D7500 « 360Photography

RSS

Posts Tagged ‘D7500’

Nikon D7500: Should I upgrade from my D7200?

17 Apr

D7500 vs D7200

The D7500 is Nikon’s latest enthusiast DSLR that gains a handful of components and refinements from the higher-end D500. However, it’s also a model that loses a couple of features in order to leave a more decisive gap between the two models.

So where does that leave existing D7200 owners? It’s fairly unusual for successive models to offer enough of a change to provide a significant upgrade, so does the D7500 do that? For that matter, should would-be buyers try to pick up the last of the D7200s, while they’re cheap?

Image quality

For all the hoopla about better image quality, we’ve seen little significant difference between this 20MP chip (when it appeared in the D500) compared with the 24MP sensor in the D7200. The differences that do exist become visible in side-by-side comparison at extremely high ISO settings, but don’t expect a significant uptick in noise or dynamic range performance in return for the slight cut in resolution.

The D7500’s highest native ISO rises by 1EV and its extension settings keep going to a dizzying Hi 5, which is equivalent to ISO 1.6 million (I’m not going to speculate about how Nikon’s engineers celebrated when they achieved this milestone), but the main benefits of this chip appear to be readout speed, rather than significant differences in image quality.

Autofocus improvements

For us, one of the most significant factors will be how closely the D7500 can match the D500’s autofocus. It gains the much higher resolution metering sensor used for subject tracking, along with nominally the same processing (though Nikon’s Expeed naming system doesn’t necessarily mean they have the same chip).

However, the D7500 doesn’t gain the AF module from the D500, which means it can only offer 51 AF points (15 of which are cross-type), rather than 153 points, 99 of which are cross-type. This also means it misses out on the incredibly broad AF coverage that the D500 offers.

Even so, the processing and meter module should ensure the autofocus and, in particular, the subject tracking, works better than the already rather good D7200. It remains to be seen whether it can match the uncannily good performance of the D500.

Autofocus auto fine-tune

One of the nice features to make its way down to the D7500 is the Auto AF fine-tune system. This allows you to set the focus precisely in live view such that the camera can then check this against the results of its separate phase detection AF module. Any difference is captured as a correction value.

This is a useful addition since it allows the user of the camera to calibrate their lenses without the considerable degree of trial and error required with the D7200’s AF fine-tune system (which essentially required that you guess and check a correction value).

The autofocus fine-tune system isn’t a panacea: it applies a single correction value for all focus points, so will not necessarily improve the performance of off-center focus points, which tend to be less reliable, particularly with lenses that exhibit spherical aberration.

High-speed shooting

Obviously the biggest change with the D7500 is the move from six frame per second to eight frame per second shooting. This isn’t a match for the D500’s 10 fps shooting but it’s likely to be enough for a lot of people. Hell, this is around the level of performance that the world’s best sports shooters used around 2005.

As well as 8 fps shooting, the D7500 has a buffer nearly three times deeper than the D7200’s. 50 uncompressed 14-bit Raws in a burst is likely to be enough for all but the most demanding action shooters.

4K Video

The D7500 brings 4K UHD video recording and, assuming it looks like the D500’s output, it’s pretty good. It’s taken from a 1.5x crop of the sensor, meaning it’s using sub-Four Thirds sized sensor region, which means you won’t get the ‘Super 35’ style noise or depth-of-field characteristics that other APS-C cameras can offer. The significant crop also means your lenses will offer a significantly less wide field of view when shooting. A standard Nikon 18-something DX zoom will start at a fairly restrictive 40mm equivalent field of view.

Just as significantly as the addition of 4K is the gain of power aperture, which means you can change aperture in live view mode on the D7500. On the 7200 it’s a dance of dropping out of live view, changing the aperture and then jumping back in again, with no way at all to change it once you’ve hit REC.

