Nikon D850

The Nikon D850 is a 45.7MP stills monster with strong autofocus and a fair used price. Video, connectivity, and the fixed display are weak spots. Worth it for photographers, not for hybrid shooters.

The sensor is the star here. 45.7 megapixels of BSI goodness means you can crop until your hard drive begs for mercy. Autofocus sits at the 80th percentile, which is strong for a DSLR, and the 153-point system tracks moving subjects well in good light. Burst shooting at 7fps is solid, though not class-leading anymore. The weak spots show up fast. Video lands in the bottom quarter of our database, the fixed display is a pain for awkward angles, and connectivity is nearly dead last. Battery life is just average too. For pure stills, this thing sings. For hybrid shooters, it's a compromise.

Stacked against the Sony a7R V, the D850 loses on video, stabilization, and connectivity, but it's way cheaper used. The Fujifilm X-H2S beats it on burst speed and video, though it's an APS-C sensor, so the D850 still wins on pure resolution. The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is a better all-rounder, but you'll pay more for it. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II has better video and stabilization, but the Nikon's 45.7MP sensor out-resolves it. The OM System OM-1 is lighter and faster, but it's a Micro Four Thirds sensor, so no contest on detail. The D850 is a stills specialist in a market full of hybrids.

At CAD 2,000 on the used market, the D850 is a lot of camera for the money if you only care about stills. You're getting flagship-level resolution and autofocus for less than half the price of a new mirrorless body with similar specs. But that value drops fast if you need video, wireless transfer, or a tilting screen. You're paying for the sensor and the AF system, and not much else.

The Nikon D850 is the DSLR that refuses to go quietly. A 45.7MP full-frame BSI sensor, 153 AF points, and 7fps bursts in a body that feels like a tank. It's built for people who want maximum detail and don't mind carrying some heft to get it. The spec sheet still looks serious in 2025, even if the world has mostly moved to mirrorless.

But here's the thing. Our database shows this camera is a specialist, not an all-rounder. It's a monster for stills, but the video, connectivity, and display scores are rough. If you're buying it for photography, you'll love it. If you're buying it for anything else, keep reading.

Skip the D850 if you shoot video regularly, need wireless transfer for fast turnaround, or want a tilting screen for low-angle work. The video score is bottom-tier, connectivity is nearly dead last, and the fixed display will drive you nuts. If you need a hybrid camera, look at the Canon EOS R6 Mark III or Panasonic Lumix S5 II instead.

Buy the D850 if you shoot landscapes, weddings, or studio work and you want maximum resolution without paying mirrorless prices. It's a stills machine, plain and simple. Skip it if you need video, wireless workflow, or a screen that moves. This is a camera for people who know exactly what they want and don't care about the rest.