Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z50→Nikon D850
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Z50. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D850
-
Resolution46MP vs 21MP (+25MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Battery life~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding vs 300 shots (CIPA)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | -1.0 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z50 | D850 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2017 | ↓ |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K | |
| Stabilisation | None | None (relies on VR lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding | ↑ |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 915g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount (FX) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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