Upgrade Guide
Nikon D500→Nikon Nikon D780
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D500. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Nikon D780
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Resolution25MP vs 21MP (+4MP)
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Generation4 years newer (2020 vs 2016)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D500 | Nikon D780 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.8 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.1 | ||
| Documentary | +0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.3 | ||
| Landscape | +0.9 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.2 | ||
| Casual | +0.6 | ||
| Food | +0.8 | ||
| Macro | +1.3 | ||
| Architecture | +1.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D500 | Nikon D780 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £484 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p (1.5× crop), 1080p/60 | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 153-point phase-detect (99 cross-type, 55 selectable) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 7fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~1240 shots (CIPA) | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | ↓ |
| Weight | 860g (with battery) | 840g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.0x | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: XQD + SD | Dual SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D500 and Nikon D780 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Nikon D780 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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