Deep Dive: Nikon Z 50 versus Nikon D500. Why we're selling.

[@concept1027]

Gonna take a lot more than the z50 to pull the d500 out of my hands. It's just too beastly.

[@hectormpagan9296]

Also the battery life, I will never sell my D500 for a Z camera.

[@concept1027]

@@hectormpagan9296 yup. I also have some older lenses that are fantastic.. but just barely. Through a converter they'll lose that little bit of spark ha.

[@Johnkostercreative]

Amen. A camera for the ages. If you can ever get a D4S at a reasonable price, grab it. It will blow your mind.

[@TherealDjTired]

I would never trade my D500 for Z5 or Z6 basically to any Z...I like the rigidness, the grip, the balance. The Z series is like an egg that you have to be very careful with, while with the D500 you can even slap someone on the face it would not recognize it, especially with the extra vertical battery grip, I love how it sits in my hand. I do not care about the weight and sound...Like many said for the D3...its a brick...not as big as a FF but its a smaller one. And I do not care about video...I take pictures...in which the D500 is damn good...

[@jakesdewet3567]

Enjoy your views as they express your individuality and needs. I for one never grew to like the D500. I shoot wildlife and preferred my D4s and D4s. My style is different and I am not fixated on high speed action. I love my 300 f 2.8 and 500f4. Now I have the Z6 added to my equipment. I was one of the biggest ML skeptics. I cannot wait for Nikon to grow the Z system.

[@phanumatduangthai3401]

Love the D500's shutter sound!

[@wissell4287]

I’m 10 seconds into it and I know she will sell the D500

[@MercedLCARS]

The D500 has a beast buffer! It also had a monster aggressive shutter sound !😁

[@luca_rr4660]

It sounds like a motorbike haha

[@lcador9]

You effectively outlined well the relative strengths and weaknesses of each of these cameras which occupy a similar price point. However, after stating that the D500 has been your dedicated goto sport and wildlife camera, to then outfit it with a 50mm lens and compare the performance against the Z50 at the museum is foolish. The D500 was intended to be a serious action camera meant to carry the likes of a 200-500mm lens in environments where shutter noise is less problematic. The D500 is a one trick pony and great at what it does and far superior to the Z50 in that regard. It is, however, not in the same league as the Sony A9 which costs three times the price but with about half the relative reach. Perhaps you should have truncated the video and just said you own three Sony cameras that are superior for your very simple action demands and no longer need the D500.

[@penduburger]

Thank you

[@Sebas-sg1kj]

Right on target!

[@rolandgibbs9036]

Just bought a D500. Now I'm going to buy another one. It's the best camera ever made.

[@photozen8398]

ditto that…! comparing shit (z50) to legend (d500) is not fair, if she wants to get rid of it fine whatever floats her boat but do not compare.

[@anthonyfong4922]

Agree

[@thunder7382]

buy when it is still available new

[@bivouac_photography]

I'm just on my way back from mirroless, Sony a9. D500 arrives tomorrow 😍

[@joekelly9369]

Real cameras i have 2 850s and a ton of lenses i wont be selling for kiddy hands z cameras

[@MercedLCARS]

I love my Z50, it's a good all round enthusiast entry level camera... powerful little thing!

[@mrrolandlawrence]

Buy a z50. Just do it. Life is too short to watching 1000 hours of reviews.

[@sanjayjipu6358]

That's me mate 😂

[@Jegrod]

Jajajajaja

[@ExploringCanadaInfo]

Bought it today

[@aaaa15891]

😂 🔥

[@chok1169]

What is better the d5500 vs z50... I am asking this, because the mp of the d5500 is bigger that the z50.

[@janmartinmathiassen6265]

As a D500 owner myself, I've started to wonder about whether or not to get one of the newer generation mirrorless, but unlike you, I seem to like the form factor of the D500 and would probably think the z50 was too small. Personally I'm not that interested in saving weight so much as I am interested in good ergonomics first and tech second. It's interesting to watch how we all approach these cameras differently though! :)

[@peterpeterson7784]

I also have a D500, D850, and Z6. Love my D500 and grab it anytime I need to be doing candids and of course sports. Do not get me wrong the Z6 is nice, but the D500 just does everything right in a body that most of us older people are use to using.

[@Johnkostercreative]

Don't buy all the marketing hype. The best camera is the D500, although if you find a clean D4S at a decent price you will be truly amazed.

[@peterpeterson7784]

@@Johnkostercreative Kenmore camera in Seattle has a clean D4 for $899 less than 80,000 on the shutter.

[@amariner5]

I have the z50, and previous experience with D500. There's a lot of life in a D500. And, all the good reach lenses are F mount. So, I have to run the same lens, and the same sensor. I might have the lighter camera, but I have to carry 3 batteries and put a smallrig frame so I have something to grab onto. Close to wash.

[@ManchmalGaming]

Hard to beat the ergonomics of a D4 or a D5.

[@DeVriesBassBaritone]

The weather sealing on the D500 is really important to me since I'm using it almost only for wildlife.

[@wissell4287]

Nanco de Vries yeah it’s very important for me because I spilled lemonade on my D500 once. It’s totally fine.

[@CALTECH007]

Love my D500. Not going to buy any more cameras cause the D500 does all I want.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

You must not do very much. The D500 is really good at one thing, and not much else.

[@CALTECH007]

@@KungPowEnterFist Yep! I shoot whales and birds.

