What the Nikon D7500 is Missing

I recently tried using a Nikon D7500 and discoverd a couple of missing features.  They are not missing in the sense that they were supposed to be there.  They are missing in the sense that you would expect that the D7500 would be a ‘better’ camera than the D7000, D7100, etc that came before it.

  • The D7100 has a programmable interval timer, the D7500 does not.  This feature allows you to set the camera to take a specified number of images with a specified amount of time between the shots.  (For stop-motion video, event documentation, etc.)
  • The D7100 has two SD memory card slots, the D7500 only has one.  For casual users, this may not be a problem; but if you are serious, or professional, it is essential to have that second memory card slot to use as a backup.  Only once have I had a memory card fail me after a photo-session.  I sent the lifetime-guaranteed SD card to Delkin and they happily replaced it.  They asked me if I would like them to try to recover my images from the card (a Delkin service) and it felt so good to be able to say “no need for that, but thank you.  I have a backup card with all the images.”
  • The D7100 has the “Flash Commander” function, the D7500 does not.  This is Nikon’s method of using the camera’s built-in pop-up flash to control remote Nikon speedlights.  Whether in your home studio, or on location, the ability to adjust the output from your fill lights saves a lot of time and a lot of walking.  Perhaps they are trying to get us to buy the $599.95 SB-5000 flash?

The D7500 does have a tilting display.  For me that is a big “so what?” feature.

The D7500 does have some of those features that let it do things with your “phone”.  Another “so what?” feature that to use, you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a ‘phone’ to use.

If I were to use the D7500, I might have some positive things to say about it.  But due to these missing features, I don’t think I will ever pick one up again.

On a slightly related note;  I do experience excessive drooling when I think about the Nikon D850.