D850vs Now Gen 3
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
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.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
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
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the d850 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £120 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | — |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 915g body only | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
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