Nikon D7500 Review
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Nikon D7500
21 MP DX, 8 FPS, 4K Stereo, Touch Flip LCD
Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
Nikon D7500 (25.2 oz./714g with battery and card, $997 or about $750 used if you know How to Win at eBay) and 50mm f/1.4 G. bigger. I got mine at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website’s biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you’ll have no way of knowing if you’re missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
December 2019 Nikon Reviews Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Reviews
Nikon D7500 and 50mm f/1.4 G. bigger.
Nikon D7500. bigger.
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
(more at High ISOs and throughout the review)
Orange and Bars, 11:46 AM, 23 February 2018. Nikon D7500, Nikon 10-20mm at 20mm at f/8 at 1/250 Auto ISO 100, as shot. bigger or camera-original © file.
Red Prop Spinner, P51 Mustang, 1:18 PM, 23 February 2018. Nikon D7500, Nikon 10-20mm at 20mm at f/9 at 1/250 Auto ISO 100, as shot. bigger or camera-original © file.
Introduction
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
New Good Bad Missing
This new Nikon D7500 is a fantastic combination of the ultra high-speed imaging guts of the D500 put in the more practical body of the previous D7200.
The Nikon D7500 has the image sensor, light meter and processor of the top-of-the-line DX Nikon D500 and keeps the D7200’s body, mode dial and AF system, and adds Bluetooth, 4K video and a flipping touch LCD to it.
The D7500 has the D500’s same crazy expanded ISO 50 ~ 1,638,400 range, and bumps frame rate to 8 FPS from the D7200’s 6 FPS, while it retains the D7200’s superior mode dial with two programmable presets I find necessary for real-world photography, all for a very minor premium over the price of the old D7200.
Better than the D500, the D7500 has better auto exposure (my D500 too often gives poor exposure), and my D7500 has U1 and U2 programmable preset modes on its top dial I set for instant recall of my settings for people (U2) or landscape (U1) photos.
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
New since the D7200
8 FPS, up from 6 FPS.
ISO 51,200, up from ISO 25,600.
Pushed ISO modes up to +5 stops, which look progressively worse until the +5 stop push (ISO 1,638,400) looks awful.
Touch LCD.
Flipping LCD.
4K Video.
Bluetooth.
New EN-EL15a battery, compatible with the older EN-EL15 used in every mid-sized Nikon from the D7000 up to the D500 and D810.
1.6 oz. (45g) lighter than the D7200, and much lighter than a D850.
Group-area AF.
Only 20.6 MP, no longer 24 MP.
No more second card slot.
No longer meters with manual-focus lenses.
Good
The images always look great. In competent hands, they’re always sharp and in-focus with great colors and exposure.
State-of-the-art DSLR image and speed performance at a very reasonable price; less than many lesser mirrorless cameras!
Excellent autofocus system with great facial recognition.
Has a mode dial with programmable memories sorely lacking in the D500.
Has an excellent built-in flash sorely lacking in the D500.
Electronic video stabilization at 1,080p (none at 4K).
Simultaneous 4K video output to card and uncompressed via HDMI.
Headphone and microphone jacks.
Bad
Several important features that I actually use on my older D7200 have been removed: there is no second card slot, there is no depth-of-field preview button (and no way to program one), and there is no aperture-ring feeler so no metering or auto exposure with old manual-focus lenses.
Missing
No second card slot, so I’d not use the D7500 to shoot any critical jobs. Then again, I’ve been doing this for decades back when card errors were common; I haven’t lost any card files for over ten years so maybe we’re OK — feel lucky?
No Depth-of-Field Preview through the viewfinder. To see it, you now either have to use Live View or playback the image.
No aperture-ring feeler, so no longer meters or auto exposes or records proper EXIF with any old manual-focus lenses. Who cares? Old manual focus lenses are for full-frame; DX lenses are much better on DX.
Slightly fewer pixels in both the image sensor and LCD compared to the D7200, but not enough to notice.
No option for a battery grip.
No square or 4:3 crops, only a 1.3x (12x18mm) as-shot crop option.
No automatic brightness control for the rear LCD. No other Nikons do this, either.
While Nikon claims this has the same sensor and image processing of the D500, the AUTO 0 (Keep White) option is missing for Auto White Balance. The D7500 makes do with just the AUTO 1 and AUTO 2 options.
No GPS; use the GP-1A or just the Snapbridge app to read location data from your phone for free.
Lens Compatibility
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Nikon D7500. bigger.
There is a focus motor in the D7500, so it works with every AF lens made since 1986. Yes, it works with the very first screw-type AF lenses as well as my 1999 80-200mm f/2.8 AFS with an aperture ring.
There’s no aperture-ring feeler, so it won’t meter with manual-focus lenses.
You’re always on your own with off-brand lenses like Sigma. Potential incompatibility with future cameras is one of the steep prices one pays for trying to save a few dollars yesterday on a cheap lens. Nikon shares nothing with its competitors about lens compatibility, so if you want to buy a Tamron or Sigma, you’re gambling that it will work with tomorrow’s camera. Good luck; it’s always better to buy used Nikon than new junk-brand lenses if money matters.
