Nikon D500 vs Sony A6000 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Sony A6000. The A6000 is smaller, older and cheaper, but these two cameras are both very good for the money.

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	Sony A6000
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	Yes
Image Resolution	5568 x 3712	6000 x 4000
Body Image Stabilization	No	No
Lens Mount	Nikon FX/DX	Sony E
ISO	100 - 51,200	100 -25,600
Expanded ISO	50 - 1,638,400	51,200
AF Points	153	179
Cross-type AF Points	99	179 phase
Continuous Mode	10fps	11fps
LCD	3.2" - Articulating	3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution	2,359,000 dots	921,600 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Focus Peaking	No	Yes
Top LCD Display	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical	EVF (1.44M)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.00x	1.07x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	No
Headphone Jack	Yes	No
Memory Card Type	SD + XQD	SD or MS Pro
Dual Card Slots	Yes	No
SD UHS Support	UHS-II	UHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/8000	1/4000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	30"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	200	47
RAW Buffer Size	200	22
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/160
Startup Time	0.3s	2.2s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built- in NFC	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	No
USB Type	USB 3.0	USB 2.0
Environmentally Sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	1240 shots	360 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (NP-FW50)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	12.1 oz (344g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	4.7 x 2.6 x 1.8"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2014

Nikon D500 Advantages:

• AA Filter – The Nikon D500 has no AA filter.

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

• AF System – It has less points, but it’s got 99 cross-type which makes it more accurate in low light and other difficult situations

• LCD – 3.2″ vs 3.0″.

• LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

• Touchscreen Support

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

• Microphone Jack – If you’re going to record videos where audio quality is important, a microphone jack is super helpful.

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

• Video Resolution – 4K video available.

• 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.

• Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 vs 1/4000.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 200 vs 47. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 22.

• Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs 1/160.

• Bluetooth Support

• USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

• Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 360 shots.

The Nikon D500 is quite newer so all of these advantages are expected. We’ve got 4K video, much higher max ISO, bigger LCD with touchscreen support, 2 memory card slots, 200 shots JPEG/RAW buffer, way longer battery life and faster auto focus. It’s a lot more expensive though!

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Sony A6000 Advantages:

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

• AF Points – 179 vs 153.

• Continuous mode – 11fps vs 10fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.

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

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• Built-in Flash

• Weight – The Sony A6000 weighs 512g less.

• Size – The Sony A6000 is noticeably smaller.

The A6000 is a great budget mirrorless camera. It’s quick, compact and has a good sensor, and most importantly extremely cheap now that it’s been replaced with 2 newer models.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.