Decision tools · Compare
Nikon D780 vs D850
Quick take: The D850 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the Nikon D780 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.
Nikon
D850 2017
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
£2399
new today at Clifton Cameras
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
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
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 | Nikon D780Nikon · 2020 | D850Nikon · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999Best | £2,399 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.0MP | 45.7MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF)Best |
| Battery Life | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstandingBest |
| Weight | 840g (with battery and card)Best | 915g (body only) |
| Dimensions | — | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 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
Nikon D780
D850
Portrait
6.7/10
6.8/10
Street
5.4/10
4.9/10
Travel
5.6/10
5.1/10
Wedding & Events
7.3/10
7.2/10
Filmmaking
6.2/10
5.6/10
Documentary
6.5/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
6.3/10
6.5/10
Landscape
6.2/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
6.2/10
6.4/10
Casual
4.2/10
3.6/10
Food
5.8/10
5.8/10
Macro
5.4/10
5.5/10
Architecture
5.9/10
6.4/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
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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