More at Nikon Lens Compatibility.
Specifications
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Image Sensor
20.6 MP.
15.7 × 23.5 mm CMOS.
No anti-alias filter.
3:2 aspect ratio.
1.53× crop factor.
Ultrasonic cleaner.
Still Image Sizes
5,568 × 3,712 (20.6 MP) native.
DX (16 × 24mm)
5,568 × 3,712 (L, 20.6 MP), 4,176 × 2,784 (M, 12MP), 2,784 × 1,856 (S, 5 MP).
1.3× crop (12 × 18mm)
This is a 1.3× crop inside the DX sensor, which is a 1.53× crop factor from a full-frame camera.
4,272 × 2,848 (L), 3,200 × 2,136 (M), 2,128 × 1,424 (S).
Stills shot while rolling video
Stills shot while rolling 4K video: 3,840 × 2,160 (8 MP).
Stills shot while rolling DX video: 5,568 × 3,128 (L, 17 MP), 4,176 × 2,344 (M, 10 MP), 2,784 × 1,560 (S, 4 MP)
Stills shot while rolling 1.3×-crop video: 4,272 × 2,400 (L, 10 MP), 3,200 × 1,800 (M, 6 MP), 2,128 × 1,192 (S, 2.5 MP)
Frame Rates
8 frames-per-second with full AF & AE between frames.
Frame Buffer
100 frame buffer (JPG).
50 frame buffer (RAW/NEF 14-bit lossless compressed).
ISO
ISO 100 to 51,200, expandable from ISO 50 (“LO -1”) to ISO 1,638,400 (“HI + 5”).
Auto ISO
Settable high and low ISO limits as far as the camera goes: ISO 100 to 1,638,400 (“HI + 5”)!
Slowest shutter speed settable to any fixed value in full stops, as well as to track the lens’ focal length.
New “Subject and Background” mode to give the D7500 permission to jack up ISO to higher levels to get more detail in the backgrounds of indoor flash shots.
Still Formats
JPG and/or NEF raw.
JPGs come as BASIC, NORMAL or FINE in both constant size or constant quality options.
NEFs come as 12 or 14 bit, losslessly or lossy compressed.
sRGB and Adobe RGB.
Video
Electronic stabilization at 1,080p (none at 4K).
Simultaneous 4K UHD output to card and uncompressed via HDMI.
Headphone and microphone jacks.
Zebra stripes in live-view.
Auto and manual ISOs from ISO 100 to 51,600 to Hi +5.
Video Resolutions and Rates
3,840 × 2,160 (4K UHD) at 29.97p, 25p or 23.976p.
1,920 × 1,080 at 59.94p, 50p, 29.97p, 25p or 23.976p.
1,280 × 720 at 59.94p or 50p.
★ High quality available at all resolutions. Normal quality available at all resolutions except 3,840 × 2,160.
Maximum take length: 29m59s.
Time Lapse.
Coding & File Formats
H.264/MPEG-4 video and Linear PCM or AAC audio stored in MOV or MP4 files.
Audio
Recorded only along with video.
Stereo microphones built in.
Mic-in jack with plug-in power overrides built-in mic.
Headphone jack.
Autofocus
51 points, same as D7100 and D7200.
Works from LV -3 to +19.
51 AF points.
Multi-CAM 3500DX II AF module, same as the D7200 and slightly newer than the Multi-CAM 3500DX of the D7100.
Only the 15 central sensors can see horizontal lines (‘cross type’), the rest only see vertical lines, just like the single focus sensor of the Nikon SP of 1956.
Only the center sensor can work with lenses as slow as f/8.
Multi-CAM 3500DX II AF Module.
Auto, Dynamic, Group or single point AF.
Configurable in combinations of 9, 21 or 51.
AF-S (single focus and lock), AF-C (continuous) and AF-A (automatic selection between AF-S and AF-C) modes.
3D tracking, which continuously follows moving subjects within the 51 AF points, highlighting the activated AF point in the viewfinder.
Fine-tuning, for the occasional oddball lens.
AF Illuminator.
AF motor in body for use with all AF lenses, as well as AF-I and AF-S.
Finder
Glass pentaprism.
Glass pentaprism.
100% coverage (97% in 1.3x crop).
0.53x magnification with standard 28mm (for DX) lens. (0.94x with 50mm lens, which is a telephoto on a DX camera.)
18.5mm eyepoint.
-2 to +1 diopters.
Trade name of screen: “Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark II,” same as D7100 and D7200.
Shutter
Vertical metal focal plane shutter.
30s to 1/8,000, Bulb.
Remote Releases
MC-DC2 remote cord.
WR-1 and WR-R10 wireless remotes.
Flash
1/250 sync speed. Also syncs at up to 1/320 with some loss of flash range.
180,000 RGB pixel i-TTL flash light meter.
Built-in Flash
Yes, pops up.
GN 39’/12m at ISO 100.
The built-in flash can act as a Commander for remote flashes.
