Nikon D500 Review, A Wildlife Photographer's Perspective

In this video, I review the Nikon D500 from the perspective of a wildlife photographer. I examine all the exciting new features from layout to auto focus to sensor performance, and more. I have also filled with video with practical, real world usage advice and even make some camera comparisons / recommendations at the end.
Also, check out my site for the supplement page to this video. At the page below, I go into extensive detail about my settings for action, particularly birds in flight. I also cover a few other settings you may not be aware of as well as present more extensive ISO samples:
Supplement page at my site:
www.backcountrygallery.com/?p=...
Backcountry Gallery Nature Photography Forums:
bcgforums.com/index.php
Website / Newsletter Signup:
backcountrygallery.com
Books / Video Workshops:
bcgwebstore.com
Master Index Of All My Videos / Articles:
backcountrygallery.com/the-bc...
Follow me on Instagram:
/ backcountrygallery
Photographic Dynamic Range Chart:
www.photonstophotos.net/Charts...
LensAlign:
michaeltapesdesign.com/lensali...

[@backcountrygallery]

Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today! bcgforums.com/index.php Bonus - I also post exclusive tips, tricks, and techniques to the forum you can't get anywhere else! Check it out!

[@ryanpassmore5434]

What tripod do you use for the d500

[@woombaatube]

3 years on, still the best D500 review!

[@Krizefugl]

well different kind of photographers need different kind of reviews. e.g. a wildlife photographer review wouldnt help a wedding photographer or vice versa.

[@tomjones9001]

Steve Perry is among the very best sources of accurate, thorough, easy to understand photography videos, instruction, reviews and how to techniques and tips.

[@wikedwhich1]

Yes ..watching, and pertinent in 2021

[@vokso11]

By far the best review on this camera on the web ! Period !!! Great Job Steve ! I dont shoot that much wildlife , however am in love with the overall performance and toughness of the camera . This one will be in my bag very very soon !

[@yveslandry6985]

After looking at you review, I ordered a D500 and just received it today. I long to go out in the bush to use it!! Thank you for the suggested settings!

[@dglatz01]

Outstanding review, Steve. You answered every single question I had, and several I hadn't even thought of. Detailed, comprehensive, real world. Thanks very much.

[@Kaiju007]

Finally a proper honest review. Great job Steve!

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks :)

[@FreeSpirits]

Watching your videos makes my bank account nervous lol.

[@markjching]

HAHA that's funny.

[@matthewbell1968]

Too right!!

[@Deepaklibra1984]

Same here, in 2021... I finally took the dive and bought this one on a good sale today...

[@EEEBA1]

@@Deepaklibra1984 What's your experience so far? Thank you

[@SouthTexasVet]

Steve has already gotten me several ass chewings from my wife.

[@wildwith7]

That is the most thorough and planned out review I have ever seen on KZbin! If you brought up a topic and your viewers didn’t know what it was, you incorporated small clips of the lens, camera set up or photo comparison to give your viewers a visual idea of what you were talking about. Absolutely awesome review. And I purchased the Nikon D500 based off of this review alone! Thanks for all of the great advice and detail.

[@Tanguero5380]

This is the kind of in depth review anyone serious about gear is expecting. Many thanks, a keep on !

[@mak_freeman]

I own a D500 for the past 2 years, its my first DSLR and I absolutely love it and have no regret choosing this camera. Great camera everything!

[@qnetx]

Thank you so much for this. I just upgraded to the D500 from my D7200, and have been trying to optimize the settings for birds in flight. Your advice is most helpful.

[@Sugarfoot108]

A wildlife photographer just recommended the D500 to me. This is the first video I have watched and you answered all my questions. Excellent.

[@PerrynBecky]

This is really nice to know. I've heard a lot of good things about the D500, and now that it's had a couple of years under it, I'm still hearing good reports even though the battery life was an issue that was mentioned.

