In this article, let’s compare two of Nikon’s high-resolution cameras: the Nikon Z7 II and Nikon D850. Although the two cameras look very different on the surface – the Z7 II being a lightweight mirrorless camera, the D850 being a tank-like DSLR – they’re both intended for similar audiences. Thanks to features like a 45 megapixel sensor, base ISO 64, and built-in focus stacking, the Z7 II and D850 are aimed at landscape photographers and others who need maximum levels of detail.
Of the two, the Nikon Z7 II is substantially newer, being released at the end of 2020 (compared to mid-2017 for the D850). But the D850 was so far ahead of the competition when it first came out that it still holds up well today.
As you can see from the image below, the Nikon Z7 II looks positively puny compared to the D850:
But that’s par for the course with a mirrorless camera, and it doesn’t reflect anything negative about the Nikon Z7 II. In fact, many photographers consider the Z7 II’s small size and light weight a good thing, since it makes it easier to carry along while traveling or hiking.
So, let’s dive beneath the surface and see how each camera compares in practice. We’ll start by looking at their specifications.
Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon Z7 II | Nikon D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | October 14, 2020 | July 25, 2017 |
| Sensor Resolution | 45.7 MP | 45.7 MP |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 35.9 × 23.9mm | 35.9 × 23.9mm |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon F |
| Low-Pass Filter | No | No |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.35µ | 4.35µ |
| Image Size | 8,256 × 5,504 | 8,256 × 5,504 |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | Yes | No |
| Image Processor | Dual EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 5 |
| Buffer: RAW 14-bit Lossless Compressed | 49 | 51 |
| Buffer: RAW 12-bit Lossless Compressed | 77 | 200 |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | ISO 64-25,600 | ISO 64-25,600 |
| Boosted ISO Sensitivity | ISO 32, ISO 51,200-102,400 | ISO 32, ISO 51,200-102,400 |
| Dust Reduction / Sensor Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic Viewfinder / EVF | Pentaprism / OVF |
| Viewfinder Coverage and Magnification | 100%, 0.8x | 100%, 0.75x |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| Storage Media | 1× CFe / XQD + 1× SD UHS II | 1× CFe / XQD + 1× SD UHS II |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | 10 FPS (12-bit RAW), 9 FPS (14-bit RAW) | 7.0 FPS, 9.0 FPS with MB-D18 |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 sec | 1/8000 sec |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 900 sec | 30 sec |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/250 |
| Exposure Metering Sensor | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor | 181,000-pixel RGB sensor |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF; 493 AF points | Phase detect; 153 AF points, 99 cross-type |
| AF Detection Range | -2 to +19 EV (-4 to +19 EV with low-light AF) | -4 to +20 EV |
| Eye-Tracking AF | Yes | No |
| Focus Peaking | Yes | Yes |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 4K up to 60 FPS, 1080p up to 120 FPS | 4K up to 30 FPS, 1080p up to 120 FPS |
| HDMI Output | 4:2:2 10-Bit | 4:2:2 8-Bit |
| Log Recording | N-Log | No |
| Audio Recording | Built-in stereo microphone External stereo microphone (optional) | Built-in stereo microphone External stereo microphone (optional) |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Size and Type | 3.2″ Tilting Touchscreen LCD | 3.2″ Tilting Touchscreen LCD |
| LCD Resolution | 2,100,000 dots | 2,359,000 dots |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life, Stills | 360 shots (CIPA); 420 shots (rear LCD only); 440 shots (rear LCD only, energy saver on) | 1840 shots (CIPA) |
| Battery Life, Movies | 105 minutes (rear LCD); 100 minutes (EVF) | 70 minutes |
| Button Illumination | No | Yes |
| Weather Sealed Body | Yes | Yes |
| USB Version | 3.1 (Type C) | 3.0 (Type A) |
| Weight (with Battery and Card) | 705 g (1.55 lbs) | 1005 g (2.22 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 101 × 70 mm (5.3 × 4.0 × 2.8 inches) | 146.0 × 124.0 × 78.5mm (5.7 × 4.9 × 3.1″) |
| Price Upon Introduction | $3000 | $3300 |
| Price Today | $3000 (check price) | $3000 (check price) |
While both of these cameras share a 45 megapixel BSI sensor with base ISO 64, they differ in a number of important ways. The Z7 II usually comes out ahead in those differences: better video specs, higher FPS shooting, lighter weight, IBIS, and so on. The Nikon D850 is clearly ahead in battery life and has a couple minor features that the Z7 II lacks (such as illuminated buttons and a 1/250 second flash sync speed) but otherwise falls a bit behind.
