Nikon D500 vs Nikon D810 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Nikon D810. They D810 has a full frame sensor a higher megapixel count and price tag, while the D500 is a speed beast perfect for wildlife.

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	Nikon D810
Megapixels	20.9	36.3
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C (DX)	Full Frame (FX)
Crop Factor	1.5x	None
AA Filter	None	None
Image Resolution	5568 x 3712	7360 x 4912
Body Image Stabilization	No	No
Lens Mount	Nikon FX/DX	Nikon FX
ISO	100 - 51,200	64 - 12,800
Expanded ISO	50 - 1,638,400	32 - 51,200
AF Points	153	51
Cross-type AF Points	99	15
Continuous Mode	10fps	4fps
LCD	3.2" - Articulating	3.2" - Fixed
LCD Resolution	2,359,000 dots	1,229,000 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Focus Peaking	No	No
Top LCD Display	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical	Optical
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.00x	0.70x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)	1280x720 (60/50p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Memory Card Type	SD + XQD	CF + SD
Dual Card Slots	Yes	Yes
SD UHS Support	UHS-II	UHS-I & UDMA
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/8000	1/8000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	30"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	200	57
RAW Buffer Size	200	18
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/200
Startup Time	0.3s	0.5s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	No
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built- in NFC	Yes	No
Bluetooth	Yes	No
USB Type	USB 3.0	USB 3.0
Environmentally Sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	1240 shots	1200 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (EN-EL15)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	34.9 oz (988g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2014

Nikon D500 Advantages:

• ISO – 1,638,400 vs 51,200. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

• AF Points – 153 vs 51. More means you have a lot more focus points to choose from to perfectly frame your subject.

• Cross-type AF Points – 99 vs 15. Cross-type AF Points are much more accurate and faster in low light.

• Continuous mode – 10fps vs 4fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.

• LCD – It’s articulated.

• LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

• Touchscreen Support

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• Video Resolution – 4K video available.

• UHS-II – Faster writing speeds than UHS-I, but you need a memory card that can handle such speeds.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 200 vs 57. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 18.

• Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs 1/200.

• Built-in Wi-Fi

• Built-in NFC

• Bluetooth Support

• Weight – The Nikon D500 weighs 132g less.

• Less Expensive – The D500 body costs around $1000 less

The D500 has a better AF system, 4K video, touchscreen support, way bigger RAW and JPEG buffer and shoots 10 frames per second. For sports, wildlife or any other type of action, the D500 is your best DSLR for the money.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Nikon D810 Advantages:

• Megapixels –  15.4 more megapixels. For printing big and cropping, the Nikon D810 is a much better choice. 

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

• Built-in Flash

The D810 doesn’t seem special when looking at the advantages, but that’s because the main one is its full frame sensor with 36 megapixels. If you need the resolution, this is your camera. The D810 is actually quite fast and usable for all other types of photography, it’s simply not as fast as the D500 in those departments. Simply said, you get the D810 because you know you need the resolution for printing large.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.