[@Johnkostercreative]

free88 you couldn’t tell the image quality difference between the D500 and the Z6 or Z7 or most other modern cameras if you tried. D500 is a great camera for most things.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

​@@Johnkostercreative You can believe that if you wish. It is not true, but you can believe it if you want to. I can point out countless examples where it would be easy to see the difference in countless scenarios, but you have already made up your mind and that is fine. That whole the D500 is good for most things vs other semi-pro and pro cameras may have been true in 2016-2017, but that stopped being true 2018-forward. There are a lot of cameras on the market now that are the around the same price or less, and have better IQ all around, and better video, and shoot faster, and are smaller, and are lighter, and have better battery life, and use a modern lens mount, and, and, and. I know what the D500 is and what it is not, and there is a price I am willing to pay for it. Its not a lot. The D850 is another story. That is still a good all around camera...for now.

[@wissell4287]

Same here bro!!

[@stevehercules7372]

Love my D500. Big and cumbersome just like me, and does everything it's told to do. Again! just like me

[@shmadmanuts]

Still love my D200, but with 2y old twins - a smaller camera is really needed. Took out of the bag my old(er) D70 - it fits like a glove. The d200 ergonomics never grew on me like the D70. I would really like a D500, love the chunkiness, times change. Wish you no twins :)

[@bewbtewb]

In a sea of hot-takes, this was a very fair and balanced opinion. Thank you for doing your part in tipping the scales in a positive direction.

[@robertdavis1255]

Still love my D500 & haven't considered upgrading yet.... thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments... cheers..

[@johnpavett68]

I own and use both, love them both. Big often unmentioned advantage of the Z50 is that as someone who needs reading glasses being able to review imaged in the evf without glasses is Brill. Also you can review images in bright 🌞

[@daveyyc9784]

As an amateur I want to go on a two or three day back pack trip in the mountains and not ever worry about battery life. I got that with my D90 and now with my D500, until mirrorless improves, not for me. Not interested in carrying extra batteries. Just me though. Do whatever you like.

[@TheBigbangguy]

Dave YYC Z50 battery can be powered up with a bank power...

[@rkmacdonald]

I shoot air shows with my D500. I previously used a D800 and a D810 at air shows, but they were marginal. The focus system of the D500 greatly outperforms the D8XX in terms of fast acquiring and holding. Plus the D500 is lighter and smaller, and the continuous frame rate of the D500 is significantly faster than the D800. You have to shoot (4 or 5 seconds at most) bursts to get good shots at an air show. I don't think I would ever run out of buffer on the Z50 after seeing your video. The reason I'm telling you this is that as I get older, the weight and size of the camera become more and more important to me. I would really like to switch to the Z50 to get the smaller size and weight, but only if I could be sure that it could hold focus on an aircraft coming straight toward me at 700 mph, and then continue hold that focus during an extremely quick pan as the aircraft flies closely by. I've also heard that panning with an EVF is more difficult than with an optical VF. What do you think about these things? Thanks, Russ

[@myetoob23]

Would have been great to see an answer to this considering the autofocus performance is going to be the deciding factor for me between the 2 cameras.

[@davekorzekwa8727]

I own the D500, D850, Z7 and Z50. I currently do not have plans on selling any of them. Each has their niche. The D500, D850 and Z7 have built in image sensor cleaning. I notice that the Z50 does not. With the sensors closer to the lens opening, I am expecting more dust issues that with my DSLR's. Other than a blower or sending it in for cleaning, how is the image sensor cleaned ? A dust off photograph is one of the menu options. How does this remove dust spots?

[@mneedes2]

My Z6 has a "Clean image sensor" option in the setup menu. Z50 does not. I'm sure your Z7 has it too.

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

Although I know this video is now 3 years old, I am wondering if you had tried the Nikon D780 which has the Nikon Z6 sensor with PDAF inside which makes using this DSLR okay using in liveview. Electronically the D780 is 12 fps and last of the great DSLRs. That is why I bought one to add with my D750. I also own the Z5 (with IBIS) for its smallness and FF sensor and it is decent quality for travel and also great for some pro use. For a long days event shooting, I still like DSLRs with its many exterior buttons. I may add a Z30 for self vlogging.

[@ytr8989]

A Z50 isn’t a D500 replacement; it is more like a smaller mirrorless version of the D7500. The main reason for the Z50 is Fujifilm’s X-T30. But they messed up with those ZX lenses not made for low light conditions. The Z50 has excellent low light capabilities, but those f4.5-6.3 lenses? 😩

[@612morrison]

More like a mirrorless d5600

[@KungPowEnterFist]

@@612morrison Its actually above a D7500. The Z50 has better AF in most situations. Video capabilities are vastly superior. Considerably smaller and lighter. 11fps vs 8fps. BSI sensor. And many more. The Z50 is what I wished the D7500 would be but wasn't. Once the Z lenses fill, this wont even be a discussion. I mean, honestly.

[@randygeene9455]

I’ll take your D500 to go with my other D500 so that I can carry 2 set-ups at the same time!

[@mswhite1532]

To all those who commented about keeping their D500, I believe Leigh did mention that everyone has their own reasons for choosing one over the other depending upon their needs. For those who shoot professionally, yes the D500 is likely the one to choose primarily because of its buffer capacity and dual card slots. However, that aside I believe there is no difference in image quality. For those of us who don’t shoot professionally, I believe the Z50 is a better choice especially given that it is less bulky and has the optional silent shutter. I have used a Nikon D7200, D500 as well as the Z50, and based upon my experience I will grab the Z50 first. I value being somewhat respectful when intruding into the peacefulness of nature. Also, I value taking time to slow down and being in the moment, having the image I want to capture in my head, rather than machine gun shooting and hoping to get an epic shot that most times wasn’t visualized. Really, anyone can do that. Great video!