[@RprtBak]

I was debating between the 7D MK2, and the D500. And as someone who's never liked nikon before (Just personal preference, menus/ui stuff, layouts and buttons, etc). I still went with the D500. I gotta say it's been amazing. I've been completely blown away by it. It's handled really tough situations very well.

[@bernhardtsen74]

just talked to my photopusher about reserving 1 for me and sending it to me in early may!I have had the D800 that died shortly before 2018 and I am currently using the D7200 but I really dont like the menu buttons for iso and other things that the D500 has on the top wheel!cant wait to buy cheaper glass for it overall!

[@sea_turtle_adventures]

Steve, can't thank you enough for such a thorough review. Really helps instill confidence in letting go of the coin for this camera. Outstanding!

[@gasgaslex_photos]

Steves reviews are so much more palatable then some of the other KZbin reviewers. Nice job!

[@joeschmitt5704]

Another thorough review! Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce it.

[@timj_uk1460]

The most honest review of the D500 I have seen by far. Thanks.

[@MartianCitizen]

To date, you have provided the clearest explanation and review of the d500 I have seen yet on KZbin. Thank you. Watching your video was a joy and informatively fun. You should be a teacher. Wrong thing to say, you are. Keep up the good work. All I have to do is start saving the money, a lot, and the d500 is mine. However, the d7200 is a much more affordable option. All I have to do now is when the lotto....LOL.

[@castieldiallo2945]

he clearly knows what hes doing in the wild. nice presentation.

[@BennyTis]

That was the best camera review I have ever seen - so thorough and practical. I'm going to learn so much from your videos :)

[@jeffisso]

This video was great. Packed with info I need to make a purchasing decision. Best description of this Camera and what it can and can't do on KZbin. Thanks so much!

[@brysonmartin5405]

Hands down best review on the D500 I've seen. Thank you.

[@DennisWachtel]

Great review...that was actually totally what I was looking for. Also on the sharpness issue I have been reading about...love the comparison by the way between DX's and Full Franges (had the exact same question). Thx!

[@MrEmbangweni]

thanks for all the thoughts. Just the mention of the different profile settings in the develop module of Lightroom was informative.

[@samboslice3230]

I've been trawling reviews for this camera prepurchase and this has been by far the most informative.

[@kevinumbel8383]

What a proper review. Hands down one of the best reviews on KZbin.

[@derekmidgley]

Thank so much for this review. By far the best i've seen in scope of what you covered, and the efficiency with which you addressed each point. Helped me plenty with short-cutting set up of my D500. I've waited a whole year to replace my D7200 with this camera .. as have become more addicted to birds in flight .. this should help me get the number of keepers up!

[@Rob_van_der_Linden]

Great video, just got the D500 last weekend, and it's a huge step up from my D7000. Knew what I was getting and why, now watching a few videos for set up tips I may have missed and/or are somewhat new/different from the D7000, and your video was very helpful, thanks.

[@chrissaunders1842]

You are so right Steve I went from the d7000 to the d7200 to the d500 and I love it! I cannot recommend it highly enough. thanks for a great programme.

[@ravenphd7061]

Amazing review my friend. This is the last part of my research thats made me decide to get a nikon d500. In depth, yet to the point, loved it. You earned a subscriber!

[@boatman222345]

I about blew a gasket the other day when I got my Time Warner bill...up another $30!!!!!! So what's this got to do with Steve's D500 review? Well as I was dialing Time Warner's number to cancel my cable service it occurred to me that without the internet I wouldn't be able to read Steve's reviews. So I hung up the phone and by the time I finished reading this review I considered the cost of Time Warner money well spent! Best technical writing and clearest explainations I've encountered on the Internet!!!! Thanks and please keep the articles coming...I'm still waiting for one on Lightroom?

