Field Review: Nikon D500

by adamhanlon Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

Wetpixel Field Review: Nikon D500

D500, Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 (at 14mm). 1/100@f8, ISO1000

ISO performance

Traditionally, one of the advantages of FX cameras has been their low light (high ISO) performance. Certainly, the D5 offers amazing clean images at ISO levels that would simply not have been possible with the D3.

It is important to remember that the D2Xs, Nikon’s pro camera announced in 2006, featured a then state of the art DX sensor. In use, the maximum ISO possible with it was around 400.

D500, Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5, Zen 170mm dome. 1/60@f8, ISO2000

10 years later, the D500 is competent to at least ISO 2000, with clean images still possible beyond this, especially after processing through Lightroom’s noise reduction.

Unlike the D800 series cameras, ISO performance on the D500 is not linear.

With digital cameras, ISO is not strictly speaking an exposure adjustment. To elaborate, it does not affect the number of photons hitting the sensor like both aperture and shutter speed do. ISO is a form of variable gain that is applied to the data collected by the sensor, effectively boosting the voltage of the signal from it. This is then fed into the analog to digital converter (on the sensor in the D500’s case) and is stored as a number that is recorded in the raw image data.

Manufacturers can apply “tweaks” to this process. The D5, for example, actually performs “worse” at base ISO than it does at higher ISO levels. This is by design, as the usage design characteristics of the camera are for exceptional low light performance.

D500, Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5, Zen 170mm dome, 1/50@f8, ISO1600

100% crop of the above image showing noise at ISO1600

Image after processing through Lightroom, including noise reduction and shadows opened up.

The D500’s sensor is a dual gain version, which provides a less linear ISO response up to ISO 400, where the second gain step kicks in and provides a more linear approach. In testing, the camera is actually slightly outperformed by the D7200 at base ISO, but rapidly outperforms it once ISO levels are increased. Above ISO 400, this becomes particularly marked.

D500, Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR, 1/250@f18, ISO100.

Autofocus

Nikon has introduced a new autofocus system (AF) for the D5 and D500 cameras. It consists of the Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor, located at the bottom of the camera facing towards the camera’s secondary mirror and a dedicated CPU that processes only AF data.

The sensor has been entirely redesigned to offer 153 phase detection sensor points, improved low light performance and increased actual focus sensing area. 99 of theses points are cross-hatched, the increased number allows for a wider detection range that extends virtually to the edges of the DX frame and Nikon claim that the system is accurate down to -4EV.

The dedicated CPU processes only AF data. This is designed to increase speed and accuracy.

Nikon also uses what it calls its Scene Recognition System to analyze AF data. This brings together data from the camera’s metering system, imaging sensor, AF sensor and camera/lens settings. For example, the camera’s metering sensor is largely responsible for color information, which is used to allow focus tracking in the camera’s 3D tracking mode. The D500 is equipped with a new dedicated 180,000-pixel metering sensor, which means that the Scene Recognition System should be more accurate too.

The 153 focus points fill the entire viewfinder, effectively allowing focus tracking or selection anywhere within the frame. 99 of these points are cross type (detect movement both vertically and horizontally) of which 55 are selectable by the user.

Exceptions to this are the 12-24mm f/4G DX and 60mm f/2.8G lenses, both of which reduce the number of active cross sensors to 63, and when a teleconverter is used.

The D500’s AF system makes tracking small moving subjects like this blenny around the frame very easy. D500, Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR, 1/250@f18, ISO100.

AF shooting modes are a matter of personal preference to some extent, and I tend to use Continuous AF (AF-C) in either 3D or 153 point Dynamic area focusing area mode. 3D Tracking uses color information from the camera’s Scene Recognition System to track the subject around the frame. It does take a “leap of faith” to trust it, but it is almost infallible.

