Learning a D500 from familiarity with a D850: Question to users who have both a Nikon D850 and a D500: Many here have said that the D500 menu structure and features are very similar to...

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Question to users who have both a Nikon D850 and a D500: Many here have said that the D500 menu structure and features are very similar to the D850. I have a D850 and books for it. Should I assume buying new guides for the D500 will be redundant?
Thanks

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Question to users who have both a Nikon D850 and a D500: Many here have said that the D500 menu structure and features are very similar to the D850. I have a D850 and books for it. Should I assume buying new guides for the D500 will be redundant?
Thanks

My suggestion is to wait and see. Give yourself and the camera a try first. Since the D500 is a little bit older, there are a few functions that the D850 has that it lacks. Otherwise it is pretty much identical. I would expect that you will do quite well with it right out of the gate. The manual should resolve any questions that arise.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Larry,
Thank you.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I bought the d500 book by Young when i purchased the D500. after I purchased the D850 I found that the book covered the D850 enough for my needs. I think it would work the the other way around. Try you tube for what ever is missing.

petego4it Loc: NY

larryepage wrote:

My suggestion is to wait and see. Give yourself and the camera a try first. Since the D500 is a little bit older, there are a few functions that the D850 has that it lacks. Otherwise it is pretty much identical. I would expect that you will do quite well with it right out of the gate. The manual should resolve any questions that arise.

I have both and I agree. The main differences are the 500 weighs less, has a few less features and as a DX has more reach with the same lens. It also has fewer MP so is a less likely candidate for high res photography. I use the D500 mainly for sports.

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

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Question to users who have both a Nikon D850 and a D500: Many here have said that the D500 menu structure and features are very similar to the D850. I have a D850 and books for it. Should I assume buying new guides for the D500 will be redundant?
Thanks

redundant

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

Steve Perry one of the contributors here & has his own website (https://backcountrygallery.com/) has an extensive review on both cameras, their menus & best of all...its free. Granted Nikon user manuals can be confusing at times, but there are several YouTube videos on Nikon menus....

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Another excellent source of information, and it's free with the camera, is the user's guide which also can be downloaded from the Nikon Website. I had BOTH cameras and found them to be similar enough to get started right away. Best of luck.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Thank you to all y' all

RoswellAlien

Have both and they are almost identical — except for size and weight.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Have both and they are twinsies. They even share the D5s AF system. The D850 has a couple of more features than the D500 like focus stacking and focus peaking and, of course, the D500 has a 1.5x crop factor. Other than that, they are pretty much identical right down to all the buttons and controls.

photoman43

petego4it wrote:

I have both and I agree. The main differences are the 500 weighs less, has a few less features and as a DX has more reach with the same lens. It also has fewer MP so is a less likely candidate for high res photography. I use the D500 mainly for sports.

I also have both bodies and agree with the above. My settings are the "same" for both cameras except for slight changes in selections for AF and this may vary depending on what I am shooting. Both are set for Continuous shooting, usually High. If I use the D 850 for landscapes, I change High to Low.

Autofocus area modes may differ. Dynamic AF settings may vary. On the D 850 I may set S in AF-C. Or D 9. On the D 500, I rarely use AF-C S and use AF-C D 25 most of the time or Group AF.

I use Auto ISO in Aperture Priority on both bodies.

Bill McKenna

I don’t notice any difference in using mine except with the D850 I can change between FX and DX. Obviously you can’t with the D500.