D850vs Sony FX30
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its 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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the sony fx30 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D850 (2017) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 26.1MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 915g body only | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with D850
Camera family history