S1 IIvs D850
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
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
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
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 d850 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Nikon F-mount (FX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | — | |
| 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