It can work with the radio control system of the SB-5000 when used with the optional WR-R10.
External Flash
Dedicated hot shoe.
No PC flash sync terminal, but use a Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 to add it. Who cares? I use the built-in flash to trigger my studio strobes instead of a PC cord.
Light Meters
Matrix
180,000 pixel RGB 3D color matrix metering III with Advanced Scene Recognition System. (same as D5 and D500.)
Center-weighted
75% weight to 8-mm circle in center of frame (can change it to 6, 10 or 13 mm in a menu).
Also can give equal weight to the entire frame.
Non-CPU lenses only use the 8-mm circle.
Spot Meter
3.5 mm circle (2.5%) centered on selected focus point.
Highlight-Weighted
Only with G, E and D lenses.
Meter Range
LV 0 to 20 with f/1.4 lens. (LV 2 to 20 with spot meter).
In my experience, Nikon’s meters all work fine down to moonlight. No worries here.
Live View
Yes for movies and for stills.
Numerous AF modes, including facial recognition.
LCD Monitor
Nikon D7500 flipping LCD. bigger.
3.2″ (80 mm) diagonal touch-sensitive TFT.
4:3 aspect ratio.
921,600 dots (640 × 480 × RGB); not as fine as an iPhone.
Tilts up and down for shooting at odd angle, but doesn’t swing around for self-portraits.
170° viewing angle.
100% frame coverage.
No auto brightness control.
Connectors
Nikon D7500 connectors. bigger.
3.5mm powered stereo mic-in.
Micro-B USB
Type C HDMI.
3.5mm stereo headphone/line output.
Accessory terminal for remote controls and GPS.
WiFi
IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g.
2,412 to 2,462 MHz (channels 1 to 11).
Maximum output power: 8.4 dBm (EIRP).
Authentication: Open system, WPA2-PSK.
Bluetooth
Version 4.1.
Rated 30 foot (10 meters) line-of-sight range.
Storage
Nikon D7500. bigger.
One slot only.
Takes SD, SDHC or SDXC cards.
UHS-I compliant.
Power & Battery
Battery
New EN-EL15a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery included, interchangeable with the older EN-EL15 used in most other mid-sized Nikons.
Rated 950 shots per charge, CIPA with the flash firing half the time. The D500 is rated 1,240 shots per charge‚ but that’s because the D500 has no built-in flash!
Charger
MH-25a Battery Charger included.
It’s the same crummy one that requires a separate cord or bizarre plug stub.
AC Adapter
Optional EH-5b AC Adapter, which needs an EP-5B Power Connector.
Size
4.1 × 5.4 × 2.9 inches HWD.
104 × 135.5 × 72.5 millimeters HWD.
Weight
25.188 oz. (714.0g) with battery and card, actual measured.
Nikon specifies 25.4 oz. (720 g) with battery and card, or 22.6 oz. (640 g) stripped.
The D7200 was 27.0 oz. (765g) with battery and card; this D7500 is 1.6 oz. (45g) lighter!
Quality
Nikon D7500. bigger.
Made in Thailand.
Environment, operating
0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F).
85% or less RH, no condensation.
Included
Nikon D7500 Included Accessories. bigger.
D7500 body (maybe a lens with a kit).
DK-28 Rubber Eyecup
EN-EL15a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
MH-25a Battery Charger
UC-E20 USB Cable
AN-DC3 BK Camera Strap
BF-1B Body Cap
DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
Nikon Product Number
1581, body only.
1582, kit with 18-140mm.
Announced
12:01 AM, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, NYC time.
Promised for
Summer 2017.
Price, USA
February 2022
$997, body-only.
$1,397, kit with 18-140mm VR DX.
About $750 used if you know How to Win at eBay
December 2019
$797, body-only.
$1,097, kit with 18-140mm VR DX.
About $500 used if you know How to Win at eBay
April 2017 ~ March 2018
$1,247, body-only.
$1,747, kit with 18-140mm VR DX.
Nikon D7500 box. bigger.
Optional Accessories
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Remote Controls
MC-DC2 remote cord.
WR-1 and WR-R10 wireless remotes.
You may be able to use the Snapbridge app to control the D7500 from your phone.
GPS
GP-1 or GP-1A.
Power
(EN-EL15a battery and MH-25a charger are included.)
EH-5b AC Adapter, which needs an EP-5B Power Connector.
Flash Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15
Getting a Legal USA Version
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
This section applies in USA only.
In the USA, be sure your box says “US” near the barcode:
Legal USA version Nikon D7500. bigger.
And be sure you have a Nikon USA printed warranty card on top when you open the box:
Nikon D7500 included paperwork. bigger.
Be sure the serial number on the card matches the serial number on the bottom of your camera. The serial number on the outside of the box near the barcodes should also match. You need a USA warranty card with a matching serial number to get service in the USA.
If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can’t take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-USA versions have no warranty in the USA, and you won’t even be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you’re willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Nikon USA enforces its trademarks strictly. It’s unlikely, but possible that US customs won’t let your camera back in the country if you bought a gray-market version in the USA, carried it overseas, and try to bring it back in. (If you take the chance of buying one overseas, be sure you have a receipt to prove you bought it overseas and be prepared to pay duty on it.)