[@LeighAndRaymond]

True - everyone has their own preferences and should use the camera they like. :)

[@genghis2510]

Marcia White So what’s the purpose of this video if not to pitch the z50 at the expense of the D500. It’s a pitch ploy by measurebators to extol or build up a new model with low sales over an old model that has been well received and whose profit goals over production costs has already been surpassed. I’m a Nikon guy and was looking for a get and go small camera and it’s for this reason I watched this video - also out of curiosity how she’ll build explanatory logic to downgrade D500 over z50. I’m so turned off I’m setting my sights instead on Sony a6600. I owned before a Sony a6000 (used) and I kinda like Sony a6xxx neat body design - no protruding viewfinder head on its top plate so common among cameras.

[@joeandrews9846]

If that's the case, and you want small and affordable, look at the Sigma FP. That's a great small camera.

[@harrybutler770]

Hi Leigh, I just subscribed to yours and Raymond's channel on the strength of this video. I have a very low shutter count D500 that I bought 2nd hand back in 2020 replacing a much-loved D90. I had been entertaining the idea of going mirrorless, but seeing how capable the D500 still is by comparison to current day mirrorless I've decided to hang onto the D500 for a while yet. Thanks for your ultra informative videos.

[@outfield1988]

Oh boy I love the D 90 as well. Purchased a Z 50 but haven’t unboxed it yet

[@ABPhotography1]

The D500 is a beast, I'm keeping mine and my D850.

[@radicalrenegade8528]

I have both also! I could not see going down to a z50 just for focus detection. Maybe if I was going to do video but why not just get the z6 or 7?

[@xolarwind]

Why sell the D500? I'm a photographer of the stone age of film. I have every single camera, and lens since the Nikon F, since 1969 in my 50+ career as a pro in San Francisco. Every one of them has sentimental value of tools that allowed me to feed my family and put my kids trough college, when photography was an art and a science, and everything manual. Today everyone is a photographer, and even phones take good enough pictures for 90% of what pictures are used for. My 'immediate feedback' was waiting the eternity of 90 seconds for the polaroid shot to develop :-)

[@cycling-john]

I loved everything about the D500, except the sensor size. I like to shot wide, which is easier on the D850. I just use my Z6 for video 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@doplinger1]

That D500 sure does have a buffer on it! Like you said though, not many need that kind of buffer. What seems more important to me would be how fast does it clear once filled? That's always been a sore spot for Sony, though it doesn't bother me because I never shoot a that speed.

[@Paul-D-Hoff]

You know about carrying film and the room that took. What is the problem with having more than one battery and more. Your not paying for film anymore, so that is money for batteries.

[@cesarm8811]

Interesting video. I currently own the a D7200 with the 16-85mm DX VR lens and the 70 -300mm VR (not DX) lens. After following my granddaughter around Disney World parks for several days, I decide to purchase the Z50 with the kit lens and the FTZ adapter. Haven't had chance to use the Z50 yet, but I already like the size and weight versus my D7200. I am still keeping my D7200, but with time I may sell it. Really enjoy your videos, looking to more on the Z 50.

[@johnbenson7801]

Granted my old 70-300 didn't have VR, but the 50-250mm Z lens blows the old zoom out of the water. Might be something to think about.

[@ionbarari7202]

How is the Z50 after 6 months?

[@cesarm8811]

@@ionbarari7202 I purchased the Z50 mainly to use for traveling (vacations, visiting the grandchildren, etc). Unfortunately Covid 19 has stop all my travel. But I have used it a little, so far I really like the size, ergonomic, image quality and EVF. Using a DSLR for many years and liking the optical viewfinder, I thought I won't like the EVF. But to my surprise I really like the EVF, since you can see the exposure real time and make adjustment as need. I am looking forward to using the z50 once I get to travel.

[@RudiZimmerer]

I have the best crop sensor in the NIkon d7200 and I bought the Nikon Z50 because I can protect the sensor with the FTZ mount, yes this is possible... needs some work... And I hate the sticky dust on the sensor... I had to change the sensor on the D7200 already... Not the work that I like, but it is doable. Still the pictures are the same from both cameras... For low light is the DSLR viewfinder definitive better, because you can see what is ...

[@55whiplash]

I hope you're feeling better!

[@Steve-jq4st]

I got my D500 last year on the recommendation of a tour guide and professional photographer for a major international outdoors/wildlife magazine. I won’t be selling it because it does everyone I want and exceeds my capabilities. There is too much pressure to always have the latest and models change almost continuously (don’t get me started on golf clubs).

[@mcoffroadinaz4075]

Yes, shooting motor action, we need that buffer. FAST action is something that goes faster than a bicycle.

[@SohamDas1995]

I have both D500 & Z50. I feel like D500's Iso performance is better than Z50 ( almost a stop better ). I am quite astonished as both have megapixel & same sensor size

[@jakem9524]

The buffer is factory limited to 100 on the Z50 not sure why but thats why it slows down so quick compared to the D500 that does not share that limit.

[@barthonhoff5547]

My main problem with a non-pro camera as a hobby-ist is the ease to have settings silently changed. That is the reason to continue to use DSLRs like the D7200 and D200. That was also - next to IBIS - the reason to purchase an X-H1

[@nikonian4589]

I recently bought the Z50 to see how I feel about the EVF and smaller body. I really enjoy the Z50, I find myself using the F-mount lenses and adapter. If Nikon would come out with some native glass, I would like it a lot more. For now I’m sticking with the D850.

[@Stop-All-War]

If I had a D850, weight vs results & functions..I'd happily carry it.

