Nikon D500 Review

Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Nikon D500 Review:

My younger brother enjoys watching wildlife documentaries.

He used to make me sit with him and watch the documentary.

I had been watching his favorite wildlife documentary every evening and unconsciously developed an interest in the animal documentary’s shooting, capturing, and graphics.

I was becoming overly obsessed with everything related to wildlife documentaries.

It inspired me to pursue a career in this field, and I learned wildlife photography techniques.

I purchased this Nikon D500 camera specifically for this purpose.

Throughout my photography career, I had no idea how much I had been missing out.

It enhanced my photography skills and made my images more stimulating.

This optically fast camera excels at low-light image capture.

Overview:

In previous reviews, I stated that whenever I buy a new camera, I use it in various situations.

I used the camera for a few months before deciding to have a clear and detailed understanding of its features.

I used this camera extensively for wildlife photography and enjoyed using it.

Though I have used other cameras for wildlife photography, this camera gave me an entirely new experience.

This D500 is, without a doubt, my dream camera.

It has a quick, accurate autofocus system, 10fps shooting capability, and excellent metering and white balance systems.

For the money, this is possibly Nikon’s best digital SLR camera.

Its 4K video, high-tech autofocus, and overall image quality set new standards for APS-C SLR cameras.

With its expertise, this camera drives me insane.

Though I found it a little heavy, I believe this is negotiable when you have many unique features.

The D500 is a force to be reckoned with, with speed, image quality, and build quality only a notch below its professional-grade siblings.

I am grateful to my camera’s 1.5x crop factor of its smaller sensor for extending the effective focal length of my lenses, making it one of the best wildlife photography cameras.

Specifications:

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

21MP – APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 – 51200

ISO that can be expanded from 50 to 1640000)

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

3.20″ Tilting Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

4K at 30fps Video Recording

FHD at 60fps Video Recording

Built-in Wireless

Weather Sealed Body

860g. 147 x 115 x 81 mm

Body, Size, and Weight:

I previously used a Nikon D300 and discovered that, while the D300 does not have an entire metal body like the D5, its metal chassis is more durable than the old D300S.

I adored how gracefully its body was designed.

The degree of sealing is also higher, so I can use my camera in harsher conditions without fear.

Nikon has also omitted a pop-up flash in this camera to make it more durable, and a weatherproof seal protects the hot shoe.

This camera struck me as very elegant.

The camera feels solid despite not weighing as much as its full-frame sibling.

This camera has a good grip on me.

It has a textured coating on the front that allows me to hold it securely while deliberately shooting any animal.

All of the direct controls I’ve ever expected in a camera are present, as is a ridged mini-joystick controller for quickly selecting the AF point when I hold the camera to my eye.

It is just to the left, where my thumb rests on the back of the camera.

So, let’s get to the part about which I am “The most Excited.” Its size and weight.

The Nikon D500 weighs 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz) and measures 147 x 115 x 81 mm (5.79 x 4.53 x 3.19′′).

The average weight of DSLR-type cameras is 773g, so it falls somewhere in the middle of the pack.

It has an average thickness with a thickness of 81mm.

Of all the cameras I have ever used, I will not say that the Nikon D500 is the smallest or lightest DSLR on the market, but it is small enough for one-handed shooting with a short lens like the NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8.

Weather Sealing:

Finally! I discovered my dream camera: a weather-sealed camera.

Nothing can stop me from shooting now.

My Nikon D500’s body has environmental sealings that make it a weather-resistant camera and resistant to water and dust.

I don’t need to bother about dust and moisture damaging it.

As someone who enjoys outdoor photography and wants to use my camera in adverse conditions, the Nikon D500 will be ideal.

This camera is a ride-or-die for me.

I try to bring this camera everywhere I go.

Its weather-sealing ability allows me to photograph peacocks dancing in the rain quickly.

OH! They’re adorable, and I adore them.

Lenses:

I enjoy experimenting with different camera lenses.

So, I looked into the various types and numbers of lenses available for my Nikon D500 camera.

I discovered that the Nikon D500 has a Nikon F lens mount and that 316 native lenses are currently available for this mount.

Aside from having one of the most extensive lens selections, the Nikon F mount also has backward compatibility, which means you can use F-mount lenses dating back to the 1960s.

It is also well supported by third-party lens manufacturers.

My Nikon D500, as mentioned earlier in the cons section, lacks a sensor-based image stabilization system.

Nonetheless, I am relieved that 107 of these lenses already include Optical Image Stabilization, which I can use with my camera.

I also discovered 83 Nikon D500 lenses with weather sealing that I can pair with their weather-sealed body.

I have mentioned one of those lenses I have used with my camera, and they all turned out great. Let’s have a look here:

• Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
• Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
• Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
• Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
• Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR
• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G

Handling:

Along with its comfortable grip, I found this handling very practical and straightforward.

Because of all of its features, this camera is effortless to use.

I discovered this camera after using it for a couple of years.

Overall, the ergonomics of this camera are excellent.

