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Nikon D500 vs Zeiss ZX1

The Nikon D500 and the Zeiss ZX1 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2016 and September 2018. The D500 is a DSLR, while the ZX1 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D500) and a full frame (ZX1) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D500
versus
Zeiss ZX1
Nikon D500   Zeiss ZX1
Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon F mount lenses 35mm f/2.8
20.7 MP – APS-C sensor 37.4 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 1,640,000) ISO 80-51,200
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (6221k dots)
3.2" LCD – 2359k dots 4.3" LCD – 2765k dots
Tilting touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
1240 shots per battery charge250 shots per battery charge
147 x 115 x 81 mm, 860 g 142 x 93 x 46 mm, 800 g
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Check ZX1 offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D500 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D500 and the Zeiss ZX1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon D500 vs Zeiss ZX1
Compare D500 versus ZX1 top
Comparison D500 or ZX1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Zeiss ZX1 is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Nikon D500. It is worth mentioning in this context that the D500 is splash and dust resistant, while the ZX1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZX1 has a lens built in, whereas the D500 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D500 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D500 gets 1240 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL15 battery, while the ZX1 can take 250 images on a single charge of its Zeiss DD-PS1A power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1 142 mm 93 mm 46 mm 800 g 250 n Sep 2018 5,999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II 144 mm 111 mm 75 mm 765 g 1200 Y Jun 2017 1,999 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 80D 139 mm 105 mm 79 mm 730 g 960 Y Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Q2 130 mm 80 mm 92 mm 718 g 370 Y Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 5 136 mm 97 mm 131 mm 812 g 350 n Jul 2019 1,249 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
8.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D750 141 mm 113 mm 78 mm 750 g 1230 Y Sep 2014 2,299ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D610 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Oct 2013 1,999ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D600 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Sep 2012 2,099ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 136 mm 97 mm 131 mm 810 g 350 n Feb 2019 899 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH5 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 725 g 410 Y Jan 2017 1,999ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 899ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI 102 mm 58 mm 43 mm 301 g 240 n Jun 2018 1,199ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D500 features an APS-C sensor and the Zeiss ZX1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the ZX1 is 134 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D500 and Zeiss ZX1 sensor measures

With 37.4MP, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution than the D500 (20.7MP), but the ZX1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 4.22μm for the D500) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the ZX1 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 8 months) than the D500, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D500 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D500 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-1640000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D500 versus ZX1 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1 Full Frame 37.4 7488 49924K/30p25.214.1275994
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II Full Frame 26.0 6240 41601080/60p24.411.9286285
4.
 
Canon 80D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.2113579
5.
 
Leica Q2 Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/30p26.413.5249196
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 5 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.458465
7.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
8.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
9.
 
Nikon D750 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/60p24.814.5295693
10.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
11.
 
Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.4292594
12.
 
Nikon D600 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.2298094
13.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.454665
15.
 
Panasonic GH5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.913.080777
16.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.347864
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the ZX1 has an electronic viewfinder (6221k dots), while the D500 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the ZX1 has a higher magnification than the one of the D500 (0.74x vs 0.67x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D500, the Zeiss ZX1, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
2.
 
Zeiss ZX16221 n4.3 / 2765 fixed Y 1/1000s 3.0/s n n
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIoptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.5/s n n
4.
 
Canon 80Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
5.
 
Leica Q23680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 52360 n3.0 / 1240 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D750optical Y3.2 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D610optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D600optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II2360 n3.0 / 1240 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic GH53680 n3.2 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
16.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting Y 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that is present on the D500, but is missing on the ZX1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the ZX1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon D500 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D500 writes its imaging data to SDXC or XQD cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D500 and Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1Ystereo / mono---3.1YYY
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon 80DYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
5.
 
Leica Q2Ystereo / mono----Y-Y
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
7.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
8.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
9.
 
Nikon D750Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y--
10.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D610Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D600Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
13.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
15.
 
Panasonic GH5Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
16.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
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It is notable that the D500 has a microphone port, which is missing on the ZX1. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D500 (unlike the ZX1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D500 and the ZX1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. Neither of the two has a direct successor, so they represent the end of the respective camera lines from Nikon and Zeiss. Further information on the features and operation of the D500 and ZX1 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Zeiss ZX1 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D500 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Arguments in favor of the Nikon D500:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1240 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2016).

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Reasons to prefer the Zeiss ZX1:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 20.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 34%.
  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.67x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.2") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 2359k dots).
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the D500 requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (142x93mm vs 147x115mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the D500).
  • More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 8 months of technical progress since the D500 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the ZX1 emerges as the winner of the match-up (16 : 14 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D500 14:16 ZX1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D500 and the Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D500 or the ZX1. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX13/5....83/1004/54/5 Sep 2018 5,999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II4/5+4/580/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2017 1,999 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Q2....4.5/584/1004.5/54/5 Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 5........4/54/5 Jul 2019 1,249 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
8.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D7505/5+ +4/590/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 2,299ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D6104/5+ +..87/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 1,999ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D6004/5+ +..87/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,099ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II......83/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2019 899 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH54.5/5+ +..85/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2017 1,999ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 899ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2018 1,199ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon D500 vs Zeiss ZX1

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses 35mm f/2.8
    Launch Date January 2016 September 2018
    Launch Price USD 1,999 USD 5,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.7 mm 36.0 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 368.95 mm2 864 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 43.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.7 Megapixels 37.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 pixels 7488 x 4992 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.22 μm 4.81 μm
    Pixel Density 5.60 MP/cm2 4.33 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 80 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 1,640,000 ISO no Enhancement
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 83 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.0 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.0 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1324 ..
    Screen Specs Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.67x 0.74x
    Viewfinder Resolution 6221k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 4.3inch
    LCD Resolution 2359k dots 2765k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/8000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC or XQD cards SSD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single SSD
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 3.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Headphone Socket Headphone port no Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D500 Zeiss ZX1
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL15 Zeiss DD-PS1A
    Battery Life (CIPA)1240 shots per charge250 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81 mm
    (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in)
    142 x 93 x 46 mm
    (5.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 860 g (30.3 oz) 800 g (28.2 oz)
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    Check ZX1 offers at
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