D850vs Z30
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
Who should buy what
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
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the d850 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | Z30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £479 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 20.9MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ~300 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 915g body only | 405g body only |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | None |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Z30 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with D850
Camera family history