My experience is that the D500’s AF performance is simply the best that I have ever used. With 3D tracking, following reef fish’s movements around the frame is almost “too easy”. It simply does not miss. Of the nearly 8,000 images shot for this review, there is no more than 20 that are definitely out of focus. This should be tempered however with the knowledge that not all of those remaining are focused exactly on where I wanted to. However until the camera can read my mind, this is user error not camera error!

D500, Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR, 1/250@f29, ISO800

I have found that newer AF systems are more accurate than my eye and in situations where they fail (the complete darkness inside a wreck for example) locking off the autofocus at a known distance in the light zone prior to entering the darkness is a viable technique. With super macro lens attachments, the AF is racked in to its closest focus and then sharpness achieved by rocking the whole camera in and out.

It may be contentious, but I cannot see of a need for manual focus with this camera (unless the chosen lens does not allow for AF) underwater.

I wonder how the D500 compares to its predecessor the D7200? I guess the shooting speed and buffer must be the major improvement. A reason to make the switch to new camera and housing?

Posted by Albert Kok on 2017-04-15 11:41:12

Hi Jose,

I have not used the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, so cannot really comment a great deal. My understanding is that it is a very good camera, but in common with all mirrorless cameras, does not perform quite as well as new SLR models.

Posted by Adam Hanlon on 2017-04-09 05:24:39

Hello Adam, thanks for the review.
What would be your opinion now vs the one em1 mark2?

Kind regards,
Jise

Posted by José Alonso Luna on 2017-04-08 09:37:46

Regarding battery life on the D500 I found that turning off wifi by turning flight mode on the camera is a great benefit in getting more battery life out of the D500

Posted by Mark Gray on 2016-11-05 20:29:37

(1) Must use a 2933x XQD 2.0 (or faster). (Note Lexar Pro XQD 2.0 cards are also available in a slower 1400x speed)

(2) If the Qual is 14-bit uncompressed RAW or TIFF, the max continuous shot count will be less than 200. All other RAW and jpg modes will give 200 with the fast XQD card.

Posted by Dogs Of Marymoor Park on 2016-10-31 13:36:21

So in short the Nikon D500 when used in conjunction with Lexar Pro XQD 2.0 cards can take 200 continuous RAW images at top speed of 10fps and the number 200 has nothing to do with the "Buffer"

Posted by Mark Gray on 2016-10-31 13:23:19

The cameras buffer is a fixed amount of high speed memory which “buffers” the transfer of data from the imaging hardware to the storage card. Just as your computers RAM is a fixed amount, the buffer is a fixed amount. The top LCD shows the free space remaining in the buffer at any given time in terms of the number of shots of the current sized images.

Using a fast XQD card, such as the Lexar 2933x XQD 2.0, allows the camera to transfer fast enough that there is no back log of image data in the buffer. The 200 shot continuous limit is imposed by the firmware to keep the cameras internals from overheating. The number 200 has nothing to do with the “buffer”.

In short, by using and writing only to a fast XQD card, the D500 can shoot 200 continuous images (other than 14-bit uncompressed RAW) without pausing. Using a slower card, or writing to an SD card will drop that number significantly as the buffer size and need to "buffer" the data will come into play.

Again, the number 200 has nothing to do with the “buffer”.

Posted by Dogs Of Marymoor Park on 2016-10-31 09:59:46

Using a fast XQD 2.0 card and only shooting RAW in CH @ 10fps you get 29 shots displayed in the buffer. But when your shooting in CH the buffer drops down only to 20 shots left and stays there for the whole 200 shots. So if you want the 200 shot buffer you need to run Lexar pro ZQD 2.0 cards.

