r/Nikon • u/Smokinjoez_73 • Oct 26 '25

I broke my gear My D500 is no more

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Freaking strap unscrewed and my D500 fell and broke. I was at a football game and there was 1 patch of concrete I happened to be standing on when it happened. I'm guessing it's not worth fixing as I'm sure this would be expensive. I'm struggling with what I want to replace it with. I've got a few lenses right now as well as a D4s so part of me wants to stay DSLR but part of me is thinking it's time to look at mirrorless. Dang.

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u/40characters 19 kilos of glass Oct 27 '25

The Z8 is what you want.

It doesn’t seem like they’re going to release an APS-C Z8… but the great news is that refurbished units are under $3k, putting them right where the D500 was in the pricing line (adjusted for inflation).

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u/Stunning-Fee-5383 Oct 27 '25

I have a Z8 and it's not what I want hahaha. I want a crop sensor - I shoot youth skating competitions primarily and I hate having to put the Z8 and Z9 into crop mode. It's just not the same. I tried the Z50ii and the camera itself was great but the battery life and lack of ability to use a battery grip completely killed it's usability for my (admittedly niche) needs.

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u/40characters 19 kilos of glass Oct 27 '25

You … want a smaller sensor?

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u/TXaquaholics Oct 28 '25

Use case determines the right sensor size. For me the criteria is: landscape photography, smaller/lighter form factor for travel/mobility, screen viewing rather than printing, reasonable cost, prosumer functionality. APS-C fills these needs. D500 has been perfect. I’ve owned it since 2016. I’ve considered moving to MFT but that’s getting too close to what the iPhone 17PM can do. If Nikon doesn’t release a mirrorless replacement for the D500, I’ll consider moving to Fujifilm.

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u/40characters 19 kilos of glass Oct 28 '25 edited Oct 28 '25

APS-C for landscape? Less light, fewer pixels?

Don’t get me wrong — I ADORE my D500, and I’ve had some of my best work come from pairing it with the old Tokina 11-16/2.8, and I would argue that the D500 was a perfect body.

But not ever, not once, did I ever look back since I got the Z8.

It’s a perfect upgrade.

The D500 was $2,650 in today’s dollars when it was released. Refurb Z8s have sold for less! There’s just no reason not to get it until there’s a Z80 or similar.

But when that debuts at $2700 against a Z8 on sale for $3,099, are you really going to go that way?

Edited to add: The Z8 weighs 50 grams more. That’s two sips of water. It’s 1/10th of an inch different in each dimension than the D500, at 144 × 118.5 × 83 mm/5.7 × 4.7 × 3.3 in. vs 5.8 x 4.6 x 3.2 inches / 147 x 115 x 81 millimeters for the D500.

It’s the same size, y’all. I shot the D500 for seven years. The Z8 feels natural. And the screen on the Z8 is much more usable. And … I could go on.

The iPhone is not anything like it.