[@klackon1]

Hi Steve, my 300mm PF VR arrived a few days ago so I've been out blasting off a few shots between rain storms. I have the 1.4TC attached to the lens permanently at the moment and I have to say the combination is outstanding. I'm using your settings and I am getting in excess of 90% in focus BIF shots. I reckon I was getting about 75% with my Canon 7D mark 11. The D500 is just incredible and with the ultra lightweight 300mm PF, compliments my M43 sytem brilliantly. I now have my perfect wildlife system.

[@SohamDas1995]

Beautifully explained. Based on your review i am now using d500 with 200-500 for birding & d7200 with 11-20 for landscape. I am very happy

[@RobertDuttonFineArt]

A really excellent review packed full of extremely useful information. Especially found the focus points and discussion about advice on the ISO levels very useful to confidently move forward with my own new D500 with 200 - 500 5.6 Nikon lens to get top quality reference for my wildlife paintings. Thank you so much Steve.

[@anilarkay]

I just love these reviews from Steve. The amount of homework and observation he invests on each videos make them the 'most official' reviews for any camera. And Thanks for those two great Books. The Secrets to Wildlife Photography is just Awesome!!! After Buying the D500, the 'Secrets to the Nikon Autofocus System' has done the best thing to me than any field guide can. Keep Rocking Steve!!!

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@soumyakundu5341]

Excellent review. Very helpful. Most other reviews usually read out specs. Your experience with the camera was enlightening. Thank you.

[@o0getfighted0o]

This is probably one of the best reviews I've seen for the D500

[@punnu5997]

your review of D500 is one of the most expansive and accurate videos i have ever seen on youtube. I agree with you 100% on every opinion you stated. thanks for creating this video, I cannot contribute anything more than a like and subscribe, since i am so poor that i am using a 6 year old laptop to watch this video and finally saved enough money to buy a d7000 in 2016. (i know i could have got d3200/5200 but my old processor cannot handle files in lightroom larger than 16 MPs, it just becomes too slow and I only print wedding albums size of 8.5x11" so even 6MP is more than enough.)

[@jackmoskovita]

No matter what camera you have Puneet, it's still the one "behind" the camera that makes the shots. The rules for good photos have stayed the same for over 100 years, Lighting, Composition, studying your subjects, how to use the camera settings you do have and patience. After twenty years with film cameras, in 1995, I started with a digital point'n shoot, then superzoom, worked my way up from there through the 5000 and D7000 series and now the D500. You'll get there! You're young, I'm getting up there at 65.

[@AK-de3ej]

You should buy stationary PC instead of laptop. Laptops are high at the price but their processors are slow (even the high-end ones) in comparison to desktop PC processors (as we compare the same processor line. D7000 have 16MP sensor and it much better camera (in case of ergonomics and so on) than D3200 or D5200.

[@powodzenia]

What camera do you actualy have?

[@MrRudyc]

I agree with your entire review. Nikon hit it out of the park with this camera. I own the 810, 7100 etc and the big boy lenses with the exception of the 600mm. I am amazed at the D/R and picture quality produced by this camera. Thanks always for your thoughts and hard work putting these vids and blogs together. And yes, best review on the net!!!

[@freddyacosta2358]

Thanks, Steve! Great videos as usual. The D850 came out with a very similar layout as the D500 and that is great since I use both cameras. And still loving my D4

[@dance2jam]

Always enjoy your content and comparisons. Well done once again. I am a subscriber and will head to your website to check out your informational EBooks there.

