Nikon
D500
APS-C sports DSLR flagship with 10fps, 153-point AF, and pro build.
$1,999
Released Jan 2016
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
Alpha 1 II is 8.9 years newer.
Wins
D500
Wins
Alpha 1 II
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher IBIS effectiveness (8.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 153)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 fps)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 20.9 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D500
147 × 115 × 81 mm
760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
D500 is 2mm thinner than Alpha 1 II but it is also 11mm wider and 18mm taller.
D500 is 17 g heavier than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 81mm D500 · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
D500
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D500
Nikon F
270+
native lenses available
Alpha 1 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 115, 81
Battery life (CIPA)
1240 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better
Card types
Adds XQD
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 32,000 — higher is better
EVF magnification
1 × vs 0.9 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
AF points / zones
759 vs 153 — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 20.9 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 10 fps
- ✓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
Alpha 1 II
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free burst
- ✓8K 30p video
- ✓Best Sony AF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Complex menus
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, D500 or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for D500 — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the D500 and Alpha 1 II?
D500 is 20.9 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D500 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
D500 does not have IBIS, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D500 or the Alpha 1 II?
D500 reaches 10 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D500 and Alpha 1 II?
D500 weighs 760 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the Alpha 1 II is 17 g lighter.
Do the D500 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
D500: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D500 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
D500: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,240 shots (CIPA) for the D500 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the D500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D500 launched at $1,999 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The D500 is $4,500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.