The Nikon D850 is often hailed as one of the best DSLR cameras ever made, but with its premium price tag, many photographers—both amateur and professional—are left wondering, “Is it worth the investment?” Whether you’re a landscape photographer, portrait artist, or someone who shoots weddings and events, the Nikon D850 is built to serve a wide variety of purposes. In this comprehensive review, we’ll take an in-depth look at its features, performance, and value to help you decide if this camera is truly worth the cost.
1. Overview of the Nikon D850
Released in 2017, the Nikon D850 is a full-frame DSLR with a 45.7-megapixel sensor and a reputation for exceptional image quality. Its versatile features cater to professionals across multiple genres of photography. As a successor to the Nikon D810, the D850 improves on many aspects, including resolution, speed, autofocus performance, and video capabilities.
Let’s break down the features that make the D850 stand out:
2. Build Quality and Design
Ergonomics
One of the first things you’ll notice when handling the Nikon D850 is its robust, high-quality build. Crafted from magnesium alloy and designed to be weather-sealed, the D850 feels durable and ready for tough outdoor environments. Its comfortable grip makes it easy to hold, even for extended periods, which is especially important for photographers on long shoots.
Control Layout
Nikon has done a great job in designing the D850’s control layout. It’s intuitive and easy to access for those familiar with Nikon cameras. Customizable buttons allow you to fine-tune the camera to your specific needs, ensuring that you never waste time fumbling through menus. The tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD display, which boasts a 2.36 million-dot resolution, is a major bonus for those who like to shoot from unconventional angles or review images on a sharp, bright screen.
Viewfinder
The D850’s optical viewfinder has a magnification of 0.75x, one of the largest among DSLRs. This offers a bright, clear view of your scene, making composition easier, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
3. Image Quality
Sensor
At the heart of the Nikon D850 is its 45.7-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, which lacks an optical low-pass filter. This results in incredibly detailed, sharp images with stunning resolution, perfect for large prints or cropping without loss of quality. The BSI design improves low-light performance by increasing the amount of light that hits the sensor, reducing noise, and enhancing dynamic range.
Dynamic Range
The dynamic range of the D850 is outstanding. Whether you’re shooting landscapes with a bright sky and shadowy foreground or portraits in mixed lighting, the camera’s ability to capture details in both highlights and shadows is remarkable. This means you’ll have more flexibility in post-processing, especially when pulling details out of dark areas or recovering blown-out highlights.
ISO Performance
The native ISO range of the Nikon D850 is 64-25,600, expandable to 32-102,400. This impressive range ensures great performance in a variety of lighting conditions. At lower ISOs, the images are incredibly clean with very little noise, and even at higher ISOs, the D850 manages noise well, preserving a lot of detail without overwhelming grain. It’s an excellent choice for low-light photography, whether you’re shooting indoors or under the night sky.
4. Autofocus Performance
AF System
The D850 features a 153-point autofocus system, 99 of which are cross-type sensors. This advanced AF system, borrowed from Nikon’s flagship D5, ensures quick and accurate focusing in a variety of conditions. With the ability to track moving subjects, it excels in sports, wildlife, and action photography.
Focus Modes
The camera offers multiple focus modes, including Auto-area AF, Single-point AF, Dynamic-area AF, and 3D-tracking, allowing you to choose the best option for the situation. For example, the 3D-tracking feature uses color and shape recognition to lock onto a subject and follow it as it moves across the frame—a useful feature for fast-moving subjects.
5. Continuous Shooting and Speed
The Nikon D850 is no slouch when it comes to speed. It can shoot at 7 frames per second (fps) with full AF/AE tracking and can reach up to 9 fps with the MB-D18 battery grip and EN-EL18a/b battery. This makes it a viable option for action, sports, and wildlife photographers who need a fast frame rate to capture fleeting moments.