[@TeKnoVKNG23]

Not dealing with anything near the quality you are, but I've been shooting with both my D7100 and a Sony A6000 that I just got this past cyber Monday, despite it being an old camera, I wanted something somewhat entry-level for my first foray into mirrorless. I still love my big Nikon boy, but I have to say the weight and portability of the A6000 is winning me over and the electronic viewfinder is awesome. Battery life is a bit of an issue, but easily solved with a portable USB charger that I can literally charge the camera with out of my pocket if need be. If I want to go out and shoot with my D7100, I have to bring along my bag full of lenses, but with the A6000 I can literally put the kit 16-50 in my pocket and easily swap between it and the 55-210. As I said, I still love shooting my D7100, it just fits so nicely in my hand and being a bigger guy I like having a bit of weight, so the A6000 is a bit "tiny" in my hands and that can be annoying at times, though I think it's sold me on going Mirrorless when I do eventually upgrade to a professional level camera. For now though, I get the best of both worlds since K&F makes an adapter so I can throw all my Nikon lenses on the A6000.

[@joeandrews9846]

I really hope you don't sell a D500 assuming that a Z50 has the same power for a Nature Photography tour. Respectfully, the D500 owns the Z50 in both focal acquisition, buffer, and durability. The D500 is for hardcore nature work, (birds) and sports, in the environment. The Z50 is not a camera I'm hooking up a 600mm lens with and going birding with. If your work is with a 35mm lens walking about, I suppose the Z50 would suffice, but you really should be comparing the D7500 to the Z50.

[@glenhar1225]

What you say is true but already baked into her analysis. If the D500 lost marginally in the arena she is playing in, the D7500 certainly would have.

[@scraymond5597]

If those were our only cameras, we'd probably keep the D500. As Leigh says in the video, having the Sony a7 R IV makes it much easier to sell the D500. One more note - we "should" compare whatever cameras we want. In this case, we compared two cameras that we own, so that we could determine which we'd sell. Have already photographed birds in flight with the Z 50. Worked great. It's a fast camera and we only filled the buffer when we were intentionally trying to.

[@joeandrews9846]

@@scraymond5597 The Sony is a beast. The only reason I haven't switched is too much Nikon glass, and something in the shots seem off contrast wise vs. the Nikon. But it's a beast.

[@greyhoundrick5568]

Great advice! Its really up to the individual photographer to do the research and find out the best fit for them. So many variables! I have the D500/D850/Z7. I love them all and shoot them all about equal time! If I was pinned down to keeping just one it would be a difficult choice, but at this juncture I think I would choose the D850 by just a hair over the Z7. However, given a couple of more S lenses, teleconverters, firmware updates etc. I think the Z7 will evolve into my favorite! One other thing to mention with regard to the DSLR vs. Mirrorless with Nikon that Ive found. I do a lot of off camera flash and have used Nikon, Alien Bees, Pocket Wizard and Godox products. In my experiences the D500 and D850 work seamless with the Godox system whereas the Z7 is not as adaptable in terms of off camera TTL and basic consistent reliability. I believe its a Godox thing as the updates seem to lag behind a bit more with the Z system. Great channel and best to you, Rick

[@JoJo-vm8vk]

@TheSnapChick: what model of memory card are you using with D500 ? I love my D500, at the end of Sigma 150-600mm Sport, I wouldn't be comfortable with such a tiny camera as Z50.😉

[@LeighAndRaymond]

For this testing, we were using an XQD card or a newer Sony Tough SD card. Prior to that, I had a variety of cards in it.

[@JoJo-vm8vk]

@@LeighAndRaymond Sorry, I wasn't clear enough, my fault. What specific model of XQD please ? Thank you.

[@radicalrenegade8528]

D500 with the Sigma 150-600 Sport is a beast! I do astrophotography with that combo and also sports photography.

[@kencochrane8795]

Hi, got a Z50 and love it. I have 1 comment. I believe Nikon made a mistake not including IBIS. Lack of this feature means that Z50 shooters are pretty much bound to the new Nikon Z mount, DX, VR lenses. I would be perfectly OK purchasing the Z mount, F lenses that do not have built in image stabilization, but rely on the in body feature. I do not like plastic lens mounts. Thanks for your review

[@dougchrisope9958]

Great video Leigh! Explaining your process will be very useful to some. I just bought myself a D500 for Christmas as it was an upgrade to the D5300 and D3400 bodies I've been using. With so many DX lenses in my collection, I saw it as a way to boost capabilities in the DSLR world. I am enjoying the improved video and stills immensely. It was sort of a last gasp-grasp of the DSLR world, but I got a world-beater for $1200! I expect my next body will be mirrorless in 1 or 2 or 3 years.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

Hi Doug! I'm glad you're enjoying the D500 - it's a great body. I'll be sad to pack mine up and send away.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

Thank you for this video. You've taught me a lot about how AF works in the two camera styles. I didn't realize that the max aperture for a lens is important when it comes to AF! If lots of people are selling their D500 I may be a buyer, since the stuff they cut from the D7500 is kind of important (no preview button!?!?). Interesting times we're living in in the transition from DSLR to mirrorless now that mirrorless tech is so good. Great video!

[@midas1929]

Ok, old fashioned opinion here. Remember when cars did not have lane assist and we did not miss it? Nowadays they sell it to us as if we would die without it, together with all the other electronic stuff. If you really need lane assist, you should not be on the road. The same goes with some camera features. If you do not need video, do not mind the size, don't need the latest stuff, want to go on budget and just want to shoot great pics, the D750 is still a full frame option at a now unbeatable price. Nowadays all are photographers, until the "A" is off.

[@CloverPhotoandVideo]

Life is short. I say keep both! :) Actually, both cameras are great, and definitely have their strengths. I love the buffer and fast focusing of the D500, but the Z50 works great with the FTZ and Nikon's AF-P lenses, and the kit lenses, especially for the price, perform well. Video of course is a big plus with the Z50. The D500 feels more rugged. The Z50 great if you want to travel light. A newcomer to DSLRs or mirrorless cameras (someone moving up from a cell phone) might feel overwhelmed with a D500. Bottom line, you can't go wrong with either camera.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

That's right - you can't go wrong with basically any camera on the market today. They certainly all have their benefits/drawbacks, but they're all very capable!

