Overview of the Nikon D7500

The Nikon D7500 is the successor to the D7200 and marketed to enthusiasts. Nikon continues to position the D500 as its flagship “prosumer” DX-series (APS-C) camera. The D7500 includes the same image sensor and processor as the D500, packaged in a D7200 size camera body with mode dials.1

Image Quality

The D7500 has the same 20.9-megapixel DX-format imaging sensor and EXPEED 5 processing engine as the D500 and the D5. Therefore, the image quality should be identical between the two models. However, both the D7500 and D500 have less resolution than the D7200 and D7100 models’ 24 megapixels. Nikon has clearly prioritized speed and low-light image capture over resolution. While the difference in resolution likely won’t be noticeable except with extreme cropping, it is unusual for successor models to step backward in pixel count. If the D7500 has an advantage, it will be when looking at high ISO images and 4K video. The native ISO range spans from 100-51,200. In theory, the Nikon D7500 is now able to capture images at ISO 1.6 million. In practice, you are now to be able to capture images in moonlight. Like the D7200 and the D7100, the Nikon D7500 does not have a optical low-pass filter (OLPF).

Speed

The D500 is much better suited to action photography than the D7500 particularly for RAW images. The D7500 can shoot 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. In contrast, the D500 can shoot 10 fps with 100 RAW images in burst. For sports photography, the D7500 is 3x faster than the D7200.2

Autofocus

The D7500 has the same 180k-pixel RGB metering system as the D500 but it has fewer sensors: 51 AF points v 153 AF points. Of those, only 15 are cross-type AF points v 99 cross-type AF points on the D500. The D7500’s subject tracking is better than the D7200. But, the D500 is better at focussing on off-center subjects than the D7500.3

4k Video

The D7500 has 4k video recording comparable to the D500. If you use your dSLR for UHD video recording, then the D7500 is clearly better than the D7200. I currently use my iPhone 7 for 4K video recording but if I used my dSLR for video then the D7500 would be my choice.

Flip-up Touchscreen

The D7500 gains a flip-up touchscreen monitor. However, I use the optical viewfinder when taking photos. I believe that there is relatively little value in either a tilt display or a touch screen in daily use. (Its primary value is shooting at or near ground level or on table tops.) Further, tilt screens are a point of weakness, prone to unintentional breakage over the long term. The D7500 touchscreen is lower resolution than the D500’s though I doubt most users will notice it.

WiFi & Bluetooth

WiFi on the D7500 is limited to Wireless-G at a time when smartphones use Wireless-AC. Therefore, the most effective means of file transfer remains “sneaker-net”, particularly given that I shoot large, RAW images. This requires removing the SD card from your Nikon and inserting it into your computer (or SD-USB adapter if you are a MacBook owner).

One welcome addition is the replacement of NFC with Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE). This permit SnapBridge to trigger the D7500 shutter.

Battery

The D7500 uses a new battery, the EN-EL15a, but it is compatible with the older EN-EL15’s used in the D7x00 series cameras. Unfortunately, the D7500’s battery life is 15% less than its predecessor, the D7200. I always carry an extra battery though I have never needed to use it on single day shoots. Nikon’s battery life is far better than my old Fuji X100T.

Unnecessary Tradeoffs

• While the D7200 and D7100 have two SD card slots, the D7500 has only one. SD cards currently cost about $30 for 128GB and $60 for 256B. So, the tradeoff of only one SD card slot isn’t so much capacity as redundancy. I have never had an SD card corruption issue; I don’t think the single SD card slot will impact your daily use. But it remains a step down from the D7x00 predecessor cameras.
• The D500 has a USB 3.0 port; while the D7500 has only a USB 2.0 connection. If you use SD card “sneaker-net” transfer, you can work around this limitation. But, it’s an unnecessary limitation for users.
• The D7500 still lacks built in GPS, requiring you to use the GP-1A accessory or SnapBridge.

Should You Upgrade?

The D7500 (currently $1299) is a compelling Nikon model but it its tough to recommend it over the D7100 or the D500 at current street prices. As a Nikon shooter, who has a sizable investment in Nikon lenses and flashes, the D7100 was my preferred body until the D500 body price fell.

Unless you focus on sports photography or need 4K video recording, then I would purchase the D7100 for <$600. If you need the larger buffer, better auto focus, and 4K video capture, then I would (and did) purchase the D500 which is now being discounted and bundled with accessories that you can sell in eBay to lower its effective price.

Updated on June 8th, 2017