If a gray market version saves you $500 it may be worth it, but for $200 or less I wouldn’t risk having no warranty or support.
Always be sure to check your box and paperwork while you can still return it, or just don’t buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you’ll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed.
US versions include two printed manuals, one in English (shown on left) and uno en español (a la derecha).
Get yours from the same places I do and you won’t have a problem, but if you take the risk of getting yours elsewhere, be sure to check everything while you still can return it.
Unboxing
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
Nikon D7500 Box. bigger.
The box and camera are completely unsealed. There is no way to know if anyone else has been fiddling with your camera, swapping parts and accessories, or even if it’s a used camera. That’s why it’s critical only to buy from an approved online source, since they ship from automated warehouses where no shifty salesmen or customers ever get to touch your new camera before it ships. While new $10 CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays and bottles of milk and drinking water are sealed and quite obvious if anyone’s opened them, paradoxically Nikon doesn’t bother sealing anything, so your only insurance it to buy only from a trusted online dealer.
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
As you open it, first you should see the USA warranty and two thick printed manuals:
Nikon D7500 included paperwork. bigger.
Take out the manuals and flip up a cardboard cover and you’ll see the camera in bubble wrap on the left and the other accessories on the right:
Inside the Nikon D7500’s Box. bigger.
Take the camera out of its second plastic bag inside the bubble wrap, and it has a peel-off protective LCD cover (peel it off and throw it away) and a tag advertising Nikon’s Snapbridge app. Unthread the tag and you’re ready to charge the battery and get going:
Brand New Nikon D7500. bigger.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus
Ergonomics Exposure Finder Flash
High ISOs Auto ISO Auto White Balance
Lens Corrections Mechanical Quality
Noise & Vibration Power & Battery
Data Clock Accuracy
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Overall
Performance top
The D7500 is a marvelous camera. It has flawless technical image quality and handles extremely well and is reasonably light weight compared to Nikon’s larger DSLRs like the D850 — and for most purposes it takes the same pictures.
Autofocus
Performance top
Autofocus is great. The D7500 has excellent facial recognition for normal viewfinder shooting and usually recognizes and focuses on faces, even if there are other distractions in the image.
In this image, the D7500 focused right on Ryan’s closest eye, when set to AF-A and AUTO AF Area select:
Ryan on his iPhone 7 Plus at Mario’s — under dim pink lighting — 19 February 2018. (Nikon D7500, Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX, f/1.8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 3,200, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Manual Focus
performance top
There are three ways to set manual focus before you take the picture:
1.) Look at the ground glass (the clear part of the viewfinder).
2.) Look in the lower left of the finder for the electronic manual focus aid. It’s a big dot for OK with an arrow on either side telling you which way to turn the manual focus ring.
3.) Use Live View, and feel free to magnify the image at the same time for the greatest precision.
Ergonomics
Performance top
Ergonomics are generally excellent, especially for people like me who need to shoot very different kinds of subjects (landscapes and then people) on short notice since the D7500 has U1 and U2 programmable camera preset modes on its top dial.
With U1 and U2 camera-memory recall modes on the top dial I prefer my D7500 to most other Nikons. If you, like me, need to swap quickly between shooting scenarios. I keep my U1 set for places and things, and U2 set for people (see usage), and with one click I’m all set up for either. On my other Nikons I have to stop and fiddle with a lot of settings to reoptimize the camera for each kind of photo, and with my D7500, I can swap in one click and not miss my photo.
Looking for something about which to complain, the worst thing about the D7500 is that the Live View button is too close to the bottom of the camera, so it often gets knocked and turns the camera on in Live View, which can run down the battery. I always leave my SLRs and DSLRs ON as I carry them around; there’s never a need to turn them OFF, but if this is a problem for you, you might want to consider it.
Only the rear dial shifts the program exposure.
The top LCD is very legible. It’s easy to read.
The electronic level stays active for a pretty long while when you activate it, but they’re hard to see in the viewfinder because the indicators are small and black towards the sides of active the clear image area.
The touch screen works great, especially for entering lines of text, working in the menus and playback.
Exposure
Performance top
Exposure is usually excellent. Of course if your lighting is poor as often happens to amateur shooters who don’t know how to light a set there can be conditions for which there will be no correct exposure, and otherwise the D7500 does a great job in conditions that trick other cameras.
This is much better than the D500, whose auto exposure is poor too often.
Finder
Performance top
Actual View Through Nikon D7500 Finder. bigger.
The finder is as big, sharp and beautiful as you’ll find in any APS-C camera. It’s excellent. The finder optics and the finder image is sharp everywhere. The data is all white, and the flash bolt is orange. There are some icons, like FLICKER, that appear along the bottom of the clear image area, and they are hard to see.
Like most DSLR finders, the AF areas are shown as black LCD boxes. They may be edge-lit in red in the dark, but overall they can obscure your subject. They usually disappear depending on how you set your D7500 after they’ve locked focus so you can compose.
