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D850 vs Pentax K-1 Mark II

Quick take: The D850 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the Pentax K-1 Mark II 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?

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 D850Nikon · 2017Pentax K-1 Mark IIPentax · 2018
Price £2,399£1,899Best
Sensor 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS36.4MP full-frame CMOS (no AA filter)
Resolution 45.7MPBest36.4MP
Video 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p1080p only, no 4K
Autofocus 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20KSAFOX 12, 33-point DSLR phase-detect AF
Stabilisation None (relies on VR lenses)5-axis Shake Reduction II (in-body)
Burst Rate 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF)Best4.4fps
Battery Life ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstandingBest670 shots (CIPA)
Weight 915g (body only)Best1010g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 146 × 124 × 78.5mm—
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverageOptical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage
Screen 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dotsMulti-axis tilting screen (up/down/side), no touchscreen
Mount Nikon F mountPentax KAF2 (K-mount)
Memory Cards Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-IIDual SD (UHS-I)
Connectivity USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacksUSB, HDMI, Wi-Fi

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
D850
Pentax K-1 Mark II
Portrait
6.8/10
6.7/10
Street
4.9/10
4.9/10
Travel
5.1/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
7.2/10
6.7/10
Filmmaking
5.6/10
—
Documentary
5.8/10
5.5/10
Sports & Action
6.5/10
5.3/10
Landscape
6.7/10
7.0/10
Wildlife
6.4/10
5.6/10
Casual
3.6/10
3.3/10
Food
5.8/10
6.0/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.3/10
Architecture
6.4/10
6.9/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
7.3/10

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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