Nikon D850 Review

Main Features

46MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

ISO 64 - 25600( expands to 32-102400)

3.2" Tilting Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

7.0 fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video

Built-in Wireless

1015g. 146 x 124 x 79 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Replaced Nikon D810

CHECK PRICE

Select a Camera to Compare

Add a Camera for comparison

Nikon D850 Overview

First introduced in August 2017 , Nikon D850 is a 46.0MP Advanced DSLR camera with a Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older D810 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
Compare Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810

Nikon D850 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Nikon D850 is the latest member of Nikon's D800 series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

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 Compare	2015	36.0MP - Full frame	5.0 fps	146 x 123 x 82mm	880g
Nikon D810 Compare	2014	36.0MP - Full frame	5.0 fps	146 x 123 x 82mm	980g
Nikon D800 Compare	2012	36.0MP - Full frame	4.0 fps	146 x 123 x 82mm	900g
Nikon D800E Compare	2012	36.0MP - Full frame	4.0 fps	146 x 123 x 82mm	900g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Nikon D850 vs D810A vs D810 vs D800 vs D800E

Nikon D850 has an Overall Score of 88/100 and ranked #1 out of 206 in DSLR cameras (Top 10 DSLR), and ranked #13 out of 1212 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Nikon D850 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Nikon D850 Compared to other DSLR Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon D850 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Bluetooth Connectivity

NFC Connectivity

Articulating Screen

4K (UHD) Video

No crop on 4K Videos

Touch Screen

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

46.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

25.600 Max ISO

153 Focus Points

Large 3.2" Screen

2.359k dots LCD Resolution

1/8000s High Shutter Speed

4K Timelapse

8K Timelapse

Autofocus at f8 using 15 focus points

7.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

Long Battery Life (1840 shots)

External Microphone Port

External Headphone Port

Environmental Sealing

Timelapse Recording

0.75x magnification - Large Viewfinder

Good Low Light ISO - 2660

99 Cross Type Focus Points

2 Storage Slots

Top LCD Display

Wide AE Bracketing Range: ±5 EV

Flash Sync Port

AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)

High Shutter Life Expectancy - 200000 cycles

Focus Bracketing

Illuminated Buttons

Remote control with a smartphone

EV -4 Focus Sensitivity

Magnesium Alloy body elements

Compatible with fast UHS-II cards

Report a correction

Buy Nikon D850 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Image Stabilization

Heavy Body: 1015g

Report a correction

Nikon D850 Lens Mount and Lenses

Nikon D850 has a Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 309 native lenses available for this mount. Besides providing one of the largest selection of lenses, Nikon F mount also has backward compatibility which means that you can use F mount lenses even dating from 1960s. It is also well supported by the lenses form third-party manufacturers.

Nikon D850 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 70 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 71 lenses with weather sealing for D850 that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

Here are some of the most popular Nikon D850 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for Nikon D850

Model	Focal Length on D850	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G	70-300mm	35mm FF	425gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G	50mm	35mm FF	290gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR	80-400mm	35mm FF	1340gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD	150-600mm	35mm FF	1951gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G	50mm	35mm FF	185gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR	70-300mm	35mm FF	745gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED	24-70mm	35mm FF	900gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR	105mm	35mm FF	720gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Nikon D850 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Nikon D850 Sensor and Photography Features

Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 8256 x 5504 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9. D850 has a native ISO range of 64 - 25600 which can be boosted to 32-102400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Nikon D850 is not the highest resolution Full frame camera. Sony A7R IV with its 61.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R IV or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

Nikon D850 DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Nikon D850 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 100 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Nikon D850 here.

Anti-Aliasing Filter

Another important feature about Nikon D850's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Let's look at how the size of the Nikon D850's Full frame sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Nikon D850 Physical Specs

Nikon D850 weighs 1015 g (2.24 lb / 35.80 oz) and has external dimensions of 146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.75 x 4.88 x 3.11″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 774g, Nikon D850 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 79mm, it has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Nikon D850

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Nikon D850

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon D850 with the dimensions:

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Nikon D850 with its main competitors:

Nikon D850 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs D850	Thickness	vs D850
Nikon D780 Compare	840g	175g lighter	76mm	3mm thinner
Nikon D810 Compare	980g	35g lighter	82mm	3mm thicker
Nikon D750 Compare	840g	175g lighter	78mm	1mm thinner
Nikon D500 Compare	860g	155g lighter	81mm	2mm thicker
Sony A7R IV Compare	665g	350g lighter	78mm	1mm thinner
Canon 5D MIV Compare	890g	125g lighter	76mm	3mm thinner
Nikon Z7 Compare	675g	340g lighter	68mm	11mm thinner
Nikon Z6 Compare	675g	340g lighter	68mm	11mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Nikon D850 has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera, providing resistance against the water and dust getting in to the camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Nikon D850 will serve you well. If you attach one of these Nikon D850 weather Sealed lenses to your camera, you will have a great all weather kit.

