Nikon D850 Hands-on Review | Sample Images
/The Nikon D850 is easily the best DSLR on the markethttps://youtu.be/foxvRAw3fI0Highlights of the Nikon D850
This camera feels wonderful in the hand and offers a control layout that just works really well - except auto ISO dial, it's a little awkward to switch that on and off- but bracketing, focus modes, the excellent and dedicated focus nub all make for an extremely pleasing operation.
Lighted buttons, something they started with the D500 and standing under the stars a few nights ago in Acadia NP - all the other photographers on the trip were quite jealous of my softly illuminated buttons that make low light and night photography a dream
Beautiful big bright viewfinder AND a vibrant and gorgeous screen that is fully touch-enabled the menus work, touch to focus works even with heavy ND filters on AND it is articulated - though like Sony only tilting.
Additional features - like intervalometer that makes possible an 8k time lapse - you can drop to 4k and have the video created in camera. The 8k just produces stills that you need to use software to turn into a video. Focus peaking through frustratingly it doesn’t work when shooting 4k, only at 1080p, focus shift for stacking and creating images with huge depth of field which can be useful in some situations.
Awesome image quality- excellent image quality with lots of room to brighten the shadows before you see noise and great higher ISO performance AND a 45mp sensor. Zooming on these images is lovely - so much detail, so much room to crop.
4k video, that isn't cropped AND this is all packaged in a capable and versatile camera.
Impressive AF system,
Access to all of Nikon lenses
Greatly improved live view experience vs past Nikon cameras
Negatives of the Nikon D850
Focus during video is terrible, extremely distracting slow, hunting- you can use an AF-P lens and it gets a little smoother but still nothing like the dual pixel AF of Canon or Sony’s smooth AF system.
Shooting video without a viewfinder is difficult in brighter conditions and the focus peaking that Nikon nicely added doesn’t work during 4k filming
DSLR focusing systems often need AF adjustments to work their best and while Nikon provides an in-camera system for adjusting focus - it is limiting and I have images that are out of focus due to alignment or shutter shock or mirror slap.
Disappointing battery life if you find yourself using the screen often
Customizable buttons are limited in what you can assign
It’s a BIG camera. Sure for some of you that’s a check mark in the pro column but after using a variety of mirrorless cameras over the last year I appreciate a smaller, lighter camera and yes, if using a full frame Sony as you start to add lenses the weight savings start to disappear but you at least have the option of traveling much lighter at times with lightweight lenses.
Nikon D850 vs D500
The D500 is a little lighter (155g lighter) a little faster (10 fps vs 7fps, though you can bump that up with the battery grip for the Nikon D850) and you get more reach with the D500 crop sensor and can use lighter, smaller crop lenses BUT the D850 has a crop mode that will give you that same extra reach and provides excellent edge to edge AF coverage. The D850 also does much better in low light with that full frame sensor.Buy the D500 if you are dedicated wildlife or sports/action photographer and spend the savings on a nice telephoto lens.Everyone else should buy the D850 for it's excellent all-around image quality and low light performance.Should you upgrade from the Nikon D750. Honestly, the D750 is still one of the best values in DSLRs on the market and continues to perform well. Only upgrade if you have been frustrated with low light performance or AF system.
D850
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Sigma 24-105
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D500
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Sample Nikon D850 Photos
All in all, I would be very happy to use this camera for landscapes where I can use the screen and know that focus is really dialed in. Throw the very sharp sigma 24-105 f/4 on and you have a killer combination. But these days I do appreciate a lighter camera and will often choose a Sony over the Nikon. Especially the new Sony a7R III Use the link squarespace.com/photorectv to save 10% off your purchase of a site or domain name and find the link below for a more helpful guide.
