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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D600

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD500NikonD600
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016September 2012
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.7 mm35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution20.9 MP24.3 MP
Largest image5568 × 37126016 × 4016
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200100–6400
Sensor detail21.51 million total pixels; Japan gives 20.88 million effective pixels, rounded to 20.9 million in Nikon USA. DX and 1.3× image areas; maximum cropped image 4272 × 2848; sensor-cleaning systemNikon acknowledged excessive granular dust spots in some D600 images in March 2014 and then offered cleaning, shutter/related-part replacement and, after repeated unsuccessful servicing, replacement cameras; this historical notice does not establish present service eligibility. FX CMOS with 24.3 million effective and 24.7 million total pixels; Japan gives 24.26 million and 24.66 million respectively. Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data; full FX 6016 × 4016 or DX crop 3936 × 2624
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG. Medium/small RAW are 12-bit losslessly compressed12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, lossless-compressed or compressed; JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic with size-priority or optimal-quality compression; simultaneous RAW/JPEG; adjustable Picture Controls and in-camera NEF processing; no TIFF capture
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISOStandard ISO 100–6400 in one-third or half stops; Lo expansion down to ISO 50 and Hi expansion up to ISO 25600 equivalent; automatic sensitivity control
Image processorEXPEED 5; dedicated autofocus processor; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 3
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst10 fps5.5 fps
Lens detailCompatible G/E/D AF NIKKOR lenses support full functions, subject to PC lens restrictions; body AF motor for compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU AI lenses support aperture-priority/manual; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedNikon F mount with AF coupling and contacts, including body autofocus motor. Compatible G/D AF, other AF and AI-P lenses; non-CPU AI lenses support A/M with restrictions and registered lens data; DX lenses use DX crop. Non-AI, IX and F3AF excluded
AutofocusMulti-CAM 20K; 153 points including 99 cross-type, with 55 manually selectable including 35 cross-type; 15 points support f/8, nine selectable. Centre detection to -4 EV; single-point, dynamic 25/72/153, 3D tracking, group and auto-area; automatic AF fine-tuningNikon Multi-CAM4800 phase detection with 39 points, nine cross-type and seven f/8-compatible central points; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF fine-tuning, single-point, dynamic nine/21/39, 3D tracking and auto-area. Live view uses contrast AF with AF-S/AF-F and face/wide/normal/tracking areas
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode; shutter tested to 200000 cyclesElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/4000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time via optional ML-L3; tested to 150000 cycles. X-sync 1/200 second, up to 1/250 with reduced flash range
Burst detailUp to 10 fps with full AF/AE; up to 200 losslessly compressed 14-bit RAW images or 79 uncompressed 14-bit RAW images under Nikon's specified ISO 100 conditions with Lexar Professional 2933× XQD 2.0. Card, settings and scene affect burst depth; quiet continuous approximately 3 fpsHigh-speed continuous approximately 5.5 fps; low-speed 1–5 fps; quiet single-frame, mirror-up, self-timer and optional infrared remote modes
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Electronic movie VR available at Full HD, with an additional cropOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal. Compatible Speedlights provide Nikon CLS; radio control of SB-5000 requires optional WR-R10/WR-A10Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C; commander for two remote flash groups, accessory shoe and compatible Auto FP Speedlights
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 180000-pixel RGB metering with 3D Colour Matrix Metering III, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-LightingP/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes, U1/U2 presets; 2016-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation, exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing; two-exposure HDR, multiple exposure, interval timer and dual-axis virtual horizon
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at 4K UHD 30p/25p/24p, Full HD up to 60p and 720p up to 60p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976/59.94. Maximum clip 29 minutes 59 seconds; Flat Picture Control, power aperture, time-lapse and HDMI output. 4K uses a further approximately 1.5× crop within DX (Cameralabs). Live view and movies use contrast-detection AF-S/AF-FFX- or DX-based 1920 × 1080 at 30p/25p/24p, 1280 × 720 at 60p/50p/30p/25p; MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and linear PCM audio; high quality up to 20 minutes, standard up to 29 min 59 s. Time-lapse movie creation and uncompressed HDMI output. Photography Blog sample caption says 1920 × 1280; own Nikon specification gives 1920 × 1080
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCMBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with plug-in power and headphone output; adjustable recording sensitivity
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots2,359,000921,000
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesNo
Display detailReinforced tilting TFT with 170° viewing angle; limited touch functions for live-view AF/shutter and playback; dots count subpixels. Original Nikon US announcement gives 2359000 dots; Japan rounds approximately2360000Fixed 3.2-inch TFT with approximately 921000 dots in US specification or 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle, 100% coverage and automatic brightness adjustment; BM-14 protective cover, top status LCD and live view
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% DX or 98% 1.3× coverage; 1.0× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 16 mm eyepoint; viewfinder shutter and grid overlaysPentaprism with approximately 100% FX or 97% DX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; eyepoint 20.6 mm US or 21 mm Japan; grid display and depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)1240 photographs900 photographs
Body weight760 g760 g
Release detailNikon's surviving Japanese product page records sale on 28 April 2016. The original US January announcement proposed March; that planned date was superseded. The same announcement explicitly calls D500 the successor to D300SNikon Japan records actual first sale on 27 September 2012; global announcement dated 13 September 2012
Recording mediaOne XQD slot and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-II support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. CFexpress Type B support added to the XQD slot with firmware C 1.30Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots, UHS-I supported; overflow, backup or RAW/JPEG split recording and card-to-card copying
PortsUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC sync. Optional GP-1/GP-1A or MC-35 connects GPS equipmentHi-Speed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone connections, accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC; SnapBridge smartphone transfer and location sharing. Direct SnapBridge Wi-Fi connections added with C 1.20; optional WT-7 supplies wired/wireless network transferOptional WU-1b Wi-Fi mobile adapter or ML-L3 infrared release; no built-in Wi-Fi or GPS
Battery life detailEN-EL15 at launch; EN-EL15a/b subsequently supported. Approximately 1240 CIPA photographs with AF-S DX NIKKOR 16–80mm f/2.8–4E ED VR and no live view; separate Nikon continuous test approximately 2740 with AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II and VR off. Optional MB-D17 grip supports one EN-EL15-series battery, EN-EL18-series with BL-5 cover, or eight AA batteriesEN-EL15 lithium-ion battery, approximately 900 CIPA shots; optional MB-D14 takes one EN-EL15 or six AA batteries
ChargingExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connectorExternal MH-25 charger; optional EH-5b mains adapter with EP-5B connector
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mmApproximately 141 × 113 × 82 mm
Weight detailApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body capApproximately 760 g body only; 850 g with battery and SD memory card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top/rear and carbon-fibre-reinforced front monocoque; dust and moisture sealing; not a waterproof ratingMagnesium-alloy top and rear covers with dust/water-drop sealing in Nikon's announcement; Photo Review's description of a resin top conflicts with the maker
Colours–Black
In the boxOriginal EN-EL15 battery, MH-25a charger, DK-17F eyepiece, UC-E22 USB cable, USB/HDMI cable clips, AN-DC17 strap and BF-1B body cap; later Japanese supply also lists EN-EL15bEN-EL15, MH-25 charger, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-21 eyecup, BM-14 monitor cover, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, AN-DC8 strap, UC-E15 USB cable and ViewNX 2 CD-ROM (Japan body package)

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