Nikon · Camera History
Nikon Pro DSLR Series
Nikon's flagship professional F-mount DSLR line
Nikon's flagship professional DSLR line — the D5 and D6 represent the pinnacle of F-mount DSLR engineering, built for photojournalism, sports, and wildlife. The D5 was certified for use aboard the International Space Station; the D6 refined its AF system with 105 all-cross-type points.
1
Generation 1
Nikon D700
12MP
No video
51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode)
No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
5fps
~1000 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
1075g (with battery)
2
Generation 2
Nikon D800
36MP
Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60
51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view
No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
4fps
~900 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
1000g (with battery)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 36MP (+24MP)
- Video: Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60
3
Generation 3
Nikon D3S
12MP
720p/24
51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode)
No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
9fps
~4200 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
1420g (with battery)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 12MP (-24MP)
- Burst rate: 9fps
- Video: 720p/24
4
Generation 4
Nikon D810
36MP
Full HD 1080p/60
51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view
No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
5fps
~1200 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
980g (with battery)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 36MP (+24MP)
- Video: Full HD 1080p/60
5
Generation 5
Nikon D5
21MP
4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop)
Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type
12fps mechanical
~3780 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
1405g (body only)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 21MP (-15MP)
- Burst rate: 12fps mechanical
- Video: 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop)
- Price: +£1,452 vs previous
6
Generation 6
Nikon D850
46MP
4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p
153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K
None (relies on VR lenses)
9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF)
~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding
Weather sealed
915g (body only)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 46MP (+25MP)
- Video: 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p
- Price: +£399 vs previous
7
Current generation
Nikon D6
21MP
4K UHD 30fps
Multi-CAM 3500FX III — 105 AF points, all cross-type
14fps mechanical
~3580 shots (CIPA)
Weather sealed
1450g (body only)
What's new in this generation
- Resolution: 21MP (-25MP)
- Burst rate: 14fps mechanical
- Video: 4K UHD 30fps
- Price: +£1,001 vs previous
All generations at a glance
| Spec | D700 (2008) | D800 (2012) | D3S (2009) | D810 (2014) | D5 (2016) | D850 (2017) | D6 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £133 | £230 | £268 | £348 | £1800 | £2199 | £3200 |
| Resolution | 12MP | 36MP | 12MP | 36MP | 21MP | 46MP | 21MP |
| Video | No video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | 720p/24 | Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K UHD 30fps |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — | None (relies on VR lenses) | — |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 4fps | 9fps | 5fps | 12fps mechanical | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 14fps mechanical |
| Battery | ~1000 shots (CIPA) | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ~4200 shots (CIPA) | ~1200 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ~3580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1075g (with battery) | 1000g (with battery) | 1420g (with battery) | 980g (with battery) | 1405g (body only) | 915g (body only) | 1450g (body only) |