Nikon D500 Review: Still a Superb DSLR for Wildlife and Sport?

The Nikon D500 remains one of the strongest APS-C DSLRs for wildlife, birds and action photography. Its 20.9MP sensor, rapid 10 fps burst shooting, deep controls and excellent viewfinder autofocus make it a very capable used-market camera.

It is also an older DSLR. The D500 is large for its sensor size, its 4K video has a substantial crop, and Live View autofocus is far less capable than the subject tracking in today’s mirrorless cameras. Buy it for fast still photography and Nikon F-mount lenses, not as a cheap all-round modern hybrid camera.

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Nikon D500 review: quick verdict

Released in 2016 as Nikon’s DX flagship, the D500 is a serious camera rather than an entry-level upgrade. Its APS-C sensor gives F-mount telephoto lenses a narrower angle of view, which can be useful when photographing distant wildlife. The body’s main strengths are its 153-point viewfinder AF system, 10 fps shooting, robust controls and excellent battery life.

Build, controls and handling

The D500 has a weather-sealed magnesium-alloy and carbon-fibre body with a deep grip, illuminated buttons and a highly configurable control layout. At approximately 147 × 115 × 81mm and 860g with battery and card, it is solid rather than small. That weight helps it balance longer telephoto lenses, but it is not a casual travel body.

The 3.2-inch, 2.36-million-dot touchscreen tilts up and down for low-angle shooting. It is useful for playback and choosing a focus point, although it does not fully articulate. The optical viewfinder is the better way to use the D500 for fast action.

Sensor and image quality

The 20.9MP DX-format sensor records 5568 × 3712-pixel files and has a native ISO range of 100–51,200. It produces detailed RAW files with good colour and respectable high-ISO performance for its generation. It is not magic: noise increases as ISO rises, and careful exposure still matters. Our camera ISO guide explains the practical compromise.

Twenty megapixels is enough for substantial prints and moderate cropping, but it does not offer the latitude of a high-resolution full-frame camera. The D500’s advantage is speed and reach, especially with a suitable telephoto lens, rather than maximum detail for landscapes or studio work.

Autofocus and continuous shooting

Through the viewfinder, the D500 uses Nikon’s Multi-CAM 20K system: 153 AF points, including 99 cross-type sensors, with 55 points selectable by the photographer. It does not cover the whole frame, but it covers a large central area and remains very effective for birds, field sports and erratic subjects when set up well.

The camera shoots at up to 10 fps and can sustain long bursts with a fast XQD card. The AF system, buffer and responsive shutter are the reasons to consider a D500. Technique still matters: use an appropriate shutter speed, continuous AF and a sensible area mode. Our shutter-speed guide is a useful starting point.

Video, Live View and connectivity

The D500 records 4K UHD at up to 30p and Full HD at up to 60p. Its 4K mode uses an additional 1.5× crop, making wide-angle work more difficult but giving extra apparent reach for distant subjects. It has microphone and headphone sockets, but its contrast-detect Live View autofocus is slow beside current mirrorless systems. For regular video, a newer mirrorless body is usually the easier choice.

SnapBridge connects the D500 to a compatible phone through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for transfer, remote functions and location data. It was pioneering in 2016, but the experience is now less seamless than newer cameras. Treat it as a useful convenience, not a reason to choose the body.

Cards, battery and buying used

The D500 has SD and XQD card slots. XQD cards are fast but less common and more expensive than SD, so check what the seller includes and budget accordingly. Nikon rates the EN-EL15 battery for around 1,240 shots under CIPA testing; real results vary with temperature, image review, Live View and video.

• Ask for the shutter count and inspect the body for heavy wear or moisture damage.
• Test both card slots, every button and dial, the touchscreen, ports and hot shoe.
• Check viewfinder autofocus with a known-good lens, then test Live View separately.
• Inspect the sensor, screen and viewfinder for marks, dust, dead pixels or fungus in bundled lenses.
• Confirm the charger, battery condition and current firmware.

Key Nikon D500 specifications

For firmware and manuals, use Nikon’s official D500 Download Centre.

What you need besides the camera

A good F-mount lens, spare EN-EL15 battery, fast cards and a comfortable strap are essential. For birds and distant wildlife, lens choice matters more than small differences in camera bodies. A stable tripod is useful for long lenses, landscapes and static subjects; our Benro Rhino tripod review covers a practical option and includes an Amazon link.

Advantages

• Excellent viewfinder autofocus for moving subjects
• Fast 10 fps continuous shooting
• Robust, well-controlled body
• Good battery life and dual card slots
• Useful APS-C reach with compatible F-mount telephoto lenses

Disadvantages

• Live View autofocus is dated
• 4K video uses a significant additional crop
• XQD cards add cost and inconvenience
• Heavy for an APS-C body
• SnapBridge workflow feels old beside modern phone connectivity

The 30-second decision

Buy the D500 if you want an affordable used Nikon DSLR primarily for birds, wildlife, action or sport, already own good F-mount glass and prefer an optical viewfinder.

Choose a newer mirrorless camera if you prioritise on-screen subject tracking, video, lighter travel kit, an articulated screen or rapid phone sharing.

Final verdict: is the Nikon D500 still worth buying?

Yes, for the right photographer. The D500 is still a genuinely strong action camera because its viewfinder AF, burst speed and handling are built around decisive still photography. It is less compelling as a modern all-purpose camera, where mirrorless bodies are more convenient.

Buy a clean example with tested card slots and a sensible shutter count, then put the budget into the right lens. That combination matters more than chasing an impressive specification sheet.

Check Nikon D500 availability on Amazon.