Backwards compatibility takes a step backwards

The D7500 also loses a little in the way of backwards compatibility. Nikon has tried to keep its F mount as backwards compatible as possible, even as it’s added more modern features. The D7X00 series has, for some time now, been the lowest level of Nikon to retain a screw drive for older AF-D lenses but the D7500 sees another small element of compatibility chipped away. Specifically, the tab that checks what aperture old ‘AI’ lenses are set to (pictured, center) has been removed, meaning the camera can only use manual exposure mode with these lenses, with no aperture priority option.

For most users, this is likely to be irrelevant (manual focusing using the viewfinder focusing screen of a DX DSLR isn’t the most life affirming process), but it does mean anyone with an older lens collection will need to think about the D500 as their next step, and it’ll be another factor to consider when scouring eBay.

SnapBridge

The D7500 gains the SnapBridge system that uses a constant Bluetooth LE connection to auto-transfer 2MP images or keep the hailing frequencies open for when you want to use Wi-Fi.

We remain unconvinced by SnapBridge, especially in terms of what it offers the higher-end, more shutter-button-happy user, but it’s not necessarily worse than the D7200’s system. That may sound like damning with faint praise but, until Nikon develops more distinct ways of using SnapBridge, we feel it’s better suited to the D5600 user than it is to the more demanding enthusiast user of the D7500.

Still, the D7500 does gain a batch in-camera Raw conversion system, which we’re hoping will work well in conjunction with SnapBridge to provide an effective Raw + Wi-Fi workflow. Time will tell.

Flip-up touchscreen

The D7500 gains a flip-up/down touchscreen. The flip screen is likely to be handy for video shooting but, with underwhelming video autofocus and no sign of the D5600’s ability to use the rear panel as an AF point touchpad, we don’t think the touch sensitivity of the screen is less exciting. Sure, the D5600’s touchpad implementation only really worked for photographers who put their right eye to the viewfinder, but that at least made it a major benefit for those users.

The LCD panel itself has also changed, but don’t read too much into the lower dot count. The new panel may only be 922k dots, rather than 1.2 million, but the difference is that there is no longer a white ‘dot’ making up each pixel: they’re both displaying 640 x 480 pixels.

Battery life/battery type

The D7500’s battery life rating has fallen 15%, compared with the D7200, presumably as a result of the demands of the faster processor and possibly less energy-efficient screen.

It uses a new version of the EN-EL15 battery called the EN-EL15a. Other than coming in a lighter grey plastic case, Nikon was unable to give specifics about what’s changed. Our assumption is that it’s just Nikon making it easier to distinguish between the newest versions of the EN-EL15 and the older ones which don’t seem to get on with its newest cameras.

However, this is where you see another attempt to put more clear water between the D7500 and the D500: the 7500 no longer has a port for connecting to a battery grip. So you’ll need to stick with your D7200 or jump to the D500 if you regularly shoot beyond the capacity of a single battery or appreciate the improved ergonomics for portrait orientation shooting.

Is this really the D7200 replacement?

Yes. Absolutely.

While it’s true that the D7500 isn’t a step up from the D7200 in every last respect, it follows the D7X00 pattern in every way that matters. Twin dials, screw drive, large prism viewfinder and comparable price point. Nikon will, naturally, say that the D7200 and D7500 will sit alongside one another, but that’s what manufacturers say to avoid devaluing any stock left in retail channels.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that when the D7200 was launched, it sat at the top of Nikon’s DX lineup, whereas the D7500 has to slot in beneath the D500. Inevitably that means some users will be better served by stepping up a tier, but we don’t think it’ll inconvenience a significant number of users. 64, 128 or 256GB cards offer plenty of capacity and card errors are rare enough that a second card slot isn’t a vital feature. The D7500 is still a camera that shoots faster and for longer, and can capture better video than its predecessor, so it’s not like Nikon’s evil marketing department has left would-be D7X00 users out in the cold.

Should I upgrade?

