Nikon
D7500
Enthusiast DX DSLR with the D500-derived 20.9MP sensor, 8fps burst, 4K UHD video, and weather-sealed body.
$1,250
Launch priceReleased Apr 2017
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Z9 is 4.6 years newer.
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Wins
D7500
Wins
Z9
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD7500 has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 50 frames)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 8 fps)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 51)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
D7500
136 × 104 × 73 mm
640 g (1.41 lb / 22.58 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
D7500 is 14mm narrower, 46mm shorter, and 18mm thinner than Z9.
D7500 is 520 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 73mm D7500 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D7500
136 × 104 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.
D7500
136 × 73 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D7500
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 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
D7500
✓ 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
D7500
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.264, MOV, MP4
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 135.5, 104, 72.5
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC
AA filter
Only D7500 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
640 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
950 shots vs 740 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 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
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 50 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 8 fps — higher is better
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
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 D7500 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 sports, D7500 or Z9?
Z9 scores 10.0/10 versus 1.5/10 for D7500 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the D7500 and Z9?
D7500 is 20.9 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D7500 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
D7500 does not have IBIS, while Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D7500 or the Z9?
D7500 reaches 8 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D7500 and Z9?
D7500 weighs 640 g and Z9 weighs 1160 g, so the D7500 is 520 g lighter.
Do the D7500 and Z9 record 4K video?
D7500: 4K up to 29.97p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D7500 and Z9 weather sealed?
D7500: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 950 shots (CIPA) for the D7500 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the D7500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D7500 launched at $1,250 and Z9 at $5,499. The D7500 is $4,249 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way D7500 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.