The only significantly better finder is found in the D5 pro camera, whose AF areas are LEDs which always light red and don’t obscure the subject.
Flash
Performance top
La Quinta Arts Festival, 11:28 AM, 21 February 2018. Nikon D7500, built-in flash ON, Nikon 10-20mm at 16mm at f/13 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © file.
Nikon invented great automatic fill flash performance and their cameras have excelled at this for decades before DSLRs. The D7500 shares this; the built-in flash works great. If it weren’t for the built-in flash, the lamp at the top left would be black and make for a much more boring photo.
High ISO Performance
Performance top
The D7500 has great high ISO performance, as do most DSLRs. Don’t be fooled by Nikon’s ludicrous claims of ISOs above 51,200, the “push” modes look laughably horrible as you will see — but up to ISO 25,600 the pictures look great.
High ISO Image Sample Files
These are all shot with the 35mm f/1.8 DX at f/5.6 on a tripod at various exposure times as FINE LARGE JPGs.
Complete Images
These images look about the same at this web size all the way up to ISO 25,600; the highlights, shadows and colors match very well across the reasonable ISO spectrum.
From ISO 51,200 and above performance gets worse. The color starts to shift to yellow at ISO 51,200, and the images become progressively more useless from ISO 102,400 (H1) and up. Obviously these higher “H” ISO modes are something Nikon’s marketing department insisted that was added to make the D7500 look better on paper since stupider people might be impressed by Nikon’s false claims of “ISO 1,638,400!!!,” but as you can see here, the results are garbage in the “H” modes.
No one needs to shoot above ISO 25,600; at ISO 6,400 I can shoot hand-held in full moonlight, and at ISO 1,638,400 you can shoot at 1/60 at f/4 under full moonlight. These foolish ISOs are a sad trick to try to sell more cameras, so ignore them. The D7500 has all the high ISO performance I need for anything, and is about the same as in the top Nikon D850. If you want significantly better, get the Sony A7 III which actually looks really good even at ISO 204,800.
Click any for the camera-original © files to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly.
Obviously ISO 1,638,400 is completely useless. Don’t use it. Your camera’s not broken; it’s simply a hoax.
600 pixels crops from above: clock
These are 600 × 450 pixel crops that vary in size to fit your browser window. If they are about 6″ (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56″ (1 × 1.5 meters) at this same magnification. If they are about 12″ (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 75 × 112″ (2 × 3 meters) at this same extreme magnification.
As ISO climbs we lose the details on the clock face. Look at the decorative lines between the numbers; they get softer and start disappearing due to the noise reduction by ISO 800. The minute markers are starting to be erased by the noise reduction at ISO 12,800 and are completely gone by about ISO 25,600.
Click any for the same camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly:
600 pixel crops from above: grille
These are 600 × 450 pixel crops that vary in size to fit your browser window. If they are about 6″ (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56″ (1 × 1.5 meters) at this same magnification. If they are about 12″ (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 75 × 112″ (2 × 3 meters) at this same extreme magnification.
As ISO climbs we lose the details in the wire screen behind the ironwork. By about ISO 6,400 we can’t see the mesh at all! This is normal for noise reduction; digital cameras couldn’t shoot at these ISOs if it weren’t for these tricks.
At low ISOs we can see the screen and the diamond-patten tiles at the back of the fireplace. As ISO climbs, the mesh and diamond pattens disappear. At the very highest ISOs there’s nothing but noise and no image at all!
I lightened all of these crops with the same curves adjustment layer in Photoshop so you could see them more clearly on this page.
Click any for the same camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly:
Auto ISO
Performance top
Auto ISO is state-of-the-art. It’s easy to program everything, including setting the slowest shutter speed either as a fixed value or a ±2 stop shift from 1/focal length. Bravo!
Auto White Balance
Performance top
Auto White Balance is as good as we see in DSLRs. It’s usually quite good in awful light, but is less likely to correct fully as the light gets darker. In other words, in bright indoor mixed light it will correct crazy things like pink lighting in restaurants, but as that same light gets dimmer, less likely to correct it.
How good is it?
Ryan on his iPhone 7 Plus at Mario’s — under dim pink Italian restaurant lighting — 19 February 2018. (Nikon D7500, Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX, f/1.8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 3,200, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
This is shot at our favorite family-style Italian restaurant, which is lit with dim pink bulbs under which I almost never can get a decent photograph; they usually turn out completely red with other cameras. Lo and behold, my D7500 makes what looks like a normal photo. Bravo!
There are two AUTO ISO settings: AUTO 1 (Normal) and AUTO 2 (Keep Warm Lighting). The Keep Warm Lighting option prevents the D7500 from correcting tungsten fully, leaving it more orange.
Missing is the AUTO 0 (Keep White/reduce warm) option of the D500 and better FX cameras, which corrects warm lighting fully.
Katie shops for cheese, 19 February 2018. Mixed fluorescent and God knows what other lighting in a grocery store. Nikon D7500, Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX, f/1.8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 220, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
Lens Corrections
Performance top
It always corrects automatically for lateral color fringes (chromatic aberration).