To a large extent, the degree to which we’d recommend upgrading from the D7200 to the D7500 will depend on how its new AF system performs. If you’ve already been thinking about a camera with faster performance, though, then take a look at our D500 vs D7500 comparison: the D500 will give you a bigger performance boost.

If your needs are less action driven, it’s a much harder call and, unless the AF performance turns out to be great, the answer has to be that it’s probably not worth it. However, if you own a D7000 or even a D7100 that’s starting to show its age, the D7500 offers a host of benefits, not least better dynamic range, faster shooting and a much deeper buffer.

Overall, then the D7500 isn’t better than the D7200 in every respect, but it’s at least a little better in most of the ways that will matter to most people. But, while the last of the D7200s are available at end-of-life prices, it’s worth thinking about how much the extra features are worth, to you.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Nikon announces midrange D7500 DSLR

15 Apr

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5071617451″,”galleryId”:”5071617451″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

Nikon has announces its midrange D7500 DSLR. While its design has been slightly tweaked, the big story are the features that it’s inherited from the D500. It uses the same 20.9MP APS-C sensor, Expeed 5 processor and 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor, and is capable of 4K video capture.

The D7500 looks a lot like the D7200 that preceded it, though it’s a bit lighter, and the grip has been deepened. Nikon also says that weather-sealing has been improved. While the LCD remains at 3.2″ in size, it’s now tilting and touch-enabled. Something that Nikon has removed is one of the SD card slots; the D7200 had two, the D7500, one. This slot does not support UHS-II media, unlike on the D500. The D7500 includes a new battery, known as the EN-EL15a, but battery life is about 15% lower than on the D7200, at 950 shots per charge.

As mentioned above, it uses the same sensor, image processor and metering system as the D500. The sensor and image processor have allowed the ISO range to be increased by a full stop compared to the D7200, with a native range of 100-51200, which expands to 50-1.64 million. The autofocus module is the same as the D7200, meaning that it has 51 points, 15 of which are cross-type, with the center point sensitive down to -3EV, but now with input from the 90-times higher-res 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor. That means credible face detect AF even in OVF shooting (in Auto area mode), and remarkably precise subject tracking to maintain focus on subjects that move around the frame. For lenses that need micro-adjustment, you can now do that quickly in live view using ‘Auto AF Fine Tune’.

Burst shooting has been noticeably improved, with a top rate of 8 fps (up from 6 fps). The buffer is much deeper, as well, with the D7500 able to take up to 50 14-bit uncompressed Raws in a single burst, rather than 18. Speaking of which, the D7500 has gained the ability to batch process Raw images – handy for when you want to send a bunch of them to your smartphone.

As with the D500, the D7500 can capture UHD 4K video at a bit rate of 144Mbps, albeit with a 1.5x crop (2.25x relative to 35mm full-frame). If you drop down to 1080p you gain 3-axis digital IS and Active D-Lighting, and lose the crop factor. Power Aperture has been added, allowing for more precise control over exposure. Other video-related feature include 4K output over HDMI, a flat picture profile (similar to log gamma), zebra pattern and Auto ISO. As you’d expect, the D7500 has both microphone and headphone jacks.

The D7500 has Nikon’s ‘SnapBridge’ wireless system, that uses Bluetooth for both remote capture and keeping a constant connection plus Wi-Fi for large file transfer. NFC, which was found on the D7200, has been dropped on its replacement.

