SteveR Loc: Michigan

Check Steve Perry's review of the D500. If you shoot anything that moves and want to shoot in bursts, the D500 would be the camera of choice. If not, the D500 and D7500 have the same low light capabilities and processor.

Race Raccoon Loc: Yankton, South Dakota

Both the D500 & D7500 are capable of delivering vastly superior autofocus over the D7200. That's not to say I wouldn't buy or keep the D7200. If I were to purchase another camera now, I would lean to the D7200, although Nikon's current sale price of $599.95 for a Nikon refurbished D7500 whould be hard to pass by.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-store/refurbished-cameras.page#!/tag:8ps:Digital%20SLR%20Cameras

Race Raccoon Loc: Yankton, South Dakota

Actually, having BOTH cameras would be quite nice indeed!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

No.



No.



And... no.


The D500 is specifically designed for sports/action. It's better sealed, more durable, more pro-oriented... with a faster continuous shooting frame rate, higher durability shutter, more advanced AF system.

BUT... the D7200 has 15% more resolution and, according to DXO testing, wider dynamic range, greater color depth and higher usable ISO.

So, while the D500 is a great camera, it's not going to somehow give you "more" of what you say you're looking for. Just the opposite, in fact, although only by relatively narrow margins.

Stick with what you've got!

Don't know what lenses you use or what you shoot, but you might be better served putting your money into glass or accessories or even a trip somewhere to take photos.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The difference between 20 and 24 mp has been referred to as inconsequential.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

I have both the D7200 and the D500. For my subjects of choice - birds in flight and wildlife - the D500’s much larger buffer is a huge advantage over my D7200. One thing to keep in mind is that the D500 does not have a built in flash. That has been mentioned by others. Also, the D500 does not have an Auto mode, nor does it have Scene modes. The ISO control on the D500 is near the shutter button, and I did find that to be an advantage over the location on the D7200. However, I discovered it was possible to set the function on the movie button to ISO, so that minor “problem” has been solved.

One concern I had when deciding to purchase the D500 was the fewer megapixels in comparison to the D7200. I need not have worried on that account.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Actually the Z6 body is $300 more. Maybe not a big deal, but then you would also need to by a Z lens or spend another $250 for the FTZ adapter to use you’re existing lenses. And if those lenses are DX then you would need to use the Z6 in crop mode. The big advantages of the D500 over the D7200 (I have both) are low light performance and focusing speed. If you shoot wildlife it’s a game changer. The Z6 should be great in low light, but not even close on focusing speed. The Z6 has a slightly faster frame rate, but it’s easy to overload the buffer, 35 raw images as opposed to the D500’s 200. The one real advantage of the Z6 is the IBIS. I have it on my Panasonic G9 and it’s amazing how slow I cab handhold.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I have both. The D7200 does NOT have higher usable ISO. In dim light the D500 is clearly better.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

You do realize how ridiculous your example really is. If I had bought a D5 instead of a D500! Funny... Well, if I had bought a D5 I'd have ended up with a really amazing top quality full frame DSLR. I already have 3 full frame DSLR'S, all Canon, I certainly don't need a fourth, especially one that costs around $6000.
If I needed what a D5 offers then I would have chosen wisely. Since I neither wanted or needed a D5 and night what I wanted and needed, a D500, then I indeed chose wisely.
The whole GAS phenomenon and how certain people react to it has amused me for quite some time. Oh so many folks react as if it's some sort of disease or an actual disorder. If a person can afford to buy the gear they want then it's a good thing for all of us. The manufacturers want to please the buyers so they develop new products and work towards keeping prices reasonable. If people don't buy then the market stagnates and that is bad for all, or at least a lot.
If you ask me, a lot of the people who are first in line to play the GAS card every time someone buys new gear, are envious of the buyer. They, the buyer, can afford something the GAS accuser can only covet.
On the other hand we have the obsessed buyer and they are similar to gamblers. They have a compulsive behavioral problem that drives them to acquire more and more. This behavior isn't restricted to camera gear, but when photography gear is involved we call it GAS.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Very logical explanation. I, for one, need not read further.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Vastly superior?! Explain vastly. Yes, the D500 has better AF than the D7200; if it didn't what would be the point?! But I believe the issue at hand isn't which one focuses faster, but, does one really deliver better quality image than the other.
Sure, the D500 is rated at up to 10 fps. Good luck getting it to actually shoot that fast. It does have more temporary storage than the D7200, but there's a difference between artful photography and fell swoop photography. With one, you think about the shot; compose if you can; make sure as many variables as possible have been considered, then take the shot. With the other you just point the camera towards the subject and hold down the shutter until the buffer fills up and the camera stalls, all the while hoping that great shot was captured along with all the others.
I actually do own both the D7200 and the D500 so I've got actually experience with both cameras and their capabilities. The D500 has not been instrumental in improving my photography, although it is a lot of fun to shoot with.

CO

If you can, skip the D5xxx series and go straight to the D7xxx series or above. The D3xxx and D5xxx series Nikons have a pentamirror viewfinder. If you go to a D7xxx series or above Nikon, you'll get a superior pentaprism viewfinder. The glass prism inside give a larger, slightly brighter view through the viewfinder. I think it helps with composition.

Pentamirror viewfinder in D3500 versus pentaprism viewfinder in D500

(Download)

wetreed

The 7200 is a fine camera, but the D500 is a great camera. The 500 is the best low light camera ever made. Yes you will be able to take better pictures with the D500. I have had my D500 for two months now and I am taking better pictures now. This camera makes me want to go out and take pictures every day. The D500 has reinvigorated my passion for photography. If you want this camera, GET IT. You will not regret it.

CWGordon

Great advice from everyone. From a guy who is often reluctant to buy almost anything because he knows the floodgates will open and all restrictions lost; I strongly urge you to let go. Buy it and have fun!