There are menu options for falloff (vignette control) and distortion.
Mechanical Quality
Performance top
It’s typical amateur Nikon: a plastic shell covering metal innards as needed.
It’s made in Thailand. It has a metal lens mount and tripod socket, a partially metal hinge for the card door and the rest is all plastic.
Noise and Vibration
Performance top
The D7500 is relatively quiet for a DSLR, and much quieter than any of the pro DSLRs like the D5.
I usually use the Quiet modes (select them on the top left dial), which aren’t that much quieter, but aren’t that much slower, either, for typical shooting.
If you want a completely silent camera for regular viewfinder shooting, look to my Sony comparison chart for models which are silent. The A7 III is a favorite.
Power & Battery
Performance top
The D7500 has typically superb battery life. I get 1,000 shots or more on a charge; I can’t even remember the last time I charged it.
When new the battery arrives dead; you have to charge it before use.
The only bad thing about such great battery life is that you might forget to charge it before something important. You don’t want to bring it on a vacation, forget your charger and discover it was almost dead when you left!
Data
Performance top
Cards are correctly formatted as “NIKON D7500.”
Clock Accuracy
Performance top
Every sample is different, but mine is pretty good, losing only 180ms/day or 5.4s/month.
Compared
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
The price we pay for faster speed and crazy ISOs over the D7200 is that the D7500 has slightly less resolution: 20.6 MP versus the 24 MP of the D7200 and most other DX Nikons. This is completely invisible, but the added speed in both frames per second and high ISOs will help me get more and better shots.
The D7200 and previous D7100 and D7000 are all pretty much the same. They all have U1 and U2 Instant Recall Modes, two SD card slots and 2,016-segment RGB light meters. If you own a D7100 or D7000, there’s no reason to update to the D7200 or D7500 unless there’s something particular about either that you really need.
The D7000 series is better than the D5600 series and D3400 series because it has more buttons and dials to let you set the camera more quickly — but these only matter if you actually change these settings. The D7000 series is significantly heavier and more expensive than the D5600 or D3400.
The main reason to get a full-frame camera like the D750 is if you enjoy using your ancient full-frame lenses, if you want a larger viewfinder, or want narrower depth of field. Otherwise, the images from the D750 are the same as from DX, and in fact the two cameras handle so similarly that I usually have to look at the label on the bottom to see which is which!
Versus the D500 and D7000 Series
D500
D7500
D7200
D7100
D7000
Announced
1/2016
4/2017
3/2015
2/2013
9/2010
Resolution
21MP
21MP
24MP
24MP
16MP
Card Slots
1 SD & 1 XQD
1 SD
TWO SD
TWO SD
TWO SD
U1 U2 Instant-Recall?
NO
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Frame Rate*
10 FPS
8 FPS
6 FPS
6 FPS
6 FPS
AF Points**
55
51
51
51
39
AF-mode selections
Button and dials
Button and dials
Button and dials
Button and dials
Button and dials
Finder (@ 28mm)
0.56x
0.53x
0.53x
0.53x
0.53x
Built-in mic
Stereo
Stereo
Stereo
Stereo
mono
Flash Sync
1/250
1/250
1/250
1/250
1/250
LCD
3.2″ 2,359k
3.2″ 922k
3.2″ 1,229k
3.2″ 1,229k
3.2″ 922k
LCD Flips?
flips
flips
no
no
no
Remote
10-pin or WR-R10 & WR-A10 adapter
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
Battery
EN-EL15
EN-EL15a
EN-EL15
EN-EL15
EN-EL15
D500
D7500
D7200
D7100
D7000
AF with older AF lenses?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Meter with old manual lenses?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Weight, wet***
839g
720g
765g
774g
774g
Price, body only, 4/2017
$1,997
$1,247
$997
$697
$538
Price, body only, 2/2018
$1,897
$1,247
$1,297
$720
$750
* D7200 can run 7 FPS in its oddball 1.3x crop mode, and D300s can run 8 FPS with more batteries in bigger, optional grip. I don’t care, but have been told that the D300s can only shoot at 2.5 fps at 14-bit RAW, while the D7200 can still shoot 6 fps at 14-bit RAW.
** Selectable AF points; D500 claims 153 but you only can select among 55. 39 is the same as 51; they all are fields of AF points. 39 to 51 is the same as 40 to 50, which also looks the same.
*** As actually measured by me, with battery and card.
Versus Current Better DX Cameras
D500
D7500
D7200
D5600
D5500
Announced
1/2016
4/2017
3/2015
11/2016
1/2015
Resolution
21MP
21MP
24MP
24MP
24MP
Card Slots
1 SD & 1 XQD
1 SD
TWO SD
1 SD
1 SD
U1 U2 Instant-Recall?
