Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5 II→Nikon D850
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Z5 II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D850
-
Resolution46MP vs 24MP (+21MP)
-
Battery life~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding vs ~470 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 II | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 II | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2017 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | None (relies on VR lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ↑ |
| Weight | 700g body only | 915g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Nikon F-mount (FX) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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