CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Would 10 out of focus images be better than 8? Rather than guessing and / or taking uninformed opinions of the internet, from people using different lenses, different technique and different subjects, just rent a D500 for a long weekend / week and make an informed decision using your lenses and your subjects and your technique. Your D7500 is just as capable as the D500 and the few technical differences are unlikely to demonstrate a difference in the final results of cameras that have essentially the same pixel resolution.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Just so you will know, the D500 has a dual focusing system that is also found in the D850 and D5, the D7500 does not have this dual focusing system and is not as fast as the D500.
I know you know Canon, so I will forgive you this time. But don't let it happen again.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"I usually shoot stationary wildlife, BIFs and occasionally landscape."

I still shoot with the D7000 when I go DX. I am not talking here about how capable a camera is against another because I know the D7500 and the D500 are more modern and superior cameras, especially when it comes to AF. The D7000 is a camera I know and since I am not shooting wildlife everyday the D7000 does a great job for my needs. If I were traveling those places that you want to visit I would not hesitate in taking the camera with me.

I have never used a D7500 or a D500 but I know that both are excellent cameras. I know the AF of the D500 is among the best Nikon has made. If I were into wildlife photography on a daily basis that D500 would be my tool.
Now, have you learned what the AF of the D7500 can do? Are you sure that when you use its AF it is the camera and not you who fails to offer the results you want? Do you really know the AF capabilities of your camera? I find that many photographers do not use their cameras to give them the results they want. From all I know the AF of the D7500 is not better than the AF of the D500 but it is perfectly capable of excellent results when used properly. I just reviewed the Spencer Cox evaluation of the D7500 and from his experience the camera performed to his expectations, especially when it came to AF. For those stationary wildlife and landscapes the camera should be more than enough for great images.

I am not saying that you change your mind but take a critical eye to the way you use the D7500 AF and if indeed you are using it the correct way simply ask yourself if the D500 is exactly what you need. As has been said, a new and more powerful AF does not mean your BIF are going to be better if the right technique is not used properly. If you are not doing well with your D7500 AF a superior AF is not the answer in my humble opinion. To repeat it again simply review your techniques, the AF of the D7500 from all I know is excellent, not superior to that of the D500 but still excellent.

CO

It's an XQD and SD card - not an QXD and CF card.

BebuLamar

If you always use tripod. Shoot stationary objects. Then I think there is no advantage. But I think the D500 has faster frame rate, deeper buffer and faster and better AF. That may benefit many of yours shootings.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Paul's suggestion to rent (or borrow, if possible) a D500 for the weekend is a good one. In addition to the dedicated focus processor, other huge differences between the D500 and the D7500 are the build quality and the professional interface & operating system of the D500. The D500 is an operational twin to the D850 and is significantly different from the D7500. This may or may not make a difference to you, but you need to be aware of it. If you tend to make shooting adjustments in the field, the D500 will allow you to make all important changes quickly without having to go into the menu system. Picture controls are also much more transparent and useful.

In the end, you must decide what to do. Just be careful of advice from folks who only know these cameras from advertising or from marketing brochures. The D500 is a fine all-around camera that can do about 95% of what the D850 can do. I have and use both and am not speaking the words of others.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Thank you everyone for advice and suggestions.
I seldom use a tripod, and I primarily shoot BIFs or birds in trees. When I read comparisons of the 7500 vs the 500, the quick autofocus plus many more focus points always gives the advantage to the D500 for BIFs and it seems to focus more on the bird in trees and less on the leaves. This is making me lean towards the D500. I would buy used and can trade in or sell my D7500.
Both are weather sealed.
Image quality is the same or similar, but that quick autofocus might get me more keepers with good image quality.
For landscape they seem to be the same.
Thinking it over…but will “probably” get the D500.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

Have we overlooked the obvious, the elephant in the room? What lenses are you using? I went from D7100 to D850 for many reasons, especially for low light. I have for some time built a library of FX lens owing only one DX18-300 kit lens. My goal was to move to a full frame camera. I love my D7100 as my in car, go anywhere camera. Are all your lenses DX? Are you moving toward full frame lenses?

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

No, I have several DX lenses. Not looking to go full frame.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

We might save you even the cost of a rental. Post some problematic unedited JPEG examples of BIF issues, storing the file, and let's have a look at what you're seeing in your results.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

A superlative capture 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

I have no local store to rent one or I would try that. I also don’t know anyone who has the D500 to try. The results with my 7500 are “ok” but keeper rate is rather low. My thoughts were the faster focus and increased focus points would increase my keepers. Having said all that, of course I always can always improve. Just want to be able to shoot the best detailed BIF images. I shoot more BIFs than anything else but birds on water, at feeders and trees are close second.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

So I did two days of BIF work on a trip to FLA last month. For the most part, this experience and all prior, I find that working from the center 'zone' is the only realistic chance of keeping an AF point / group on the moving bird (target) and keeping that target within the frame. This 'fact' somewhat negates the idea of needing more points than the 9- to 12- in a center grouping.

Next, you need to consider your shutterspeed and your ability to engage the camera's continuous AF mode. You'll get some shooters saying stay at 1/4000 sec. Personally, I think that's nonsense, but as I look at my results in the 1/1250 range, I can see maybe 1/1600 to 1/2000 sec is a reasonable minimum for a higher keeper rate.

Engaging the AF is either using AF-C (Canon AI Servo) via the shutter button or a reconfigured Back Button Focus (BBF). Then, ripping a 5- to 20-frame burst when the bird is closest. You 'track' the bird first with the AF engaged, then release the shutter when appropriately close. I'm committed to the 2-finger BBF approach, but others still find the single shutter button best.

Rentals can be done online. Investigate LensRentals.com or BorrowLenses.com

From unedited JPEGs with the file stored, we can see your EXIF data to see what of your approach follows / differs from the approach above. The camera's AF speed is really dependent on the AF motor within the attached lens. From the EXIF we should see you're preferred BIF lens.

Alphabravo2020

I'm curious, what is technically happening in this shot of the falcon, for example? Is the camera choosing a maximum aperture that will force all 4 points to be in focus? I'm guessing this focusing function will not work in some modes (M/A?).

Bill_de Loc: US

In M/A mode as soon as you slightly turn the focusing ring you are focusing manually.
In A/M mode you have a margin of error. You need to turn the focusing ring a bit further before it manually focuses.

That simply prevents accidently losing A/F.

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