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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

vs

Nikon

Zf

Retro-styled 24.5MP full-frame mirrorless with classic dials, EXPEED 7 AF, 8-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p video.

$2,049

Released Sep 2023

Zf is 6.4 years newer.

Wins

2categories

D7500

Travel

Wins

10categories

Zf

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

D7500 wins 1 categories·Zf wins 4 categories
  • BZf has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BZf has higher AF points / zones (273 vs 51)
  • BZf has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 8 fps)
  • AD7500 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (950 shots vs 380 shots)
  • BZf has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)

Key specs at a glance

D7500Zf
Resolution20.9 MP24.5 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max51,20064,000
Burst8 fps30 fps
4K30 fps60 fps
IBISNo8-stop
Weight640 g630 g
Battery950 shots380 shots

Size and weight, to scale

D7500

136 × 104 × 73 mm

640 g (1.41 lb / 22.58 oz)

Zf

144 × 103 × 49 mm

630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)

D7500 is 9mm narrower than Zf but it is also 1mm taller and 24mm thicker.

D7500 is 10 g heavier than Zf.

Depth (front-to-back): 73mm D7500 · 49mm Zf

Sensor size, to scale

D7500

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

Zf

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 lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

Zf

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

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

Use caseD7500Zf
Portrait
2.5Limited
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
1.5Limited
7.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
3.0Limited
6.0Good✓ wins
Landscape
1.5Limited
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
3.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
3.0Limited
7.0Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

D7500

  • Codecs

    Adds H.264/AVC

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 135.5, 104, 72.5

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    950 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    0.94 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Zf

  • AF low-light limit

    -10 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Dogs…

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265/HEVC 8-bit, H.265/HEVC 10-bit, H.264/AVC 8-bit

  • IBIS effectiveness

    8 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 144, 103, 49

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II, MicroSD UHS-I

  • AF points / zones

    273 vs 51 — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 8 fps — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing
  • TouchscreenBoth support touchscreen
  • Wi-FiBoth support wi-fi
  • BluetoothBoth support bluetooth

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

Zf

Pros

  • Beautiful retro design
  • 273-point hybrid AF
  • 8-stop IBIS
  • Fully articulated touchscreen

Cons

  • No grip extension standard
  • Mixed SD + MicroSD card slots
  • 24.5MP only

Full specifications

= category winner

D7500
Zf
Resolution
20.9 MP
24.5 MP+17%
Sensor type
DX-format CMOS
Full Frame BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.6 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
D7500
Zf
AF system
Multi-CAM 3500FX II phase-detect AF
Hybrid AF (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
AF points / zones
51
2735.4× more
AF low-light limit
-3 EV
-10 EV
Eye AF
No
Yes
Animal / bird AF
No
Yes
Subject recognition
People, Birds, Dogs, Cats, Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Trains, Airplanes
D7500
Zf
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps
14 fps+75%
Burst (electronic)
8 fps
30 fps3.8× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
Yes
D7500
Zf
Max resolution
4K UHD
4K UHD
4K max frame rate
30 fps
60 fps2× more
Internal RAW video
No
No
Log profile
N-Log / HLG
Codecs
H.264/AVC
H.265/HEVC 8-bit, H.265/HEVC 10-bit, H.264/AVC 8-bit
D7500
Zf
Weight
640 g
630 g−10 g less
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
135.5 × 104 × 72.5 mm
144 × 103 × 49 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, D7500 or Zf?

Zf scores 7.5/10 versus 1.5/10 for D7500 — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the D7500 and Zf?

D7500 is 20.9 MP and Zf is 24.5 MP, so the Zf captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the D7500 and Zf have in-body image stabilization?

D7500 does not have IBIS, while zf has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the D7500 or the Zf?

D7500 reaches 8 fps electronic. Zf reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the D7500 and Zf?

D7500 weighs 640 g and Zf weighs 630 g, so the Zf is 10 g lighter.

Do the D7500 and Zf record 4K video?

D7500: 4K up to 30p. Zf: 4K up to 60p.

Are the D7500 and Zf weather sealed?

D7500: Yes. Zf: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 950 shots (CIPA) for the D7500 and 380 shots for the Zf, giving the D7500 the edge.

How much does each cost?

D7500 launched at $699 and Zf at $2,049. The D7500 is $1,350 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.