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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D7100

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD500NikonD7100
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016March 2013
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.7 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution20.9 MP24.1 MP
Largest image5568 × 37126000 × 4000
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 systemDX CMOS with 24.1 million effective and 24.71 million total pixels; no optical low-pass filter; Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data. Full DX image 6000 × 4000 or 1.3× cropped image 4800 × 3200
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 and JPEG; Picture Controls and in-camera NEF processing
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISOStandard ISO 100–6400 in one-third or half stops; expansion up to Hi 2, 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 fps6 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; body autofocus motor supports compatible AF lenses. Current Japan specification supports compatible G/E/D, AF, AI-P, non-CPU AI and DX lenses with restrictions; non-CPU lenses use A/M exposure; 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-tuningAdvanced Multi-CAM 3500DX phase-detection module; 51 points including 15 cross-type and one central f/8-compatible point; -2 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF fine-tuning, dynamic nine/21/51 points, 3D tracking and auto-area AF. 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; 1/8000 to 30 seconds in half or one-third stops, Bulb and Time; tested to 150000 cycles; X-sync 1/250 second, up to 1/320 with reduced guide number
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 fpsFull DX: 6 fps JPEG/12-bit RAW or 5 fps 14-bit RAW. 1.3× crop: 7 fps JPEG/12-bit RAW or 6 fps 14-bit RAW; low-speed settings up to 6 fps; quiet release, mirror-up, self-timer and optional ML-L3 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 mode, Auto FP with compatible external Speedlights and accessory 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, Auto, scene and effects modes; U1/U2 custom presets; 2016-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing up to five frames; Active D-Lighting bracketing
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-F1920 × 1080 at 30p/25p/24p; 60i/50i only in 1.3× cropped mode, interlaced fields rather than 60p/50p; 1280 × 720 at 60p/50p. MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, linear PCM audio; maker maximum 29 min 59 s depends on quality/format. Photography Blog handling text incorrectly gives 1920 × 1280, MJPEG AVI and five-minute clips; own Nikon specification controls
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCMBuilt-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with plug-in power and adjustable sensitivity; 3.5 mm headphone output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots2,359,0001,229,000
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 RGBW TFT with approximately 1229000 dots, 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; top status LCD and live view; dots count subpixels including white
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, approximately 100% coverage for DX or 97% for 1.3× crop, 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; OLED information display, grid and depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)1240 photographs950 photographs
Body weight760 g675 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 14 March 2013; global announcement dated 21 February. The D7000 remained in the range at introduction; no direct predecessor link inferred
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 input, 3.5 mm headphone output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote, WR controllers or GP-1/GP-1A GPS; no analogue video output
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-1a Wi-Fi adapter; optional WT-5 with UT-1; optional WR-1/WR-R10 radio or ML-L3 infrared release; no built-in Wi-Fi or GPS; UT-1 provides optional wired LAN
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 950 CIPA shots per charge; optional MB-D15 accepts one EN-EL15 or six AA cells, with approximately 450 CIPA shots using alkaline AA cells
ChargingExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connectorExternal MH-25 charger; optional EH-5b mains adapter and EP-5B power connector
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mmApproximately 135.5 × 106.5 × 76 mm
Weight detailApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body capApproximately 675 g body only; 765 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; sealing against dust and moisture
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, UC-E6 USB cable, AN-DC1BK strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-23 eyecup and ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

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