I am very impressed with the grip of this camera, which makes me feel very comfortable.

The buttons are reasonably positioned, and everything appears intuitive, so I will have no trouble using this camera.

The mini-joystick for selecting AF points is easily accessible and usable even when using a viewfinder.

One of my Nikon D500s has illuminated buttons, which help me find and press the correct buttons in low-light situations.

See how simple everything has become with this camera.

This most significant auto-focus joystick, which Nikon calls the sub-selector, is primarily intended for focus-point selection.

Its proximity to the AF-ON button and proximity to where my thumb rests allow for quick and easy adjustments.

Sensor and Processor:

Even though I have used cameras with larger sensors than this one, I am impressed with its performance.

When I read that this camera has a 20MP camera sensor, I was concerned about whether it could provide me with sharp images and videos.

But I was always willing to give this camera a shot.

And now I am relieved that YES!

I made the correct decision.

This camera was worth a try.

This camera has a 20.9MP image sensor and a maximum ISO of 1.64 million, so performance is maintained even when shooting in challenging low-light conditions.

With a continuous shooting speed of 10fps, the D500 can keep up with the action, whether it’s fast-moving sports or frantic animals.

I remember taking this camera on my woods adventures and seeing a deer doing cute activities at the lake.

I sneakily took the deer’s shot and highlights for that deer, and when I saw the results, I was stunned.

It provided me with the vast majority of well-exposed images and had attractive, accurate colors.

The video quality was also excellent.

This camera’s sensor, combined with its DIGIC 6 processor, produces images with minimal noise.

To put it to the test, I examined images in greater detail, which revealed that their low-light performance is also outstanding within its native sensitivity range.

Pictures taken at lower sensitivity settings were detailed and scored well in my resolution tests.

Even though this begins to drop off at ISO 6,400, the results at ISO 12,800 are still excellent, with only a hint of chroma noise in raw files viewed at 100% on-screen.

Autofocusing:

What makes this camera ideal for wildlife photography? First and foremost, I chose it because of its excellent autofocus system.

There are 153 autofocus points on my camera, and I also have 99 cross-type AF points.

It has a central AF point, which is sensitive to -4EV, allowing me to focus even in low-light situations.

Its autofocus system blows me away.

I found it to be swift and precise.

My Nikon D500 focuses on the target, whether I’m shooting flying birds or a 100m cheetah running race.

It can also specify whether the target is stationary or moving quickly, and the D500 will determine the best way to lock it.

When I kept the camera in Live View or video mode, I noticed that the contrast-detection autofocus system seemed slightly better than Nikon’s other DX-format cameras.

Even in bright light, some backward and forward adjustment is required before the subject is sharp, but it doesn’t get much worse in low light.

LCD:

The LCD screen is 3.2 inches and has a resolution of 2,359,000 dots.

The display is tiltable and touchscreen-sensitive, which is a plus.

It is beneficial for repositioning the autofocus area or shooting images from various angles.

The D500 also has a top-mounted LCD screen for viewing the camera’s settings.

I love taking selfies. I like taking selfies with cute little rabbits and birds in the woods, but I’m disappointed that my camera lacks a selfie screen.

This feature is essential to me because it makes my life more enjoyable.

Viewfinder:

I’m pleased with the viewfinder.

My D500 has a built-in optical (pentaprism) viewfinder, making it easier for me to shoot in bright sunlight and other situations where the LCD monitor may be difficult to see.

The magnification ratio of this viewfinder is 0.66x, and it has a coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what I see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what I will get later in my image, allowing for more accurate framing and reducing the need for later cropping.

Video Quality:

I had a very positive experience with this camera.

So, when I was in the woods with my friends, we all saw a herd of zebras.

We were so excited that we took our cameras and began filming them, and I remember making one another watch our video; out of all my friends, the video I shot with my Nikon D500 was the best.

The Nikon D500 is one of the first DSLRs to offer 4K video, with options ranging from 4K UHD (30/24 fps) to Full HD (60/30/24 fps) and HD at 60fps.

A built-in stereo microphone, an external microphone jack, and a headphone connector round out its video capabilities.

I also have a choice of adding an external monitor or recorder.

I also shot a time-lapse video of the animal in the woods, and this camera made it so simple.

It gave me a simple setup: I select the interval (time between shots) and total shooting time, and I’m ready to go.

One of my favorite features is my camera’s “smoothing” mode, which compensates for extreme changes in exposure while I’m recording.

The camera will combine all the images into the final video when captured.

Image Quality:

If I had to describe the image quality of my camera, I would say, In a nutshell, the image quality of the Nikon D500 is EXCELLENT.

I felt at ease submitting images from this camera to a wire service news agency as I did illustrations from the higher-end Nikon D4s and D850.

When I was shooting and analyzing the quality of my images, I discovered that the colors were accurate and natural-looking, with just the right amount of saturation and sharpness.

I used it once in a fashion show with mixed lighting, and the auto-white balance worked well.