In addition, the buffer allows for up to 51 RAW images or 170 12-bit lossless compressed RAW files before it slows down, ensuring you won’t miss key moments even in high-speed shooting environments.
6. Video Capabilities
The D850’s video features are another highlight. It can shoot 4K UHD video at 30/25/24p without any crop factor, using the full width of the sensor. This full-frame 4K capability allows for stunningly detailed video with excellent low-light performance and beautiful shallow depth of field effects.
It also offers 1080p slow-motion video at up to 120 frames per second, giving you more creative options when it comes to capturing movement. The camera has built-in focus peaking, zebra stripes, and an external mic and headphone port, which make it a solid option for videographers who need control and precision.
7. Battery Life
Battery life on the Nikon D850 is another strong point. With its EN-EL15a battery, the camera can capture up to 1,840 shots per charge (CIPA rating), which is exceptional for a DSLR of this caliber. This is especially useful for long shoots or travel photography, where carrying extra batteries might not be convenient.
If you need even more endurance, the aforementioned MB-D18 battery grip can not only boost continuous shooting speed but also increase battery life substantially, allowing for marathon shooting sessions without needing to recharge.
8. Storage and Connectivity
The Nikon D850 has dual card slots—one for XQD cards and one for SD cards (UHS-II compatible). The XQD card is faster, making it ideal for high-speed shooting and 4K video recording, while the SD card offers flexibility and widespread compatibility.
For connectivity, the D850 features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Nikon’s SnapBridge app allows for easy wireless transfer of images to your smartphone or tablet, and the Bluetooth functionality provides a stable connection for transferring smaller, low-resolution files. While the wireless options work well, many professionals might find the lack of built-in GPS and some limitations of SnapBridge slightly disappointing.
9. Price and Value
At its release, the Nikon D850 had a premium price tag, but considering its build, features, and performance, many photographers find it worth the investment. In 2024, the price has dropped slightly but still places the D850 in the high-end category. If you’re a professional photographer or an advanced hobbyist who demands top-tier image quality, versatility, and reliability, the D850 is a camera that can serve your needs for years to come.
For those on a tighter budget, or if you don’t require the extreme resolution and advanced features, other cameras might provide better value for your money. However, if photography is your profession or passion, the D850 offers an exceptional balance of performance and price, making it one of the most versatile and capable DSLRs ever produced.
10. Who Should Buy the Nikon D850?
- Professional Photographers: The D850 is perfect for professionals in a range of fields including landscape, portrait, wedding, sports, and commercial photography.
- Enthusiasts with High Demands: If you’re an advanced hobbyist who craves the best image quality, high resolution, and robust build, the D850 is an investment that will elevate your work.
- Hybrid Shooters: Those who shoot both high-resolution photos and 4K video will appreciate the D850’s versatility in both mediums.
- Wildlife and Action Photographers: With its fast frame rate and excellent autofocus system, the D850 is ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects.
11. Who Should Consider Other Options?
- Beginners: The D850’s high price and advanced features may be overkill for beginners or casual photographers. A mid-range DSLR or mirrorless camera might be a better starting point.
- Videographers: While the D850 offers solid video performance, those who focus primarily on video might prefer a mirrorless camera or dedicated video camera with more specialized features.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: If you don’t need the extreme resolution or advanced autofocus, there are more affordable full-frame options that can deliver excellent results for less.
Conclusion: Is the Nikon D850 Worth the Investment?
For many photographers, the answer is a resounding yes. The Nikon D850 delivers exceptional image quality, superb build, and an impressive feature set that caters to professionals and advanced enthusiasts alike. Its versatility across various genres of photography, combined with robust video capabilities, makes it one of the most well-rounded cameras on the market.
While it carries a premium price tag, the D850’s performance and longevity make it a worthwhile investment for those who need a high-end camera capable of producing professional results. Whether you’re capturing detailed landscapes, fast-paced action, or creating cinematic videos, the Nikon D850 is a powerhouse camera that continues to stand the test of time.