GH5vs D850
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooting — GH5 (2017): The GH5 redefined what a consumer video camera could do — 4K/60p and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording made it the independent filmmaker's tool of choice for years.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
GH5 (2017)
- Independent filmmakers who need 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording without a dedicated cinema camera
- YouTube creators who want 4K/60p, a fully articulating screen, and unlimited recording
- Photographers who shoot primarily stills but need serious video capability as a second
- GH4 owners who want 4K/60p and 10-bit — a significant step up
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the gh5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH5 (2017) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, C4K/30p, 1080p/180p; 10-bit 4:2:2 internal; unlimited recording | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face/eye detection | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses (6.5 stops) | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 9fps (AFC) | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 725g (with battery and card) | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 98.1 × 87.4mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.76× magnification | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F-mount (FX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, headphone jack, HDMI | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH5 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history