Nikon D850 review (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth buying Nikon D850 now? ›

As far as full-frame DSLR cameras go, the Nikon D850 is one of the best you can buy. With a whopping 45.4MP image sensor and the ability to record full-frame 4K video, it's a powerhouse of hybrid shooting for stills and videographers alike capable of capturing every star in the sky.

Despite the fact that this camera is a few years old, it still offers photographers a 45MP sensor. In fact, the Nikon D850 was actually the first Nikon camera to offer a 45MP BSI-CMOS sensor. So, if you do purchase a Nikon D850 in 2021, you won't actually be giving up any image quality in order to do so.

The D780 has a dependable autofocus system with 51 AF points, 15 of which are the more sensitive cross type and 11 of which operate at down to f/11. It's fast and effective. However, the D850's 153-point system blows it out of the water with 99 cross type and 15 f/8-sensitive points.

Nikon D850 — The cream of the crop

There are 153 autofocus points, with 99 of them being cross-type, and it can focus down to -4 EV, which means low light is no problem. The D850 also makes use of Nikon's excellent 3D tracking. Don't forget about the tilting 3.2-inch display, dual card slots and 4K video.

Nikon is the most popular camera brand used by professional photographers. 31% of professionals use Nikon, closely followed by Canon (28%) and Sony (20%).

Nikon's D4 and D5 cameras are rated at 400,000 cycles, with the D850 and D500 at 200,000 cycles, the D7500 at 150,000 cycles and the D5600 and D3500 at 100,000 cycles.

But with the D850, Nikon has upped the mid-range game again with a massive 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor, a body more compact than the D5, lighter weight and even more AF and processing performance. “Versatile” is the word to describe the D850, which can be used effectively by rank beginners to seasoned pros.

The D850 looks like the perfect do-it-all DSLR for professional photographers, but at this price it could appeal to a large number of ambitious amateurs too. It does have a couple of limitations, but overall its combination of resolution, continuous shooting speed and 4K full frame video is just jaw-droppingly good.

The Nikon D850 is so good that even as of 2023, it still rivals or beats almost every new mirrorless camera that comes out.

How do I get the best out of my Nikon D850? ›

The D850 is more than capable of taking excellent bird photography shots. I have had it for a number of years and it has never failed me to get my target birds. Image quality is also very good, comparable to the latest cameras. However, I used the D850 knowing its limitation when it comes to action shots.

All things considered, the best Nikon camera for professional photography is the Nikon D850. It's the most versatile full-frame camera with a 45.4 MP image sensor and can take incredible photos whether it be for landscape photography, portraits, and more.

Though both offer superb image quality, the Canon has more megapixels but the Nikon shoots more frames per second. The Z6 has better dynamic range, but the EOS R's autofocus is far superior.

The D850 has a slight one-stop advantage over the D810 in terms of ISO range (64-25,600 vs. 64-12,800). It can increase in both situations to a minimum of 32. The D810's maximum resolution was enlarged to 51,200 at the top.

With that in mind, if portability and the option to preview your photos are what you're after, then you should buy a mirrorless camera in 2022. But if long battery life and the ability to see precisely what the camera sees are more important to you, then 2022 is still the year of the DSLR.

Photographers may feel sad that DSLRs appear to be coming to the end of their road, particularly if they just bought one. Don't panic yet, though – while Nikon and Canon appear to have stopped designing new DSLRs and lenses, they'll continue to manufacture and sell existing models.

Smartphone cameras will make DSLR cameras obsolete by 2024, Sony boss says. Smartphone cameras will produce better image quality than standalone DSLR cameras by 2024, according to a Sony executive.

Nikon is reportedly halting the development of new SLR cameras, marking the end of a 63-year run. Canon already confirmed its final flagship DSLR. Sony, which jumped onto the mirrorless train early, moved to selling only mirrorless cameras last year.

How much does it cost to replace a D850 shutter? ›

It is a mechanical device with a known lifespan which will eventually fail. Cost to replace the shutter box is over $500USD plus the added aggravation of mailing and being without a camera during the repair.

Although they closely resemble each other, the D850 is a worthy upgrade to the Nikon D810 as it adds a lot of new features while improving the old ones. To start with, the D850 offers a 45.7MP full frame sensor which is an impressive upgrade over the already astonishing 36.3MP sensor that is in the core of the D810.

Technically speaking, Nikon D850 is superior to Nikon D6, with an overall iCamRank score of 75 and 71, respectively. The image quality of Nikon D850 (70) is superior to that of Nikon D6 (65).

One of the most crucial factors in the Canon vs Nikon debate is usability. Many consider Canon DSLRs easier to handle, while Nikon takes the lead with mirrorless. It is all about what feels right to you. When most photographers choose their brand, they often do not switch.

Nikon Z7 II

This Nikon Z 7II is a high-end, full frame mirrorless camera and an upgraded version of the original Nikon Z 7. It's the perfect choice for professionals working in any field. It's suitable for action and wildlife photography.

