D500 in 2020 OK ?

Xavier666

Senior Member
I got a D7000 and I'm thinking of getting a D500. I mainly shoot landscapes (day and night) and animals in zoos. I also got a sigma 18-35 1.8, which I absolutely love. Getting a D500 would mean I could still use my Sigma lens, as it is a DX-lens.
I could also go full frame, but that would mean selling my Sigma.
Anyone who could give me advice ? Is buying a D500 still OK in 2020 or is it time to go mirrorless?
 

Patrick M

Senior Member
Last April I sold my D7500 and all f lenses to get the z6 with the z24-70 f4 and I’ve been blown away by it. You won’t be disappointed. I see D500 as sports or a birds in flight lens, not what you do. A z7 would be better for landscapes, but honestly (in my view), the z6, with better low light ability, is a great general camera.
 
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BackdoorArts

Senior Member
If you're shooting primarily landscapes I'm thinking the D500 is more camera than you need. I have 2 of them and use them almost exclusively for wildlife but use full frame for everything else (I have a Z6ii on order). You might be better served by staying in the D7xxx line with the D7500 as it will save you some cash you can invest in other equipment, or move to the Z50 if you're committed to staying DX. IMO for anyone upgrading at this point to not go mirrorless is to add a needless step in a migration you're probably going to make eventually.
 

Xavier666

Senior Member
Last April I sold my D7500 and all f lenses to get the z6 with the z24-70 f4 and I’ve been blown away by it. You won’t be disappointed. I see D500 as sports or a birds in flight lens, not what you do. A z7 would be better for landscapes, but honestly (in my view), the z6, with better low light ability, is a great general camera.

Thanks a lot.
 

Xavier666

Senior Member
If you're shooting primarily landscapes I'm thinking the D500 is more camera than you need. I have 2 of them and use them almost exclusively for wildlife but use full frame for everything else (I have a Z6ii on order). You might be better served by staying in the D7xxx line with the D7500 as it will save you some cash you can invest in other equipment, or move to the Z50 if you're committed to staying DX. IMO for anyone upgrading at this point to not go mirrorless is to add a needless step in a migration you're probably going to make eventually.

Thanks a lot.
 

daletodd

New member
I got a D7000 and I'm thinking of getting a D500. I mainly shoot landscapes (day and night) and animals in zoos. I also got a sigma 18-35 1.8, which I absolutely love. Getting a D500 would mean I could still use my Sigma lens, as it is a DX-lens.
I could also go full frame, but that would mean selling my Sigma.
Anyone who could give me advice ? Is buying a D500 still OK in 2020 or is it time to go mirrorless?

I have both the 7000 and 500. I’d say the 7000 is still a great landscape camera. The 500 will bring you a little more resolution (which I don’t think is a big enough jump for a landscape photog), a lot more shooting setup customization, a lot more shooting speed, and better weather sealing. To me the 500 is an outstanding camera for an outdoor photographer covering a range of shooting scenarios - if you don’t mind DSLR weight, which I don’t. It seems for your purposes you should go ahead and make the move to full frame mirrorless, you’ll probably end up doing that eventually.


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Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
I have both the 7000 and 500. I’d say the 7000 is still a great landscape camera. The 500 will bring you a little more resolution (which I don’t think is a big enough jump for a landscape photog), a lot more shooting setup customization, a lot more shooting speed, and better weather sealing. To me the 500 is an outstanding camera for an outdoor photographer covering a range of shooting scenarios - if you don’t mind DSLR weight, which I don’t. It seems for your purposes you should go ahead and make the move to full frame mirrorless, you’ll probably end up doing that eventually.


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STM

Senior Member
I use my D500 in concert with my 600mm f/4 ED IF AIS for wildlife shots when I need a little extra optical reach and it does just fine compared to my D850. Add the battery grip and you get in excess of 10 fps.
Of course it is still relevant in 2021.
 

EricK214

New member
For the landscape genre, you would be better off picking up a used, low shutter count D750 FF body. I think you can get one between $600-$800 and it will still be good for the zoo.

The D500 gets NO benefit from adding a grip other then extended battery life. Unlike the D850 with goes from 7fps to 9fps, the D850 also gets a bout a 20% boost in AF performance.
 
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