Nikon
D500
APS-C sports DSLR flagship with 10fps, 153-point AF, and pro build.
$1,999
Released Jan 2016
Nikon
Z6 III
First partially stacked full-frame sensor with 6K N-RAW internal video.
$2,499
Released Jun 2024
Z6 III is 8.4 years newer.
Wins
D500
Wins
Z6 III
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZ6 III has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ6 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
- BZ6 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AD500 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1240 shots vs 380 shots)
- BZ6 III has higher AF points / zones (273 vs 153)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D500
147 × 115 × 81 mm
760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)
Z6 III
139 × 102 × 74 mm
760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)
D500 is 9mm wider, 14mm taller, and 7mm thicker than Z6 III.
D500 and Z6 III weigh the same.
Depth (front-to-back): 81mm D500 · 74mm Z6 III
Sensor size, to scale
D500
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Z6 III
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D500
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Z6 III
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
D500
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 115, 81
Battery life (CIPA)
1240 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better
Card types
Adds XQD
EVF magnification
1 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z6 III
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
IBIS effectiveness
8 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138.5, 101.5, 74
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, H.265/HEVC
AA filter
Only Z6 III supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Weight — Both 760 g
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D500
Pros
- ✓10fps APS-C
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓Great buffer
Cons
- –DSLR
- –APS-C
- –No IBIS
Z6 III
Pros
- ✓Partially stacked CMOS reduces rolling shutter
- ✓6K N-RAW 60p internal — true filmmaking capability
- ✓5.76M dot EVF — best-in-class resolution
- ✓14fps mechanical burst
Cons
- –EN-EL15c battery life only 380 CIPA shots
- –Smaller lens ecosystem vs. Canon RF
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, D500 or Z6 III?
Z6 III scores 8.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for D500 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the D500 and Z6 III?
D500 is 20.9 MP and Z6 III is 24.5 MP, so the Z6 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D500 and Z6 III have in-body image stabilization?
D500 does not have IBIS, while z6 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D500 or the Z6 III?
D500 reaches 10 fps electronic. Z6 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D500 and Z6 III?
Both bodies weigh roughly 760 g.
Do the D500 and Z6 III record 4K video?
D500: 4K up to 30p. Z6 III: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D500 and Z6 III weather sealed?
D500: Yes. Z6 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,240 shots (CIPA) for the D500 and 380 shots for the Z6 III, giving the D500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D500 launched at $1,999 and Z6 III at $2,499. The D500 is $500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.