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Canon 70D vs Nikon D500 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Canon 70D vs Nikon D500. The Nikon D500 is an incredible DSLR, but it also costs a lot more money so let’s see how they compare for the price.

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.

Canon 70DNikon D500
Megapixels20.220.9
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor FormatAPS-CAPS-C (DX)
Crop Factor1.6x1.5x
AA FilterYesNone
Image Resolution5472 x 36485568 x 3712
Body Image StabilizationNoNo
Lens MountCanon EF/EF-SNikon FX/DX
ISO100 - 12,800100 - 51,200
Expanded ISO25,60050 - 1,638,400
AF Points19153
Cross-type AF Points1999
Continuous Mode7fps10fps
LCD3.0" - Fully Articulated3.2" - Articulating
LCD Resolution1,040,000 dots2,359,000 dots
TouchscreenYesYes
Focus PeakingNoNo
Top LCD DisplayYesYes
Viewfinder TypeOpticalOptical
Viewfinder Coverage98%100%
Viewfinder Magnification0.95x1.00x
Video Resolution1920x1080 (30/25/24p)3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
 1280x720 (60/50p)1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)
Microphone JackYesYes
Headphone JackNoYes
Memory Card TypeSD SD + XQD
Dual Card SlotsNoYes
SD UHS SupportUHS-IUHS-II
Fastest Shutter Speed1/80001/8000
Slowest Shutter Speed30"30"
Bulb ModeYesYes
JPEG Buffer Size65200
RAW Buffer Size14200
Time LapseNoYes
Built-in FlashYesNo
Max Flash Sync Speed1/2501/250
Startup Time0.7s0.3s
Built-in Wi-FiYesYes
Built-in GPSNoNo
Built- in NFCNoYes
BluetoothNoYes
USB TypeUSB 2.0USB 3.0
Environmentally SealedYesYes
Battery Life (CIPA)920 shots1240 shots
Battery IncludedYes (LP-E6)Yes (EN-EL15)
Weight26.7 oz (755g)30.2 oz (856g)
Size5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1"5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"
PriceAmazonAmazon
Release Date20132016

Canon 70D Advantages:

  • LCD – It’s fully articulated.
  • Built-in Flash
  • Weight – The Canon 70D weighs 101g less.
  • Size – The Canon 70D is noticeably smaller.
  • Less Expensive – The 70D body costs around $1000 less

It’s no surprise that the older and cheaper 70D doesn’t offer any advantages. The LCD is fully articulated though (which means you can use it to record videos while seeing yourself in it).

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Nikon D500 Advantages:

  • AA Filter – The Nikon D500 has no AA filter.
  • ISO – 1,638,400 vs 25,600 – Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.
  • AF Points – 153 vs 19.
  • Cross-type AF Points – 99 vs 19.
  • Continuous mode – 10fps vs 7fps. 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.
  • Viewfinder Coverage – 100% vs 98%. 
  • Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.
  • Video Resolution – 4K video available.
  • Headphone Jack – Useful for previewing your audio quality straight out the camera.
  • 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 65. Useful for long bursts.
  • RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 14.
  • Time-Lapse
  • Built-in NFC
  • Bluetooth Support
  • USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.
  • Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 920 shots.

The Nikon D500 runs laps around most cameras, including the 70D. It’s got no AA filter, way higher maximum ISO, far more sophisticated AF system with 80 more cross-type points, 10 vs 7fps and 2 memory card slots. On top of that, it records 4K videos, has a headphone jack, UHS-II (and XQD memory slot), way bigger JPEG and RAW buffer sizes, USB 3.0 and even longer battery life.

It’s more expensive, but if you want something great for sports, action and wildlife (as well as weddings, traveling etc.), the D500 is your best APS-C DSLR.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

 

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