Upgrade Guide
Nikon D700→Nikon D850
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D700. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D850
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Resolution46MP vs 12MP (+34MP)
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Burst rate9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) vs 5fps
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Battery life~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding vs ~1000 shots (CIPA)
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Generation9 years newer (2017 vs 2008)
Unchanged or similar
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D700 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Street | +0.6 | ||
| Travel | +0.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.9 | ||
| Documentary | +1.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.3 | ||
| Landscape | +2.0 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.9 | ||
| Casual | +1.2 | ||
| Food | +2.2 | ||
| Macro | +2.3 | ||
| Architecture | +2.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D700 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £133 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2008 | 2017 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | None (relies on VR lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1000 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ↑ |
| Weight | 1075g (with battery) | 915g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.72x | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D850 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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