NO
Yes
Yes
NO
NO
Frame Rate*
10 FPS
8 FPS
6 FPS
5 FPS
5 FPS
AF Points**
55
51
51
39
39
AF-mode selections
Button and dials
Button and dials
Button and dials
Menus
Menus
Finder (@ 28mm)
0.56x
0.53x
0.53x
0.46x
0.46x
Built-in mic
Stereo
Stereo
Stereo
Stereo
Stereo
Flash Sync
1/250
1/250
1/250
1/200
1/200
LCD
3.2″ 2,359k
3.2″ 922k
3.2″ 1,229k
3.2″ 1,037k
3.2″ 1,037k
LCD Flips?
flips
flips
no
flips
flips
Remote
10-pin or WR-R10 & WR-A10 adapter
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
ML-L3 or MC-DC2
Snapbrige app via Bluetooth
ML-L3
Battery
EN-EL15
EN-EL15a
EN-EL15
EN-EL14a
EN-EL14a
D500
D7500
D7200
D5600
D5500
AF with older AF lenses?
Yes
Yes
Yes
no, needs AF-S
no, needs AF-S
Meter with old manual lenses?
Yes
No
Yes
no
no
Weight, wet***
839g
720g
765g
463g
466g
Price, body only, 4/2017
$1,997
$1,247
$997
$697
$597
Price, body only, 2/2018
$1,897
$1,247
$1,297
$647
$579
* D7200 can run 7 FPS in its oddball 1.3x crop mode, and D300s can run 8 FPS with more batteries in bigger, optional grip. I don’t care, but have been told that the D300s can only shoot at 2.5 fps at 14-bit RAW, while the D7200 can still shoot 6 fps at 14-bit RAW.
** Selectable AF points; D500 claims 153 but you only can select among 55. 39 is the same as 51; they all are fields of AF points. 39 to 51 is the same as 40 to 50, which also looks the same.
*** As actually measured by me, with battery and card.
Versus Current Cheaper DX Cameras
* D7200 can run 7 FPS in its oddball 1.3x crop mode, and D300s can run 8 FPS with more batteries in bigger, optional grip. I don’t care, but have been told that the D300s can only shoot at 2.5 fps at 14-bit RAW, while the D7200 can still shoot 6 fps at 14-bit RAW.
** Selectable AF points; D500 claims 153 but you only can select among 55. 39 is the same as 51; they all are fields of AF points. 39 to 51 is the same as 40 to 50, which also looks the same.
*** As actually measured by me, with battery and card.
Usage
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
Free Live Help
If you’re in the USA and have a legal USA version, just phone Nikon at (800) NIKON-UX and they’ll walk you though whatever you need. Last I checked, they’re open from 9AM ~ 8PM NYC time.
My Setup File
If you just want to set up your D7500 exactly as I have mine set, simply download and copy this NCSETUPL.BIN file to your computer. This file is new as of 10AM 13 March 2018.
It won’t do anything in your browser or on your computer. You have to download it to your computer, copy it to a memory card, pop that card into your D7500, then MENU > SETUP > Save/load settings > Load settings > YES to replace your settings with mine.
Feel free to load them into your D7500, but know that my D7500 is programmed to add my name and contact information to the EXIF data of every photo I snap. This should be an incentive to update your copyright and contact information, otherwise your photos will be marked with my information You will need to update your information in three places: MENU > SETUP > Image Comment and MENU > SETUP > Copyright information for both Artist and Copyright. (If you really screw up, here is the setup file from my D7500 when it was new before I set it to my tastes.)
I set many things, but the basics are:
U1 and U2 Memories
I set U1 on the top dial for photos of places and things, and U2 for photos of people.
U1 (places and things)
AF-A, Auto-AF Area select.
LARGE BASIC optimize quality JPG.
VIVID Picture Control, 5 sharpening, +3 Saturation.
U2 (people)
AF-C, Auto-AF Area select.
SMALL BASIC optimize quality JPG
Portrait Picture Control, 5 sharpening, +1 Saturation.
To set each later, set your camera as you want it, then MENU > SETUP (wrench) > Save user settings > Save to U1 (or U2) > Save settings > OK.
Autofocus Modes
Autofocus modes are set by pressing the little unmarked button near the bottom of the lens mount while you turn the front and rear dials and look through the finder. More details are set in menus, while the shot-to shot settings are are made with this button.
You select among the AFS (single focus and lock), AFC (continuous tracking autofocus) and AFA (the D7500 automatically selects between the other two based on if the subject is moving or not) modes with the rear dial while holding the AF mode button. Hold the same AF button by the lens and then the front dial selects among the AF Area modes (how many of the AF areas you’ll be using).
I leave my D7500 in AFA and it figures it all out. I only set the AFS mode if I’m exclusively shooting things that hold still, or set AFC if I’m only shooting sports or if I plan to change the framing of a still subject after the AF system has locked-on). Easy.
I set the AF area mode to AUTO with the front dial. AUTO in this case means the D7500 automatically selects which AF areas to use, and it can find faces as well. If set to AFC, AUTO will track a moving subject all over the finder! Brilliant.
The only other setting I’ll use for the AF area mode is S (single) in AFS, or 3D in AFC. Single lets me pick just one sensor, and 3D lets me pick one sensor and then the camera moves it around the finder to track the subject. I only select a single sensor if the AUTO function isn’t auto-selecting the AF sensors I need, which is rare.