Nikon will ship the D7500 this summer in two kits: body-only for $ 1249, and $ 1749 with a 18-140mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

Press Release

THE NEW NIKON D7500: SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE THAT DRIVES THE DESIRE TO CREATE

Exceptional Speed, Precision and Low-Light Ability Has Never Been as Attainable; The New D7500 Uses the Same Powerful Imaging Sensor and Includes Many Features from Nikon’s DX-Format D500 Flagship

MELVILLE, NY (April 12, 2017 at 12:01 A.M. EDT) — Enthusiasts are a distinct type of photographer, who go to great lengths in the relentless pursuit of the perfect capture. It is for this user that Nikon Inc. announced the D7500 today, an advanced-level DX-format DSLR that provides a robust yet lightweight camera with powerful performance and premium features. Using the same 20.9-megapixel image sensor, processor and wide ISO range as the D500, Nikon’s flagship DX-format DSLR, the D7500 incorporates an exceptional combination of stunning image quality, impressive speed, astounding low-light ability and 4K UHD video capture, yet remains within reach for a diverse array of image makers and creators.

“The Nikon D7500 was engineered to be as versatile as the photographer using it, and excels whether shooting fast-action sports, stunning low-light landscapes, distant wildlife, glamorous portraits or multimedia content,” said Kosuke Kawaura, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc. “This is a camera for the photographers who are serious about their passion, infatuated with the next frame and above all else, want speed, small size and an excellent value.”

Balance Image Quality and Low-Light Performance
The new D7500 features Nikon’s latest 20.9-megapixel DX-format imaging sensor and EXPEED 5 processing engine, the same high-performance heart of the Nikon D500. Designed to excel in a wide array of shooting conditions, the D7500 eliminates the optical low-pass filter (OLPF) for maximum sharpness and clarity, with the class-leading dynamic range flexibility that is a hallmark of Nikon DSLRs. The compact DX-format form factor also gives photographers extended focal length reach that is an advantage for sports and wildlife photography, especially when coupled with the vast selection of available NIKKOR lenses.

Whether shooting a landscape at dawn or sports under indoor lights, the D7500 affords the latitude of low-light capability to consistently nail the shot, time and time again. Even in the most challenging light, users can capture images with minimal noise, thanks to a native ISO range that spans from 100-51,200, and an expanded ISO range up to an astonishing 1.64 million equivalent. Those same stellar image quality and low noise virtues also apply to those shooting video, whether it’s a 4K UHD production or a mesmerizing astro time-lapse of the night sky.

Focus with Precision, Capture with Confidence
The Nikon D7500 DSLR gives photographers many new premium features and advanced Nikon technologies to help create incredible images and video:

The D7500 is fast enough to keep pace with the quickest athletes or animals; capable of shooting at up to 8 frames-per-second (fps) with full AF/AE, with an expanded buffer of up to 50 RAW/NEF (14-bit lossless compressed) or 100 JPEG images.
Nikon’s proven 51-point AF system covers a large portion of the frame. A Group-Area AF function has been added, which is a preferred focus mode for those shooting fast action.
The slim, tilting 3.2” 922K-dot touchscreen LCD can be used to easily control, compose and play back, even while mounted to a tripod. The menus can also be easily navigated using the touchscreen function.
Like the Nikon D5 and D500, the 180K RGB Metering system is used with the Advanced Scene Recognition System to help ensure balanced exposures and fantastic color rendition in nearly any shooting situation.
Lightweight DX form factor allows for an agile, comfortable body with deep grip and comprehensive weather sealing. The monocoque body is durable and approximately 5% lighter than the D7200 and 16% lighter than the D500.
Shoot all day and well into the night with up to approximately 950 shots per charge (CIPA standard).
Like the D500 and D5, the Auto AF Fine Tune feature when in Live View allows users to automatically calibrate autofocus with specific lenses if needed.
Through the Retouch menu, users can access an in-camera Batch Process RAW Converter that can handle multiple images to optimize workflow.
The camera’s pop-up flash can act as a Commander for remote Speedlights, while the camera is also optimized to function with line-of-sight using SB-500, SB-700 and SB-5000. It can even support the radio frequency control system of the SB-5000 when using the optional WR-R10 accessory.
New Auto Picture Control function analyzes the picture scene and automatically generates a tone curve within the camera.
Images can automatically be downloaded to a compatible smartphone, and the camera can also be triggered remotely using Built-in Bluetooth¹ and Wi-Fi²

Multimedia Capabilities for Creators
The Nikon D7500 adds in a diverse array of advanced features for multimedia content creators, including 4K UHD (3840 × 2160/30p) video capture and the ability to produce awe-inspiring 4K UHD time-lapse movies in-camera. Video files can be stored as either MOV files or as MP4 files, for greater flexibility and easier playback on a wide range of devices. Like the D500, the D7500 offers 3-axis built-in e-VR image stabilization when shooting 1080p Full HD video, and can be easily focused using the rear touchscreen function.

