What Z is equivalent to D500: I have a D500 and would like to know which Z would have the cost equivalent and feature equivalent capability of the D500, especially for BIF. I'm not...

old poet

I have a D500 and would like to know which Z would have the cost equivalent and feature equivalent capability of the D500, especially for BIF. I'm not particularly interested in going mirrorless since I have Nikon DSLR matching glass. But, one must wonder since the future is apparently in nirrorless. Cost is also a concern for me.

ricardo00

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D500 and would like to know which Z would have the cost equivalent and feature equivalent capability of the D500, especially for BIF. I'm not particularly interested in going mirrorless since I have Nikon DSLR matching glass. But, one must wonder since the future is apparently in nirrorless. Cost is also a concern for me.

Having had the D500 from the beginning and loving it, I would suggest waiting till the next generation of Nikon mirrorless come out. I got the Z9 and in some ways it is great, but others not so (heavy, price, etc). So unless there is a strong reason to do something now, I would wait a year and see how things fall out. Also there should be more lenses then designed for the mirrorless.
PS. My main reason to try the Z9 was for video, don't know if that is something that interests you.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I am sure you know this, the FTZ an d FTZII adapters allow you to use F mount lenses on Z bodies.

Judy795

Waiting for the Z8. Otherwise, none.

old poet

Robertl594 wrote:

I am sure you know this, the FTZ an d FTZII adapters allow you to use F mount lenses on Z bodies.

Yes, I realize that. Thanks.

old poet

Thanks! No, I'm not very interested in video. Looks like I'll stay with the D500 for now.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D500 and would like to know which Z would have the cost equivalent and feature equivalent capability of the D500, especially for BIF. I'm not particularly interested in going mirrorless since I have Nikon DSLR matching glass. But, one must wonder since the future is apparently in nirrorless. Cost is also a concern for me.

Keep in mind that the D500 has an APS-C sensor. Currently, the only three Z bodies with an APS-C sensors are the Z50, the Z fc and Z30. While the sensor in these cameras is equal to and, in some ways, even a bit better than the sensor in the D500, the D500 has significantly more features that you would probably expect to see in a mirrorless replacement for your current camera.

While I can't speak to the Z30, the Z fc and the Z50 will shoot 11 FPS and low light performance is excellent. The EVF experience of a mirrorless body is very different from the OVF experience of a DSLR. Some prefer one over the other. I personally adapted to the EVF quickly and much prefer it to the OVF of my last DSLR, the Canon 70 Mark II . The 7D II was the closest camera to your D500 that Canon made.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The closest to the D500 among the Z-series mirrorless is the Z50. It offers a few "new tricks", but in other ways would be a downgrade.

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D500-vs-Nikon-Z50

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Nikon_D500_vs_Nikon_Z50/BHitems/1214161-GREY_1511295-REG

Sooner or later Nikon will offer a more comparable DX mirrorless model. The D500 has been such a successful DSLR, I'm sure they will want to replicate that success in their mirrorless system. Hopefully when they do, the camera will utilize the latest and greatest AF system, as introduced in the full frame (FX) Z9.

So I'd recommend you continue shooting with and enjoying your D500... while keeping an eye out for the mirrorless version to arrive.

old poet

Intresting replies! Thank you, UHHers for your well informed, kind and valuable information.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Judy795 wrote:

Waiting for the Z8. Otherwise, none.

NikonRumors has just shown a supposed leaked Nikon camera roadmap from China.

It shows a March 2023 date for the Z8. NikonRumors is not sure if that is an announcement date or a release date.

The roadmap is showing some other interesting cameras such as a Nikon Zf which I would assume would be a mirrorless version of the Nikon Df retro styled DSLR. The date shown for that one is June of 2023.

Also shown is what may be the closest thing to a D500 mirrorless...the Z90 since that model number would indicate a cropped sensor...which is shown as CMOS stacked. That one is also shown with a March 2023 date.

There are also Z7iii and Z6iii models shown with dates for this month (9/22) plus a Z5ii for January 2023. If these are announced by the end of the month it would lend some credence to the accuracy of this roadmap.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D500 and would like to know which Z would have the cost equivalent and feature equivalent capability of the D500, especially for BIF. I'm not particularly interested in going mirrorless since I have Nikon DSLR matching glass. But, one must wonder since the future is apparently in nirrorless. Cost is also a concern for me.

Rumors of a Z8 in the works, but as I said, rumors.

lyndacast

I have both the d500 and the z50. Both are incredible…I use the d500 with a Tamron 100-400 lens for BIF and would love to try the z50 for this type of photography, but the 50-250 lens is inhibiting for that focal length. The z50 is great for travel…I have the 18-140z lens which is light and sharp, but my go to camera is still the d500 for wildlife and most of the shooting I do as a hobbyist. I will add, though, that the z50 is incredibly sharp and versatile.
I do not have the adapter ring to use a telephoto lens because my use of the z50 is for its lightweight carry ability.

photoman43

ricardo00 wrote:

Having had the D500 from the beginning and loving it, I would suggest waiting till the next generation of Nikon mirrorless come out. I got the Z9 and in some ways it is great, but others not so (heavy, price, etc). So unless there is a strong reason to do something now, I would wait a year and see how things fall out. Also there should be more lenses then designed for the mirrorless.
PS. My main reason to try the Z9 was for video, don't know if that is something that interests you.

I agree. I have the Z9 but still use my D500. Eye detection and other AF improvements are nice on the Z9, but sometimes, the AF on the D 500 is still all that you need.

rangel28

flip1948 wrote:

NikonRumors has just shown a supposed leaked Nikon... (show quote)

Please note that this "roadmap" was something someone from China simply generated and Nikon Rumors noted on its site that it cannot be vetted and confirmed as being authentic. Thom Hogan writes extensively about Nikon and he thinks we will next see "mild iterations" of the Z6II and Z7II and a Z8 in the Spring of 2023. We may see a D500 replacement in 2023 but Nikon might also look to update the Z50 or Z fc. There are a lot of possibilities, as Thom points out in his column.

https://www.zsystemuser.com/nikon-z-system-news-and/good-grief-charlie-brown.html

The D500 is still a fantastic camera and will remain one for years to come. The only camera in the current Z lineup that surpasses it is the Z9.

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

Judy795 wrote:

Waiting for the Z8. Otherwise, none.

Please let me know what reliable souse informed you there would be a Z8?