The Nikon D850 is Nikon’s best all-purpose full-frame DSLR, and certainly one of the top three DSLRs ever made. It has great autofocus and an amazing 45.7MP BSI sensor, making suitable for every sort of photography from landscape to people and events to wildlife. The Nikon Zf is a retro-style full-frame camera and it’s also the first Nikon mirrorless camera that has decent enough autofocus to challenge the D850 at a similar price point. Thus, you may be wondering which camera is better. Read on to find out!
Nikon D850 vs Nikon Zf Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon D850 | Nikon Zf |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | July 2017 | September 2023 |
| Camera Type | DSLR | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 5 | EXPEED 7 |
| Resolution | 45.7 MP | 24.5 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 8256×5504 | 6048×4032 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.35µ | 5.9µ |
| Low Pass Filter | No | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 64 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 25,600 | ISO 64,000 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 32-102,400 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | Yes |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | Yes (JPEG only) |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 900 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 7 FPS | 14 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 7 FPS | 14 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Up to 9 FPS with MB-D18 grip | 14 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 30 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 200 frames (7 FPS) | Over 200 frames |
| Autofocus System | Phase Detect | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition |
| Autofocus Points | 153 | 273 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -8.5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/200 |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 10 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 125 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | CFExpress Type B | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | SD (UHS-II) | Micro SD (UHS-I) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 2.1 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism / OVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.75x | 0.80x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | N/A | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Micro B 3.0 | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Battery Type | EN-EL15a | EN-EL15c |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 1840 frames | 360 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | N/A1 | 380 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | N/A | 430 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 1005 g (2.22 lbs.) | 710 g (1.57 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.9 x 3.1″) | 144 x 103 x 59 mm (5.7 x 4.1 x 2.3″)2 |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $3000 (Check Current Price) | $2000 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Nikon D850 Used Prices | Nikon Zf Used Prices |
| 1Not specified by Nikon | ||
| 2The Nikon Zf’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 10mm were added to the Zf’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
The Nikon D850 can still handle itself in almost any scenario, even though it’s six years older than the Nikon Zf. And in some ways, the D850 is still a more versatile camera. Not only does it have better battery life and a more comfortable design, it also has that beautiful 45.7MP sensor that gives you much more cropping than the 24MP sensor of the Nikon Zf.
Both are also fairly close in autofocus capabilities, but the Zf does have some mirrorless-style advantages like eye-detection and more focus points spread closer to the edge of the frame. It’s also got a faster mechanical shutter bust rate of 14FPS over the 7FPS of the D850, which does make a difference in some scenarios.
For most forms of photography, the Zf is probably the better choice. It’s got IBIS, better video features, silent shutter, and it’s smaller as well. Would I choose the D850 over the Zf in some cases? If I needed a general-purpose camera and resolution, the D850 is a better choice. For wildlife, the choice is more difficult: with a full-frame camera, cropping is often a requirement for small wildlife and thus the D850 would be much better in this regard. I’ve shot wildlife on 24MP full-frame and I definitely feel the pain of cropping the smaller files.
Still, the Zf has a silent electronic shutter and it pains me to see the reaction of animals to the loud shutter of a DSLR. Not only that, but the Zf can take advantage of Nikon’s Z glass. Thus for me, the choice would often be a toss up: sometimes I’d prefer the D850 and sometimes I’d prefer the Zf. And, if you’re really a demanding photographer who needs the features of both, the Z8 might be a better choice altogether.
What does the Nikon D850 offer over the Nikon Zf?
- 1.87 times more megapixels (45.7MP vs 24.5MP)
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 1480 more shots according to CIPA measurements
What does the Nikon Zf offer over the Nikon D850?
- In-body image stabilization, allowing for easier handheld photography even with non-stabilized lenses
- Lighter weight (295g lighter or about 1.4 times lighter)
- Much lower price, costing $1000 less—you could get a second camera!
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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