Regards Mark

Posted by Mark Gray on 2016-10-31 06:51:13

Brian going by your post the only major reason to jump from your current Nikon Dx setup to 4/3's Olympus is due to the fact that the housings are approximately $1500 cheaper than a housing for the D500. Since you already have a Nikon D7100 the most practable and affordable choice that I see is that you stick with Nikon as you already have a collection of lens, ports, domes, extension which go straight on a D500 housing. On the other hand if you went 4/3's you have to purchase a whole new set of lenses, ports, domes, extensions and some of those Zuiko lenses are not cheap. I believe that the Oly 7-14mm f2.8 is $1800 and the Oly 8mm f1.8 is $1000. All of a sudden the total cost of the 4/3 Olympus OMD EM1 mk2 with lenses, ports, domes, and extension doesnt make the most practical move, but only you can decided.

Regards Mark

Posted by Mark Gray on 2016-10-31 06:20:54

One note on the D500's buffer. It's only 29 shots (as reported on the top LCD) and not 200 as a lot of people incorrectly report. When shooting on CH with a fast SD UHS-I card, you may get only around 39 continuous shots before the camera starts to stutter as the buffer fills. But using a fast XQD card, the XQD can be written pretty much as fast the camera can shoot. After 200 frames the firmware will cause the camera to pause to prevent overheating. So in terms of our previous cameras, using a fast XQD card, the camera acts like it has a 200 frame buffer. But when using a slower XQD card or an SD card (or writing to both) you won't get the 200 continuous shots.

Posted by Dogs Of Marymoor Park on 2016-10-30 19:01:31

Hi Brian,

In my opinion that are a few holes in your argument!

1. The D500 is not "4th line". It is a pro camera which shares many features with the D5. It is just a DX version rather than an FX one. It will outperform the D800/810 or Df in almost all circumstances underwater.
2. The AF system is a long way in front of what is available on any mirrorless camera to date. For macro/supermacro, there is bluntly no comparison. Phase detect is simply better and faster than contrast.
3. For all wide-angle photography, higher ISO performance is a bonus. That said, we don't know how the new Olympus will compare yet.

Adam

Posted by Adam Hanlon on 2016-10-29 03:37:36

Thank you Adam (and Alex) for the first field review of the D500 that I’ve seen out there.

However, this has my head spinning. I hope one (or both) of you can spare a few minutes in the coming days to respond to my questions. I’m sure many others will also find it helpful. I apologize in advance that my thoughts are a bit scattered!

This all seems like an awesome camera for UW. I’m probably the “typical” type of person to want this. I’ve used the D7100 for a few hundred dives and have dabbled with some full frame on land (D750, Leica Q). Although I don’t need to upgrade, I could always use a boost in AF and tracking ability and can’t help but peer 6 months into the future to see my potential options.

Here’s what gives me pause. The D500 now seems to be priced exactly where the new Olympus OMD EM1 MarkII will be priced when it’s released very soon. Why should I consider staying with the Nikon line and their D500 vs jumping ship to the M43 world with Olympus’ flagship camera? The D500 is Nikon’s 4th-highest line?? D5, D8xx, df, d500….thats’s the order they price them, right? Is Nikon technology that much further ahead of what Olympus has that they’d be willing to give away their best tech on something that doesn’t retail for $3500-6500?

My diving consists of mainly macro/supermacro and some shark action. Probably 80/20 split. I don’t envision myself doing much free diving (or other situations where I wouldn't be using strobes). Is the increased high ISO ability of the D500 (I assume it's better) worth anything to me underwater (when compared to what I’ll have to work with when shooting that OMD-EM1 mark ii. The total size of the setup isn’t that important to me. I’ll have big strobes, wet lens, focus light, etc...so there’s no getting around that. I do see lenses that seem to be well reviewed for what I would find useful (Oly 8mm FE f1.8 PRO, Oly 60mm Zuiko f2.8 Macro, and possibly something like the Oly 7-14mm f2.8 PRO for some skittish sharks is the 8mm is too wide).

If nothing else, the huge discount that the UW housing manufacturers are giving to M43 users vs DSLR users is worth talking about. Nauticam has the D500 housing at $3500 while they seem to have the M43 housings sub-$2000.

Thank you in advance!
Brian

Posted by brian on 2016-10-28 13:00:50