• APS-C 337.5mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Canon 7D Mark II advantages over Samsung NX500

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.5 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 670 vs 370 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    103 vs 38 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.5 fps vs 8.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    26 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Samsung NX500 advantages over Canon 7D Mark II

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    24.8 vs 22.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,379 vs 1,082 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.9 vs 11.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Thinner
    42 mm vs 78 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    454g vs 1388g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    28.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • On-sensor phase detect
    Both provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • 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

  • 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

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 7D Mark II

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX500

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality; High ISO performance improved over predecessor; Excellent burst speeds (up to 10fps); Significantly improved buffer depths; 65-pt AF system; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Can focus down to f/8 (great for teleconverters); 1080/60p video; Headphone and mic jacks; Rugged build quality.

  • Autofocus speed (AF shutter lag) slower than 7D and 70D; Mediocre battery life for a pro DSLR; Dynamic range at low to moderate ISOs not as good as competitors; Phase-detect AF did not perform as well as expected in our low-light AF tests; No built-in Wi-Fi; No autofocus for 1080/60p video.

  • Very good image quality with high-resolution files; Excellent high ISO performance with RAW files; Very good dynamic range; Fast AF performance; Compact design with good build quality; Better ergonomics than predecessor; 4K video recording.

  • High ISO noise reduction too strong; AF struggles in low-light; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No option for EVF; No built-in flash (external one included); 4K Video is cropped with narrower FOV.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 7D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
Samsung NX500
Canon 7D
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 6D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Samsung NX500
Canon 6D
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon 70D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 70D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Samsung NX500
Canon 70D
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection

Compared to Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II
Sony A77 II
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Samsung NX500
Sony A77 II
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection

Compared to Nikon D7200

Canon 7D Mark II
Nikon D7200
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Built-in GPS
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung NX500
Nikon D7200
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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