Upgrade Guide
Nikon Nikon D780→Nikon D850
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Nikon D780. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D850
-
Resolution46MP vs 25MP (+21MP)
-
Battery life~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding vs 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder)
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 | Nikon D780 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | -0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.6 | ||
| Documentary | -0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.6 | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | +0.1 | ||
| Architecture | +0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Nikon D780 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2017 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | |
| Resolution | 25MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ↑ |
| Weight | 840g (with battery and card) | 915g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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See Nikon D780 and D850 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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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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