Nikon D500 vs Canon T6

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D500 vs Canon T6

APS-C 369.0mm²
20.9 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D500.
Compare Nikon D500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D500 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon T6 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon T6 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the T6.
Compare Canon T6 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon T6 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon T7
Compare T6 vs T7
Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon T7

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D500 advantages over Canon T6

Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 0.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1240 vs 500 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
99 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Higher-res screen
590k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.17 vs 0.27 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.67x vs 0.50x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.9 vs 18.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
153 vs 9
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.2 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.2 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon T6 advantages over Nikon D500

Less expensive
$550 vs $1597
Save money for lenses or accessories
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read T6 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D500

Body Only

Body Only
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition
Kit with 16-80mm f/2.8-4 Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon T6

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Kit with 18-55mm Lens
Two lens kit with 18-55mm, 75-300mm, shoulder bag

Review Excerpt

Superb image quality; Great high ISO performance; Rugged, comfortable camera body; Sharp articulating touchscreen display; Excellent AF point frame coverage; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K UHD video; Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth.
Somewhat large for an APS-C camera; Expensive for a DX camera; 4K UHD video doesn't offer full DX field-of-view; No built-in flash; Still uses contrast-detect for Live View AF; Dual slots use two different card types (XQD and SD).
Read our Nikon D500 Review

Good image quality overall; Good value for money; In-camera Wi-Fi and NFC make light work of image sharing; Decent kit lens; Friendly, approachable design; Good ergonomics; Lots of room to grow in Canon's ecosystem
Slow burst shooting with very limited raw buffer; Resolution, dynamic range and high ISO performance trail current rivals; Mediocre autofocus performance; Limited feature set; Very basic movie capture features
Read our Canon T6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon T5

Nikon D500

Canon T5

$1598
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon T5

Canon T6

Canon T5

$550
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$399
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Canon T6 vs Canon T5

Compared to Canon T6i

Nikon D500

Canon T6i

$1598
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon T6i

Canon T6

Canon T6i

$550
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Canon T6 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D500

Pentax K-3 II

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Canon T6

Pentax K-3 II

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Sony A68

Nikon D500

Sony A68

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A68

Canon T6

Sony A68

$550
APS-C

Lens selection
Built-in Wi-Fi

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6 vs Sony A68

Compared to Pentax KP

Nikon D500

Pentax KP

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax KP

Canon T6

Pentax KP

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6 vs Pentax KP

Compare Other Cameras?