[@andrewlockett4692]

Just got the Z50 loving it so far.

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

If weight not issue D500 is still a beast, nikon d780 could be a successor but it missed the joystick and 153 autofocus points.

[@garygodfrey9708]

Going into Retirement and going to a low budget I wanted to buy cameras that would last for years to come. I purchased the D-500 and the Z6, and I don't think I could do any better. These two cover everything I need in my future photography with the glass I own. Great video, thanks...

[@451greenwood]

That's a great match

[@MiamiVPG]

That is exactly what I have and love them both. I use the D500 for wildlife/nature and the Z6 for family/portraiture type photos. I have also placed my Nikon 105mm macro lens on the Z6 for still subjects like flowers and it has been amazing. I just wish Nikon was a bit quicker getting Z lenses to the market.

[@garygodfrey9708]

@@MiamiVPG that's exactly what I use both cameras for and I am very happy, as a bonus I do too much video but if I do I have heard the Z-6 does a great job with video, take care...

[@greyhoundrick5568]

Always a treat to visit your channel Leigh! You and Raymond do a fantastic job and are very reputable. Im a 13 year Nikon shooter and have shot briefly with Sony cameras before returning them (A7riv/A7iii). Nothing against Sony at all, but in every area except AF for fast moving subjects the Z and F mount Nikons are better for me personally. The Nikon files are extraordinary as is the entire experience. I do believe that Nikon has come a long way with their Z camera's AF for sports/wildlife and will soon be on equal ground in that area vs. Sony. With regard to this video, I am currently shooting with a Z7 and D500. I use the D500 for fast action and feel the AF is superior to the Z cameras at this moment in time, but it would not surprise me to see the Zs catch up quickly! I have not yet shot the Z50 but am looking forward to giving it a go in the near future! Best to you and your channel and hope to see you folks out at The Riparian, Zoo, Botanical Gardens etc. sometime. It would be great to meet you! Take care, Rick in Ahwatukee 😀

[@MrMarkpoole]

Until they make a camera you can order every size and feature separately,there will never be a perfect camera.It's always setting your top priorities and getting the camera that comes the closest for you.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could custom-design our cameras?

[@rodsilva80]

@@LeighAndRaymond you can, get a job at Nikon. :)

[@ProxodilMimo]

I find that my d700 with 200-500mm still serve me well, so I am not in the market at the moment. But I can't help but to say: what a great review, as always! I am finding that your channel is the only remaining that I can trust for objective and non-bashing material. Thanks again Leigh and Raymond for being there, I look forward to each of your reviews.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@dan4466]

I have no desire to sell my D500, but I wouldn’t want to lose $1000. From what I see I’d be lucky to get $1500 for it with the 16-80 kit lens. Paid $2500. I do plan on getting a Z50 just for travel because of the lightness. Seems like a awesome little camera.

[@sunking9050]

Great video. Your comments about mirrorless vs DSLR are spot on. I couldn’t go back to an optical viewfinder having used the electronic viewfinder in the Z6

[@Gael32]

I'm the opposite. The Z6 evf is "ok" until you try to zoom in and then the refresh rate drops like a rock to the bottom of a pond which means I get no better functionality with it over an OVF. On the other hand, Sony has it's refresh rate down pat. I can zoom in x2 with the A7III without refresh rate issues.

[@notjacknicholson2225]

I've been into photography for around 15 years. I wanted to buy a d500 lately and couldn't get one anywhere... So I went with the z50. I am so so pleased with this camera. I have a bunch of dx lenses which I love for various reasons and the z50 actually has a better resolution than the z6 in dx mode (which wouldn't have been the case with the z7 but the limit I could afford was the z6 so..!). Also, I bought a couple of z mount lenses and so far and I'm very impressed. They are sharper, more compact, produce less chromatic aberrations, have much faster focus speed and are quieter (all in general) than older f mount lenses. I'm very happy I couldn't get a d500 in the end.

[@kennypringle4580]

I shoot portraits of family’s, head shots, events, weddings, with a little real estate thrown in. I have a d500 and a D750 with 5 full frame primes, an 18-35, 200-500, a 10-24 and 16-80 for my dx. I’m considering selling my D750 and getting another d500 to do it all. 🤔🤔🤔

[@burritobrosvideos8060]

Ok grandpa

[@kazarian619]

Hi there, I have a question. In a few months I'll be graduating from college and pursuing a career as a photographer. At the moment I'm shooting with a D3300(for budget resasons). And while the D3300 has worked out for my photography classes, I know when It comes to professional work I'll need an upgrade. At the moment I'm looking to spend under $1700. And at the moment with that budget my choices are: Nikon D750 Nikon D610 Nikon D500 And the Nikon F5. The option are all nikon because I'm very familiar with the brand and already have some equipment that can be re-use with either of these. While some friends have suggested the Z5(just because it's newer) that camera has limited lenses available and they are also very expensive. On the other hand nikon F mount provides a much larger selection to choose from at a more reasonable price. Right now I'm considering the D500 because of the built quality, features and because I hear it's also backed by the same focusing system as the D5 which is one of Nikon's flagship cameras. And since it's also a cropped sensor I can use the lenses I have at the moment and save money to buy others down the line. Sorry for the rant, but I just needed to explain so that hopefully you can guide me in the right direction. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you and I hope you're having a wonderful day.

[@freedom978]

I agree' Nikon User D500, D7200, D5300, D5200 and Nikon Lens plus Rokinon 10mm and Macro Sigma 70-300mm. I like your combo' I hope to add the D850 soon. Please recommend a Mirrorless camera for for night photography' This will be my first Mirrorless Camera; I will of course research It and Thank you for your time and your video.

