Nikon D500 - first impressions

[Øivind Tøien]

Thanks to Andy, Bill Claff has already prepared the results with respect to Photographic Dynamic Range:
http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D500,Nikon%20D7200

Edit: Also reported here now: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57666850
From another thread there it appears that others contributed data too, so there should be high confidence in the results because of the consistency found.

It is worth keeping in mind that Photographic Dynamic Range is standardized to a certain print size and viewing distance and is not the results one will see if viewing the image at 100%, where reproduction size will differ between sensors.

Compared to D7200:

[Andy]

Thanks Oivind,
here is more description to his analysis:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3996382

Past ISO 400 the D500 sensor can be treated like an ISO invarant sensor.

rgds, Andy

[Øivind Tøien]

Looks like I edited at the same time you posted. It is worth reading Bill's comments.

Fixed pattern noise analysis here:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57667055

"The D500 appears to have very little FPN."

[Andrea B.]

Thanks to Andy here and also over to Bill Claff for this PDR analysis.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thank you all.

[Frank Fremerey]

I used Bill Claff's site to compare the DX-performance of some cameras. Here the D600 (DX), the D500 (which is DX), the D810 (DX) and the D5 (DX):

http://photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D5(DX),Nikon%20D500,Nikon%20D600,Nikon%20D600(DX),Nikon%20D810(DX)

To compare the lesser performance of all these @DX I threw in Nikons reference in the FX domain, the D600 (FX)

Conclusio: @DX the D810 is the worst of all, except for lowest ISO80 and less, starting @ISO 2546 the D5 beats them all. From ISO400 to ISO1234, the D500 is the best current DX performer, at ISO2546 D5 & D500 are eaqual.

When you look at the FX-reference you see that the total Pixel budget influences test results in this test very much.

Andreas, can you explain that?

[simsurace]

When you look at the FX-reference you see that the total Pixel budget influences test results in this test very much.

The area of the sensor is the number one factor determining dynamic range (as defined and measured here anyway).

Interestingly, the state-of-the-art FX sensor (D600) is still about one stop below the ideal FX sensor, so it is about where the ideal DX sensor is.

Edit: just to add, this means that no DX camera should ever be able to beat the D600 with regards to dynamic range. That's how far we've come, wow.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thank you, Simone.

Used D600 go for 800 to 900 Euros, new D600 are 1.100 Euros.

Why do I buy a D500 anyway (at double the price)?

Because the D600 AF sucks
 and I want a cam that can record fast action
 and I want the eye detection AF that works in low light (with the D600 I get more keepers in MF!!!)

[Erik Lund]

The ISO performance differences are quite small for all these cameras and is not really noticeable in 'every day' shooting even for a pro.

The differences come only when you start pushing them in the extreme then you start to see AF performance, tracking, low light, frames per second etc.

Also build quality and how efficient is the weather sealing then also size and weight,,,

[simsurace]

Thank you, Simone.

Used D600 go for 800 to 900 Euros, new D600 are 1.100 Euros.

Why do I buy a D500 anyway (at double the price)?

Because the D600 AF sucks
 and I want a cam that can record fast action
 and I want the eye detection AF that works in low light (with the D600 I get more keepers in MF!!!)

In terms of AF coverage and speed, the D500 should be a winner.
The D600's AF tracks decently, but the coverage is really small. If you want to fill your frame it gets tricky to keep the focus on the correct part of the image. Stil, if you get more keepers with MF on moving subjects then you are quite skilled with MF.

[Jakov Minić]

I would be really interested in seeing two shots taken at ISO 12.800 by the D500 and Df or D4.
These charts are nice, but I prefer seeing images and the amount of noise at these high ISO settings.

[Harald]

Hi Jakov,

DF or D4 will be better if you compare the Raw-files. JPEG there will be not as much difference regarding the newer processor.

Harald

[Erik Lund]

Sorry but when do you need ISO 12.000? 

[simsurace]

I would be really interested in seeing two shots taken at ISO 12.800 by the D500 and Df or D4.
These charts are nice, but I prefer seeing images and the amount of noise at these high ISO settings.

Unfortunately, they don't have the D500 test shots yet, but you can take the D7200 as a proxy for the time being.
The D500 will likely be a bit better than that, but you should not expect it to be one stop better since the D7200 is already so good (compared to an ideal sensor).

http://goo.gl/jrNIrH

[Jakov Minić]

Simone, thanks for this chart, I guess I'll buy the D750 then
Similar thoughts that Frank has with a D600, you can get a D750 for half the price of a D500...