Making choices is never easy. That goes for buying a camera too. Since it’s of great importance to find the one that fits you and your needs perfectly, plus to fit your budget, it can become very tiring and pretty challenging to make a choice.
To try to make this decision a little bit easier for you, here is a review of Nikon D500 and Nikon D750 that will, hopefully, help you with making a choice.
Nikon D500
This is a 21 MP APS-C DSLR camera that can take up to 10 shots per second and it comes with an autofocus system taken from the same one in the Nikon D5. What it means is that it’s pretty much the same kind of high-end DX-format body that seemed to have vanished with the D300s. Nikon D500 really seems to be reclaiming the position of the leading APS-C camera on the market.
What’s important for you to know is that a great deal of improved capabilities of the camera goes around sports photography and high-speed shooting. Also, there are some big upgrades in the viewfinder as well as in video capabilities.
Nikon D750
This camera is a mix of D610 and D810 with some great features that make it much closer to D810. What’s great about it is that it comes with a mid-range 24 MP sensor, 51-point autofocus system, continuous shooting of 6.5 shot per second and high-end video capabilities.
Even though it may seem like it’s a blend of the above-mentioned cameras, there are some things in this type of camera that haven’t been seen in Nikon full-frame cameras before.
First of all, D750 is the first Nikon’s DSLR that features the newest 51-point Multi-CAM 3500 FX II autofocus. Also, it’s the first one to have a weather-resistant tilting screen that’s needed when capturing some difficult angles
And lastly, it’s the first that has a built-in Wi-Fi module for remote control and mobile connectivity as well.
D500 vs D750 Specification Comparison
Check price of the Nikon D500 on Amazon.
Check price of the Nikon D750 on Amazon.
Sensor
With a slightly larger sensor than its opponent, Nikon D750 comes out as a winner of this category. Even though Nikon D500 doesn’t have a small sensor, Nikon D750’s full-frame sensor gives it the
ISO
Having a maximum ISO of 51200 Nikon D500 is an absolute winner in this category. Even though Nikon D750 ISO of 12800 is pretty good, the advantage is with the D500 here.
White Balance Presets
This is another win for Nikon D500 even though it’s a slim one. With 21 white balance presets it has an advantage over Nikon D750’s 20 white balance presets.
AF Points
Another category where Nikon D500 has a great advantage over its opponent. With its 153 focus points, it is far better than Nikon D750’s 51 focus points.
If this is the category that is the most important to you, I guess this is where you make your decision.
LCD Screen
Even though you can see that both of our cameras have exactly the same screen size of 3.2 inches, there is a slight difference between them.
Nikon D500 has a lot higher resolution of 2359k dots as opposed to 1229k dots that Nikon D750 has.
Here, once again, Nikon D500 gets a win.
Video Resolution
Having a 4K (Ultra HD) 3840 x 2160 resolution, Nikon D500 owns this category because it has the highest resolution available in the market. It wins once again over Nikon D750 and its 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Dimensions
Both of our cameras are pretty large. Still, being a little bit smaller than its opponent, Nikon D750 with 5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1” over Nikon D500’s 5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2” gets a narrow win in this category.
Built-in Flash
Having this feature, an advantage and a win go to Nikon D750 in this category.
One thing to note is that a
Available Lenses
Since there are 271 available lenses for both of our cameras, this category is tied between Nikon D500 and Nikon D750.
Microphone Port
Having a microphone port on your camera is a great advantage especially when shooting videos since it reduces any AF motor noise. Since both of our cameras have this feature, in this category Nikon D500 and Nikon D750 are tied.
Continuous Shooting
Continuous shooting is very important to have on a camera especially when shooting action, such as sports for example.
Both of our cameras have good continuous shooting performance, it is a little bit faster in the Nikon D500
Battery Life
In this category, a narrow win goes to Nikon D500 because of its 1240 shots over 1230 shots Nikon D750 can make. Still, both cameras can go pretty far without being charged.
Note: Nikon has identified an issue with early model battery packs for the D500. They are offering replacements that meet the battery life specification. Here’s the article from Nikon with more information.
Shutter Speed
This category has to go to Nikon D500’s advantage because of its 1/8000s over Nikon D750’s 1/4000s
Weight
Being a little lighter than it’s opponent, Nikon 750 gets a win in this category.
Still, keep in mind that both of these cameras are pretty heavy to carry around all day, but having to choose between these to, the advantage goes to Nikon D750.
Viewfinder
Both of our cameras feature an optical Pentamirror viewfinder and both have 100% coverage.
