It may have a smaller body and sensor than the D5, but the D500 has much in common with Nikon's latest top-end camera
For a long time the top slot in Nikon's APS-C (DX) format SLR line-up was occupied by the popular D300S, but that camera dates from 2009 and production ceased ages ago, leaving a vacancy that Nikon photographers have been wanting to see filled for years.
During that time there's been plenty of rumour and speculation, but earlier this year, as I headed out to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, I had a hunch that Nikon might be about to deliver what so many photographers had been hoping for.
Happily I was right, and the D500 was announced alongside Nikon's new flagship, the D5. The D500 is aimed at serious enthusiast and professional photographers who want a smaller, lighter camera than a full-frame (FX) model such as the D810 or D5. It's also designed for pros who want the focal length magnification of the DX-format sensor.
Key features
There are several other similarities between the two new cameras which make the D500 an exciting proposition. The new EXPEED 5 processing engine, for example, is the same, as is the 153-point Multi-CAM 20K autofocus system with 99 cross-type points. As on the D5, the D500's AF central point is sensitive down to -4EV while all the other points are sensitive down to -3EV, potentially making this a very capable camera in low light.
The processing engine also brings a maximum continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second (the D5 can hit 12fps) for up to 200 14-bit lossless compressed raw files, as well as the ability to record 4K UHD movies. It all adds up to a pretty enticing package for sports and action photographers.
In addition to the imaging sensor there's a new 180,000-pixel RGB sensor to handle metering and white balance, as well as informing the automatic scene recognition system to help improve autofocusing with better subject detection.
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