Is the Nikon D500 still a good wildlife camera in 2022?

petrolhead

petrolhead

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Book looking to but a wildlife camera and lens

My budget is £2k which is not enought for a Sony, Nikon, Canon mirrorless

Someone suggested I get the Nikon D500 along with the Nikon 200-500 lens

I would be interested in your thoughts as I know this an old camera and pre mirrorless
 
Still using the 'old' camera here! I think the 200-500 is a good lens for most wildlife.
 
Absolutely - it remains a very very capable camera.
I have owned two and shot many images on them.
Focusing system is fabulous and being a crop camera it gives you extra reach with a given lens focal length - great for wildlife.
I really don't think you can go wrong/
 
Just echoing what the others have said, great combination.

Still have a pair of D500's in regular use.
 
Yes - amazing set up that body and lens - and very popular rig on here.

The 200-500 optically is actually quite good - and designed for FF bodies so you'll only use the sharpest and best mid part of it's image circle. Be warned - it does suck dust into the camera and sensor spots won't be uncommon even if you never take the lens off the body.
 
I have that combo, just bought them recently and I'm very pleased with the performance and IQ. I'll be posting some images of birds up soon that I took last week.
 
The D500 is still a fantastic camera and it's hard to beat with the 200-500mm

Not sure which brand you normally shoot but also look at a used Canon 7D MKII and the 100-400mm MKII which would be around the same cost.
 
Mike.P said:
The D500 is still a fantastic camera and it's hard to beat with the 200-500mm

Not sure which brand you normally shoot but also look at a used Canon 7D MKII and the 100-400mm MKII which would be around the same cost.
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I used to use Canon, 6D, a few years ago then moved over to Fuji but just does not cut the mustard when it comes to fast focusing wildlife etc

To me the 500d looks a better camera and never used Nikon so fancy a change plus a pal of mine, who is ex pro has a lot of experience with them so can pester the sh1t out of him :)
 
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petrolhead said:
I used to use Canon, 6D, a few years ago then moved over to Fuji but just does not cut the mustard when it comes to fast focusing wildlife etc

To me the 500d looks a better camera and never used Nikon so fancy a change plus a pal of mine, who is ex pro has a lot of experience with them so can pester the sh1t out of him :)
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I had the original 7D then moved to a D500 but sold that to get a 7D MKII. To be honest there is not much in it although the Nikon has a few more bells and whistles, the sensor is also better at higher ISO. If you have never used Nikon though you won't get a better camera (in your budget).
 
Here's a couple from last week, with the D500 and 200-500.

With 1.4TC (equiv to 1050mm on full frame)

Gannets-2.jpg

Without 1.4 TC

Gannets-3.jpg
 
petrolhead said:
Book looking to but a wildlife camera and lens

My budget is £2k which is not enought for a Sony, Nikon, Canon mirrorless

Someone suggested I get the Nikon D500 along with the Nikon 200-500 lens

I would be interested in your thoughts as I know this an old camera and pre mirrorless
Click to expand...
There are quite a few of us using old, pre mirrorless cameras on here and are more than happy.
Mirrorless cameras are not the be all and end all as some would suggest.
 
I have that combination. For that budget it is unbeatable. The D500 answered a lot of my prayers (as did the Z-1p and K-1), used it with 80-400 which I still have to get to grips with but the 200-500 is just amazing.....The 500 mm primes are better but for 3-10X the price they are not >3x better. It is a combinations that is fairly portable for hours on end.

Regarding dust, funny one that. The D500 is the camera I have the fewest problems in terms of dust bunnies, compared with the D810 (which tends to be used with the shorter zooms).

I might get another D500 (or D850) before stocks get very low.
 
welshwizard645 said:
I have that combination. For that budget it is unbeatable. The D500 answered a lot of my prayers (as did the Z-1p and K-1), used it with 80-400 which I still have to get to grips with but the 200-500 is just amazing.....The 500 mm primes are better but for 3-10X the price they are not >3x better. It is a combinations that is fairly portable for hours on end.

Regarding dust, funny one that. The D500 is the camera I have the fewest problems in terms of dust bunnies, compared with the D810 (which tends to be used with the shorter zooms).

I might get another D500 (or D850) before stocks get very low.
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I think the dust ref was regarding the lens
 
Out of interest, what would be a good walkaround lens for this that will not break the bank
 
petrolhead said:
I think the dust ref was regarding the lens
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It was - I found due to the extending barrel design of the 200-500 dust did get in. The internal zooming of the FL ED 70-200 2.8 is a little better in this regard.

It was by no means terrible - but an observation I had compared to other zooms I've owned in the past.
 
petrolhead said:
Out of interest, what would be a good walkaround lens for this that will not break the bank
Click to expand...

The Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G is great, a bit heavy but built like a tank, loads of good used ones around. The Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4E is good too.
 
Mike.P said:
I had the 16-80mm on my D500 ... that and the AF-P 70-300mm are all you need for most things.
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I had the 16-80 on my D500 and agree it was very good - also the 70-300 AF-P.

I sold the 16-80 when my Z came along but I still have the D500 and the 300 and 500 PF's.
Both work very well on the D500 - esp the 500.
I don't currently have a zoom longer than the 70-300 but might get one for some airshows.
I'm thinking Tamron 100-400 as I can't justify the Nikon Z one.

To answer your question Yes - very good.
 
The Nikon 24-120 works well, it's a full frame lens and I mainly use it on my D780 but on the D500 it becomes a 35-180mm lens so no very wide but a good focal range for some circumstances.
 
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