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
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 4.6 years newer.
Wins
D7500
Wins
Z9
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 Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 8 fps)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 51)
- BZ9 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)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
D7500 is 14mm narrower, 46mm shorter, and 18mm thinner than Z9.
D7500 is 700 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
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
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
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 135.5, 104, 72.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Weight
640 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only D7500 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
950 shots vs 740 shots — higher is better
EVF magnification
0.94 × vs 0.8 × — 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…
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 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
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D7500 or Z9?
Z9 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 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 1340 g, so the D7500 is 700 g lighter.
Do the D7500 and Z9 record 4K video?
D7500: 4K up to 30p. 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 $699 and Z9 at $5,899. The D7500 is $5,200 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.