Nikon D850

QUICKFACT SHEET

The Nikon D850 is a full-frame DSLR targeted to advanced and professional photographers. It incorporates Nikon’s latest technologies and offers an impressive combination of high resolution, broad dynamic range and high-speed performance.

The D850 features a 45.7-MP full-frame sensor with an ISO range of 64-25,600 (plus extended ISO 32, up to 102,400). Nikon claims that, despite this substantial increase in megapixels, at base ISO 64, the D850 boasts a similar dynamic range that you would expect from a medium format camera. As well, it can still shoot at a fast 7fps (at full resolution and with full AF/AE).

And, with the 153-point, Multi-Cam 20K AF system derived from the flagship Nikon D5, photographers can now have a more compact and affordable DSLR with extremely high resolution and the speedy AF performance of the D5.

This makes the D850 attractive to a varied cross section of professional and enthusiast photographers who require broad dynamic range, fine detail, low-noise capability and the ability to freeze action.

What’s Improved From the D810:

D850	D810
45.7-MP BSI CMOS	36.3-MP CMOS
153-point AF	51-point AF
ISO 64-25600	ISO 64-12800
181,000 Pixel RGB Metering Sensor	91,000 Pixel RGB Meter
4K UHD movie, no crop	Full HD
Full HD 1080/120p slow motion video	1080/60p
7 fps Continuous Shooting with AF/AE	5fps with AF/AE
0.75x view magnification	0.7x
3.2″ Tilt Touch LCD 2.36M-dot	3.2″, does not tilt, not touchscreen, 1.23M-dot
XQD + SD	CompactFlash + SD
Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi, GPS
Focus Peaking for Still / HD Video	n/a
RAW Batch Processing	n/a
Wireless Radio Flash Control	n/a
Silent Photography Mode in Live View	n/a
Focus Shift Photography Mode	n/a
Illuminated buttons	n/a
Battery life: 1840 shots	1200

Download the Nikon D850/D810 Comparison Guide

Unfortunately, the D850 loses the built-in flash, presumably to enable a larger viewfinder (and it’s large at 0.75x magnification) and to improve weather proofing.

Adding so many more pixels onto the sensor could theoretically results in worse dynamic range and slower performance. Not in the D850, apparently. Nikon claims that, at ISO 64, the D850’s first back-side illuminated (BSI) full-frame sensor with no optical low-pass filter matches (and perhaps even just slightly bests) the D810’s fabulous low ISO Dynamic Range. In addition, thanks to using the 153-point, Multi-Cam 20K AF system derived from the flagship Nikon D5, the D850 can shoot at 7fps at full resolution with full AF/AE. Add the optional battery grip and you can now shoot at 9fps at full AF/AE.

The D850’s Phase-detect AF (using the optical viewfinder) is sensitive down to -4 EV, allowing precise focus in low-light situations.

You can seamlessly switch between RAW sizes of Large (45.7 MP), Medium (25.6 MP) and Small (11.4 MP), whichever fits your need or workflow. Plus, you can save time with RAW batch processing right in the camera.

You can now shoot in complete silence with a DSLR. The D850 allows you to shoot in total silence in Live View mode without sound or mechanical vibration. The D850 shoots Ultra High Definition (UHD 3840 x 2160 pixels) 4K 30/25/24p video. You can record 16:9 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160) using the total width and resolution of the D850’s back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor with zero crop factor when using NIKKOR full-frame lenses, including wide and ultra-wide angle lenses.

You can create a 4K time-lapse movie right in the camera. If the constant mechanical shutter release noise and mirror clanking bother you when shooting long time lapse, switch to Silent Live View Mode for totally silent time lapse capture — and, in the process, saving yourself thousands of shutter cycles and improving the D850’s already outstanding battery performance.

If you want to use the built-in Interval Timer, the D850 can shoot 8K time-lapse movies (sequences of up to 9,999 full-size stills). And, with Auto ISO, light transitions from dusk to dawn are handled automatically by the camera’s meter.

The Nikon D850 is a versatile DSLR that shoots high resolution images and provides impressive performance.

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Related Links:

• Nikon D850 Press Release
• Nikon D850 Technical Specs
• Nikon D850 User’s Manual
• Nikon D850 Firmware Update
• Nikon D850 Software Download

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