For the advanced videographer, the D7500 offers simultaneous 4K UHD output to card and uncompressed via HDMI, as well as a headphone and microphone jack for pro-level audio recording and monitoring. To allow for smooth exposure adjustments, the camera also supports power aperture for smooth and step-less depth-of-field transitions while users can also keep highlights in-check using visible zebra stripes in live-view mode.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D7500 will be available in Summer 2017 for a suggested retail price (SRP)* of $ 1,249.95 for the body only configuration, or with a AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens for $ 1,749.95 SRP*. For more information on the Nikon D7500 as well as the latest Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

^1.The camera’s built-in Bluetooth® capability can only be used to connect the camera to a compatible smart device running the SnapBridge app, and to take advantage of SnapBridge features.

² This camera’s built-in Wi-Fi® capability can only be used with a compatible iPhone®, iPad®, and/or iPod touch® or smart devices running on the Android™ operating system. The Nikon SnapBridge application must be installed on the device before it can be used with this camera.

Using the SnapBridge App System Requirements:
Android 5.0 or later or 6.0.1 or later
A device with Bluetooth 4.0 or later (i.e., a device that supports Bluetooth Smart Ready/Low Energy) is required.

The SnapBridge app is available for compatible iPhone®, iPad® and/or iPod touch®, and for smart devices running the Android^TM operating system. The app can be downloaded free of charge from Apple’s App Store® and GooglePlay^TM. SnapBridge can be used only with compatible cameras.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

Nikon D7500 specifications

Price
MSRP	$ 1299 (body only), $ 1749 with 18-140 VR kit lens
Body type
Body type	Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Max resolution	5568 x 3712
Other resolutions	4176 x 2784, 2784 x 1856
Image ratio w:h	3:2
Effective pixels	21 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	22 megapixels
Sensor size	APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	Expeed 5
Image
ISO	ISO 100 – 51200 (expandable to 50 – 1640000)
Boosted ISO (minimum)	50
Boosted ISO (maximum)	1640000
White balance presets	12
Custom white balance	Yes (5)
Image stabilization	Digital only
Image stabilization notes	3-axis Electronic for Full HD and below
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Fine, Normal, Basic
File format	JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine, normal, or basic compression (Size priority); Optimal quality compression available NEF (RAW): Lossless compressed, compressed 12 or 14 bit NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single Photograph Recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG Formats
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection Live View
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	51
Lens mount	Nikon F
Focal length multiplier	1.5×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Tilting
Screen size	3.2″
Screen dots	922,000
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage	100%
Viewfinder magnification	0.94×
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/8000 sec
Exposure modes	Aperture Priority Auto Auto (flash off) Manual (M) Programmed auto with flexible program (P) Scene Modes Shutter-Priority User
Scene modes	Autumn Colors Beach / Snow Blossom Candlelight Child Close-up Dusk / Dawn Food Landscape Night Landscape Night Portrait Party / Indoor Pet Portrait Portrait Sports Sunset Special Effects Mode
Built-in flash	Yes (Pop-up)
Flash range	12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash	Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus sync connector)
Flash modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Flash X sync speed	1/250 sec
Drive modes	Single-frame Self-timer Quiet continuous Quiet shutter Mirror-up Continuous high Continuous low
Continuous drive	8.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Metering modes	Multi Center-weighted Highlight-weighted Spot
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes (3 frames in 1-stop increments)
Videography features
Format	MPEG-4, H.264
Videography notes	Supports MOV and MP4 packages
Modes	3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 48 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 48 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 @ 60p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 @ 60p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 @ 50p / 24 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 @ 50p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (mini-HDMI)
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	Yes
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	Wi-Fi with low energy Bluetooth
Remote control	Yes (Wired, wireless, smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	EN-EL15a lithium-ion rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	950
Weight (inc. batteries)	640 g (1.41 lb / 22.58 oz)
Dimensions	136 x 104 x 73 mm (5.35 x 4.09 x 2.87″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes (4K output)
GPS	Optional
GPS notes	GP-1A

