13 Autofocus advances

The D7500 uses the 51-point Multi-CAM 3500 II autofocus unit previously found in all of Nikon’s top DSLRs. By our reckoning, this is one of the longest-running components in Nikon’s whole DSLR range, but it’s been continually updated over the years. Nikon has now introduced a new 153-point AF sensor in its top D500 and D5 models, but the new and improved version of the Multi-CAM 3500 II in the D7500 should be worth having.

For the D7500, Nikon has added its new Group-area AF mode, designed to make it easier to track erratically moving subjects. Nikon’s existing Dynamic-area AF mode looks similar, but relies on you keeping your chosen focus point over your subject. Group-area AF is more forgiving – it uses a group of five autofocus points in a ‘diamond’ shape and focuses on the object nearest the camera within that area.

Nikon has also added an Auto AF fine-tune option. This is designed to compensate for small focus discrepancies sometimes seen with certain lens and camera body combinations. These happen because the autofocus sensor operates independently of the camera’s imaging sensor. In the past, the AF fine-tune option had to be calibrated manually using fiddly test targets; the D7500, however, can use its Live View mode to automatically measure and correct focus errors.