I ignore all the other AF area mode settings like group, d9 and etc. Nikon adds all these extra modes to sell more cameras; you don’t have to use them. Like all the other features in the D7500, they are there because some people like them, but no one ever uses all the options.
Advance Modes
These are set on the top left dial.
I usually shoot in the Quiet Continuous (QC) mode, which runs at 3 FPS and is very quiet.
I only shoot in the regular modes if I need speed, or it I’m shooting in my studio where I find it weird that my studio strobes (and the shutter) fire a little later than I expect; it’s just weird; the photos are the same.
Meter Modes
I have only used the Matrix mode since it was invented in 1984.
I never use Spot or Center Weighted; I’ve never even used the button to select them.
If my exposure is incorrect, I hold the +/- button near the shutter and add or remove exposure so that the next shots are properly exposed.
Rapid Flash Shots
The built-in flash cancels the CL and CH modes, reverting to S mode.
To shoot rapidly with the built-in flash, keep pressing the shutter repeatedly. Stay close enough, and you can shot very quickly. (Recycle time increases with the square of the distance.)
Better, use an external flash like SB-400 or SB-500 and the CL and CH modes work as usual.
Auto White Balance
There are two Auto White Balance (AWB) settings: AUTO1 (Normal) and AUTO2. (Keep Warm Lighting colors). Use whichever looks best; I use AUTO1 (Normal).
You can set AWB by holding the WB button,and turning the dials and looking at the rear LCD, but have to go into the menus to select between AUTO1 (Normal) and AUTO2. (Keep Warm Lighting colors).
They both look the same in daylight and under most conditions. They vary in what they do under tungsten and sunsets.
For normal use under any sort of light, use the default AUTO1 setting.
The AUTO2 setting differs only in how low it will allow the camera’s Kelvin color temperature compensation to drop to compensate for tungsten light. Regular AUTO lets the camera correct from a maximum of about 7,500 K and as low as about 2,700 K in AUTO1 Normal, and down to about 4,000 K in AUTO2 Keep Warm. The camera will vary all over the green/magenta axis as needed.
The AUTO2 “keep warm lighting colors” limits the camera’s ability to correct for tungsten light, leaving indoor shots to look warmer (more orange).
Which of these you prefer depends on how warm you want indoor shots to look. Most people prefer the default AUTO1 setting.
Menus
You often have to hit OK after making a menu selection, especially when selecting playback display options.
Often if you forget to hit OK or the center of the rear selector the D850 will ignore you.
Power
The power switch is more of a shutter lock than a power switch; it’s OK to it leave ON all the time.
I only turn it OFF to prevent accidental shutter releases when I put my D7500 away in a case or wrap it in a towel.
The D7500 unfortunately puts its Live View button near the bottom where it often gets knocked as I carry my D7500 around my neck, which wakes-up the Live View mode and can run done my battery. For this reason I will carry my D7500 in the OFF mode if the LV button is getting hit.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
Lens Suggestions
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
As if it hasn’t been obvious all along, the D7500 is a killer camera, with almost all the advantages of the D500 and D7200 combined. It’s got the most to all of the crazy speed of the D500, with the lighter weight and mode dial of the D7200 — for $750 less than the D500. BRAVO!
If you already have a D7100 or D7200 and use it for nature, landscape, architecture, travel and other things that hold still, there’s no reason you have to update to the D7500, but if you shoot anything that moves, like sports, action, birds, wildlife or kids, then the advantages of the D7500 are obvious.
Lens Suggestions
recommendations top
Use only DX lenses. You can use full-frame lenses, but you pay a premium in dollars, size and weight because they have to cover a full-frame sensor with over twice the area of a DX sensor. DX lenses are smaller, lighter and less expensive, and usually work better on DX cameras anyway.
All of Nikon’s 18- and 16- DX zooms are wonderful; pick yours based on how far you want to zoom and how much you want to carry.
For an ultrawide, I use the newest Nikon 10-20mm VR DX. It’s ultrasharp and adds vibration reduction (image stabilization). The older Nikon 10-24mm costs much more and is built tougher, and the Tokina 11-20mm is even tougher and faster for low light action. My favorite is the 10-20mm, and it’s also the least expensive; just don’t beat on it. See also How to Use Ultrawide Lenses.
For tele, the longer 18- DX zooms like the 18-140mm, 18-200mm and 18-300mm work great, or if you don’t mind swapping lenses, the newest 70-300mm DX AFP VR has nearly instantaneous autofocus. Just don’t get any tele without VR; VR prevents blurry handheld pictures.
I got my D7500 at B&H. I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield, or used at eBay. It also comes in many different kinds of kits at Adorama, kits at Amazon, kits at B&H, kits at Crutchfield and kits at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website’s biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you’ll have no way of knowing if you’re missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
More Information
Top Sample Images Intro Lens Compatibility
Specifications Accessories USA Version
Unboxing Performance Compared
Usage Recommendations More
Nikon’s D7500 page.
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