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Nikon D7500 vs Nikon D500: Which is better for you?

13 Apr

D7500 vs D500

The launch of the D7500 presents an interesting quandary for camera buyers: should I buy the D500 or save some money and get the D7500?

We’ll look at the differences between the two, to help illuminate the question for you. Which one is ‘best’ will be a choice for you, of course, since it’ll depend on what you shoot and what you need.

Image quality

With the same sensor and the same generation of processing, there’s no reason to expect there to be any difference in image quality between the D7500 and D500. The 20MP sensor in the D500 is very good (albeit not significantly different from the D7200’s chip, when viewed at the same size), and Nikon knows a fair bit about generating JPEGs.

Autofocus

However, the D7500 doesn’t gain the AF module from the D500, which means it can only offer 51 AF points, rather than 153 points. Critically, 99 of the D500’s AF points are cross-type, compared with just 15 of the D7500s, which is likely to give the bigger camera a huge advantage when you use off-center AF points. The difference in AF module also means it misses out on the incredibly broad AF coverage that the D500 offers.

Speed

On top of whatever difference there proves to be in terms of autofocus, the D500 is a faster camera. It can shoot 10 frames per second, to the D7500’s 8 and, at 200 uncompressed Raws in a burst, can keep shooting for four times as many frames as the D7500. If high-speed action is your thing, it’s a pretty simple choice.

The hardware enabling that extra speed is visible everywhere: the D500 uses XQD and UHS-II SD cards, while the D7500 makes do with a single, UHS-I compatible slot. The D500 also offers a USB 3 connector, rather than the D7500’s USB 2.0 socket, which leads to faster transfer, if you’re not using a card reader for some reason.

Viewfinder

The D7500 has the same viewfinder as the D7200, which is a rather nice pentaprism finder with 0.94x magnification and 100% coverage. This makes it one of the largest viewfinders you can get for the money. However, this is still smaller than the D500’s finder which, at 1.0x magnification (0.67 in full frame terms), and 100% coverage is the largest viewfinder we’ve ever encountered on an APS-C camera.

This may sound like a small difference, but it’s a difference you’ll benefit from, every frame you shoot with the camera. That may not, in itself, swing the balance for you (it’s probably not, in itself, a $ 700 feature), but it’s not an insignificant difference.

Higher-end body

The physical differences between the two cameras are relatively minor but are exactly what you might expect to distinguish between an enthusiast model and an enthusiast/pro crossover one. Probably the biggest difference is that the D500 has a joystick for positioning AF point, rather than relying on the multi-way controller on the rear panel.

The D500 body is also a little bigger and has a better grip and its construction feels a little more solid. Again, much as you’d expect. For action shooters who like to back-button focus, it has a dedicated AF-ON button, which the D7500 lacks. For low light shooters, the buttons on the left-hand rear of the D500 are illuminated.

The more expensive camera has a 2.34m dot (1024 x 768 pixels) rear LCD, rather than the 920k dot (640 x 480) panel on the D7500. Both are mounted on tilting cradles but the D500’s screen has a more rugged-seeming surround, rather than cover glass that extends out to the edge of the cradle.