One of our favourite features on Nikon D850 is its illuminated buttons which makes it easier to find and press the right buttons under dark conditions.

Nikon D850 LCD and Viewfinder

Nikon D850 has a Tilting 3.2" LCD screen with a resolution of 2,359k dots. The Nikon D850's 3.2" screen is larger than average and its resolution is up to the class standarts.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

D850 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. The viewfinder has a coverage of 100% and a magnification ratio of 0.75x. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later.

Nikon D850 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Nikon D850 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g + NFC + Bluetooth 4.1 LE) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, D850 can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.Nikon D850's Bluetooth connectivity feature comes handy for connecting other devices that supports it. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our D850. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect D850 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) port.

Battery

Nikon D850 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 1840 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 943 shots, Nikon D850 has a good battery life for its class.

Battery Life Comparison in Advanced DSLR Cameras

Nikon D850

Min

Average

Max

Nikon D780 with its 2260shots is the model with longest battery life among Advanced DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon D850 vs Nikon D780 or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

Nikon D850 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Nikon D780 Compare	3840 x 2160	2260shots	Yes	Yes	No
Nikon D810 Compare	1920 x 1080	1200shots	No	No	No
Nikon D750 Compare	1920 x 1080	1230shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon D500 Compare	3840 x 2160	1240shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony A7R IV Compare	3840 x 2160	670shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canon 5D MIV Compare	4096 x 2160	900shots	Yes	No	Yes
Nikon Z7 Compare	3840 x 2160	330shots	Yes	Yes	No
Nikon Z6 Compare	3840 x 2160	330shots	Yes	Yes	No

Nikon D850 Video Features

With Nikon D850, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p,25p,24p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. This means that Nikon D850 provides 4K (Ultra-HD) video. Except some exotic 6K and 8K video recording cameras, 4K is the new standard in consumer video world.
It is also a big step up from its predecessor D810 which has a max video resolution of 1920 x 1080 only. If you are thinking of upgrading your D810 and shoot a lot of video, this is a big factor to consider in favor of D850.

D850 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Nikon D850 also has a port for an external microphone and a headphone port for connecting external headphones which make Nikon D850 a very suitable camera high quality videography.

Nikon D850 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Nikon D850 can shoot continuously at max speed of 7.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. If you need more speed, Nikon D850 can shoot up to 9 fps with optional battery grip.

Flash

Unfortunately D850 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Nikon D850 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 153 focus points and 99 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

Nikon D850 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Nikon D850 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Nikon D850 in 5 different photography areas.

Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

Nikon D850 has a score of 71 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

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 of how we scored Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

Nikon D850 for Street Photography

Nikon D850 has a score of 67 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Street Photography list.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen

Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
Large Body

Read the details of how we scored Nikon D850 for Street Photography

Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

Nikon D850 has a score of 87 for Sports Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

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
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

Nikon D850 has a score of 76 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Environmental Sealings
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Large Body

1015g
Body Thickness 79mm

Read the details of how we scored Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

Nikon D850 has a score of 65 for Landscape Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Landscape Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

Nikon D850 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Nikon D850 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of D850 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon D850 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Nikon D850

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon D850 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Nikon D780

Compare

Nikon D810

Compare

Nikon D750

Compare

Nikon D500

Compare

Sony A7R IV

Compare

Canon 5D MIV

Compare

Nikon Z7

Compare

Nikon Z6

Compare

Nikon D850 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Nikon D850 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Nikon D850's price range.

Sony A7R III

Compare

Nikon Z7

Compare

Sony A9

Compare

Sony A7 III

Compare

Nikon Z6

Compare

Panasonic S1

Compare

Sony A7R II

Compare

Nikon Z5

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon D850

Does the Nikon D850 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Nikon D850 have RAW support?
Does the Nikon D850 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Nikon D850 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Nikon D850?
What is the Sensor Size of Nikon D850?
is the Nikon D850 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Nikon D850 have Touch Screen?
Does the Nikon D850 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon D850?

Nikon D850 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Nikon
Model	Nikon D850
Announced	2017-08-24
Body Type	Mid-size SLR
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon F
Number of Lenses	309
Focal Length Multiplier	1x
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Tilting
Screen Size	3.2"
Screen Resolution	2,359k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.75
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/8000s
Continuous Shooting	7.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync	1/250s
Flash Modes	Front-curtain sync (normal), Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	100
DxO Color Depth	26.4
DxO Dynamic Range	14.8
DxO Low Light ISO	2660
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	Full frame
Sensor Dimensions	35.9 x 23.9 mm
Sensor Area	858.01mm²
Sensor Resolution	46 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	8256 x 5504
Max Native ISO	25,600
Max Boosted ISO	102400
Min Native ISO	64
Min Boosted ISO	32
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
Number of Cross Focus Points	99
Video Features
Video Resolutions	3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	1015g
Physical Dimensions	146 x 124 x 79mm
Battery Life	1840 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	EN-EL15a
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) + XQD
Storage Slots	2