D850vs A7S
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £600 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | None |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 915g body only | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (FX) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history