2016 prosumer camera shootout: Canon EOS 80D vs. Nikon D500 vs. Sony A6300

Conclusion

Conclusion

To be honest, this was a closer fight than we expected, as all three cameras have their strong suits. One thing that really stood out during our testing was just how good the autofocus systems of the various cameras performed.

In good light, all three cameras were able to get focus almost instantly, and in poor light all three did well, though D500 edged ahead in how it was able to achieve focus even without the need for an AF-assist lamp. If like us, you prefer to manually select what your camera is focusing on, then you won’t be disappointed with either the D500 or A6300. Both have focus points practically across the entire viewfinder, so getting precise focus is just a question of shifting the cursor.

The EOS 80D offers the best handling and interface, but image quality fell slightly short of the other two cameras. On the other hand, the a6300 was able to keep up with the D500 for the most part at lower ISOs, but started to fall behind when pushed above ISO 6,400. That's understandable, as the D500’s superlative ISO range goes far beyond what any ILC with an APS-C sized sensor has achieved thus far.

The one issue with the D500 is its price. The D500 retails for S$2,999 (body only), which is more than what the full-frame D750 costs, and represents a serious investment for an enthusiast or a professional looking for a second body. Contrast this with S$1,649(body only) for the EOS 80D and S$1,479(body only) for the A6300 and you have to figure that the D500 has to really be something special to justify the added cost. And in terms of low light performance and overall build and features, it is.  When you pick up a camera for a paying job, you want to know that you will be able to produce no matter the conditions, and the D500's combination of weather-sealing, low light capabilities, and video options put it clearly ahead of the others, and is thus our pick for this shootout. 

Our Final Ratings