The Nikon D850 may not be affordable for some photographers. With the absence of a built-in flash, you would need to spend on extra accessories. For a cost-friendly option, the Neewer NW561 Flash gives a powerful light output for shooting real estate photos.

Nikon says that the D850 can buffer 51 full frame, raw images at one time. So that's a lot of images to shoot before those images need to buffer out onto your card.

In fact, with the D850, Nikon is targeting pretty much all types of photographers, including landscape, macro, sports, wildlife, fashion, wedding / portraiture and timelapse. That's because for the first time, the camera features both a high-resolution sensor and fast continuous shooting speed, as explained above.

The D850 started shipping in September 2017 with a body-only suggested retail price of US$3,299.95. The optional MB-D18 battery grip has a suggested price of US$399.95, while the ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter retails for US$149.95.

Is it worth buying a DSLR in 2022? ›

Despite what you may have read, DSLRs are far from dead – in fact, in 2022, DSLR sales increased by 123% – DSLRs are still popular for all sorts of photographers. Excellent resolution, dynamic range and high ISO performance with fast autofocus, in an ergonomic and robust body.

The best settings you need to change to get razor-sharp photos on the Nikon D850 are the focus, ISO, and shutter speed. Typically, you should use faster shutter speeds of around 1/1000th to capture sharp images without blur.

Nikon D850 45.7MP DSLR Digital 4K Video Camera with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens with Wi-Fi - (Black) - (International Version)

Nikon D850 has a score of 62 for Landscape Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography.

While the pro-level Nikon Z 9 is often held up as the best of the best cameras for wildlife photography, it's also a flagship pro model with a price tag to match, making it an unrealistic option for most people. The next best thing for enthusiasts is the Nikon Z 6II.

As Carstens explains in the video above, wildlife photographers can benefit from mirrorless cameras' compact size, excellent live-view with real-time settings preview, widespread autofocus points, higher frame rate and blackout-free shooting experience.

The truth is that for most people (including professional photographers) any camera with 15-20 Megapixels or more will be more than sufficient. CROP FACTOR - Both Canon and Nikon produce cameras that have full frame sensors as well as bodies that have sensors that are smaller than 35mm.

Despite what you may have read, DSLRs are far from dead – in fact, in 2022, DSLR sales increased by 123% – DSLRs are still popular for all sorts of photographers. Excellent resolution, dynamic range and high ISO performance with fast autofocus, in an ergonomic and robust body.

No more DSLRs or compacts

The manufacturer's last DSLR was the flagship Nikon D6 (opens in new tab) in 2020 (now replaced by the mirrorless flagship Nikon Z9 (opens in new tab)), and a report by Nikkei revealed that it will no longer develop DSLRs (though Nikon was quick to point out that production would continue).

If you want a camera to last all night to let you take very long exposure photos or 4-hour long star trails, DSLRs have an advantage. Mirrorless bodies are often rated lower than that, although it's gaining fast. You can also get additional life out of them if you make a concerted effort to conserve power.

How many years does a DSLR last? ›

Pretty much any DSLR on the market today will last at least 3 to 5 years under normal use, and could possibly even go much longer than that. Either way, just keep shooting and don't worry too much about it. The camera is a tool that needs to be used to be appreciated.

Smartphone cameras will make DSLR cameras obsolete by 2024, Sony boss says. Smartphone cameras will produce better image quality than standalone DSLR cameras by 2024, according to a Sony executive.

Image Quality. Because mirrorless cameras traditionally have been built with smaller sensors, unable to capture the same amount of light as the case with larger sensors, the image quality often suffered, at least compared to its DSLR counterpart.

Yes, far better. Because optical viewfinder makes the camera more complex and bulky and increases the cost. Mirrorless camera has image stabilisation.

The DSLR offers a wider selection of interchangeable lenses, longer battery life, and better low-light shooting thanks to the optical viewfinder. On the other hand, mirrorless cameras are lighter, more portable, offer better video quality even in lower-end models, and can shoot more images at faster shutter speeds.

But even that's no barrier to mirrorless—they just need giant sensors. Unless phone cameras get significantly better and start to offer compatibility with extra lenses or studio lighting rigs, it's a fairly safe bet that mirrorless cameras will take over the job of SLRs for the foreseeable future.

According to a recent Nikkei report, Japanese giant Nikon will withdraw from the single-lens reflex or SLR camera-making business and shift toward pure mirrorless digital offerings amid intensifying competition from smartphone cameras, as well as declining sales in the last couple of years.

If you buy a DSLR with a good shutter count, that camera could go for more than 5 to 10 years. But for an everyday user, it can span 3 to 4 years.

DSLRs tend to be noisy when taking photographs, which has its own list of problems. Steep learning curve. Due to the manual nature and excess of features of DSLRs, they can be complex to the untrained. Ongoing maintenance and care.

On the other side of the coin, DSLRs have a few important disadvantages as well. They tend to be bulky and heavier than alternatives, which makes it a hard camera for on-the-go action. They also tend to be louder than alternatives due to their moving parts, which can distract and potentially ruin a shot.