Much of this is reflected in the prices. Whereas the Nikon Z7 II is a new camera and has yet to go on sale, the D850’s price has steadily lowered over the past few years. Although it retails for $3000 just like the Nikon Z7 II, I’ve seen it go on sale for $2500, and even less if you’re willing to buy refurbished or used.
I should also point out that specifications alone don’t always tell the full story. For example, looking at the specs, the Nikon D850 has a better buffer than the Z7 II when shooting 12-bit RAW: 200 rather than 77 images. But that specification is for the Z7 II at 10 FPS, with the D850 at 7 FPS. When both are set to a comparable frame rate, their buffer is essentially equal.
Something similar is true of these cameras’ autofocus systems. The Nikon D850 may seem to be worse because it “only” has 153 autofocus points, compared to the Z7 II’s 493 AF points. But in practice, the D850 is better than the Z7 II at tracking fast-moving action across the frame, and thus better for something like photographing birds in flight. By comparison, the Z7 II is better than the D850 in single-servo autofocus mode, focusing much more quickly in live view (at least when using native lenses) and having a bit more accuracy as well. These aren’t things that are reflected in the specifications, but rather the result of our extensive tests of these two cameras. (See our Nikon Z7 II review and Nikon D850 review for more.)
Then there are some factors where the two cameras differ, but it’s not necessarily clear which one has the advantage. The biggest such example is the lens mount: Nikon Z mount for the Z7 II, and Nikon F mount for the D850. The benefit of the Z mount is that it can take Nikon’s extraordinary Z-series lenses, as well as any F-mount lens if using the (somewhat finicky) FTZ adapter. The benefit of the F mount is that it has a much wider range of lenses than the Z mount, and no adapter is needed in order to use them. You can read more in our article on Nikon Z vs Nikon F.
A final difference worth pointing out is simply the type of viewfinder. Some photographers prefer electronic viewfinders (EVFs) due to the ability to zoom in and review photos without taking your camera away from your eye. Others prefer the through-the-lens appearance of an optical viewfinder (OVF). This is completely dependent upon the photographer, and while the Nikon Z7 II has one of the most natural-looking EVFs that I have ever used, some photographers will never want an EVF in the first place.
Now let’s take a look at some high ISO tests between the Z7 II and the D850.
Low Light Performance
For the images below, I have made 100% crops of the same scene from both the Nikon Z7 II (on the left) and D850 (on the right). The goal is to measure their low-light performance. You can click on the images to see them larger.
At low ISO values, there is no visible difference between these two cameras, so let’s start with ISO 800:
Even there, I see no differences, so here’s ISO 1600:
In the ISO 1600 images above, I see just a hint more color noise on the Z7 II. This becomes more evident when ISO is pushed to 3200:
And even more so at ISO 6400:
At ISO 12,800, both cameras produce plenty of noise, but the D850 is still ahead:
ISO 25,600 continues this trend:
At extremely high ISOs like 51,200, both cameras are unusable, even though the D850 retains its slight advantage:
Lastly, ISO 102400 looks awful. The D850 looks slightly less awful of the two, but these photos are both going in the trash:
At the end of the day, the differences here are going to be almost insignificant once the appropriate level of noise reduction is applied in post-processing. It’s a benefit of perhaps 1/3 of a stop in the D850’s favor, and maybe not even that. Suffice to say, image quality should not be a factor in your decision to get either the Z7 II or D850.
Recommendations
If you’ve narrowed it down to these two cameras, but you’re not sure which one is better for you, here’s what I would recommend.
First, if budget is an issue, just go with the D850 (and ideally buy it used or refurbished). For the money you’ll save over the Z7 II, you can upgrade your lens or tripod and get some meaningful image quality improvements.
On the other hand, if you shoot a lot of video, pick the Z7 II. It can shoot slow-motion 4K video, outputs higher-quality footage over HDMI, and has plenty of other helpful features like in-body image stabilization and an EVF. I would also strongly recommend the Z7 II if you’re planning to travel a lot or hike with this camera, since it weighs substantially less.
