Nikon's D500 is the best enthusiast DSLR ever built.

Amazing autofocus system; Excellent stills; very good 4K quality; ISO 1,640,000 max setting; Supports fast XQD storage format; Bluetooth pairing

Video AF could use more finesse

Nikon fans have been waiting years for a follow-up to the much-loved D300S , and now it's here – the Nikon D500. This camera sits at the top of the APS-C tree for Nikon, and while for some photographers full-frame is the ultimate aspiration, there are plus sides to a crop sensor.

100% optical viewfinder; Tilting screen; Enthusiast-centric controls; Dual memory card slots

APS-C format sensor; Screen not articulating

The Nikon D500 goes head-to-head with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II , and offers 10fps continuous shooting, an updated and rapid focus system with excellent frame coverage, as well as 4K video.

Excellent noise performance - best in class; Improved white balance performance; and settings; High resolution tilting touch-screen; Dual-axis electronic level; 100%; 1.0x magnification viewfinder; Quick live view shutter response; 153 focus points; 99 cross-type; 10fps continuous shooting and rapid...

Photo shooting menu bank / custom settings may not be to everyone's preference; Remote shooting app could do with some better controls; Limited touch-screen controls; Lacks built-in flash; Price

For a long time the top slot in Nikon's APS-C (DX) format DSLR line-up was occupied by the popular D300S , but that camera dates from 2009 and production ceased ages ago, leaving a vacancy that Nikon photographers have been wanting to see filled for years.

Nikon's D500 which was announced in early January at the same time as the D5 , is the long-awaited successor to the D300s and the new flagship in Nikon's DX line-up. Because they share so many features, the D500 can be seen as a mini D5.

The Nikon D500 is a great camera and anyone who purchases it will really enjoy using it. Full frame is great, but if you are a photographer who likes to zoom in, then the DX may suit you more. If you shoot sports, birds, wildlife or macro, look at this camera, it could be just what you need.

The wait for a modern, pro-grade, APS-C Nikon camera is over. The D500 ($1,995.95, body only) is the replacement for the ancient D300S , and as you'd expect with a seven-year increment between releases, the D500 ups the ante considerably. The highlight of the 20.9-megapixel SLR is an autofocus system that covers the sensor horizontally from edge to edge, and is able to track moving action while firing off images at 10 frames per second. Add features like 4K video capture and a tilting touch-screen LCD, and you've got a camera that will make photographers invested in the Nikon system quite happy. The D500 is a top-end performer in almost every regard, replacing the Canon EOS 7D Mark II ($1,499.00 at Dell) as our Editors' Choice for enthusiast and professional APS-C SLRs. DesignWith the rise of affordable full-frame camera models, including Nikon's entry-level D610 and midrange D750 ($1,596.95 at Amazon) , some photographers, especially those who feel they've outgrown starter model...

The Nikon D500 puts the company's finest autofocus system in a tough, compact SLR body that will please demanding enthusiasts and pros alike.

Solid build; Advanced, edge-to-edge autofocus system; 10fps capture with tracking focus; Large buffer for extended shooting; Superb high ISO image quality; Clean HDMI output; Excellent control layout; Tilting touch-screen LCD; Dust- and weather-resistant design; XQD and SD card slots

Snapbridge wireless transfer needs some work; 4K video is cropped; Omits built-in flash

100% optical viewfinder; Tilting screen; Enthusiast-centric controls; Dual memory card slots;

APS-C format sensor; Screen not articulating ;

The Nikon D500 is the best APS-C sensor DSLR camera in the present camera industry. It provides very good ISO performance, colours, sharpness and is a very fast shooter. If you are bridging the gap between professional and enthusiast levels of photography, the Nikon D500 is the next big buy you...

Excellent ISO performance; Fast; accurate autofocus; Bright; vibrant colours; 10fps continuous shooting is great for professional sports photography; Wide variety of connectivity options

Somewhat bulky; Battery life keeps dropping

After 6 years neglecting the power APS-C action photographer, Nikon released the mostly impressive D500 dSLR, the little sister to the pro full-frame D5 . With the same autofocus and metering systems as that model, a high-sensitivity 20.9-megapixel CMOS sensor, a large tilting touchscreen and 4K...

The Nikon D500 is fast with excellent continuous-shooting and autofocus performance; its 4K video support is a welcome novelty for its dSLR price class and; of course; there's the great photo quality

Terrible wireless file-transfer and remote-control app; and its Live View (contrast) autofocus could use a boost