Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Released Jul 2024
Nikon
D850
Legendary 45MP DSLR still favored by landscape and studio photographers.
$3,299
Released Aug 2017
EOS R1 is 6.9 years newer.
Wins
EOS R1
Wins
D850
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher IBIS effectiveness (8.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- AEOS R1 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 153)
- AEOS R1 has higher Burst (electronic) (40 fps vs 7 fps)
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- AEOS R1 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
1115 g (2.46 lb / 39.33 oz)
D850
146 × 124 × 79 mm
915 g (2.02 lb / 32.28 oz)
EOS R1 is 12mm wider, 26mm taller, and 9mm thicker than D850.
EOS R1 is 200 g heavier than D850.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 79mm D850
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
D850
146 × 124 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
D850
146 × 79 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
D850
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
D850
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R1
AF low-light limit
-7.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S…
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
AF points / zones
1053 vs 153 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 7 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
D850
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 146, 124, 78.5
Card types
Adds XQD, SD UHS-II
Resolution
45.7 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
ISO min (native)
64 vs 100 — lower is better
Weight
915 g vs 1115 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
- ✓Microphone jack (3.5mm) — Both support microphone jack (3.5mm)
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
D850
Pros
- ✓45MP DSLR classic
- ✓Excellent dynamic range
- ✓Huge F-mount lens library
Cons
- –DSLR mirror system
- –Heavy
- –No modern mirrorless AF
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, EOS R1 or D850?
EOS R1 scores 8.5/10 versus 1.5/10 for D850 — 40fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and D850?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and D850 is 45.7 MP, so the D850 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and D850 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while d850 does not have IBIS.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the D850?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. D850 reaches 7 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and D850?
EOS R1 weighs 1115 g and D850 weighs 915 g, so the D850 is 200 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and D850 record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. D850: 4K up to 30p.
Are the EOS R1 and D850 weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. D850: Yes.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and D850 at $3,299. The D850 is $3,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.