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Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850

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Nikon D5

21 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D5
$6,496.95
or
BUY
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Nikon D850

46 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon D850
$3,096.95
or
BUY
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two DSLR cameras by Nikon. Nikon D5 has a 21.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame sensor. This will be an interesting match up as even though these two cameras doesn't have the exact same body type, they are both ranked amongst Top 10 cameras in their classes. Nikon D5 is ranked #3 out of 34 Pro DSLR cameras with an overall score of 85 whereas Nikon D850 is ranked #1 out of 90 Semi-Pro DSLR cameras with an overall score of 95.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-01-05
  • 21MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 102400 ( expands to 3280000)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2″ Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 14.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 1415g. 160 x 158.5 x 92 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D4s Compare

Nikon D850 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-08-24
  • 46MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 64 - 25600 ( expands to 32-102400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 9 fps with MB-D18 battery grip
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 1015g. 146 x 124 x 79 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D810 Compare
Reasons to choose Nikon D5 over Nikon D850
Max ISO 102.400 vs 25.600 300% higher Max ISO
Continuous Shooting 14.0fps vs 7.0fps 7 fps faster
Battery Life 3780 shots vs 1840 shots 1940 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area 41.25µm2 vs 18.88µm2 118% larger pixel area
Shutter Life Expectancy 400000 cycles vs 200000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
4K Photo Mode Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Reasons to choose Nikon D850 over Nikon D5
Wireless Connection Built-In vs Optional Better connectivity
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
Max Sensor Resolution 46 MP vs 21 MP 119% more pixels
Weight 1015 g vs 1415 g 400 g lighter
Color Depth 26.4 vs 25.1 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 14.8 vs 12.3 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 2660 vs 2434 better High ISO performance
Price $3,097 vs $6,497 $3,400 cheaper
NFC Connection Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Smartphone_remote control Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
8K Timelapse mode Yes vs No Create 8K resolution timelapse videos
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Strengths of Nikon D5 and Nikon D850
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 21 MP vs 46 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size 3.2″ vs 3.2" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution 2.359k dots vs 2.359k dots Higher resolution screens
Continuous Shooting 14.0fps vs 7.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune) Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy 400000 cycles vs 200000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Illuminated Buttons Yes vs Yes Find the buttons easily in dark
Storage Slot 2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Min Focus Sensitivity EV -4 vs EV -4 Autofocus in very low light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D5 and Nikon D850
Image Stabilization No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D5 and Nikon D850. Nikon D850 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 14mm narrower, 35mm shorter and 13mm thinner than Nikon D5.

Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D5 and Nikon D850.
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D850 is significantly lighter (400g ) than the Nikon D5 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D5
D850
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D5
D850
Min
Average
Max
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D5 has a 21.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor.

Nikon D850's sensor provides 25MP more than Nikon D5's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D850's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D5 and D850 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850 Sensor Size Comparison


Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D5 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D5 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D5 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 14.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Cross Type Focus sensors
153 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 3780 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Cross Type Focus sensors
153 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1840 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D5 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1415g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1015g
Body Thickness 79mm
Read the details

Nikon D5 for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Nikon D850 vs Nikon D5 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Both Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 have 299 native lenses available but be careful that since Nikon D5 has a full frame sensor, only 218 of these lenses can cover the full frame sensor of D5.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 88 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D5 Lenses # of Nikon D850 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 33
Standard Prime 20 (17 Full Frame) 20
Wideangle Zoom 32 (16 Full Frame) 32
Wideangle Prime 46 (44 Full Frame) 46
Telephoto Zoom 51 (41 Full Frame) 51
Telephoto Prime 42 (41 Full Frame) 42
SuperZoom 30 (6 Full Frame) 30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 (3 Full Frame) 8
Macro Prime 25 (22 Full Frame) 25
Perspective Control Prime 11 (11 Full Frame) 11
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 1
TOTAL 299 (218 Full Frame) 299
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D850: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D5 and Nikon D850, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D5 and Nikon D850 scores compare:

Nikon D5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 11 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #29 out of 1166 in all Cameras
Nikon D850
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 93 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #6 out of 1166 in all Cameras

Nikon D850 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D5 in all criterias.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon D5
Nikon D5
$6,496.95

Nikon D850
Nikon D850
$3,096.95

Nikon D850 vs Nikon D5 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D5 Nikon D850
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2016-01-05 2017-08-24
Body Type Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Price $6,496.95 $3,096.95
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm
Area 855.62mm2 858.01mm2
Megapixels 21 megapixels 46 megapixels
Max Resolution 5588 x 3712 8256 x 5504
Max Native Light sensitivity 102,400 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 3280000 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 64 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 32 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 153 153
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 299 299
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.2″ 3.2"
Resolution 2,359k dots 2,359k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.72 0.75
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 14.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Optional Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1415g 1015g
Dimensions 160 x 158.5 x 92mm 146 x 124 x 79mm
Battery Life 3780 shots 1840 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 88 100
DxO Color Depth 25.1 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO 2434 2660
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