D850vs Z5
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.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £999 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 915g body only | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Everyday | — |
More comparisons with D850
Camera family history