After using a D500 for about a month, my assessment of that model is quite different from the one that is commonly accepted on this site (mostly, I think, by folks who have never shot a D500 ). Far from being a "sports camera" (whatever that is), the D500 is a very outstanding all-around camera.

In actual use, its controls provide quick, easy, and direct access to all shooting controls. Many other very useful options are easily available through the menus.

Because it allows an XQD card to be used to capture and store images, there would have been no problem implementing the same frame rate with a 24MP sensor. Rather, I believe that 21MP was chosen because it results in almost the identical pixel pitch of the D850, and, in fact, D500 images are spookily similar to those from the D850 in overall image "character." Low light performance is also very similar, although the slightly older technology isn't quite a perfect match.

I held out for a long time before buying a D500, mostly because I had a lot of the same misconceptions I still read about here. I now regret my delay, and the D500 with the Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8 lens has become my everyday camera, with the D810 and D850 right now being held for more specialized projects.


I'm not one for a lot of hype, but the D500 is every bit the DX camera that the D850 was ballyhooed to be for FX.