Nikon D500 vs Sony A7R II – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Sony A7R II. The Sony A7S II is a high megapixel, full frame mirrorless camera, while the D500 is an action DSLR.

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 A7R II
Megapixels	20.9	42.4
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C (DX)	Full Frame
Crop Factor	1.5x	None
AA Filter	None	None
Image Resolution	5568 x 3712	7952 x 5304
Body Image Stabilization	No	Yes - 5-Axis
Lens Mount	Nikon FX/DX	Sony E
ISO	100 - 51,200	100 - 25,600
Expanded ISO	50 - 1,638,400	50 - 102,400
AF Points	153	399
Cross-type AF Points	99	399 phase
Continuous Mode	10fps	5fps
LCD	3.2" - Articulating	3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution	2,359,000 dots	1,228,800 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Focus Peaking	No	Yes
Top LCD Display	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical	EVF
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.00x	0.78x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	Yes	Yes
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	1/8000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	30"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	200	23
RAW Buffer Size	200	23
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	No
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/250
Startup Time	0.3s	1.5s
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	340 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (2 x NP-FW50)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	22.6 oz (640g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2015

Nikon D500 Advantages:

• ISO – 1,638,400 vs 102,400. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

• Continuous mode – 10fps vs 5fps. 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.

• Touchscreen Support

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

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• 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 23. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 23.

• Bluetooth Support

• USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

• Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 340 shots.

• Less Expensive – The D500 body costs around $900 less

The D500 is an amazing camera. It’s got much higher max. ISO, 10 vs 5fps, bigger LCD with touchscreen support, 2 memory card slots, 200 shots buffer vs 23 and much longer battery life. It’s a lot cheaper too.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Sony A7R II Advantages:

• Megapixels – 21.5 more megapixels. The Sony A7R II’s high megapixel count makes it a much better choice for studio and landscape work, especially if printing extremely big.

• Sensor Format – Full Frame is bigger than APS-C, which results in slightly less noise at higher ISO levels.

• Body Image Stabilization – The Sony A7R II has built-in body stabilization for photos and videos, which is an excellent feature for traveling and shooting in low light.

• AF Points – 399 vs 153.

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

• Weight – The Sony A7R II weighs 216g less.

• Size – The Sony A7R II is noticeably smaller.

The A7R II is all about resolution with its 36MP FF sensor. If you want to print big or crop a lot, and can’t stand bigger DSLR cameras, the A7R II is your best option. It is a lot more expensive though, so do think about what’s more important to you!

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.