Nikon’s rumored D500 DSLR successor could raise the bar for crop-sensor mirrorless cameras
Nikon could finally give the mirrorless treatment to its decade-old D500 DSLR — a flagship crop-sensor camera with rugged body and rapid shooting speeds.
Nikon is reportedly planning to unveil a mirrorless camera, codenamed the Z70, as a successor to its popular crop-sensor DSLR, the Nikon D500, before the end of 2026. This new camera is expected to feature a rugged design, high-speed photography capabilities, and be capable of handling challenging shooting conditions. The Z500 was Nikon's flagship crop-sensor DSLR, known for its rugged body, dual card slots, and high-speed burst shooting - making it a favorite among professional sports, wildlife, and news photographers.
However, the mirrorless Z70 could be an even more powerful tool for enthusiast wildlife and sports photographers.
Various sources suggest the Z70 will be released in November of this year. It is speculated to feature a more robust body, faster sensor technology (potentially stacked sensor like the Fujifilm X-H2S), in-body image stabilization, and shooting speeds unattainable in current Nikon models. Additionally, the Z70 is rumored to support strong video capabilities, including internal ProRes RAW recording, as evidenced by Apple's ProRes and ProRes RAW Authorized Products page listing.
The Z70 would likely surpass the Nikon Z50 II in terms of overall specs and performance. However, it may still face competition from cameras like the Canon EOS R7, Fujifilm X-H2S, and Sony A6700, with Nikon potentially emerging as the clear leader.
One particular piece of news to consider is the recent announcement of a new Z-mount lens from Sigma - the 16-300mm do-it-all travel zoom. This marks the first Sigma zoom lens for Nikon's Z-mount system, filling a long-standing gap in APS-C camera options for Nikon enthusiasts. While this lens may not boast an exceptionally high aperture for demanding sports and wildlife photography, its introduction suggests that Nikon's APS-C cameras may soon receive more high-quality native Z-mount lenses.
Furthermore, there are rumors of the development of the Nikon Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, which could be an excellent full-frame alternative and work with crop-sensor cameras like the rumored Z70.
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