Nikon D780

Clearly the Nikon D780 has a lot of impressive features, but how does it compare to other cameras available today? Below, I’ll compare it against the three Nikon cameras a photographer is most likely to consider buying instead – the D750, Z6, and D850.

Nikon D780 vs Nikon D750

We’ll start with a comparison of the Nikon D780 and D750. Here are the specifications of the two cameras:

So, which camera is the right choice for you?

Although the easy answer is to say the D780, it’s really not a fair comparison. The D750 is selling for quite a bit less at $1500 new – and used prices often bring it to $800 or even less. Even though the two cameras are superficially similar, the older D750 has outdated video specifications, a much smaller buffer, and the previous generation of almost every other tech feature found on both cameras.

The D750 is still an excellent DSLR, don’t get me wrong. Especially with used prices under $1000, it’s an incredible bargain and a better value for the money than the D780, in my opinion. Pair it with a good lens and you’ll be set for years.

But if you’re strongly considering the D780, there’s a good chance the D750 is no longer on your radar anyway. Perhaps it should be (unless you shoot a lot of video), especially considering the bargain prices, but I suspect that more photographers will be deciding between the D780, Z6, and D850 instead.

Nikon D780 vs Nikon Z6

Even though it isn’t a DSLR, the Nikon Z6 is probably the most similar camera to the D780 that is available today. It shares the same sensor, processor, video features, and live view implementation. The two cameras have very different layouts and (of course) viewfinders, but all in all are fairly similar. Here’s how the D780 and Z6 specifications compare:

So, of the D780 and Z6, which one is right for you? In my opinion, it comes down to a few issues: lenses, focusing, and weight.

The Z lenses right now are insanely good – the right mix of light weight and high quality – while the F mount lenses span practically every need you can imagine. If you have a lot of F-mount glass so far, I’d go for the D780 over the Z6. If not, and the Z-mount glass looks like it will meet your needs (maybe with just one or two F-mount lenses to supplement in the meantime), the Z6 is pretty hard to beat.

Another issue is autofocus (and the OVF vs EVF debate more broadly). The D780’s 51-point focus system is faster and better at tracking than what the Z6 offers. If you shoot a lot of sports or wildlife photography, I recommend the D780. But for photographers who prefer an electronic viewfinder that shows exactly what the sensor sees – especially travel or landscape photographers – the Z6 is probably the way to go.

Lastly, the simple issue of weight also matters. The D780 is small for a full-frame DSLR, but the Z6 beats it by 165 grams (more than 1/3 pound). Given that the Z6 is also $500 less expensive at the time of this article’s publication, I’d lean toward that one if you’re split 50-50, but it’s certainly not the right pick for everyone. Hopefully the information above is enough to give you a good idea of which one is right for you.

Nikon D780 vs Nikon D850

Finally, let’s take a look at how the Nikon D780 compares to the D850 – its larger, more expensive brother:

Clearly the Nikon D850 has the D780 beat in most ways.  Live view implementation and video features do lean in the D780’s favor, but most of the rest is the D850’s domain.

Except, of course, for price. The D850 sells for $700 more new than the D780, so they’re barely even targeted at the same audience. However, because the D850 has been out for a couple years, it is now selling used for very attractive prices – in line with the D780, in fact, and sometimes a bit lower.

Given identical prices, if you don’t mind buying used, I’d go with the D850 unless you are a really heavy video user. But buying used is not a good option for all photographers, especially if you can’t return it easily or don’t trust the seller. And, of course, the D780’s own used prices will dip before long, once the newness of the camera has worn off. When that happens, the comparison will shift much more in the D780’s direction.

On that note, the next page of this review summarizes my thoughts on the Nikon D780 and whether the camera is worth buying for your needs: