Nikon
D7500
Enthusiast DX DSLR with the D500-derived 20.9MP sensor, 8fps burst, 4K UHD video, and weather-sealed body.
$699
Released Apr 2017
Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
Z8 is 6.1 years newer.
Wins
D7500
Wins
Z8
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD7500 has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ8 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 8 fps)
- BZ8 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 51)
- BZ8 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D7500
136 × 104 × 73 mm
640 g (1.41 lb / 22.58 oz)
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
D7500 is 9mm narrower, 15mm shorter, and 11mm thinner than Z8.
D7500 is 180 g lighter than Z8.
Depth (front-to-back): 73mm D7500 · 83mm Z8
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D7500
136 × 104 mm
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D7500
136 × 73 mm
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D7500
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Z8
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
D7500
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Z8
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
D7500
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 135.5, 104, 72.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Battery life (CIPA)
950 shots vs 340 shots — higher is better
AA filter
Only D7500 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
640 g vs 820 g — lower is better
EVF magnification
0.94 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -3 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 144, 118.5, 83
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 8 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 51 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Both cameras share
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
- ✓Microphone jack (3.5mm) — Both support microphone jack (3.5mm)
- ✓Headphone jack (3.5mm) — Both support headphone jack (3.5mm)
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D7500
Pros
- ✓20.9MP D500-derived sensor
- ✓8fps burst
- ✓4K UHD video
- ✓Weather sealed
Cons
- –Single SD slot
- –DSLR platform
- –No IBIS
Z8
Pros
- ✓45.7MP stacked CMOS from Z9 — class-leading
- ✓8K 60p N-RAW internal
- ✓No mechanical shutter wear — fully electronic
- ✓20fps at full 45.7MP resolution
Cons
- –EN-EL15c battery life only 340 CIPA shots
- –No built-in grip (unlike Z9)
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D7500 or Z8?
Z8 scores 9.5/10 versus 1.5/10 for D7500 — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the D7500 and Z8?
D7500 is 20.9 MP and Z8 is 45.7 MP, so the Z8 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D7500 and Z8 have in-body image stabilization?
D7500 does not have IBIS, while z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D7500 or the Z8?
D7500 reaches 8 fps electronic. Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D7500 and Z8?
D7500 weighs 640 g and Z8 weighs 820 g, so the D7500 is 180 g lighter.
Do the D7500 and Z8 record 4K video?
D7500: 4K up to 30p. Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D7500 and Z8 weather sealed?
D7500: Yes. Z8: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 950 shots (CIPA) for the D7500 and 340 shots for the Z8, giving the D7500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D7500 launched at $699 and Z8 at $3,999. The D7500 is $3,300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.