[@timpriestley8997]

Brilliant review, Ive watch many over the years, still the best - I have the se set up, d500-300pf-tc14 - brilliant and easy to carry

[@2012Rustan]

Excepcional entrega Steve!!! Quedé sorprendido de la claridad de conceptos y objetividad con la que presentas cada uno de los distintos tópicos de la Nikon D500 en comparación con las otras cámaras. Aún tengo la nikon D300, y es una bestia a prueba de todo!!! La nikon D500 suma lo de su antecesora y le suma prácticamente 10 años de tecnología, lo que la hace una máquina que perdurará muchos años más. Saludos desde Chile :-) ----- Exceptional delivery Steve !!! I was surprised at the clarity of concepts and objectivity with which you present each of the different topics of the Nikon D500 compared to the other cameras. I still have the Nikon D300, and it is a beast proof of everything! The Nikon D500 adds that of its predecessor and adds practically 10 years of technology, which makes it a machine that will last many years. Greetings from Chile :-)

[@jeremyspal78]

Best review on the web

[@Dilomski]

Was about to write the same thing :)

[@EdsEverydayAdventures]

Yep Very much so. I do wildlife photography and this review is PERFECT for me

[@ghensao4027]

hands down

[@darwinlopez7750]

Word!

[@TonyPhillips]

Awesome review! Love your videos. You do a great job on everything you teach or explain.

[@DiyEcoProjects]

One of the best reviews ive seen on youtube, well done and thank you

[@jezmink]

The best review made you have no competition. Your bird photos are stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tw9535]

Another awesome video. It really is noteworthy how much high quality work you consistently put out over time. You are like the Tim Duncan of photography video makers. (Like many others, I have your book and love it!)

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks!!

[@FrankDiNardi]

Your reviews are just as good as any I’ve seen. Well done. Thank you!

[@OleBuffy]

The best review of this camera, yet. Period!!!

[@RezaMolavi]

Steve, Thank you for an excellent review. I am not a wildlife shooter but your insights and your little tidbits applied to my style of shooting nonetheless. I call this the only D500 review ever needed.

[@matthewbell1968]

Excellent and highly professional video, thanks Steve. i wouldn't change my D500 for any of the ML cameras when it comes to wildlife! Thanks again,

[@RussHeim]

Great Review Steve... THANX a MILLION! :) I particularly found THREE RECOMMENDATIONS you mentioned MOST HELPFUL: - Using Group AF with the QUICK SWITCH to SINGLE AF point via a Customized Preview Button - Choosing Camera Neutral Profile .vs Adobe option in the Calibration Panel - Reminding us to SET AIRPLANE Mode when NOT Using Wireless options You tha MAN! ;)

[@yuqin405]

Best camera review i ever had. All to to the point, and thorough. Thanks

[@christosphillips3568]

Steven I went through your E-book man I have to thank you for putting out tonnes of info on wildlife photography, I would highly recommend it to amateurs and pros alike, right on the ball on all aspects and also very entertaining with a high dose of humour, LMAO while reading it. Good job bro Congrats, and thanks again---money well spent people!!!

[@terryanderson7036]

Excellent review, I have been wanting a Dx mode camera to go with my D810 and D4. And after seeing this one, I will sell my Df and then order/get a D500 to fit my wildlife shooting needs.

[@ArnaudSiemons]

Steve. You must have been born with the 'teacher gene'. It is always refreshing to watch your videos.

[@macmcmillen6282]

Great review, Steve. Thorough, honest, and straight to the point. Thanks.

[@erwinargyle264]

Excellent review. Helped me decide on a D500. Loving it all except for SnapBridge.

[@markwornom1050]

Great video! Wish I'd seen it sooner. I've owned mine since they first appeared in the stores and love it. I can see myself being satisfied for years to come. Wish I could justify Nikon glass to put in front of it!!

[@JB19504]

Steve, I just recently discovered your channel, and just wanted to compliment you on your great videos, especially those that pertain to Nikon! Your explanations and delivery are great and really easy to understand. I really liked your Auto ISO video, and have set both my D800 and D500 to those settings, and I think it will give me a lot more keepers. I just got the D500 and have combined it with a Sigma 150-600 to shoot the foxes that come to my backyard every night. I am now really getting some great shots. With the Auto ISO and manual settings, it is a world of difference. Please keep up the great work. Liked and Subscribed. Jeff

[@coreybrooks3493]

Great review Steve. It's your straight forward and concise information that made me just purchase your ebook. I'm hoping it can help my shots get better. Which Is a challenge so far with my bloody z6

[@reclusepilgrim]

I am going to get this camera this week and that's why I am looking at this review. Thank you for the in-depth review.

