Nikon D500 vs Sony A7 II – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Sony A7 II. The D500 costs more, but gives you so much more for the money, so let”s see which one wins this duel.

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 A7 II
Megapixels	20.9	24.3
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C (DX)	Full Frame
Crop Factor	1.5x	None
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	50 - 51,200
AF Points	153	117
Cross-type AF Points	99	117 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	0.71x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/30/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)
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	52
RAW Buffer Size	200	28
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	No
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/250
Startup Time	0.3s	1.7s
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	350 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (NP-FW50)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	21.13 oz (600g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4"
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 Points – 153 vs 117. The D500 beats it in speed and accuracy, especially in low light.

• 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.

• 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.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 200 vs 52. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 28.

• Bluetooth Support

• USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

• Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 350 shots.

The Nikon D500 has a twice as fast burst mode, way higher max ISO, a lot better AF system, bigger LCD with touchscreen support, 4K video recording, 2 memory card slots with UHS-II support and a lot bigger buffer. Being a DSLR, it also sports a longer battery life.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Sony A7 II Advantages:

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

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

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

• Weight – The Sony A7 II weighs 256g less.

• Size – The Sony A7 II is noticeably smaller.

The A7 II is basically an affordable FF mirrorless camera that doesn’t really stand out on its own. If you need something compact you’ll love it, otherwise it’s simply a jack of all trades, master of none.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.