January 6, 2016

Pro pedigree, DX agility: The Nikon D500 establishes a new era of DX-format performance

The highly anticipated resurrection of the DX-format flagship gives photographers the best combination of speed, reach and connectivity

Mississauga, ON

Today, Nikon Canada announced the D500, a DX-format HD-SLR with pro-level features that gives photographers nimble handling, speed and extreme processing power in a compact and lightweight body. With amazing imaging capability, robust build quality and lightning fast performance, the D500 is sure to satisfy as the highly sought-after successor of the venerable D300S. Like its sibling the D5, the D500 benefits from Nikon’s latest technological innovations, including a totally new, blazing fast Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system and 4K UHD video capture, and adds a fun new way to share photos with Nikon SnapBridge.

 

“Nikon has answered the call to once again re-invent this camera category and offer an unmatched combination of performance and value that is hard for any photographer to resist,” said Amanda Mohammed, Communications and Nikon Professional Services Manager at Nikon Canada. “When paired with the amazing imaging capabilities of legendary NIKKOR optics, photographers can capture intimate portraits, mind-blowing macros or action from extreme distances – the possibilities are endless.”

 

Pro-level image quality, DX-format versatility

The D500 imagines the best of both worlds, offering advanced enthusiasts and pro photographers all the benefits of DX-format, such as a smaller form-factor and lens crop, combined with many of the same advanced pro features found in the new Nikon D5. The Nikon D500 features an all-new, Nikon developed 20.9-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor that renders images with outstanding colours and gorgeous tonality. This sensor is coupled with Nikon’s new EXPEED 5 image processing engine, offering low noise and maximum processing power with a small footprint and superbly balanced body.

 

The benefits of the DX-format are evident for long-distance applications like wildlife and sports photography, where telephoto ability is at a premium and weight reduction is welcome. With Nikon’s legendary FX or smaller-sized DX-format NIKKOR lenses, the sleek D500 is the ideal companion for wanderlust. When paired with the new AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, the camera offers a 350-750mm zoom equivalent focal range for a lightweight, yet super-telephoto duo.

 

Because amazing images can happen even when the sun goes down, the D500 is capable of excellent low-light performance, with an ISO range of 100-51,200, expandable to 50-1,640,000 equivalent. From low-light cityscapes to sports under the lights, the D500 is ready to tackle any imaging challenge.

 

Performance meets portability

Within the streamlined body of the D500 is a formidable processing powerhouse. Whether photographing sports for the home team or animals in exotic destinations, a super-fast 10 frames per second (fps) burst speed with full AF and AE will help nail almost any shot. This extreme speed lets users capture every fleeting moment in exceptional clarity, while a generous buffer allows for up to 79 shots to be captured in 14-bit, uncompressed RAW/NEF.

 

To keep pace with the action, the D500 is fitted with the same AF system as the Nikon D5, the Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor module, with a separate dedicated processor for AF function. On the D500’s DX-format sensor, the 153-point AF array fills the frame from side to side, letting users flawlessly track and lock-onto subjects from the extreme edges of the viewfinder. Like the D5, the D500 uses the new 180K RGB Metering system and Advanced Scene Recognition System to help ensure balanced exposures and fantastic colour rendition in nearly any shooting situation.

 

Controls and rugged construction worthy of a flagship

The D500 features robust build quality, offering the same amount of rugged weather sealing as the Nikon D810. The durable body is a monocoque structure composed of magnesium alloy for the top and rear, while the front is reinforced with lightweight carbon fibre. The shutter mechanism has been tested for 200K actuations, helping to ensure maximum endurance. For further durability, the D500 excludes a pop-up flash, but is compatible with Nikon’s newest radio frequency capable flash, the SB-5000 Speedlight (with optional WR-R10 and WR-A10)1.

 

It’s easy to compose and view images on the D500’s bright 3.2-inch, high resolution (2359K-dot) touchscreen LCD, which lets users interact with photos in playback, control the camera and operate menus. When mounted on a tripod or shooting from creative angles, landscape and event shooters will appreciate the reinforced tilting LCD screen, similar to the Nikon D750. Additionally, images are rapidly written to either a fast XQD card slot or to the additional SD card slot for maximum workflow efficiency.

 

Constant connectivity with the new Nikon SnapBridge

The D500 introduces an innovative way to share photos wirelessly with the new Nikon SnapBridge, making the camera’s built-in connectivity easier to use than ever before. SnapBridge allows for a Bluetooth2 supported connection between your camera and compatible smart device, thus making automatic upload of your images possible. Once enabled, the camera stays connected to the smart device and transfers photos, eliminating the need to re-connect devices.

 

Those looking to share images from their travels or from the field can also tag images for transfer in camera and can password protect their connection for added security. As an added benefit, the D500’s built-in Near Field Communication (NFC)3 capability easily connects the camera to a compatible smart device with just a tap, while built-in Wi-Fi capability allows for faster wireless image transfer.

 

For those looking for an even faster transfer solution, the D500 is also compatible with the optional WT-7A Wireless Transmitter, enabling wired or wireless transmission of files to an FTP server or computer at faster speeds.

 

Advanced video features

Just like the D5, the D500 has the ability to capture striking 4K UHD video at up to 30p (3840x2160), as well as Full HD (1080p) video at a variety of frame rates. Ready for any production, the camera sports a host of pro video features derived from the D810, including uncompressed HDMI output and Picture Controls, but adds even more great features. These pro-level creative video features include the ability to create 4K time-lapse movies in-camera and Auto ISO smoothing to provide fluid transitions in exposure during recording, and the capability to record 4K UHD video to the card and output to HDMI simultaneously. When capturing Full HD 1080p content, the camera also has a new 3-axis electronic VR feature that can be activated regardless of the lens being used.

 

Challenging video exposures are no problem for the D500, as it also adds in Active D-Lighting into Full HD video to balance exposure values within a scene and to help prevent blown-out highlights.

 

Price and availability

The Nikon D500 HD-SLR will be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers in March for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $2,699.95* (body only).

 

The MB-D17 battery pack will also be available in March 2016, and will add extended battery life and facilitate vertical shooting. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

 

The WT-7A Wireless Transmitter will be available in March, and the price is to be determined.

 

For more information, please visit www.nikon.ca.

 

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™, is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Canada distributes consumer and professional digital SLR and HD-SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lens system. In 2013, Nikon Corporation celebrated the 80th anniversary of the launch of its NIKKOR brand of photographic lenses, and announced the production of more than 95 million NIKKOR lenses in 2015, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon's exclusive EXPEED, EXPEED 2, EXPEED 3, EXPEED 4, EXPEED 4A or EXPEED 5A advanced digital image processing system technologies. All Nikon Canada products are sold through a network of Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers. For more information on Nikon Canada and its products and services or to find an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer, visit www.nikon.ca.

 

Photos are available upon request and can be accessed in the Nikon Canada press room: http://en.nikon.ca/About-Nikon/Press-Room/index.page.

 

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1 Wireless Remote Controller WR-R10 and WR Adapter WR-A10 (both available separately) required. WR-R10 firmware must be updated to enable support for radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting (see Nikon's website).

 

2The Bluetooth ® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Nikon Corporation is under license.

 

3 Wi-Fi and the Wi-Fi logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. N-Mark is a trademark or registered trademark of NFC Forum, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.

 

*MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

 

Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

 

 

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For more information:

Steve Gold / Cindy Watson                                         

StrategicAmpersand Inc.        

(416) 961-5595                                                           

steve@stratamp.com

cindy@stratamp.com