Nikon
D500
APS-C sports DSLR flagship with 10fps, 153-point AF, and pro build.
$1,999
Launch priceReleased Jan 2016
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Z9 is 5.8 years newer.
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Wins
D500
Wins
Z9
1 categories tied
Which would you choose?
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 RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 200 frames)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 29.97 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
D500
147 × 115 × 81 mm
860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
D500 is 2mm narrower, 35mm shorter, and 10mm thinner than Z9.
D500 is 300 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
Credit card
85.6 × 54 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
Credit card
85.6 × 54 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
Codecs
Adds H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 115, 81
Card types
Adds SD, CFexpress Type B, XQD
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
1240 shots vs 740 shots — higher is better
Weight
860 g vs 1160 g — lower 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…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
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
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 200 frames — 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
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the D500 and Z9 at major authorized retailers.
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, D500 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 1.0/10 for D500 — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
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 860 g and Z9 weighs 1160 g, so the D500 is 300 g lighter.
Do the D500 and Z9 record 4K video?
D500: 4K up to 29.97p. 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 $5,499. The D500 is $3,500 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way D500 vs Z9 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.