Nikon D500 vs Sony A9

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D500 vs Sony A9

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.

35mm 847.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Sony A9 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A9 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A9.
Compare Sony A9 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A9 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II
Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A9 II

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Differences

Nikon D500 advantages over Sony A9

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$1597 vs $3295*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 650 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
590k vs 360k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A9 advantages over Nikon D500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 5.93 vs 4.22 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A9 test data on DxO Mark D500 test data on DxO Mark

3,517 vs 1,324 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer video battery life
105 vs 50 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.67x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
364 vs 200 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 10.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
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 panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A9 User Reviews

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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 Sony A9

Body Only

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

New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.
Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.
Read our Sony A9 Review

The Competition

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

Sony A9

Pentax K-3 II

$3295
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D500

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$3295
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$3802
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

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

Sony A9

Sony A68

$3295
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A9 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

Sony A9

Pentax KP

$3295
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Pentax KP

Compared to Sony A9 II

Nikon D500

Sony A9 II

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4498
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A9 II

Sony A9

Sony A9 II

$3295
35mm

Less expensive

$4498
35mm

Newer

Compare Sony A9 vs Sony A9 II

Compare Other Cameras?