Verdict
At the time of its launch, the Nikon D7500 represented the biggest revamp we'd seen in the series since the D7000 replaced the D90 back in 2010. It was an impressive little brother to the pro-level D500, which also remains on sale today.
With its price tag continuing to plummet, the D7500 remains an impressive performer, despite the mirrorless revolution that's taken place since it arrived in 2017. DSLRs still have traditional advantages over mirrorless cameras, such as battery life and handling, and if those are important to you, then it's a compelling option at the price.
While its 51-point AF system might sound a little dated, it is tried-and-tested and the D7500 does also 8fps burst shooting among some other tempting features. These include 4K video capture, a tilt-angle touchscreen display and that great combination of the 20.9MP sensor and EXPEED 5 image processing engine, in a body that's considerably smaller than the D500.
With the latter still going for a pro-level premium, the D7500 is an enthusiast-level DSLR with few rivals at its price point.
Competition
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Nikon D500
The D500 is still Nikon's top-of-the-range DX-format DSLR, and a camera that the D7500 borrows a lot of features from, including the 20.9MP sensor. Pay the (considerable) extra though and you get even better AF performance, thanks to a brilliant 153-point AF system that'll cope with pretty much anything. Marry that to a camera that can shoot 10fps for 200 shots and a rock-solid build, and you have what is still one of the best DSLRs out there.
Read our in-depth Nikon D500 review
Nikon D7200
Nikon's now discontinued D7200 was always a firm favorite amongst enthusiast photographers, and it's easy to see why. Packing in a brilliant sensor that was complemented by impressive specs, there was little not to like. The D7500 is the better camera overall, but it's still worth seeking out second-hand or refurbished D7200s if your budget's a bit tight.
Canon EOS 80D
Perhaps the biggest non-Nikon rival to the D7500 is Canon's EOS 80D. This has now been succeeded by the Canon 90D, but it remains a hugely capable enthusiast DSLR that has similarly seen big price cuts. It's edged out by the D7500 when it comes to performance, but if you're going to be shooting a lot with the rear display, you may be tempted by the EOS 80D's rear vari-angle screen and brilliant Dual Pixel AF.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS 80D review
