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Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Comparison

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Nikon D810

36 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D810
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Nikon D850

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

Nikon D850
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Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing D810 and D850, two Advanced DSLR cameras by Nikon. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Nikon D810 has a 36.0 MP and Nikon D850 has a 46.0 MP resolution. Nikon D810 was introduced to market in June 2014 and Nikon D850 was launched in August 2017. As you can see, D810 is 3 years older than D850. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Advanced DSLR cameras. Out of 92 cameras in this class, Nikon D810 is ranked #9 with an overall score of 81 and Nikon D850 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 88.

D810 and D850 are members of Nikon's D800 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Nikon D800 Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
Nikon D850
2017 46.0MP - Full frame 7.0 fps 146 x 124 x 79mm 1015g
Nikon D810A
  
2015 36.0MP - Full frame 5.0 fps 146 x 123 x 82mm 880g
Nikon D810
2014 36.0MP - Full frame 5.0 fps 146 x 123 x 82mm 980g
Nikon D800
  
2012 36.0MP - Full frame 4.0 fps 146 x 123 x 82mm 900g
Nikon D800E
  
2012 36.0MP - Full frame 4.0 fps 146 x 123 x 82mm 900g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D810 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-06-26
  • 36MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 64 - 12800 ( expands to 32-51200)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 980g. 146 x 123 x 82 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D800 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 optional battery grip. )
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 1015g. 146 x 124 x 79 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D810 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D810 over Nikon D850
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Weight
980 g vs 1015 g 35 g lighter
Low Light ISO
2853 vs 2660 better High ISO performance


Reasons to choose Nikon D850 over Nikon D810
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Optional Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.75x vs 0.7x Larger Viewfinder
Max Sensor Resolution
46 MP vs 36 MP 27% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
153 vs 51 102 more focus points
Number of Cross Type Focus Points
99 vs 15 84 more cross type focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
2.359k dots vs 1.229k dots 91% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 5.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
1840 shots vs 1200 shots 640 more frames with a single charge
Color Depth
26.4 vs 25.7 higher color depth
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
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
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Illuminated Buttons
Yes vs No Find the buttons easily in dark
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Min Focus Sensitivity
EV -4 vs EV -2 Autofocus in lower light
8K Timelapse mode
Yes vs No Create 8K resolution timelapse videos
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
15 point vs 11 point Autofocus with teleconverters
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light

Common Strengths of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
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
36 MP vs 46 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3.2" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 2.359k dots High resolution screens
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
200000 cycles vs 200000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs UHS-II Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D810 has external dimensions of 146 x 123 x 82 mm (5.75 x 4.84 x 3.23″) and weighs 980 g (2.16 lb / 34.57 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D850 has external dimensions of 146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.75 x 4.88 x 3.11″) and weighs 1015 g (2.24 lb / 35.80 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850.

Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850.

Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850.
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D810 is 35g lighter than the Nikon D850 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

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 D810 and Nikon D850 have the same Nikon F lens mount and Full frame sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D810
D850
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D810
D850
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both D810 and D850 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D810 and Nikon D850's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.2".

On the other hand, Nikon D850 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Nikon D810 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to D850.
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D810 has a 36.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features EXPEED 4 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 10MP more than Nikon D810'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 similarity between these two cameras is that both Nikon D850 and Nikon D810 sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. 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 D810 and D850 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 Cameras


Nikon D810 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.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that D850 has a better overall score of 100, 3 points higher compared to D810's score of 97.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D810 97 25.7 bits 14.8 Evs 2853 ISO
Nikon D850 100 26.4 bits 14.8 Evs 2660 ISO
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 have the same Nikon F lens mount so have 309 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

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 106 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D810 Lenses # of Nikon D850 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 21 (18 Full Frame) 21 (18 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 48 (46 Full Frame) 48 (46 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 53 (43 Full Frame) 53 (43 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 45 (44 Full Frame) 45 (44 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 30 (6 Full Frame) 30 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 (3 Full Frame) 8 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 26 (23 Full Frame) 26 (23 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 11 (11 Full Frame) 11 (11 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 1 (0 Full Frame)
TOTAL 309 (228 Full Frame) 309 (228 Full Frame)

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for D810 and D850
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
35mm FF 425gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G
35mm FF 290gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
35mm FF 1340gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G
35mm FF 185gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
35mm FF 745gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G
APS-C / DX 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR
APS-C / DX 530gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D810 and Nikon D850 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D810 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 D810 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
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 D810 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 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 D810 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
15 Cross Type Focus sensors
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1200 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
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
Anti Flicker feature
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D810 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
980g
Body Thickness 82mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
1015g
Body Thickness 79mm
Read the details

Nikon D810 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
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 D810 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 D810 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 D810 and Nikon D850 scores compare:

Nikon D810
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #42 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Nikon D850
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #18 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon D850 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D810 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon D810. Otherwise, Nikon D850 is the better camera overall.

Nikon D810
Nikon D810
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Nikon D850
Nikon D850
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Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D810 Nikon D850
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2014-06-26 2017-08-24
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm
Area 861.60mm2 858.01mm2
Megapixels 36 megapixels 46 megapixels
Max Resolution 7360 x 4912 8256 x 5504
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 51200 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 64 ISO 64 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 32 ISO 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 51 153
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 309 309
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution 1,229k dots 2,359k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7x 0.75x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 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 980g 1015g
Dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm 146 x 124 x 79mm
Battery Life 1200 shots 1840 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 97 100
DxO Color Depth 25.7 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range 14.8 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO 2853 2660
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