[@lorenzococco926]

Fantastic review and stunning shots.

[@danlesovsky7134]

Always the best videos Steve!!! Great job here!

[@markwilliford7471]

Very nice video. Thank you for the practical information.

[@jacekeeton9020]

I have to agree with the Masses.. brand new scribbber here... and I love the comparison of what you are saying,,, and then you show the picture to to match what you just said.... Which is what I need since I have lots of interest in the D500 like a million other people..I enjoy your channel Steve.

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks - I tend to back up everything I say with proof :) The internet is too brutal without it LOL!

[@stephandelaat]

Damn that 600 is one hell of a lens! I would definitely like to see a review on that one! More realistic buy option would be the 300 f4, a review on that lens would also be greatly appreciated!

[@nitinule]

Best review of D500. I changed my decision now . Will go for D500

[@BB..........]

Your videos are always well-done and entertaining to watch.

[@joshuamcguire4832]

Im sold!! This is just what I've been looking for! Great Review!

[@pauldow7105]

I've been following your views for a while now and every time I listen to your explanation you seem to making photography more simple to understand, I thank you for your contribution to this noble profession.

[@desertoo23]

Brilliant, brilliant! I am following this channel!

[@zaphirshamma9531]

What a great video. Planned on making the jump from a Canon 7DMIi to a used 1DX, but now...you've got me thinking about totally jumping ship and going with this body. Oh the decisions!! Thank you for a well laid out and articulated review...much appreciated.

[@freddiemurry]

Zaphir Shamma did you jump ship?

[@hectoro5144]

Hello Steve, such a great video, you answered most of my questions!, I really like your shots!, great job, and thank you!

[@jakesdewet3567]

Steve, This is one of the best reviews I ever watched, Objective out of the field and talked about the real issues that allow us to book more images. My longest lens is the 300 f2.8 vrii that I use with the TC 1.4iii and from time to time the TC2.0iii, This was my setup with the D300s. Then Nikon fell behind with the D500 and I bought first the D800 and then D810 for wildlife and the 36 mp allowed for "cropping" to compensate for the DX factor. I later bought a D4 that I still have and love for its low light capabilities. Fact is that my lens combination remain short. But here in Africa we shoot big game mostly from a vehicle. So with the D500 showing up, I am back in Business with my lens combo and the D500. My D810 is now almost always sitting in the Bag. Early morning low light or late dawn the D4 works its magic, I also use the 80-400 G for its flexibility so I have D 500 and D4 interchanging between the lenses. Great to learn from a real life photographer and not the spec readers.

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks for the kind words :) I was using the same combo - D500 + D4, now it's the D500 + D5. Either way, works out great.

[@aasumpt]

Best review of the Nikon D500!!! Thanks!

[@DavidBennettplus]

What a good and detailed review. It makes me feel I can trust every word.

[@joshjspice]

Steve, initially, I eye-rolled a bit at the Productions intro, but I had to say, you seem like a great guy and that was a great review. Plus, the images you showed were not only perfect examples of what you were discussing, but they're absolutely gorgeous photographs. Your book seems great, just based off all this and the topics covered in it, in 290 pages. Will order. Cheers, Steve. Thank you! Glad I found your channel. I have a Fuji X-T3 & 100-400mm and I've been debating switching to the D500 & 200-500. I shot great stuff with a D200 years ago.

[@deanvm9158]

Those images look crisp, clean and just so premium to me. Coming from a Canon user.

[@droppingcoconuts]

great review! i have owned mine for about a month now and LOVE IT!

[@janiejohnsonlawson8452]

Thanks, Steve! You helped me decide on getting the D500.

