Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z7
Every published spec side by side, with today's lowest prices for the market you've chosen.
Key differences
- Announced: Aug 2018 on the Z7, against Aug 2017 on the D850.
- In-body stabilisation: Yes, 5 stops on the Z7, against No on the D850.
- Burst (mechanical): 9 fps on the Z7, against 7 fps on the D850.
- Rear screen: 3.2", 2.36M dots on the D850, against 3.2", 2.10M dots on the Z7.
- Weight (with battery): 675 g on the Z7, against 1,005 g on the D850.
- Battery (CIPA shots): 1,840 on the D850, against 400 on the Z7.
D850 or Z7: which should you buy?
Choose the D850 for its rear screen, battery (CIPA shots) and card slots.
Choose the Z7 for its in-body stabilisation, burst (mechanical), weight (with battery) and USB-C.
On paper the Z7 wins more rows (4 to 3); if the D850's strengths are the ones you shoot with, and its price is lower where you buy, it can still be the better buy.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price today | $1,969.99 new $1,020.16 used | $2,996.95 new $999.99 used |
| Overview | ||
| Type | DSLR | Mirrorless |
| Announced | Aug 2017 | Aug 2018 (best) |
| US launch priceUS list price when announced, body only. Today's prices are in the offers table. | $3,299 | $3,399 |
| Lens | Interchangeable | Interchangeable |
| Sensor & image | ||
| Sensor size | Full frame | Full frame |
| Sensor type | BSI CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7 MP | 45.7 MP |
| Native ISO | 64–25,600 | 64–25,600 |
| In-body stabilisation | No | Yes, 5 stops (best) |
| Speed & autofocus | ||
| Burst (mechanical) | 7 fps | 9 fps (best) |
| Burst (electronic) | — | — |
| Fastest shutter (mech.) | 1/8,000s | 1/8,000s |
| Fastest shutter (elec.) | — | 1/8,000s |
| AF pointsMakers count points differently, so this is not ranked. | 153 | 493 |
| Subject detectionMakers group subjects differently (Canon's "animal" includes birds), so only having it is ranked. | — | Human, Animal |
| Video | ||
| Max resolution | 4K | 4K |
| 4K frame rate | 30p | 30p |
| 10-bit internal | No | No |
| Internal raw video | No | No |
| Mic input | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder & screen | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Electronic, 3.69M dots |
| Rear screen | 3.2", 2.36M dots (best) | 3.2", 2.10M dots |
| Screen articulation | Tilting | Tilting |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Body & battery | ||
| Weight (with battery) | 1,005 g | 675 g (best) |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 146 × 124 × 78.5 mm | 134 × 100.5 × 67.5 mm |
| Weather sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Battery (CIPA shots) | 1,840 (best) | 400 |
| Card slots | 2 · XQD + SD UHS-II (best) | 1 · XQD / CFexpress B |
| USB-C | No | Yes (best) |
| Built-in flash | No | No |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth |
Green marks the better figure where “better” is unambiguous. A dash means the maker doesn't publish it or we haven't verified it yet.
Price history: is the newer one cheaper?
Low light & noise
D850
4.3 µm pixels
45.7 MP on a full frame sensor, ISO up to 25,600
Z7
4.3 µm pixels
45.7 MP on a full frame sensor, ISO up to 25,600
Bigger pixels gather more light each, so they tend to show less noise at high ISO, but sensor design matters as much. For real noise at ISO 6400, these sites measure it:
- Photons to Photos: dynamic range vs ISO ↗Photographic dynamic range measured at every ISO, bodies on one chart
- Photons to Photos: noise vs ISO ↗Read noise at every ISO from lab tests: lower is cleaner in the shadows
- DPReview studio scene ↗The same scene shot by each camera at the ISO you pick, side by side
- DPReview reviews ↗Full reviews with high-ISO samples
- Low-light video tests ↗Real-world high-ISO footage on YouTube
Size, to scale
Front (width × height)
Top (width × depth)