The final big ‘pro level’ feature the D500 gets which is missing from the D7500 is a shutter rated to survive 200,000 cycles, rather than 150,000. This extra 33% shutter life is likely to be significant for anyone who’s using the D500’s 10fps shooting and 200 shot-per-burst buffer, day in, day out.

Flash

Somewhat perversely, the D7500 might have an advantage when it comes to strobery. For a start it has a built-in flash, which the D500 lacks. The built-in unit in the D7500 can be used as a commander, allowing the use of the infra-red version of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System of wireless flash control and triggering.

The other potential advantage of the D7500 is the absence of a 10-pin connector on the front of the camera. Why is the absence of a connector a good thing? Quite simply it means you can attach Nikon’s WR-R10 radio frequency dongle without having to buy the WR-A10 adapter. The WR-R10 allows access to the newer, more robust radio-based ‘Advanced Wireless Lighting’ system.

Of course, leaving the WR-10 hanging out of the side of the D7500 is less secure than plugging it into the 10-pin socket on the front of the D500. However, given the WR-A10 adapter isn’t the sturdiest thing in the world, the difference might not be that huge. Either way, it means the D7500 can be used to radio control SB5000 speedlites just as well as the D500 can.

Video

As with image quality, there’s little to choose between the D500 and D7500 in terms of video. Both offer 4K UHD output from a 1.5x crop of their sensors and both record with the same codecs and formats. There’s little to separate the two cameras, beyond the fact that the D500 comes with a small clip to retain an HDMI lead if you’re shooting with an external recorder.

It’s also good to see that the D7500 has gained power aperture: a means of controlling the aperture when in live view mode. Like the D500, the D7500 has two function buttons on the gripward side of the lens mount, which can be assigned to open and close the aperture while shooting video. Both camera have the Flat Picture Profile, which is intended to offer a little extra flexibility in the grading process but in a way that’s not as unfamiliar to stills shooters as a true logarithmic response would be.

Other differences

The remaining differences are subtle. The D500 has NFC, which makes the initial configuration of the SnapBridge Bluetooth/Wi-Fi system quicker. This benefit only exists for Android users, though, since Apple doesn’t let you use the NFC capabilities of its devices. Once it’s set up, for better or worse, SnapBridge should work in the same way on both cameras.

Finally, the D500 is rated as having more battery life. However, its 1240 shots-per-charge rating is helped by not having a built-in flash. The D7500 manages to get 950 shots per charge (including flash) out of its battery, but we doubt there’s much difference in the real world if you use them the same way.

Kit lens

If none of the differences up to now haven’t swayed you, you may find the decision ends up depending on where you live.

Say what!?

One of the biggest factors in choosing a camera is what lens it comes with. Even if you already have a bag full of Nikkors, a new camera can often be bought bundled with a kit lens at a competitive price, which is worth buying even if you intend to list it on eBay.

Nikon Europe offers the D7500 in a kit with the 16-80mm F2.8-4.0 VR, whereas Nikon USA doesn’t, as yet. As its specs suggest, it’s a really useful and flexible lens. It’s also pretty small and light, which just increase that utility. If no other difference has already made the decision for you, then we’d suggest getting a D7500 with a great all-round lens is a better choice than spending a similar amount of money on the D500.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

12 Apr

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

The Nikon D7200 was, and still is, an extremely capable camera. So for Nikon to truly make its successor worth its salt, something other than a granular update was needed. Fortunately, the new Nikon D7500 features enough improvements, including a lot of tech pulled from the APS-C flagship D500, that all signs point to it being the successor we’d hoped for.

After all, it uses the same 20.9MP sensor with no optical low pass filter as the D500, as well as its Expeed 5 image processor. This new processor is 30% faster than the Expeed 4 processor in the D7200, a speed advantage that gives the D7500 a leg up in a few key areas like: burst speed, buffer depth, video capability and native ISO sensitivity.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

Before we jump into tech specs, let’s talk about the body of the D7500, because some minor changes should add up to an improved user experience, including a 3.2” 922k-dot tilting touch LCD. Sure it’s slightly lower resolution than the 1.2M-dot LCD of the D7200, but the touch capabilities are a welcomed inclusion. They can be used for selecting an AF point in live view, or navigating the camera menus.

