Request a product

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D780

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD500NikonD780
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016January 2020
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSBackside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.7 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution20.9 MP24.5 MP
Largest image5568 × 37126048 × 4024
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200100–51200
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 system25.28 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off reference data
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 compressed12/14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or ordinary compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISOExpandable to equivalent ISO 50–204800; Auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED 5; dedicated autofocus processor; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 6
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst10 fps12 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 unsupportedF-mount G/E/D, supported AF, P and AI non-CPU lenses with restrictions; DX lenses use a crop; non-AI, 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-tuningViewfinder Advanced Multi-CAM 3500II phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 supporting f/8. Live-view hybrid phase/contrast detection provides 273 FX still-image single-point positions and eye detection. UK/Japan sensitivity −3 EV viewfinder, −5 EV live view or −7 EV low-light AF under maker conditions; US launch prose's −4 EV viewfinder claim conflicts with exact specs.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode; shutter tested to 200000 cyclesMechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic shutters; 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 second with compatible Auto FP support.
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 fpsUp to 7 fps through the optical viewfinder; silent live view up to 12 fps with 12-bit RAW or 8 fps with 14-bit RAW. Low-speed 1–6 fps viewfinder or 1–3 fps live view; quiet continuous 3 fps. Reduced-resolution movie-frame still captures at up to 120 fps are separate from full-resolution continuous shooting.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Electronic movie VR available at Full HD, with an additional cropNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens; electronic movie VR available
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-A10No built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights; optional AS-15 provides a flash-sync terminal
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-LightingAuto, P/S/A/M, effects and U1/U2 settings; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; 180K-pixel RGB viewfinder metering sensor
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 29.97 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-FUHD 3840 × 2160 at 29.97/25/23.976p without extra FX crop, oversampled from 6K sensor data; Full HD up to 119.88p and separate silent slow-motion modes. H.264 MOV/MP4; limit 29 minutes 59 seconds. 10-bit N-Log and HLG require an external HDMI recorder and cannot simultaneously record that output to the camera card. UK prose's DX 50/60p statement does not mean UHD 50/60p; exact maker UHD table tops out at 30p.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCMBuilt-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output; PCM or AAC depending on file format; microphone attenuator
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots2,359,0002,359,000
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
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 approximately2360000Approximately 100% coverage, 170° viewing angle and vertical tilt; maker UK states 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels
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% FX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 21 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)1240 photographs2260 photographs
Body weight760 g755 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 US announced on 6 January 2020 and specified availability in late January; global announcement dated 7 January. Main uses the confirmed month without inferring a UK retail day.
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 UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation and 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 equipmentUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, accessory terminal for MC-DC2; optional WT-7 provides network connectivity
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 transferWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2; SnapBridge
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-EL15b; approximately 2260 CIPA single-frame shots or 4570 shots under Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test; approximately 95 minutes of movie recording. EN-EL15a/15 compatibility with restrictions; EN-EL15c may be supplied.
ChargingExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connectorIn-camera charging with EN-EL15b and optional EH-7P; external MH-25a charger. Optional AC adapter and EP-5B power connector.
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mmApproximately 143.5 × 115.5 × 76 mm
Weight detailApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body capApproximately 755 g body only or 840 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top/rear and carbon-fibre-reinforced front monocoque; dust and moisture sealing; not a waterproof ratingWeather-sealed magnesium alloy construction; maker operating range 0–40°C
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-series battery, MH-25a charger, UC-E24 USB cable, AN-DC21 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap and DK-31 eyecup; battery revision may vary

More comparisons