[@dkasvin1]

Something in your words makes me feel that you hesitant to betray "battle tested" (your words, not mine) D500. Keep both if you can afford. You keep your film cameras, Right?... Z50 is hands down the nice little camera. It just doesn't offer the same confidence that D500 does every time. I am keeping both. Thank you for all the reasons you shared though. all true...

[@wildlifebybrianhoule]

I don't shoot Nikon, but my friends who do, have stuck with the D500 over the Z series. The D500 seems to yield great results judging from their photos. As for 17:25, YES! I just bought the A7RIV as a 2nd body to my A9. The A7RIV does seem to pack a ton of value for the cost. I can't wait to put it through its paces.

[@frederikvanreusel]

(Right now i have a d7200 and d3500) I’m thinking about 2 things, or getting full into mirrorless FF, getting a Z6ii and slowly sparing my money for 24-70, 14-24, 70-200 which will probably take me years and years to get but just slowly build up for it, or I get a D500 instead (for main use) and a second body Z50 (for portraits mainly) and invest in good DX lenses like the Sigma 18-35, 40mm Macro, Sigma 50-100 which is all much more affordable for me and would still give great results but might be less future proof, what would you do? The Z6ii looks awesome camera but if I get that one I won’t have any spare money for Z/full frame lenses since I would spend all of it on the body

[@RRRCCCDDD]

Between the two, for me D500 is king outdoors. Inside, I just love mirrorless.

[@CaptainJamesTKirk-en4kt]

I own the Z6 and just bought the D500 because I shoot a lot of sports and landscape stuff. Sports, the hands-down the D500 works the best, plus not enough lenses with the Z series and they are a tad too expensive. The Nikon menu system works for me, and I have invested in lenses so hard to switch but I have Shot with Olympus and Sony as well as Canon.

[@pattybuie5878]

No camera is the right camera for everyone, we all have the one that feels right. With the quality of cameras today, you select one for the niche that you need to scratch. Personally for my business I can not justify replacing all of my fast glass with new glass. My customers could never tell the difference. I have shot the Z7 with 85mm 1.8 and it is super.

[@HeroShotzphoto]

I love my z50 i just wish i could get a few batteries lol they are all sold out everywhere. A battery grip would be nice too but im sure in time a 3rd party will make one hopefully.

[@jeepcats]

Try directly from Nikon's website. I got my extra there after failing to find one anywhere else.

[@juttakarin]

I have saved money 3 times for the Nikon D500 only to have to take it out of savings to pay Bill's. I have just about given up having the chance to purchase it! Makes me so sad!!! What are you selling it for?

[@Gael32]

A used Nikon D500 is between $900-1100 depending on how heavily it was used. However, you can buy it new for $1,200 which I consider a steal even in 2020. I bought mine used back in 2017 for $1,700 and it's not like it performs any worse just because you buy it brand new for $500 less than that, lol.

[@maarekstele2815]

This is a useful video, however your comparison does not go deep enough regarding action & sports. I have both camera bodies and shoot sports. I fill a buffer on cameras often. What was left out here was the massive issue with blackout & freezing on the EVF when shooting action and sports. My purchase of the Z50 was to dabble in the realm of mirrorless and it delayed my switch to mirrorless for sports because of the EVF blackout primarily. Had to wait on the Z9 before I could make the switch. So for a sports photog, the Z50, Z6, Z6ii, Z7, Z7ii are all poor choices due to the same issue. With the most recent firmware updates on the Z50 it is a very good camera however & if you are not shooting action sports as your primary subject, I would highly recommend it. If you do have a mix of action stills in your work however, and don't need the video features, the D500 is a clear choice here. Ultimately, while these cameras are both DX, the D500 is a pro level body and the Z50 fits into a consumer/pro-sumer slot like the D5600 did, two slots below where the D500 sits. I pick up my Z50 over my D500 in the following situations: 1. video, 2. size for vacation. hats it. The D500 is weather sealed, has 2 card slots, better noise performance, it is tougher. It is a pro level body & the Z50 isn't.

[@gumplenet]

Great video! I switched to mirrorless late last year opting for the Z7 instead of the D850 and haven't regretted that decision one bit. Have also considered a Z6 for more night shooting and getting into video. I also have a D500 which I plan to hold onto until there's a true mirrorless replacement for it. The Z50 while looking great with some updates to the Z6/7 doesn't feel like it's the right body to replace my D500 just yet. I feel with the improvements Nikon is making, it's only a matter of time before I go fully mirrorless.

[@davidjoy5996]

Have been waiting for the prices of full frame dslr’s and lenses to fall due to the market shift to mirrorless for years but it hasn’t happened. Why? Because many, many photographers continue to use and enjoy them. Go buy mirrorless so I can purchase more full frame used stuff at lower cost!

[@canjo7301]

Well said.....

[@OneCameraOneLens]

Superb video Leigh, I'm sure many people will find this useful. Since moving to mirrorless myself, I can never see myself going back to a DSLR for many of the reasons you mention! Keep up the good work!

[@LawrenceStanger]

Great video. I shoot junior rodeo with a Nikon D500, specializing in capturing facial expressions on kiddos and on their horses. I typically spray and pray to get spirit and personality, on horse and rider together if I can. I usually shoot 12,000 to 15,000 RAW pix during a 7-hour rodeo but just shot 25,000 in my last rodeo. What blows me away is that I typically get 5,000 to 7,000 pix per battery. No chimping. Can't explain that but I love it. My greatest problem is at night on a poorly lit arena where I am shooting at an ISO of 51,200 at 10 frames per second and the mirror black out time in a dim viewfinder makes keeping action centered in the sensor difficult. A fellow photog with the latest mirrorless Nikon does not have that black out issue. But I would not change even if I could afford to. I love my D500.

