Decision tools · Compare

D6 vs D850

Quick take: The D850 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the D850 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

D6 — Professional Sports, Press & Wildlife Photography: Nikon's final and finest DSLR — the D6 brought 105 all-cross-type AF points, 14fps, and built-in LAN to the F mount. The last word in optical viewfinder photography.

D850 — Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography: 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
D6 (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Sports, wildlife, and press photographers who prefer an optical viewfinder
  • Professional Nikon shooters with a substantial F-mount lens collection
  • Photojournalists who need built-in LAN for wire transmission
  • Nikon system professionals seeking a used flagship at under-new-price value
D850 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification D6Nikon · 2020D850Nikon · 2017
Price £6,799£2,399Best
Sensor 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS
Resolution 20.8MP45.7MPBest
Video 4K UHD 30fps4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus Multi-CAM 3500FX III — 105 AF points, all cross-type153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K
Stabilisation —None (relies on VR lenses)
Burst Rate 14fps mechanicalBest9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF)
Battery Life ~3580 shots (CIPA)Best~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding
Weight 1450g (body only)915g (body only)Best
Dimensions 160 × 163.5 × 92mm146 × 124 × 78.5mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverageOptical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage
Screen 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots
Mount Nikon F mountNikon F mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD slotsDual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet (built-in), USB 3.1USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D6
D850
Portrait
6.4/10
6.8/10
Street
4.1/10
4.9/10
Travel
4.1/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
7.3/10
7.2/10
Filmmaking
5.7/10
5.6/10
Documentary
6.0/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
7.0/10
6.5/10
Landscape
5.5/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
6.4/10
Casual
3.0/10
3.6/10
Food
4.6/10
5.8/10
Macro
4.6/10
5.5/10
Architecture
5.1/10
6.4/10
Astrophotography
6.5/10
6.3/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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