Lukabulla

Hi Everyone ..
I'm in UK with a D300s ,
Thinking of upgrade to D500 , but am shocked at the prices here ..
New Body about £1400 ( $1945 us ) and a used one for £900 ($1245 )..

My D300s would sell for about $250 If I'm lucky .
A Used D600 sells for about $500 ..

How come the D500 sells for so much ?
I'ts not exactly a new model ..though still made ..

I can afford the High cost of the D500 but dont want something that is only
worth a quarter of the price in 3 years time ..

Are they expensive in other countries as well ?

trigger finger Loc: Beautiful Polk Co. Fl.

If I were you I would wait until the Christmas prices came out with everyone going mirrorless there might be some good deals were there trying to clean out the shelves. It's 16 weeks away but the sales will start much earlier. I wish you the best of luck.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

New at B&H (my favorite store) in New York City, USA, D500 body only, is about $1600 USD normally.
With a 16-80mm Lens, about $2,666 USD, normally.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I've got two D500s, so haven't been shopping for one. But from what I've seen, prevailing used prices in the US are something like $1100-1200. New price is around $1500. Looks like the used prices you are seeing are pretty much in line. The new prices probably are also, given the scarcity caused by the chip shortage. .

Even though the D500 has been out and available for a while, it is still a great camera. It's hard to think of something you might want it to do that it cannot. It can do 95-98% of what a D850 can do.

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Yes, they are expensive in USA and Canada, but also a quantum leap above the D300s performance. Welcome to reality. I traded my D300s for the D500 and never looked back. .

User ID

As you have plaintively observed, used discontinued cameras are much cheaper than new current models.

If it’s shocking to your sensibilities ask yourself if you’d really benefit as greatly as the $$ premium thaz involved. The fact that you can afford it is the reason you’re shocked. Those who simply can’t afford it suffer no shock.

There’s a likewise conundrum about the D750 and D780. It appears that only a few users find any reason to pay $1000 extra for a mid level SLR.

BebuLamar

Price in the US is lower but the price difference between the D500 and D300 and D600 because the others are not current cameras.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

This would be the difference in some of the cost.

Nikon D600 - 2012 technology Nikon D500 - 2016 technology
Also if you researched you would find much information on D600.
From Wikipedia;
Service advisories and release of successor (D610)
Main article: Nikon D610
Following complaints of dust accumulation on the D600's sensor,[10] in late November 2012, a user created a timelapse video as evidence that was then widely reported in photography-related publications.[11][12][13] Three months later, Nikon responded with a service advisory that referred to "the natural accumulation of dust", and advised users to perform "manual cleaning using a blower bulb" before contacting a service center.[14]

On October 8, 2013, the Nikon D610 was announced,[15] a direct successor of the D600, and the D600 was shortly thereafter noted as having been discontinued.[16] The D610 has been described as "a very minor refresh", but does include a new shutter unit.[17] It was speculated that the D610 was released solely to address the oil and dust issues of the D600.[18][19][20]

In January 2014, the website Nikon Rumors reported that some users were receiving D610 units back in response to sending their D600 units in for repair,[21] and Nikon responded by stating this was done on a case-by-case basis.[22] On February 26, Nikon issued another service advisory according to which they will perform full inspection, cleaning, and replacement of the shutter unit for all D600 units sent in, regardless of warranty status, and free of charge.[23] On March 18, the Chinese government ordered Nikon to stop selling the D600, forcing Nikon to recall all remaining units from dealers.[24] Ten days later, Nikon published a third advisory noting that "Nikon will replace [...] with a new D600 or an equivalent model" any cameras "upon which the above service has been performed several times" "if a number of multiple (sic) granular black spots are still noticeable".[25] On June 30, it was revealed Nikon had allocated 1.8 billion Yen (17.6 million USD) for the cost of these repairs and replacements over the past financial year.[26]

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The chip shortage and difficulty of getting changed to the Z cameras has kept the D500 artificially high.
Once the chip shortage is over and Nikon gets the Z cameras rolling better (Everyone has the chip problem) you will likely see the D500 come way down and discontinued quickly.
Unless Nikon clings to old stuff way beyond expiration like they did with the F mount itself.
D500 was a good camera but has been way superseded with the new Z cameras and it is pretty primitive by today's standards.

tcthome Loc: NJ

USA https://www.nikonusa.com/en/about-nikon/search.page?q=D500&currentPage=1&facet=Overview

I think this is the cheapest you will see this camera new. Maybe a $100 cheaper at Christmas or the usual Spring sale, but I doubt it. Eur, Can Aus, always pay much more. Maybe the countries to USA dollar thing or possible tax tariffs.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Some say the D500 is the best DX camera available. The price may reflect the value. If you buy the d500 make sure you get good glass to go with it. I was very happy with the D500 until I bought the d850 and some f2.8 FX lenses. Now I use the d850 most of the time.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I can understand that you want a better, more up to date camera but if your D300s is performing to your liking and it seems to be doing the job, I see no reasons to get rid of it considering the prices are so high for the D500.
As has been recommended just wait and save your money for the time being. Mirrorless is changing everything, including prices.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I think it’s due to supply and demand it’s a popular camera and supply is down due to the chip shortage and other supply issues.

I expect (hope?) the cost will drop in the future as supply ramps up.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The price is about the same here, which is really not out of line with other new Nikon cameras. They start high and work their way down. The D750 started at over $2,000. Now Nikon lists it at $1,700.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have come to understand that the D500 is an almost completely misunderstood camera. Part of the fault is Nikon's perpetual bad marketing of it. The remainder lies with folks who have never used or seen one in person perpetuating the errors.

Bottom line is that if you don't see the value of the camera, you most certainly don't need one.