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New Nikon 4K DSLR Cameras Introduced – Nikon D500 & D5

January 6^th, 201621

New Nikon 4K DSLR Cameras Introduced - Nikon D500 & D5

by Sebastian WöberJanuary 6^th, 2016

Nikon just announced 3 new cameras. Alongside their 4K 360-Degree Action Camera, here are the first two Nikon 4K DSLR cameras: The Nikon D5 and Nikon D500.

Nikon D5

The Nikon D5 is the successor to the high-end Nikon D4, an expensive, professional full-frame photo camera. The news for us video shooters is that Nikon has finally entered the 4K video market and packs the Nikon D5 with Ultra HD video capture capabilities, clean HDMI output for external 4K recording, and a highly sensitive full-frame sensor.

Unfortunately, the framerates on this camera max out at 30p for 4K (UHD). Also, as our friends at nofilmschool pointed out, the camera’s maximum recording time for 4K (UHD) seems to be 3 minutes (according to Nikon’s D5 tech specifications). That certainly isn’t enough for people serious about video so let’s move on to the D500.

Tech Specs:

20.8MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor
EXPEED 5 Image Processor
3.2″ 2.36m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System
Native ISO 102,400, Extend to ISO 3,280,000
12 fps Shooting for 200 Shots with AE/AF
180k-Pixel RGB Sensor and Group Area AF
14-Bit Raw Files and 12-Bit Raw S Format
1000 Base-T Gigabit Wired LAN Support

The Nikon D5 is available for pre-order and costs $6,496 (LINK)

Nikon D500

The Nikon D500 is the second Nikon 4K DSLR introduced today. At a much lower price of $2,000 the D500 also shoots 4K (UHD), but has a smaller aps-c sized sensor. Unlike the D5, the maximum recording time of the D500 seems to be the standard 30 minutes.

Important for video, the Nikon D500 has a swivel LCD, improved auto-focus, a high ISO sensitivity, zebra functionality and a flat picture profile to harness dynamic range, which can help to get a natural look when grading more easily.

Like the D5, the D500 uses optional XQD media alongside an SD card slot and offers uncompressed 4K (UHD) HDMI output in 8-bit 4:2:2.

The Nikon D500 certainly looks like the camera to choose if you’re interested in a Nikon 4K DSLR camera, being more suited for video with its swivel LCD and 30-minute recording time. Whether the quality lives up to our expectations will have to be determined in our upcoming camera reviews. Stay tuned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aS3p8hRh8

Tech Specs: