Upgrade Guide
Nikon D850→Nikon Z50
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the D850. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Z50
-
Generation2 years newer (2019 vs 2017)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution21MP (down from 46MP — optimised for low light)
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D850 | Z50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Travel | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D850 | Z50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £499 | |
| Released | 2017 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 46MP | 21MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | |
| Autofocus | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on VR lenses) | None | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | 300 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 915g body only | 397g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I |
Compare side-by-side
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