The D850’s biggest advantage over the Z7 II is autofocus tracking on fast-moving subjects, like birds in flight. The Nikon Z7 II actually does a great job of tracking subjects that have obvious eyes (such as cats, dogs, and people), but it falls short when tracking more general subjects. For photographers who want to do extensive wildlife photography alongside their landscape work, the D850 is probably the way to go.
That said, ignoring price, the Z7 II is still the better camera overall for most photographers. It’s smaller, lighter, and more feature-rich. Even for wildlife photography, it’s not a bad option, thanks to the large buffer and an excellent maximum frame rate of 10 FPS. The D850 is one of the best cameras of all time, but the Nikon Z7 II is more than three years newer, and it shows. The Z7 II also has access to the full line of Z-series lenses (as well as all the F-mount glass via the FTZ adapter), while the D850 does not.
You can’t go wrong either way, of course. These are two of the best cameras on the market, especially for landscape photography. Since many of their differences come down to the standard mirrorless vs DSLR differences, saying which one is “best” is a fool’s errand, since it depends on your own needs and preferences. When you find a good deal on one of them, go for it, and don’t look back.
I hope you found that useful, and if you want to see more comparisons between these two cameras with others on the market, you may find these links helpful:
- Nikon Z7 II vs Nikon Z6 II
- Nikon Z7 II vs Nikon Z7
- Nikon Z7 II vs Canon EOS R5 vs Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R IV
- Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z7
- Nikon D850 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800
- Nikon D850 vs Canon 5D Mark IV
You can also read our full review of each of these cameras here:
I have both, both are good enough to no ;longer blame the camera if the shots not great.
if one had to go , for me it would be the z7 11 . the d850 is that good.
fast for wildlife , buttons light at night . the image is great.
I will add,In perfect conditions, my d700 takes the best shots of the bunch.
they just pop off the page and the other two just don’t.
I have both cameras and needless to say that they are both wonderful photography tools. My usage of them has been split-duties. As much as I love Landscape photography using the D850? Each camera has something unique that I truly like. For Macro and Close-up photos, take the Z7ii because the D850 is not good at Tethered shooting. The Z7ii beats it hands down. For Night Photography? the Z7ii wins again. For Long Exposure shots (Water Flowing, etc)? The Z7ii gives you a clear advantage over the the D850 of not having to hold a Shutter open past BULB by comparison to the D850. That said; the D850 focusses on moving objects way faster and better than the Z7ii by MY observation. If you are into catching birdies? Stay with the D850.
If you like Shooting Menu Banks? Then, take the d850. If you like USER Settings? Go with the Z7ii. I have gotten used to both methods because I have had multiple NIKON DSLR cameras.
In terms of these two cameras? You can pry my D850 from my cold hands only if you are going to replace it with a Z9. Oherwise? I have these two cameras in their own respective camera bags (literally) for specific shootings so that they can get equal love time…😎
Waiting for global shutter, a real big problem with mirrorless is rolling shutter especially in video… must wait for improvment and cannot buy z9… too expensive!!!
I read this review and didn’t see any way to infer the Z7II is a better camera.
Here’s my take from this comparison (and my general experience shooting Nikon): if you don’t shoot action like sports, erratically moving people, or birds (especially birds), go with the Z7II. You’ll get better video, silent shooting, live exposure preview with the EVF, and better focusing with manual lenses.
If you DO shoot action, go with the D850. It will obliterate the Z7II. Or, if you want an OVF or much better battery life, go with the D850.
Am today in the market for another D850. After over a million frames my back up one died.
I have the D850 & the Z7II. Have used the Z9, which in my mind is a well-built Z7II. Image quality the same.
That said, two things over time hit me. Hated the EVF when first used it. Then got used to it. And still hate it. The lag destroys all continuity of shooting. Deal breaker. Probably always will be. And lag at all will affect shooting. Its like trying to use a range finder Leica after experiencing the Nikon F3.
Second thing is image quality. There is no denying that some of the Z lines are noticeably slightly sharper than their F counterparts. Best of all, some Z lenses have reduced color abberations and casts. However, in general the color is not as good. Subtle, but noticable. Especially to an actress paying obscene sums to do her advertising shots. Not as deep, rich, brilliant, saturated nor vibrant and luminous. And not as accurate.,
Both issues problematic. Sad, because holding and using the Z9 is heaven. Best camera feel ever. Still, it’s not a serious tool for me. A $7,000 paper weight.
