[sc name="affiliate disclosure"]I normally shoot with a mix of Canon and Sony Cameras. While I enjoy shooting with these brands, I am always looking to expand my horizons. Because haven't taken photos using Nikon Cameras, I decided to test out one of their newest cameras. As a result, here is my review of the Nikon D500. Released in January of 2016, the Nikon D500 is the company's update to the previous D300.

Price

At the time of this writing the Nikon D500 costs $1,896.95. It's dimensions are 147 x 115 x 81mm and weighs 860g.

Sample Photos

Here are a few photos I took with the Nikon D500:[gallery ids="1275,1276"]

What You Get

With the Nikon D500 you get a high performance camera. Here are some of the features you get with the Nikon D500:

4K Video
Bluetooth Connectivity
Illuminated Buttons
Long Battery Life: 1240 shots
Number of Focus Points: 153
Number of Cross Type Focus Points: 99
NFC Connection
Max ISO: 51.200
Max Shutter Speed: 1/8000
Two Card Slots
WiFi

In addition to these features, the D500 is one of the newest Nikon cameras that work with their Snapbridge app. As an app, SnapBridge has many mixed reviews. When I tested SnapBridge I found that it worked well. One feature I enjoyed was being able to automatically download images to my phone as I take photos. I think this would be extremely useful for photojournalist or event photographers.

What You Won’t Get

There are a few features missing from the Nikon D500 that you get in similar cameras of the price range:

A Built-in Flash
A Full Frame Sensor
GPS

The Nikon D500 is also heavier than it's competitors at the price range weighing at 860g.Most of all, the Nikon D500 is heavier than Nikon's Full Frame Camera the D750.One item I did not enjoy on the Nikon D500 was the mode dial:[gallery columns="1" size="medium" ids="1266"]This mode dial makes it very complicated to switch to Aperture, Priority, and Shutter modes. Using this dial, I needed to select the "MODE" button, than turn a dial to select Aperture, Priority, and Shutter modes.In addition, Nikon's "Quiet Shutter" mode is still notoriously noisy. If you are taking landscape photos this may not be an issue but with event photography be aware that this the shutter sound is noticeable.

Summary: My Review of the Nikon D500

In conclusion, I liked the Nikon D500. The main issue I had with the camera were the Mode dial and ergonomics. Although I got amazing photos out of the Nikon D500, I thought the ergonomics were a distraction. I did love how fast the shutter was on camera. If I needed a camera for action sports I would definitely pickup the Nikon D500. To conclude my review of the Nikon D500, if you're looking for a fast camera for action sports you will enjoy the D500. However, you may be satisfied with a cheaper alternative like the Nikon D7500 if your work doesn't require sports or action photography.[tg_divider style="normal"]