Upgrade Guide
Nikon Nikon D7500→Nikon Nikon Z9
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Nikon D7500. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Nikon Z9
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Resolution46MP vs 21MP (+25MP)
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Burst rate20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG vs 8fps mechanical
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Generation4 years newer (2021 vs 2017)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Nikon D7500 | Nikon Z9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Travel | -5.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +3.0 | ||
| Photojournalism | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Nikon D7500 | Nikon Z9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £5,499 | |
| Released | 2017 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C BSI CMOS (D500 sensor) | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), FHD/60p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 3500FX II, 51 points (15 cross-type) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 8fps mechanical | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~950 shots (CIPA with OVF) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 640g body only | 1340g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
Compare side-by-side
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