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Nikon

D810

36MP full-frame DSLR workhorse prized for landscape, studio, and commercial stills.

$3,299

Launch price

Released Jun 2014

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vs

Nikon

D850

Legendary 45MP DSLR still favored by landscape and studio photographers.

$3,299

Launch price

Released Aug 2017

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D850 is 3.2 years newer.

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Wins

7categories

D810

★ Wildlife★ Portrait

Wins

4categories

D850

★ Landscape

2 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

D810 wins 4 categories·D850 wins 1 categories
  • AD810 has higher IBIS effectiveness (7 stops vs 0 stops)
  • AD810 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 153)
  • BD850 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1840 shots vs 640 shots)
  • AD810 has higher Burst (electronic) (20 fps vs 7 fps)
  • AD810 has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)

Key specs at a glance

D810D850
Resolution36.3 MP45.7 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst20 fps7 fps
4K60 fps30 fps
IBIS7-stopNo
Weight980 g915 g
Battery640 shots1840 shots

Size and weight, to scale

D810

146 × 123 × 82 mm

980 g (2.16 lb / 34.57 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

D850

146 × 124 × 79 mm

915 g (2.02 lb / 32.28 oz)

D810 is 1mm shorter than D850 but it is also 4mm thicker.

D810 is 65 g heavier than D850.

Depth (front-to-back): 82mm D810 · 79mm D850

Sensor size, to scale

D810

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

D850

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

D810

✓ more lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

D850

✓ more lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

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

Use caseD810D850
Portrait
8.0Excellent✓ wins
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
8.0Excellent✓ wins
3.0Limited
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good✓ wins
3.0Limited
Landscape
7.5Good
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good✓ wins
4.5Fair
Wildlife
9.0Excellent✓ wins
1.5Limited
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

D810

  • AF low-light limit

    -8.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265, H.264

  • IBIS effectiveness

    7 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    493 vs 153 — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 123, 82

  • Burst (electronic)

    20 fps vs 7 fps — higher is better

  • Eye AF

    Only D810 supports it

Reasons to choose

D850

  • Codecs

    Adds H.264/AVC

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 124, 78.5

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    1840 shots vs 640 shots — higher is better

  • Card types

    Adds XQD

  • ISO min (native)

    64 vs 100 — lower is better

  • Resolution

    45.7 MP vs 36.3 MP — higher is better

  • Weight

    915 g vs 980 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
  • ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
  • ✓Card slots — Both 2
  • ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
  • ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
  • ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

D810

Pros

  • ✓36MP no OPLF
  • ✓Excellent dynamic range
  • ✓Pro F-mount ecosystem

Cons

  • –Superseded by D850
  • –Slow live view AF
  • –Heavy

D850

Pros

  • ✓45MP DSLR classic
  • ✓Excellent dynamic range
  • ✓Huge F-mount lens library

Cons

  • –DSLR mirror system
  • –Heavy
  • –No modern mirrorless AF

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the D810 and D850 at major authorized retailers.

Nikon D810

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Nikon D850

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Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

✓ = category winner

D810
D850
Resolution
36.3 MP
45.7 MP✓+26%
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
Full Frame BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 24.0 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
No
D810
D850
Processor
EXPEED 7
EXPEED 5
D810
D850
ISO min (native)
100
64✓−36 less
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
D810
D850
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical focal-plane
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
N/A

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for wildlife, D810 or D850?

D810 scores 9.0/10 versus 1.5/10 for D850 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.

What's the resolution difference between the D810 and D850?

D810 is 36.3 MP and D850 is 45.7 MP, so the D850 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the D810 and D850 have in-body image stabilization?

D810 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while D850 does not have IBIS.

Which shoots faster bursts — the D810 or the D850?

D810 reaches 20 fps electronic. D850 reaches 7 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the D810 and D850?

D810 weighs 980 g and D850 weighs 915 g, so the D850 is 65 g lighter.

Do the D810 and D850 record 4K video?

D810: 4K up to 60p. D850: 4K up to 30p.

Are the D810 and D850 weather sealed?

D810: Yes. D850: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the D810 and 1,840 shots for the D850, giving the D850 the edge.

How much does each cost?

Both launched at $3,299.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way D810 vs D850 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.