Nikon D850 vs Sony a9 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon D850 | Sony a9 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | July 2017 | April 2017 |
| Camera Type | DSLR | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 5 | BIONZ X |
| Resolution | 45.7 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 8256×5504 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.35µ | 5.93µ |
| 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 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 32-102,400 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | No |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/32000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 7 FPS | 5 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 7 FPS | 20 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Up to 9 FPS with MB-D18 grip | Compressed 12-bit raw at 20 FPS (uncompressed 12-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 200 frames (7 FPS) | 241 frames (20 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Phase Detect | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 153 | 693 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -3 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 30 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.2x crop at 4K 30p (4K 24/25p has no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | CFExpress Type B | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-I) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 1.44 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Single Axis |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism / OVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.75x | 0.78x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | N/A | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| 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 B 2.0 |
| Battery Type | EN-EL15a | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 1840 frames | 480 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | N/A1 | 650 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 1005 g (2.22 lbs.) | 588 g (1.30 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.9 x 3.1″) | 127 x 96 x 73 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9″)2 |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $3000 (Check Current Price) | $4500 (Discontinued) |
| Used Prices (Affiliate) | Nikon D850 Used Prices | Sony a9 Used Prices |
| 1Not specified by Nikon | ||
| 2The Sony a9’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match typical standards today, 10mm were added to the a9’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
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