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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D800

5.79 in
4.53 in
Nikon D500 Digital Camera
Nikon D500
5.7 in
4.8 in
Nikon D800 Digital Camera
Nikon D800
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
79
4.3 out of 5
35 user ratings
5 stars
65 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
17
4.5 out of 5
7 user ratings
5 stars
71 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
54
3.9 out of 5
54 user ratings
5 stars
24 %
4 stars
48 %
3 stars
22 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
47
4.2 out of 5
47 user ratings
5 stars
40 %
4 stars
42 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (2)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXFull frame
Sensor size0.93 in1.41 in
Sensor photo detectors22.0 Mpx37.0 Mpx
Effective pixels21.0 Mpx36.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:2
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
Max resolution5568 x 3712 px7360 x 4912 px
Other resolutions
  • 4176x2784
  • 2784x1856
  • 6144x4912
  • 6144x4080
  • 5520x3680
  • 4800x3200
  • 4608x3680
  • 4608x3056
  • 3680x2456
  • 3600x2400
  • 3072x2456
  • 3072x2040
  • 2400x1600
ProcessorExpeed 5Expeed 3

Image

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
ISO
  • 100
  • 51200
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • Auto
ISO minimum10050
ISO maximum5120025600
Boosted ISO minimum5050
Boosted ISO maximum164000025600
Maximum image resolution5568 x 3712 px7360 x 4912 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • NEF
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPEG XR
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios4:35:4
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
HDRyesyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1x
AutofocusCenter
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selectionManualAuto
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points15351
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)15351
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Screen size3.2 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDyesno
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots2359000921000
Touch screenyesno
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification1.0 x0.7 x
Diopter adjustment (D-D)-2 - 13 - 1
Eye relief0.63 in0.67 in
Separate info displayyesyes
Second displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Shooting modes
  • Manual
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Scene
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures22
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesnono
Flash sync speed1/250s1/250s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Auto
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Flash metering systemi-TTLi-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive10.0 fps4.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Close-up
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • party
  • Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Highlight-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
  • Spot
3D supportyesyes
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
custom
Speed (JPEG)10.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)10.0 fps4.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 1.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Maximum resolution3840 x 2160 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 3840 x 2160
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD type4K Ultra HDFull HD
Supported video file formatsMOV
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format systemNTSCNTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 10801280 x 720
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate10.0 fps60.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoMono
Speaker typeMonoMono
Audio systemStereoMono
Supported audio file formatsPCMLPCM

Design

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticAluminum-magnesium
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Weight26.81 oz31.75 oz
Width5.79 in5.7 in
Height4.53 in4.8 in
Depth3.19 in3.2 in

Storage

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Compatible memory cards
  • MMC
  • SD
  • CF
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Dual memory card slotsyesyes
Memory slots21
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • XQD
  • Compact Flash Type I
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)1240900
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedYyes

Connectivity

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version3.13.1
Microphone portyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCyesno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesyes
Bluetoothyesno
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D500Nikon D500
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnoyes
Orientation sensornoyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages support
  • ARA
  • BEN
  • BUL
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUM
  • RUS
  • SER
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
  • UKR
  • ARA
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUM
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • THA
  • TUR
  • UKR
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesTrimming
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D500

          Often compared with Nikon D800