiece also delivers a more magnified view of the composition. It needs less light to focus. The rear LCD displays a higher resolution image, which makes review and evaluation of photos a bit easier. And the build quality is better. To be fair, however, I'm an infrequent traveler to rugged, remote locales. In other words, I'm not that hard on my gear.

Returning to the subject of User modes, I have to say this was probably the biggest adjustment for me, as someone who'd been using a D600/610 for wildlife photography before upgrading to the D500. I loved the User modes and it took some time to become comfortable with the Banks in the pro body. I still prefer User modes to Banks but also find I'm almost exclusively in full manual, which largely negates any benefits of one over the other.

So, from strictly a performance standpoint, both bodies can be used to make great images. I would argue the D500 has the edge in several significant categories. I also think the D500 offers clear advantages in user interface...with one caveat. If you like the User modes, don't particularly care to shoot with a grip or prefer something a bit smaller & lighter, I'd recommend the D7500.

Otherwise, if your budget allows and you want the best performance, get the D500.
Click to expand...
Excellent response Bill, thanks. I don’t use user groups on the 750, I shoot primarily aperature priority and adjust the iso as needed per outing. I found a few times last winter when an owl or hawk was flying directly right at me - the 750 struggled. Sometimes I got the shot but i’d say birds coming at me i got 25% keepers. That was very frustrating because your last opportunity... may indeed be your last.

Birds flying perpendicular to me it went up a great deal, probably 75% keepers.

I’m guessing the tough angle shots would improve some with the d500 and since the 750 has the same focus system as the 7500 i’ll avoid that one.

I usually shoot single point af but last winter used group af with those straight on shots, i was toying with 9 pt also, each of those helped increase the keeper rate.
 
stevef1961 said:
Hi, has anyone who used both the 7500 and 500 picked the 7500 over 500? Wondering if the excellent price of the 7500 is enough reason to choose it over the D500? Is the 7500 90% what the 500 is?

If you tried both and chose the 500 for another seven hundred dollars, what was your reason?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Personally I like to stay at D7200, not going up to D7500. Some important things are missing with it. Not sure about D500. I do not see much needs if you already get a D750.
 
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