[@sinetwo]

Great review. Succinct, easy to understand, great editing and punchy. No fluff!

[@reoflex]

Airplane Mode. I just attended a free Nikon seminar for new and prospective D500 owners. I mentioned to the Rep/Presenter that the battery life of my D500 wasn't as good as my 7D2. He stated that the fault is in the WiFi. It's always searching for a network, burning up the battery as it does. He showed me how to put the camera into "Airplane" mode, which turns off the WiFi, and this solved the problem. I have the newer Batteries, so that wasn't a problem. The Rep said to leave the camera in Airplane mode unless I'm actually using the WiFi. Airplane mode is in the Setup menu, the one with the wrench.

[@backcountrygallery]

That's awesome to hear - I was speculating in the video, but it seems like Nikon agrees. I'll bet the next firmware update keeps airplane mode on by default. :)

[@FAMUCHOLLY]

Another FANTASTIC video! Keep up the EXCELLENT work!

[@dwnforcemedia]

As a current owner of the D500 I greatly appreciate your hard work in this review/walk through. Right now I'm just using mine for basic car dealership inventory, later though is the fun stuff. I'll be the main photog for the International Ferrari meet/rally in Ohio in the coming weeks. The D500 was my top choice to capture all that action. I'll be renting the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8, which I hope is a good compliment to the camera.

[@dwnforcemedia]

Update on this comment...Thank god I got out of that dealership. I'm now a full time automotive photog and now dabbling in outdoor/bird photography. Looking into the best tele I can get within my budget that I can use for the local birds and sports.

[@EmileModesitt]

Best review of the d500 I've seen, thank you!

[@paulwright3261]

Thanks for the excellent unbiased review. Crop sensor Nikon cameras have really advanced in recent times starting with a D7200 and now the D500 rivaling and in some areas surpassing the capabilities of some full frame cameras. I enjoy photographing wildlife, and prefer carrying around a smaller lighter DX camera while hiking on the trail. The crop factor helps me get closer to the critters. I also can crop and get better images than with a full frame sensor.

[@backcountrygallery]

My experience as well. I love my FX cameras, but when it comes to hiking, it's though to beat a DX camera and smaller glass.

[@CIASpook71]

Excellent review and great presentation. Thank you!

[@paulwood7798]

Good honest review looking at many aspects of the camera. I own one and am well pleased with it but your review sure as hell highlights why DSLR sales continue to fall and camera phones continue to rise. I have recommended your vid to a number of people who all got back to me and said they will not be venturing into the DSLR world as all they want to do is take a picture.

[@Rawrmothafuka]

This was such a great review with lot of sample photos, and explaining in depth why you should go with D500 instead of FF when shooting wildlife.

[@kb8729]

Birds, not wildlife. Your not gonna use a d500 to shoot a bear instead of a d850. Lol

[@nwcs2]

Great review! I'm waiting for the next Nikon deal for a D500. Wish I had the time to shoot as much as I would like, though.

[@markbegg2727]

This is by far the best explained items about the D500, have watched many which live me confused but you explain things well. Maybe do a bit more about Lens Aligned as I'm lost on that and not sure what its about.

[@WhittyPics]

Awesome review. The best I have seen yet

[@xman2229]

Bought your book.Your videos are absolutely the BEST!!

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks!!

[@ctonylowe]

your are really good at teaching I'm new to this but i grasped a lot from yo vids than some others thanks

[@ScottPrincePhotography]

wow the sample images are absolutely stunning!

[@samalexanderphotographyfil2401]

really really helpful video ! , been looking to upgrade from a D3s for my wildlife photography someone suggested the d500 and this video just sold it :)

[@paganphil100]

sam Alexander: Me too....I watched this (and other reviews) and then I bought my D500 about 10 days ago. Everything in this video is true....the D500 is probably the best APS-C camera available from any manufacturer :-)