Nikon
D500
APS-C sports DSLR flagship with 10fps, 153-point AF, and pro build.
$1,999
Released Jan 2016
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 5.8 years newer.
Wins
D500
Wins
Z9
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD500 has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 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)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
D500 is 2mm narrower, 35mm shorter, and 10mm thinner than Z9.
D500 is 580 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 81mm D500 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D500
147 × 115 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D500
147 × 81 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D500
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Z9
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
Z9
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
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 115, 81
Card types
Adds XQD, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
760 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
1240 shots vs 740 shots — higher is better
EVF magnification
1 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
- ✓Microphone jack (3.5mm) — Both support microphone jack (3.5mm)
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
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D500 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for D500 — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the D500 and Z9?
D500 is 20.9 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D500 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
D500 does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D500 or the Z9?
D500 reaches 10 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D500 and Z9?
D500 weighs 760 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the D500 is 580 g lighter.
Do the D500 and Z9 record 4K video?
D500: 4K up to 30p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D500 and Z9 weather sealed?
D500: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,240 shots (CIPA) for the D500 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the D500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D500 launched at $1,999 and Z9 at $5,899. The D500 is $3,900 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.