One small difference is that Nikon D500 has a magnification of 1x and Nikon D750 has a magnification of 0.7 x. Even though Nikon D500 has a very small advantage over Nikon D750, they are both pretty great in this category.
Performance for Different Types of Photography
Portrait photography
Both of these cameras are absolutely great and looking over the table there is not a big difference between them when it comes to portrait
Both of them have all the features needed for this type of photography. One thing that sets them apart is the sensor size. When it comes to
| Nikon D500 | Nikon D750 |
| APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor | Full Frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor |
| 21.0 MP Resolution | 24.0 MP Resolution |
| Built-In Optical Viewfinder | Built-In Optical Viewfinder |
| Good Ergonomics and Handling | Good Ergonomics and Handling |
| No Image Stabilization | No Image Stabilization |
Street Photography
This is another category that seems it’s going to be tied between Nikon D500 and Nikon D750. Even though they both have the necessary features for street photography, the Nikon D750 gets a win in this category as well again because of its large full-frame sensor.
Even though it’s a slight win in this category, we still need to add a plus to Nikon D750’s column.
| Nikon D500 | Nikon D750 |
| Optical Built-In Viewfinder | Optical Built-In Viewfinder |
| Live View | Live View |
| Face Detection Focusing | Face Detection Focusing |
| Tilting LCD Screen | Tilting LCD Screen |
| Large APS-C ( 23.5 x 15.7 mm) | Large Full Frame (35.9 x 24mm) |
| No Image Stabilization | No Image Stabilization |
| Large Body | Large Body |
Sports Photography
This is a category where both of our cameras do well since sports photography requires a very fast continuous shooting so that it can really catch an action.
Looking over the table you can see that both cameras have some great specs and would do you great for sports photography.
Still, it’s obvious that Nikon D500 has a little bit better spec, so in this category, a slight win goes to Nikon D500.
| Nikon D500 | Nikon D750 |
| 10.0 fps Continuous Shooting | 6.5 fps Continuous Shooting |
| Environmental Sealing | Environmental Sealing |
| Fast Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s | Fast Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 |
| 99 Cross-Type Focus Sensors | 15 Cross-Type Focus Sensors |
| 153 Focus Points | 51 Focus Points |
| Good Battery Life: 1240 shots | Good Battery Life: 1230 shots |
| Good Low Light ISO | Good Low Light ISO |
| Wireless Connection | Wireless Connection |
| Good Ergonomics and Handling | Good Ergonomics and Handling |
| Built-In Optical Viewfinder | Built-in Optical Viewfinder |
| No Image Stabilization | No Image Stabilization |
Daily Photography
Both Nikon D500 and Nikon D750 are pretty average when it comes to daily photography. The biggest issue is that both cameras are very heavy and have a pretty large body for you to carry it around all day.
But, when it comes to choosing between these two cameras, a slight win goes to Nikon D750 because it’s a little bit lighter and smaller than it’s opponent.
| Nikon D500 | Nikon D750 |
| Environmental Sealing | Environmental Sealing |
| APS-C (23.5 x 15.7) Sensor | Full Frame (35.9 x 24mm) Sensor |
| Large Body | Large Body |
| 14.4 oz | 13.7 oz |
| Body Thickness 81mm | Body Thickness 78mm |
Landscape Photography
For l
But, again, with a large full-frame sensor and higher resolution sensor than its opponent, Nikon D750 gets a win.
| Nikon D500 | Nikon D750 |
| Live View | Live View |
| APS-C ( 23.5 x 15.7) Sensor | Full Frame (35.9 x 24mm) Sensor |
| 21.0MP Sensor | 24.0 MP Sensor |
| Environmental Sealing | Environmental Sealing |
Conclusion
Choosing between these two is very difficult because they are both amazing cameras. Still, there is one more thing to review and that’s the price. Being a little bit cheaper than its opponent, Nikon D750 has an advantage. So if you can get a great camera at a lower price, why not?
Still, we have to say that Nikon D500 has some great advantages itself with its high video resolution, AF points and fast continuous shooting it makes an amazing camera and definitely a step up compared to the Nikon D750.
But, what’s important for you to know is that whichever you choose, you won’t be sorry. Just look over the specs once again and the types of photography that you’d use it and you’ll have your decision.
Don’t forget that the most important spec about the camera is how it fits you and your needs.
Learn more about the Nikon D500 on Amazon.
Learn more about the Nikon D750 on Amazon.
