Nikon
D500
APS-C sports DSLR flagship with 10fps, 153-point AF, and pro build.
$1,999
Released Jan 2016
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 5.8 years newer.
Wins
D500
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
6 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher IBIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 153)
- AD500 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1240 shots vs 580 shots)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 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 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
D500 is 16mm wider, 19mm taller, and 1mm thicker than Alpha 7 IV.
D500 is 102 g heavier than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 81mm D500 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
D500
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
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
Nikon F
270+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ 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 580 shots — higher is better
Card types
Adds XQD
EVF magnification
1 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
IBIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 153 — higher is better
AA filter
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Eye AF
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 10 fps
- ✓Burst (electronic) — Both 10 fps
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
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 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, D500 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for D500 — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the D500 and Alpha 7 IV?
D500 is 20.9 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D500 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
D500 does not have IBIS, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D500 or the Alpha 7 IV?
D500 reaches 10 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D500 and Alpha 7 IV?
D500 weighs 760 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Alpha 7 IV is 102 g lighter.
Do the D500 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
D500: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the D500 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
D500: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,240 shots (CIPA) for the D500 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the D500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D500 launched at $1,999 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The D500 is $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.