When I knew the lighting temperature, I switched from auto white balance to the correct Kelvin temperature.

This Auto white balance feature Even in this shot, which combined natural and artificial light through the large windows, I could keep these bridal gowns white.

The exposures were generally correct when I shot in program auto, semi-manual, and manual modes.

For the latter, the exposure meter was primarily accurate.

As usual, the manual exposure mode allowed me to fine-tune the exposure when shooting in difficult lighting conditions.

The dynamic range was generally quite good.

Photography Type:

I’ll confess that I became so attached to this camera that I could sleep with it on my bed.

I was so madly in love that I thought a piece of art like this shouldn’t be limited to a single type of photography.

As a result, I decided to use and test it for a different kind of photography, too.

And this is what I concluded as a result.

Sports Photography:

Apart from wildlife photography, Sports photography is something I enjoy.

There’s so much drama and excitement, and I’m obsessed with capturing every shot of the field, whether it’s a car racing competition, a football match, or some athletes going about their business.

It’s all a lot of fun. It performs admirably during sports shoots, proving its worth as a professional camera.

And this super camera once again astounded me with its expertise in this particular area of photography.

Nikon D500 has a Sports Photography score of 85, making it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Street Photography: 

It’s in my blood to photograph people on the street.

It astounds me and makes me feel alive and free.

Street photography is more than just a job; it is a way to escape the stresses of everyday life.

One of my talents is street photography, which allows me to interact with my surroundings and recall strange events.

The Nikon D500 has a Street Photography score of 61, making it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography.

I was pleased with the outcome because this camera can serve me well in street photography and some professional photography in two or three areas.

Daily Photography: 

I’m so obsessed with this camera that I almost always carry it.

Because it’s light, I don’t mind wearing it all the time.

It enables me to continue with my daily photography hobby.

Even though most photographers specialize in one or two photographic genres, experimenting with different shooting techniques can lead to unexpected discoveries.

I’d call it “daily photography.”

You can create various photographic styles using the same technical and aesthetic skills.

If you succeed in one activity, you may learn critical skills and abilities to benefit your photography.

Unposed, everyday photography is ideal for this.

A good camera can capture a wide range of images.

A good camera can record a wide range of ideas.

However, after using this camera, I gave it a rating of 61/100 for daily photography, putting it in the AVERAGE category.

Why should one get a Nikon D500?

• Better jpg: A more modern image processing engine is used (EXPEED 5).
• Better video: Captures higher-resolution movies (4K/30p).
• Better sound control Includes a headphone jack for audio monitoring while recording.
• View in greater depth: Has a larger field of view viewfinder (100%).
• Larger viewfinder image: A viewfinder with higher magnification is included (0.67x).
• Easier setting verification: A top-mounted LCD controls shooting parameters.
• LCD with greater detail: It has a higher resolution back screen (2359k).
• Fewer buttons to press: It has a touch-sensitive rear screen to make handling easier.
• It has a faster mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s) to freeze action.
• Shoots at a higher frequency (10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1240) on a single charge.
• Longer battery life: You can take 1240 shots on a single charge.
• Better weather sealing: This is weather-sealed to allow shooting in dusty or wet conditions.
• Faster data transfer: A more advanced USB protocol is supported (3.0).
• It supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances, making device pairing easier.
• More effortless wireless transfer: Bluetooth is supported for image sharing without cables.
• Improved studio lighting control: includes a PC Sync socket for connecting to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: A second card slot serves as a backup in the event of memory card failure.
• It Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard for faster buffer clearing (UHS-II).
• More modern: Reflects two years and two months of technical progress since the launch of the D5300.

Price:

This camera was an affordable alternative to a full-frame DSLR for me.

The Nikon D500 was released in 2016 and remained the company’s flagship DX-series DSLR.

The Nikon D500 has a starting price of around $1,500.

A NIKKOR 16-80mm VR lens kit costs around $2,100.

The Nikon D500 is compatible with both DX and FX-format lenses, so if you already own Nikon lenses, you’re ahead of the game.

Generally, retail prices remain close to the launch price., but after a few months, discounts become available.

Later in the product cycle, mainly when the replacement model is about to be released, further discounting and stock clearance sales frequently drive the camera price significantly lower.

Then, after the new model is terminated, you can find excellent deals on the used market.

Conclusion:

It is worth buying a gadget! Because of its excellent image quality and performance, the Nikon D500 is one of my all-time favorite Nikon DSLRs.

Because of its lower price, enthusiasts and even newcomers who want to upgrade to a higher-end APS-C camera can do so.

Although more expensive, the 20-megapixel Canon EOS 7D Mark II ($1800) may be a good fit, especially if you already own a Canon lens kit.

You’ll have to forego 4K video, but you’ll still get 10fps continuous shooting, improved video AF, and a built-in flash.

However, if you already own Nikon lenses and are looking for a step-up camera that is a solid performer with excellent image quality, the Nikon D500 is a perfect choice.

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