[@whfowle]

I use the D500 for auto racing. It gives me greater reach for my telephoto lenses and has the speed and buffer of the D5. I also have a Z6 and 7 but they cannot keep up with the autofocus of the D500 so I use them for stills and other things. For me the replacement of the D500 will be the Z9.

[@whatmeworry2006]

I have a D500 and my wife has a Z50. I want to buy a full frame mirrorless and know that you have the Z6 and Z7. Post cropping is important to me so I am leaning towards the Z7. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

If you are into cropping, the Z7 is probably the way to go. :)

[@whatmeworry2006]

TheSnapChick Thanks. Your opinion is greatly appreciated.

[@donwest1869]

I love the D500 or race cars. I shoot 10fps and get nice results.

[@DexterLaurence]

If the Z 50 is the only camera that you had, would you use it to do paid work, is it good enough?

[@leroymichaelson4922]

I haven't touched my DSLRs since I bought a Z6 and 2 Z50s. (I needed 3 for video.) With a pile of Nikon pro glass, the Z series work very well. The Z6 is my main camera. The Z50s are cameras B and C (with pro glass), while they also make great pocket cameras for my wife and I with the kit lenses. We use the Z50s for things that we would have used our phones for. Now we are no longer disappointed with our snapshots.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

Thank you for sharing your experience. :)

[@Stefan1968ful]

Well, for Wildlife I would select the Nikon D500 at any time over the Nikon Z50. There is nothing in the Z line which can beat the performance on Autofocus (both acquisition and tracking) of the Nikon D500 and D850.

[@buticks]

And you forgot the lack of 2 card slots 😁

[@eldindokara7868]

When camera breaks, no use of multiple card slots. My old D90 died at Clingmans dome, could not shoot :-). 2 card slots would not help it, sorry.

[@Stefan1968ful]

Eldin Dokara BS

[@eldindokara7868]

@@Stefan1968ful Truth

[@Stefan1968ful]

Eldin Dokara That is bs. It has nothing to do with the topic itself. Nikon Fanboys were howling like hell when Sony publishes the Sony A7x with just one card slot. And now suddenly it’s ok having one card slot. Dave the fact, Z6 and Z7 are Bizmo‘s, complete failures.

[@slodays1158]

Thanks for the vid. I better understand where you are coming from with your decision. You do also have the A7RIV. I would love the D500 capability in a mirrorless format ( I know, I know...Sony). I have the Z 7 but it's a different beast. I also like that I can set up differnt focus points on a button on the D500.Video capability on the Z 7 is great too vs the D500 live view. Thanks again.

[@500ml_in_6minutes]

Hopefully the Z50 will work with Tether Tool's Air Direct. That way we can finally have a "second slot". Write NEF's to the SD card and send the JPG's to the laptop.

[@EndyMuhardin]

You can use Nikon's software Wireless Transmitter Utility for transferring file to laptop. It is configurable, we can choose which file to be transferred, NEF+JPG or JPG only. It also work in the background, you can shoot continuously without waiting for the transfer to finish.

[@500ml_in_6minutes]

@@EndyMuhardin You could but, the Air Direct is superior in the ways that matter to my workflow. I already have it ordered and on the way for my other cameras anyways.

[@EndyMuhardin]

@@500ml_in_6minutes I think the AirDirect will connect just fine. It uses PTP protocol common to all cameras. If you have the time, please share transfer speed comparison between AirDirect and camera's built-in wifi. I'm curious what the AirDirect has more to offer than the built-in one.

[@500ml_in_6minutes]

@@EndyMuhardin It arrives next Friday so we'll see. Also, battery power is a huge issue. Air Direct uses it's own battery. I've been using the Z50 and snapbridge to transfer images to my phone and it doesn't seem great for power.

[@EndyMuhardin]

@@500ml_in_6minutes Yes, battery is definitely an issue. Even without enabling wifi, the drain is already quite fast.

[@kirk0831]

so now you pick Z9, do you feel it is cumbersome and "not tactile"??

[@nikonman3971]

I have every camera i bought, I will never sell anything i have. There came times where i needed them time to time. my shelf of awesome cameras is a sight to see.

[@fintanusa]

Maybe I am old school, but I shot real fast action sports, world class level bob sled championships, polo, world cup skiing, F1, etc. Nikon fm2, F4. Only fully frame filled shots I would just choose a focus area. Take the shot only there. Ok, you can't do that by sight but experience or sound.

[@12matze]

Since 2016-17 there is no change in tech that really matters in the field. Spend your money on top-of-the-line bodies and glass from the "past". You won´t be disappointed. Just bought a Fuji X-t2 for 350€.....

[@gordonyz4]

I sold A6500 and bought D500 recently. My 300mm lenses are much faster driven by native mount cameras, compard to Z6+ftz driving them. And the A6500 autofocus sucks for sports

[@MichaelWolffKG4Y]

While the test case raised an eyebrow to compare these two cameras (others have mentioned the niche that the D500 was apparently intended to fill), it made for an interesting view. It seems that you have experience with the D500 in the use case for which it is widely known to shine, but the alignment of the test case seemed to biased toward what a Z50 might be better suited. More candidly, taking a D500 with a fixed, relatively short, focal distance into a museum to compare to the Z50 seems a bit akin to bringing a .44 Magnum to a fencing match. Further, I found following your reasoning on giving up the D500 for the Z50 to be a bit curious, as I am under the impression the work you do is less shooting in museums than it is shooting landscapes, wildlife and sports. I might be incorrect, as this is the first of your videos I have ever watched. Certainly, it was interesting to see the bake-off approach taken in deciding which to keep and which to sell, but I think the ground truth is the D500 was seen as lesser necessary to retain because of your preference for the Sony A7 and A9 variants that you pointed out for shooting the things for which the D500 seems to otherwise excel. Thanks for sharing!

