johne37179 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I've now had a couple of months of using the D7000 and the D500 side by side and I have a couple of observations. I have really liked my D7000, it is getting a little long in the tooth on shutter actuations and that was part of what prompted me to get the D500. All I can say about the D500 is that the superlatives about this camera don't do it justice. I am continually astounded by every aspect of the camera. I use the two side by side. The D7000 hasn't gotten worse over time, but the comparison of the output of the two side by side -- well, there is no comparison. One of the things that I continually find amusing is the shutter sound of the two. The D500 is much quieter and solid sounding. The D500 is slightly larger, but has much more heft than the D7000 -- I have battery grips on both. I find that shifting from one to the other while shooting is not an issue and I don't have to think about it, other than those times the autofocus of the D500 comes into play. The image quality between the two on the same subject is astounding. It is not that the D7000 images are bad - they aren't. They are quite good. But the image quality from the D500 is head and shoulders better. I notice a crispness and resolution in lenses on the D500 that is just not there using the same lens on the D7000. I still will continue to use the D7000 as a backup and for grab shots, but the D500 is a quantum jump ahead for this photographer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Garrard Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Glad you're happy, John! I hired a D500 last summer to use alongside my D810, and it was very pleasant to use - and the changes (including size) from the D810 seemed relatively minor, though I liked most. The D7x00 series have always felt like toys when I've handled them. They're NOT toys - they're perfectly capable, and there are advantages to the smaller size. But the D500 feels far more solid, like the D700/D300 and D8x0 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Initially I didn't really notice the size difference. However, after having worked with the D500 for a while it does fall to hand easier and just seems a better fit. I like the endless buffer and quick autofocus. This is the first camera I've owned in about 65 years of taking pictures that does not ever get in the way. It just seems to vanish between my concept and the capture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I'm looking forward to replacing my two refurb D300s bodies with refurb D500 bodies, but have to wait a couple of months to save up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I'm looking forward to replacing my two D300 bodies with D500 bodies As much as I liked the handling of the D300, the images I got out of the D7100 and D7200 were just better even though I am not a fan of their handling and control layout. Now with the D500 I have the best of both, improved handling and control even over the D300 and the image quality is right up there with what comes out of the D7100/D7200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 I'm looking forward to replacing my two refurb D300s bodies with refurb D500 bodies, but have to wait a couple of months to save up. I bought my D500 as a refurbished body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 After having the D300s for a few years, I just discovered the menu setting to use 51 focus points, boy do I feel dumb. One of the big reasons I wanted a D500 was more focus points, but now with 51 to work with, I'm going to hold off on the D500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 The D500 can be dumbed down to 51 focus points in some situations -- but it is so much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Yes, but to be able to go up to 51 on my D300s will really help, I've been using 21 all this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 It depends on two things: what you are focusing on and how quickly you need to focus. The D500 is a generation ahead of any other Nikon in both qualities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Understood, but with sudden car expenses, I have to hold off on the D500 for a few months at least. I'm curious to see how well the 51 will serve me. I shoot concerts and need to have the conductor and orchestra in frame from the wings, the 51 will allow me to use various zoom levels and compose so the conductor is always in focus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wouter Willemse Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 It depends with the 51 focus points, to be honest. If you mean the setting on how many AF points the camera should use for focus tracking (9, 21, 51 or 51 with 3D), in my view 21 or 9 performs considerably better than enabling all 51 - it slows down the tracking just enough and in my experience (D300/D700) is more erratic. More isn't always by definition better ;-) (no experience with a D500, so no idea how/if this applies also to the newer generation) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 Wouter, the speed of the D500 is astounding -- not only with auto focus, but with writing to the deep buffer and the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 ...it slows down the tracking just enough... I will not be tracking a moving object, I just need to be able to frame the subject more efficiently, not have to lock focus and move to the framing I want, just choose the appropriate focus point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wouter Willemse Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Johne37179, it is clear the D500 is a next step up, and it's abundantly clear that you like it. Personally, I have no use for a D500 at this point at all. My point was only that using all 51 points on a CAM3500 camera does not necessarily speed things up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I will not be tracking a moving object, I just need to be able to frame the subject more efficiently, not have to lock focus and move to the framing I want, just choose the appropriate focus point. It appears that you misunderstand what your selected dynamic AF area mode actually does. As long as you have not restricted your displayed AF points down to 11 (menu option a8), you can select among all 51 even when in single AF area mode. If you don't intend tracking motion, then the selecting the dynamic 51 AF area mode option (menu option a3) isn't necessary and will only slow your camera down. <br><br> To state it differently, unless a8 is set to 11 AF points, all 51 AF points are always selectable via the direction pad, no matter the AF area mode setting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I jus did what you said but when I change a8 to 11, I don't get 51 focus points, I get 11, only when I set it to 51 do I get 51. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 but when I change a8 to 11, I don't get 51 focus points Naturally, and that's exactly what I said. <br><br> As long as you have 51 selected under a8, they are ALWAYS selectable, no matter what your a3 setting is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 I agree that the D500 is not the camera for everyone. My point is that it is a real step up. I did find from time to time it was frustrating waiting for my D7000 to catch up or miss the occasional shot. What I didn't realize until couple of thousand frames into the use of the D500 how much it has changed my approach in subtle, but most enjoyable ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I'm definitely going to the D500, but I have to hold off for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 If you can hold off I suspect there will be some very good deals on used and refurbished bodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Nikon's sale on a refurbished D500 ends today, $1529.95 after a 10% discount. Or $1600 at adorama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 At B&H refurbished are going for about $1650, used 9-10 quality about $1600, so refurb is the way I'll go. I figure to get about $400 trade in for each of my D300s there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon Mister Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Posted at the same time. Yes, Adorama, so I have choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johne37179 Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 I am incredibly impressed with the D500. I was also incredibly impressed with the D 7000 when I bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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