{"id":23255,"date":"2016-07-12T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=23255"},"modified":"2017-01-03T13:39:19","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T18:39:19","slug":"camera-comparison-nikon-d5-vs-nikon-d500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/camera-comparison-nikon-d5-vs-nikon-d500\/","title":{"rendered":"Camera Comparison: Nikon D5 Vs Nikon D500"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>When asked to do a head to head review of the new Nikon D5<\/a> and D500<\/a>, I was excited to get my hands on them and see what they could do. \u00a0Having used Nikon cameras for the past 14 years, both cameras seemed very familiar from the first touch, however, I did have some questions. How could the D5 improve on the spectacular D4s? How much has the D500 improved over the aging D300S it\u2019s meant to replace? And, finally, how does the performance compare between the D5 and Nikon D500? <\/span><\/p>\n

First Impressions<\/b><\/p>\n

The D5 feels almost identical to the D4. In a blind test, you would have a hard time telling the difference. The D5 has slightly sharper grip features on the front inside and thumb areas. \u00a0The biggest difference is that the D4\u2019s button layout changed slightly. \u00a0The ISO moved to the top, behind the shutter button. What was once the ISO button on the D4 is now the Frame Rate on the D5. \u00a0The info button on the D4 is now a Fn3, and a new info button was added between the toggle buttons. I liked the new location of ISO so much I have changed the Video button on Both D4s and D810 to ISO selection. \u00a0The Mode, Bracket, Flash Mode and Meter Mode buttons have changed slightly as well, but I personally don’t use them enough to notice in my everyday shooting. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I hadn’t used a DX camera since the release of the D3, but the D500 has made DX relevant again thanks to its excellent low-light performance, fast focus speeds and durable build quality. The first time I picked up the D500 I could tell it was designed to be a pro level camera. \u00a0It has a solid build, well-balanced feel, and a new look not seen with a body of this size. \u00a0No pop-up flash is the first thing that I noticed. \u00a0I have mine taped down on the D810 so it doesn’t accidentally pop up and get ripped off. \u00a0With the build quality and button layout, the D500 seems to be an updated DX version of the D810, rather than just an upgrade to the 7200 or D300. \u00a0Nikon finally entered a legit flagship into the DX line.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The size difference between the D500 and D5 is huge. \u00a0The D500 feels half the weight. \u00a0\u00a0The D5 towers over the D500. \u00a0Side by side, they seem like David and Goliath. \u00a0It’s also amazing that a pro body can be so compact with the D500. \u00a0Being so small I think the D500 can compete with the mirrorless systems that all seem to be getting bigger with every new generation. The articulating screen on the D500 is useful for odd angles, but to me, it\u2019s a weak point in the build quality. \u00a0it does, however, lock into the body firmly and doesn’t budge unwillingly. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Auto Focus<\/b><\/p>\n

Comparing the Auto Focus on these two cameras is tough because they have the same system (Multi-Cam 20K). \u00a0They are both amazingly fast and, in my opinion, this is the biggest upgrade in both these cameras over their respective predecessors. \u00a0The speed it takes to engage the focus motors, find\u00a0the subject and lock is so fast it seems instantaneous<\/span>. <\/span>In low light is where both these cameras shine in auto focus performance. In very dark situations, both cameras lock faster than any other cameras I’ve used<\/span>, <\/span>especially with the inherently slower focus prime lenses that I use (Sigma ART 35 1.4, Nikon 50 1.4 G and 85 1.8 D). Where my D4s and D810s would sometimes get the focus close, then stall for a second before locking, both the D5 and D500 seem to already know where the focus will be. (Although, I think the D5 had a slight edge and locked a little faster.) In good light, these two perform about the same with each other. \u00a0I mostly use single-point for single shot focus, but when using continuous focus, I used the 25-point group. \u00a0Both cameras track consistently and most frames are tack sharp. \u00a0I don’t shoot a ton of sports so 3D tracking is a feature I’ve only used a couple of times. \u00a0In the D500, the focus points reach all the way to the left and right edge of the frame, which I love, and think has been missing in any cameras I’ve worked with. \u00a0It\u2019s nice to push things to the edge without having to focus and recompose or rely on cropping.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shot with Nikon D500<\/em><\/p>\n

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Shot with Nikon D5<\/em><\/p>\n

ISO Performance<\/b><\/p>\n

Nikon has stretched the ISO limit another level with the D5 and D500. \u00a0The usable ISO range has gotten to an unbelievable level, with a native high ISO range of 102,400 for the D5 and \u00a051,200 for the D500. \u00a0Both are expandable even further. \u00a0I was not able to really test the ability of the higher end of these, \u00a0but there is great potential for photographers needing fast shutter speeds in very dark situations. \u00a0For my work, which many times involves shooting stage lights and dark crowds, the dynamic range of the medium to high ISO is the most important, allowing me to pull the shadows and still preserve the detail without causing too much noise. \u00a0For my purposes, both these camera performed extremely well. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Touch-Screen<\/b><\/p>\n

At first, I wasn’t sure about the idea of a touch screen on a pro SLR. \u00a0I was worried it would be too sensitive and erratic. \u00a0I thought I’d be turning it on or switching settings with my nose while shooting. \u00a0Much to my surprise, it was very usable and only is active during playback or for letter input in the menus. \u00a0Also, living in a world of touch screens it seems to make sense now. \u00a0It comes in handy when working with a client, \u00a0and they want to zoom by pinching and scrolling to next image by swiping. \u00a0The articulating screen on the D500 is useful for high and low angle shooting. \u00a0For a pro body, however, I think this is a weak point in the design. Anything sticking out of the body might get ripped off somehow. One good thing is it does sit in place very firmly and sits flush with the body of the camera. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On-The-Job Performance<\/b><\/p>\n

I was able to use these cameras for a few jobs for the week I had them – \u00a0\u00a0a press preview for a fabric company, \u00a0a <\/span>New York Times <\/span><\/i>education forum, and a portrait of football player J.J Watt at a press event for his shoe release. \u00a0The first day I picked these up I had the press preview event to shoot in the evening. \u00a0Pretty simple event type photos – mannequins and clothing racks, candids of press looking at products, CEO speaking, \u00a0and a couple of posed photos of athletes. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n
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