Nikon D500 vs Fujifilm X-T20 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Fujifilm X-T20. The Nikon is a DSLR made for action, while the Fuji is an all-around mirrorless camera.

Our comparison table below covers all the important specifications of each camera. Below that, we specifically talk about the new improvements and which model is better suited for your needs.

	Nikon D500	X-T20
Megapixels	20.9	24.3
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C (DX)	APS-C
Crop Factor	1.5x	1.5x
AA Filter	None	None
Image Resolution	5568 x 3712	6000 x 4000
Body Image Stabilization	No	No
Lens Mount	Nikon FX/DX	Fujifilm X
ISO	100 - 51,200	200 - 12,800
Expanded ISO	50 - 1,638,400	100 - 51,200
AF Points	153	325 AF Hybrid
Cross-type AF Points	99	169 phase
Continuous Mode	10fps	8fps
LCD	3.2" - Articulating	3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution	2,359,000 dots	1,040,000 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Focus Peaking	No	Yes
Top LCD Display	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical	EVF
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.00x	0.93x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/50p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	Yes	No
Memory Card Type	SD + XQD	SD
Dual Card Slots	Yes	No
SD UHS Support	UHS-II	UHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/8000	1/32000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	30"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	200	62
RAW Buffer Size	200	25
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/180
Startup Time	0.3s	1.0s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built- in NFC	Yes	No
Bluetooth	Yes	No
USB Type	USB 3.0	USB 2.0
Environmentally Sealed	Yes	No
Battery Life (CIPA)	1240 shots	350 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (NP-W126)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	13.5 oz (383g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	4.7 x 3.3 x 1.6"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2017

Nikon D500 Advantages:

• ISO – 1,638,400 vs 51,200. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

• AF System – The D500 may have less point, but the D500 is superior in low light accuracy and overall action tracking.

• Continuous mode – 10fps vs 8 fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.

• LCD – 3.2″ vs 3.0″.

• LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

• Top LCD Display – When shooting in semi-auto/manual modes, you can quickly preview all of your settings.

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• Headphone Jack – Useful for previewing your audio quality straight out the camera.

• Dual Card Slots – More room for extra photos, or simply for backup.

• UHS-II – Faster writing speeds than UHS-I, but you need a memory card that can handle such speeds.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 200 vs 62. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 25.

• Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs /180.

• Built-in NFC

• Bluetooth Support

• USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

• Environmentally Sealed – The Nikon D500 is much more protected for shooting outdoors in difficult terrain and bad weather conditions.

• Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 350 shots.

The D500 is the perfect action camera. The main advantages that are worth spending more for, are the faster burst mode with 200 shots buffer for JPEG and RAW, way longer battery life, environmental sealing for stress-free outdoor shooting, UHS-II and XQD suport, 2 memory card slots and a bigger LCD with better resolution.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Fujifilm X-T20 Advantages:

• Megapixels –  3.4 more megapixels. It’s a small difference and you won’t notice it unless printing really big.

• Focus Peaking – Very useful for seeing if your subject is in focus (both photo and video).

• Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/32000 vs 1/8000.

• Weight – The Fujifilm X-T20 weighs 473g less.

• Size – The Fujifilm X-T20 is noticeably smaller.

• Less Expensive – Body costs around $1000 less

If you want an all-around, lightweight camera, the XT-20 is the logical choice. It’s got a great sensor that can also record 4K videos, it’s much cheaper than the D500 (but not as fast) and can easily fit into any bag. The comparison is a little bit unfair, so you’ll have to decide what’s more important to you; compact camera that can do it all, or a more protected DSLR that excels at action but can also be used for other things, just for a higher price.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.