Decision tools · Compare

D850 vs A6400

Quick take: The D850 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the A6400 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·15 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.

A6400 — Content Creation & Vlogging: The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.

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
A6400 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
  • Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
  • Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
  • Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification D850Nikon · 2017A6400Sony · 2019
Price £2,399£749Best
Sensor 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI
Resolution 45.7MPBest24.2MP
Video 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion
Autofocus 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20KPhase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF
Stabilisation None (relies on VR lenses)No stabilisation
Burst Rate 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF)11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF trackingBest
Battery Life ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstandingBest~410 shots (CIPA)
Weight 915g (body only)403g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 146 × 124 × 78.5mm120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverageEVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots
Mount Nikon F mountSony E-mount
Memory Cards Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-IISingle SD UHS-I
Connectivity USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacksMicro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC

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
A6400
Portrait
6.8/10
6.7/10
Street
4.9/10
7.3/10
Travel
5.0/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
7.2/10
5.6/10
Filmmaking
5.6/10
5.1/10
Documentary
5.8/10
6.1/10
Sports & Action
6.5/10
6.9/10
Landscape
6.7/10
5.6/10
Wildlife
6.4/10
7.4/10
Casual
3.6/10
5.8/10
Food
5.8/10
6.1/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
6.4/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
6.0/10
Vlogging & Video
—
5.8/10

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 →

Next
More comparisons with D850
Camera family history