Some day job professional thoughts: As a businessman and investor I understand the motivation of manufacturers to make mirrorless cameras. New toy that has caught on. And even after the paying off of celebs and the cost of plants and bribes to brainwash the public, the marketing results measured in numbers yield lots of profit.
And of course, it costs much less to make a mirrorless camera. Am told reliably between 30-40% less. Yet they charge the same as the D cameras. Naturally, they want to sell these cameras. Lots of money!
However, relying on mirrorless alone could be short sided and lead to mass desertions of long term loyal users. Nikon seems to be playing it smart right now. Or hasnt got around to say goodbye to the DSLR.
Canon has. I will dump all my Canon DSLRs which I use for video since I have the chance to make a change. Would stay with them if they were to continue to manufacture DSLRs. but since they won’t, bye bye. Will switch.
I see this as happening with lots of people in the future and have noticed the effect now. People jumping around. Contradicts best practices of any business. Hook them, then lock them in and never let them go.
Seems like the camera manufactures are doing the reverse. Unlocking them.
May I respectfully disagree? The D850 isn’t aimed at landscape photographers: D800 and D810 cameras are almost as good as the D850 at that kind of things.
The D850 photographers I know all use their camera for some kind of action, be it moving people (marriages and events), moving animals (wildlife) or moving competitors (sports), and the D850’s 9 fps, quick autofocus and good grip are critical for that.
The 300mm, 400mm and 600mm lenses are just as critical for action photography, and the most powerful telephoto prime lens in Z mount is a 105mm! Of course, you can use a converter, but, IMHO, any additional piece of equipment is to be avoided as far as possible. A camera and a lens, that’s one junction point. Add a converter and that’s two junctions points. That’s twice the risk of malfunction.
At first sight, the Z9 will be the first professional Z camera, but, for now, it’s just vapourware.
Great article. I bought a D850 the day they were released and it has been the best digital camera I’ve ever owned…I still miss my old F3. But sadly last week my D850 took a spill and is not repairable per Nikon. So now I need to move to a new body. I hope they announce a Z8 next week (and it fits me needs). I need to get another body soon though so might pick up a used 850 or grab a Z6ii and then upgrade it once I see a Mirrorless body I drool over as much as I did the 850.
Spencer. What a great piece. I’m a D850 owner, but with the rise of mirrorless I see the handwriting on the wall. Right now I’m just trying to figure out the best time to make the switch. So this article is really helpful.
I’m primarily a landscape person. As such here is my biggest wish list item. It’s great that the D850 and Z7 cameras are dynamic range beasts, but how about an actual RAW file histogram, so we don’t get back to our computers and realize we left part of that dynamic range on the table. Sure, I’ve gotten really good a making a judgement call about what clipping on the in camera JPEG histogram or Blinky is “ok”, but why have to worry about that. With all the processing power being packed into these cameras, I’d sure like to see part of it be put to use in better exposure information.
Any thoughts from other readers on this subject?
A raw histogram would be brilliant. It’s strange that no camera has it yet (other than one Leica I think). The UniWB workaround isn’t feasible for most photographers. There’s a chance you’ll find this technique useful, though: photographylife.com/spot-…ering-ettr
Thanks Spencer. Spot metering is a good tip. I’ll give it a try.
Somehow the comparatively worse sensor performance (miniscule as it may seem) and ergonomics/buttons of the Z7 I/II compared to the D850 makes it seem like Nikon is not really serious about Z7 I/II as a true D850 successor, even if it is priced as one. It seems to me such a camera ought to be superior on all key specs – or at least not worse.
Nice review and comparison. One thing I would add is the functional value of the Viewfinder on the Z7II. I can go an entire day without using the rear LCD for chimping or menu changes – everything is available through the EVF. The EVF makes manual focus much easier and more effective. Not only can you use focus peaking, but you can also zoom through the EVF to view at 50% or 100% and check or refine focus.
That’s something I like about them too. I also make a decent number of videos for our Youtube channel, and it’s pretty nice to hold the camera to my eye for more stability while filming b-roll. I was not a fan of EVFs for a while, but now OVFs feel outdated when I try to use them.
I do not make a video, because I would exchange my D850 for a similar camera, or lower in the photo part ?? I am not a Nikon shareholder !!
Probably a good thing you’re not a Nikon shareholder, their stock hasn’t exactly done great these past five years :)