Action and sports photography is a demanding discipline. You need speed, and plenty of it – in terms of both your camera’s burst rate and its ability to quickly acquire focus. If you’re feeling you’ve outgrown entry-level cameras and are looking for something with the kinds of speeds required for serious sports photography, then I’m going to recommend to you what I think is the best crop-sensor camera for sports photography – and it’s one that won’t break the bank.
The Nikon D500 is a DSLR with a legendary reputation. Released in 2016, it was quickly embraced by sports and wildlife photographers for its snappy 10fps shooting speeds and sophisticated, 153-point autofocus system offering comprehensive coverage of the frame. It uses a 20.9MP APS-C sensor (also known as a crop sensor), which is smaller than full-frame. This has an impact on raw image quality and dynamic range, but also confers certain advantages – the crop factor of the smaller sensor extends the effective focal length of lenses, allowing you to get closer to your subjects without spending mega-bucks on huge telephotos.
Let’s look at a comparison – a used Nikon D500 vs the Nikon Z8, the current mirrorless flagship for wildlife. The Nikon Z8 is a very impressive camera for pros, capable of shooting at staggering burst rates of up to 120fps, and boasting a sophisticated 493-point phase-detection autofocus system with AI-powered subject recognition.
But all this comes at a cost. The Nikon Z8 comes at a price of £3,699 new. Pair it with a capable wildlife lens, like the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 S, and you’re looking at a total cost of £6,198. Compare that to the Nikon D500, which starts at around £690 for ‘Good’ condition on the used market. Pick it up alongside a used Nikon 200-500mm f5.6E ED VR AF-S lens, and you could be looking at a total spend of around £1,375.
And I’m going to be honest here – if you’re not a professional wildlife or sports photographer, the Nikon D500 is likely more than enough for your needs.
My Nikon D500 2026 review – it’s probably fine for you!
This isn’t to say that the Nikon Z8 is overpriced – I don’t think it is. But it’s a professional camera optimised to deliver professional results, and I just don’t think that anyone who isn’t a professional photographer is going to get the same level of value out of it. Whereas the Nikon Z500, frankly, is still impressive, and is a hell of a lot of camera to get for as little as £690. That’s cheaper than many entry-level mirrorless models!
For most sports and wildlife photographers, that sweet trifecta of features – the 10fps burst, the 153-point AF system, and the APS-C crop factor extending telephoto reach – is going to stack up very favourably indeed. I think it makes the D500 one of the best used Nikon wildlife cameras under £1,000 to buy – even including newer options. It’s just such good value.
You don’t need to take my word for it. Take a cursory stroll through Instagram, Flickr or any similar platform, and find images taken with the Nikon D500. Spoilers: they still look great, even though the camera came out ten years ago. And they’ll still look great in the future. So, if you want a Nikon Z8-like shooting experience at a fraction of the cost, my vote goes to the Nikon D500.
Take a look at our extensive range of second-hand products here!
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art and technology. When not writing about cameras, Jon is a keen photographer who captures the world using his Olympus XA2. His creativity extends to works of fiction and other creative writing, all of which can be found on his website www.jonstapley.com
The Wex Blog
Sign up for our newsletter today!
- Subscribe for exclusive discounts and special offers
- Receive our monthly content roundups
- Get the latest news and know-how from our experts
