N-Photo

(Barry) #1
here are several
big technological
advances in the D
and D500, but one
of the biggest is the
continuous shooting
performance, and not just in
terms of the maximum frame
rate. The buffer capacity is even
more impressive.
The D5 boasts the highest
frame rate of any Nikon yet,
with a maximum continuous

shooting speed of 12 frames per
second. That might sound like a
modest increase over the D4S
(11 frames per second), but at
this level every improvement is
important. That extra one frame
per second could make the
difference between an everyday
image for the sports section and
a shot that makes the front
pages of the newspapers.
The D5 can go faster still if you
shoot with the mirror locked up,

achieving an amazing 14 frames
per second. There may not be
too many situations where
mirror lockup is feasible, but
it ’s good to know it ’s there.
The D500, meanwhile, has a
maximum continuous shooting
speed of ‘ just ’ 10 frames per
second, but this is right up there
with the best speeds that could
be achieved by even the top
D-SLRs just a few years ago.
Crucially, it also puts the D50 0

on a par with the Canon EOS 7D
Mark II – for too long now, Nikon
has not had an APS-C format
camera to compete with its
opposite number from Canon.
However, the continuous
shooting speeds are only part of
the story, and not even the most
important part at that, because
the burst depth, or how many
shots you can capture in a row,
is as crucial as how fast you can
shoot. If you’re photographing

The D500 uses an
APS-C size DX-format
sensor, and will be sold
body-only or as a kit
with Nikon’s high-spec
16-80mm f/2.8-
lens, which was
introduced last year.

Like the D5, the
D500 has a large
monochrome status
LCD panel on the top
plate. The two new
pro cameras have
almost identical
control layouts.

In a bold move, Nikon
has fitted the D
with one SD/SDHC/
SDXC c a r d slot a n d
one XQD card slot,
using the high-speed
memory format first
introduced in the D4.

The D500 follows a
more conventional
design than the D5,
with a (smaller)
battery fitted in the
grip, though you can
attach an optional
MB-D17 battery grip.

The D500 does not
have the D5’s Ethernet
connection, but does
include Nikon’s new
SnapBridge
technology for
automatic transfer
to a smart device.

KEY SPECS
Sensor:
DX-format
CMOS, 20.9Mp
Crop factor: 1.5x
Memory:
1x SD, 1x XQD
Viewfinder:
Optical pentaprism,
1x magnification,
100% coverage
Video resolution:
4K (UHD) 3840x
pixels at 30/25/24fps,
Full HD 1920x1080 pixels
at 60/50/30/25/24fps
ISO range: 100-51,200,
expands to 50-1,640,
Autofocus points: 153,
including 99 cross-type; 15
points sensitive down to f/
Burst rate: 10fps
Max buffer capacity: NEF
14-bit lossless compressed
200 shots, JPEG 200 shots
LCD screen: Tilting 3.2-inch
touchscreen, 2,359k dots
Shutter speeds: 1/
sec to 30 secs, Bulb, Timer,
flash sync 1/250 sec
Weight (body only): 760g
Dimensions:
147x115x81mm
Power supply:
EN-EL15 (1240 shots)

Continuous shooting WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED, BOTH CAMERAS ARE A CLASS APART


AT A GL ANCE

D


FPS 1 23456789101112
Nikon
D7200^ 1.3x
Nikon
D^

Continuous shooting speeds
FPS 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200
Nikon
D7200 RAW (18) JPEG
Nikon
D500 RAW

Burst depth (14-bit lossless compressed RAW and JPEG)

10 March 2016 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com


SPECIAL FEATURE THE NEW NIKON D500 AND D

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