SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Doesn’t it make more sense to set the AEL button to GAF and the joystick to single point? You’re more likely to be moving the focus point in single point.

stanikon Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Many years ago I did a lot of white water rafting. My step-daughter was a raft guide in Colorado a couple summers while she was in college. One raft trip we took was 4 days/3 nights down the Grand Canyon.

Any camera you take on a raft trip either itself needs to be completely waterproof, or be sealed in a waterproof housing, or be kept in waterproof bag of some sort and only taken out to use at times when it's safe to do so.

NEITHER of those Nikons would have survived any of rafting trips we did, unless they were sealed up in something totally waterproof. If the raft tour you're taking is anything like what we were doing, you and everything you have with you will be soaked much of the time.

There is little reason to get the D500 unless you really need:

- A better autofocus system for fast action & slightly lower light.
- Higher durability, more weather resistance.
- A slot for a second memory card.
- Ability to attach a battery grip (MB-D17, $370 new).
- 10 frames per second versus 8 fps.
- Slightly bigger optical viewfinder.
- Higher resolution rear LCD screen.

The D7500 and D500 share:

- Same 21MP APS-C sensor.
- Same ISO and shutter ranges
- Same Exposure Compensation.
- Similar metering systems (D500 is slightly more advanced)
- Same video capabilities.

D7500 is a bit more than a year newer model and...

- Has slightly greater color depth (per DXO)
- Has slightly better high ISO performance (per DXO)
- Is about 25% lighter weight.
- Has built-in flash (none in D500).
- Costs 1/3 less ($1000 vs $1600).

Note: On paper the D500 appears to be much more power efficient, rated to get roughly 1/3 more shots per battery charge. However, this is actually not accurate because the standard CIPA testing process requires cameras that have a built-in flash use that flash for 50% of the shots, and built-in flashes have a heavy drain on the camera's battery. Since the D7500 has a built-in flash, while the D500 doesn't, the latter will always appear on paper to be more efficient. However, if it's built-in flash were not used, the D7500 actually might be expected to give the same or more shots per charge. (Built-in flashes might be nice to have in an emergency situation, but generally suck because of their drain on the battery, slow recycling, very limited reach and relatively poor placement for redeye and shadow problems.)

In fact, an even better option might be a used, older D7200. In some ways it's better than the D7500 or even the D500.

- 24MP sensor (vs 21MP in the other two)
- Slightly better color depth and wider dynamic range (better than both per DXO)
- Dual memory card slots (same as D500)
- Higher resolution rear LCD than D7500 (but not D500)
- Same build/durability/sealing as D7500.
- Can be used with battery grip (MB-D15, under $80 used).
- About 15% more power efficient than D7500, although D7200 also has built-in flash (see note above).
- Sells used for $400 less than a new D7500, $1000 less than a new D500.

However, D7200 has...

- One stop lower ISO range
- ISO performance similar to D500, both slightly lower than D7500.
- Doesn't have articulated rear LCD
- Rear LCD isn't Touch Screen (it is on the other two)
- 6 frame per second top speed (vs 8 or 10 fps on other two)
- HD 1920 x 1080 video (no 4K like the other two)
- Doesn't have Anti-Flicker (for fluorescent and similar lights)
- Discontinued model, only available used.