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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D70S

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD500NikonD70S
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016April 2005
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCCD
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.7 mm23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution20.9 MP6.1 MP
Largest image5568 × 37123008 × 2000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200200–1600
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 system6.24 million total pixels; Nikon DX-format primary-colour CCD
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 compressedCompressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus Basic JPEG; no in-camera TIFF recording
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISOISO 200–1600 in one-third-stop increments; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED 5; dedicated autofocus processor; Advanced Scene Recognition System–
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst10 fps3 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 unsupportedAF coupling drives compatible screw-drive AF lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
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-tuningMulti-CAM 900 phase detection with five focus areas; single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF assist lamp
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode; shutter tested to 200000 cyclesCombined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync up to 1/500 second
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 fpsApproximately 3 fps; four RAW frames. Nikon claims up to 144 Large Normal JPEGs using specified fast CompactFlash cards; buffer capacity depends on image settings and card
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-A10Pop-up i-TTL flash covering an 18mm lens; guide number approximately 11 at ISO 100 in metres, 12 at full manual output; commander support and hot shoe
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 and seven automatic scene programmes; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering; ±5 EV compensation
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 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-FNo movie recording or live view
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCM–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″2″
Screen dots2,359,000130,000
TouchscreenYes–
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 2-inch TFT with approximately 130000 dots; removable monitor cover
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% DX or 98% 1.3× coverage; 1.0× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 16 mm eyepoint; viewfinder shutter and grid overlaysPentamirror, approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; selectable grid
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesNo
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)1240 photographs500 photographs
Body weight760 g600 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 27 April 2005 retail availability; Nikon's original US announcement specifies early May. Main uses the earlier documented Japanese date. The announcement explicitly calls D70 its predecessor
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 1.30One CompactFlash Type I/II slot; Microdrive supported
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 equipmentUSB 2.0 Full Speed; NTSC/PAL analogue video output; dedicated MC-DC1 cable-release port. No HDMI
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 ML-L3 infrared shutter remote; no built-in Wi-Fi
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 batteriesSupplied EN-EL3a. Manual claims approximately 500 shots in Nikon's single-frame test with AF-S DX 18–70mm f/3.5–4.5G IF-ED and full flash on alternate exposures; this is not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous test claims approximately 2500 shots. EN-EL3 or three CR2 cells with optional MS-D70 holder also supported
ChargingExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connectorMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5 AC adapter
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mmApproximately 140 × 111 × 78 mm
Weight detailApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body capApproximately 600 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor cover
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top/rear and carbon-fibre-reinforced front monocoque; dust and moisture sealing; not a waterproof rating–
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-EL15b–

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