The D7500 is also 35 g / 1.2 oz lighter than its predecessor and its body is slightly more narrow. The slimmer body design results in a marginally deeper grip. Weather-sealing on the camera has also been beefed up over its predecessor, though the camera loses its second memory card slot.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

The D7500 is now capable of 4K video capture in 30, 25 and 24p. Users can now also shoot 4K UHD timelapses. But don’t expect your lenses to offer the same field of view when shooting video as they do for stills, because like the D500, the camera uses a 1.5x crop of the sensor when capturing 4K (that’s a total crop factor of 2.25x relative to full-frame). Recording time is similarly cut off at 29:59.

That processing speed boost also translates to an increased burst rate of 8 fps (up from 6 fps on the D7200) with a buffer depth of 50 14-bit Raw files or 100+ full-size JPEGs. The ISO range is 100-51,200, and expandable from ISO 50 to 1.6M – the same as the D500.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

When shooting in movie mode, users can make use of both Auto ISO as well as power aperture to maintain exposure in a smooth manner. The camera also features helpful video tools like a flat picture profile (similar to log gamma) and zebras. In addition to 4K it can also shoot Full HD in 60p down to 24p, with no additional crop. And when in HD capture there is an electronic VR option to help stabilize footage. Users can also use Nikon’s Active D-Lighting (in HD only).

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

Other gains from the D500 includes its 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor for more accurate focus tracking and metering. The D7500 also now offers Nikon’s much-loved highlight-weighted metering mode.

Not everything is borrowed from its big brother though: The D7500 uses the same 51-point AF system with 15 cross-type points as its predecessor, as opposed to the 153-point AF module found in the D500. That means more potential for hunting in challenging light with off-center points. It also does not support UHS II media, like the D500.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

Despite using the same AF system as the D7200, there are important improvements to the overall AF experience. For instance the camera gains the D5/D500’s ability to fine-tune lens precision using Live View, thanks to ‘Auto AF Fine Tune’.

And the updated 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor should allow for very precise subject (including face) recognition and tracking to maintain focus on subjects that move, even erratically, around the frame. Additionally, the camera gains Nikon’s group area AF mode.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

Users can record 4K UHD directly to an external recorder via HDMI out, while also capturing compressed 4K to a memory card. The camera also offers a USB 2.0, microphone, headphone and a remote control port.

The D7500 is also now compatible with Nikon’s radio transmitters for flash control.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

The viewfinder remains the same as its predecessor, offering .94x magnification with nearly 100% coverage. Like the D500, the viewfinder uses an OLED info display for easy viewing.

The camera’s shutter is rated for 150k shots and now features a shutter monitor, which automatically adjust shutter speeds to keep them accurate.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

SnapBridge compatibility should come as no surprise in the D7500: it offers both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for transmitting images and shooting remotely. However NFC has been removed. Speaking of transmitting images, the D7500 now offers an in-camera batch Raw processing option.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

There is also a new Multiple Exposure mode that combines 10 images into one (but saves each of the 10 images individually as well). As well as a new Auto Picture Control function that analyzes the scene to provide a pleasing tone curve.

Other improvements come in the form of a new battery, the EN-EL15a, which apparently manages power better than previous EN-EL15 batteries. Fortunately it is both backward and forward compatible. Less fortunate: the D7500 offers lower battery life than the D7200: CIPA rated 950 shots per charge vs 1110.

Nikon D7500: What you need to know

The Nikon D7500 will be available this coming summer for a body-only price of $ 1250 and a kitted with the Nikkor 12-140mm F3.5-5.6 ED VR for $ 1750.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized