Latest DX flagship: Nikon D500 mileage diagnostics

Nikon D500 (2016) is the absolute flagship in the line of crop sensor (APS-C) DSLRs, released simultaneously with the D5. Having the same 153 autofocus points, an XQD slot, 10 fps speed and a professional magnesium body with moisture protection, the D500 has become the best DSLR for sports, nature and reportage photography among APS-C systems. It is this professional specialization that means that a used D500 is almost always a camera with a commercial history.

Wildlife photographers shot on the D500 with a 1.5x crop factor, effectively getting "600mm" out of a 400mm lens. 10 fps in this mode means thousands of frames per day at a watering hole with animals. Forest and swamp shooting conditions create additional stress on the body, although the IP protection of the D500 can withstand this load. Check the meter before purchasing.

Professional life: 200,000 operations

Nikon has set a guaranteed shutter life of 200,000 operations for the D500 - a record for APS-C DSLRs. This is a professional figure comparable to full-frame models. In practice, D500 shutters often operate for 300+ thousand frames. A camera with mileage up to 100 thousand is a great buy. Over 180 thousand - requires inspection and serious bargaining.

Reading the counter from professional APS-C NEF files

The EXPEED 5 processor keeps accurate records of mechanical triggering. The data is stored in the MakerNotes block of NEF files. For diagnostics, you need the original NEF or JPEG from the memory card without intermediate processing.