[@Dylon1981]

just got a Z50 to replace my D500 for my hikes and travels. but still keeping the D500 and my D780. only got the Z50 for its weight and 4K video.

[@bobleone1381]

I have a D750 and A D500. I am getting out of professional work now and want something a bit easier to travel with.......but I do want to keep using my expensive FX glass. I sold the D750 yesterday and I have a buyer for the D500......going out on Saturday. Moving to the Z50. Yes, I know I am giving some things up. But, I have been wanting to try a mirrorless camera and I think in the end it will serve my needs.........and with selling both D750 and D500, I am buying the Z50 with the 2 lens kit and the adapter for my FX glass and still putting money in my pocket. And when I need to do more serious work, I can still put out the good glass and step things up! I guess we will know 6 months from now whether I made the right decision or not. But either way, it was time for a new camera and some newer technology.

[@canjo7301]

Just a thought for you about new technology..... why are more and more serious photographers moving back to analog? Just a thought...

[@matcoleman3804]

Wait... why did you use the crappy DX 35 1.8 instead of the FX 35 1.8 seeing as you were using an FX Z lens on the Z50... That Z 35 is 10x the lens the DX 35 is... no comparison.

[@andrewriley4990]

AWESOME video great presentation and a weath of usefull information....thanks ! ❤

[@nateshon3eastbroadtoprailr448]

I sold my D500 I purchased about a year ago when I heard rumors of the Z 6II because it was too heavy for me since I had a stroke in 2016 and I wanted to upgrade to full frame mirorles for its lighter weight

[@troyphillips1077]

I have the d500 with a grip and I grip all my cameras. I just got the Sigma 40mm Art for my gripped d850 . Wow dang it’s heavy. Loving the the lens even though it’s heavy. I walked through the woods today with it and an old film camera. It was an old Fujifilm 6x9 rangefinder. I have bad knees and very weak these day . After about two hours of walking n shooting I felt strained. A year ago I kind of laughed at folks who complained about the weight of dslrs. Especially full grow men . Well I’m starting to feel there complaints . I’d always worked hard and heavy. Guess I didn’t realize what it was like for folks that had live their lives behind desks and computers. I’ll be moving into the mirrorless realm partially within a year . Thanks for your great reviews

[@ivanhass5002]

On the Z50 with the ability to use many companies lens via adaptors how do you set aperture without the camera having input from the lens. Everything I find talks about how to focus, well every lens for my FE2 was manual focus, but the camera new how to meter the scene, close the aperture, take the shot and open back to full so I could see through the view finder. Now if I set the aperture beyond f8 I can't see much and being in the dim light of the Pacific NW isn't helping. If I raise the flash on my Z50 I get a nice bright viewfinder as the camera thinks it will fill the scene. What is a workable method for a lens that is all manual and no electric contacts and camera having no info on aperture.

[@wayner8088]

Very informative and detailed info. I have both the D500 and Z50 at the moment and I am also in the process of selling one of them. So far for the past month I've been using the Z50 7 times out of 10 photoshoots, and it is seriously a darling and major contender in the world of mirrorless cameras. Going back to the D500 definitely feels like going back to semi-truck. No words can express the ease of usability and functionality of the Z50. I will go with your weighted words on letting go your D500 and do the same here. Thanks!

[@fabioreina6384]

Hello. Is Z50 good at high ISO? Is it a good camera?

[@elCHRISoc]

What are you shooting this video on?

[@amariner5]

The D500 is superior in for certain shooters: if you have your eye looking through the telephoto lens, and then you turn it on, then the D500 will chew through fewer batteries. So, surveillance, wildlife, etc. I see an advantage to DLSR. And I'm using a z50.

[@chirag4]

DSLRs feel "unnecessarily Large & Hollow, and a bit cumbersome", and that you like the "Sleek yet Solid" ("Lean & Mean" & Tactile; Haptics matter) feel of Mirrorless cameras .... that sounds so true in 2020. Thanks for the affirmation.

[@jeremyn6726]

Good video. My current dilemma is used Z6 vs new Z50... Do you have any thoughts? After watching endless video comparisons I thought Sony A7III was my choice but after briefly trying the Nikons I'm leaning away from Sony despite the comparisons stating superior Eye AF etc

[@scraymond5597]

If you like telephoto, the Z50 gives you better resolution compared to cropping a Z6 shot for wildlife, etc... If you do video and would hook to an external recorder, like an Atomos Ninja, I'd get the Z6 and the 12 bit video upgrade.

[@geraldheitman7687]

I have big mitt's for hands and when I went and picked up the smalller Z camera's they just didn't feel good to me. I'II keep my big D500 wth grip with 17-55 2.8 DX, 70-200 2.8 FX and 200-500 5.6 FX.

[@LeighAndRaymond]

Ergonomics is DEFINITELY all about personal preference. If you don't like holding your camera, you'll never use it!

[@theclips2093]

Coming from the d850 that buffer sounds so good. waiting for the camera to catch up will be a thing of the past

[@theclips2093]

im guessing you have a d850 and know what im talking about it doesnt take long for that buffer to fill up. rightfully so those pictures are huge

[@rickpinelli1586]

The only thing in common between the Z 50 And the D 500 is that they are both APSC chipped cameras. The Z 50 does not have IBS and nor do the Z lenses type S. You would have to use the old F Mount lenses with the adapter to use the VR stabilization. I don’t think the Z 50 was meant to compete against the D 500, the Z 50 to me represents an entry-level mirror less camera for the pro-sumer enthusiast.