Hire Nikon D850

Our thoughts

'The Nikon D850 isn’t only a master of resolution; it’s a fast performer that delivers a low-light performance that’ll leave users in awe of its back-illuminated sensor. We regard it as it the finest full-frame DSLR Nikon has ever made. Not only is its body seemingly indestructible, it can be used to photograph virtually any subject or situation and return images that exceed the most demanding of professionals expectations. It’s more cumbersome than mirrorless alternatives and requires the MB-D18 battery grip to shoot at up to 9fps, but its larger body accepts a long-lasting battery (capable of 1840 shots or 70 minutes of video) and allows buttons to be spread out without feeling cramped.' 

The details

Full Frame Resolution
At 45.7 effective megapixels, the back-illuminated sensor in the Nikon D850 produces ultra-high resolution images at 45.4 actual megapixels that can be printed in ultra-large formats and will be packed full of details.

The back-illuminated CMOS sensor has no low pass filter and incorporates gapless on-chip micro-lenses as well as an anti-reflective coating, all combining to give exceptional levels of detail and outstanding dynamic range by ensuring the incoming light reaches the photodiodes more effectively.

When using the camera’s optical viewfinder (0.75x magnification), the camera’s mechanical vibration control counteracts the vibration caused by shutter release and mirror up, for pin-sharp images. When in silent mode, using the Live View function, there’s no shutter-release sound so you can shoot silently when it’s called for.

Inherited AF System
The Nikon D850 inherits the industry-leading 153-point autofocus system from the Nikon D5, ensuring the camera achieves pin-sharp focusing with a wide coverage, while 99 of the AF points are cross-type points for increased accuracy.

A dedicated AF processor means that when you’re shooting with high frame rates, the camera still achieves incredibly fast subject recognition and AF lock-on, even when shooting small subjects or in low-light.

What’s more, the D850 introduces a Pinpoint AF mode, the perfect solution for macro photographers, that uses a 3mm wide pinpoint AF point (a quarter the size of conventional AF points) to achieve incredibly precise details on small subject matter, when using Live View mode.

When shooting in Live View mode, the D850 gives you the flexibility to fine tune the auto AF point to eliminate focus variations between camera and lens.

The Speed You Need
In its standard setup, the Nikon D850 shoots at a very capable 7 frames per second of continuous shooting. However, when you add the optional MB-D18 multi-power battery grip with the EN-EL18B battery from the Nikon D5, this frame rate goes up to a blistering 9 frames per second. This isn’t JPEG shooting either, it’s 7fps or 9fps in full resolution 45.4 megapixel RAW images.

How does the D850 handle all these images? It writes them onto a dual card slot with UHS-II compatible SD cards, XQD cards, and now, thanks to the latest firmware update, CFexpress Type B cards.

Out-of-this-World Low-Noise Performance
The Nikon D850 uses the EXPEED 5 image processing engine from its big brother, the Nikon D5, to ensure images a dealt with quickly in-camera and it can perform across a phenomenal ISO range.

The D850’s standard low light capability ranges from ISO 64 to 25,600 but is extendable from ISO 32 to 102,400. The EXPEED 5 processing engine, 180K-pixel RGB sensor and Advanced Scene Recognition system ensure that these high ISO images are practically noise-free, even when shooting in near darkness.

Picking out your subject in low light is no problem either; all 153 AF points in the D850 operated down to -3 EV and the central point performs down to -4 EV.

Nikon D5 users will welcome the return of button illumination to the D850, which ensures you can still handle the camera, even in complete darkness.

Silent Shooting
With the Nikon D850’s in-built electronic shutter, you can switch it to silent mode by using the live view screen and shoot full-resolution 45.4 megapixel RAW images without making a sound.

For wedding photographers, golf or tennis photographers, or anyone where the noise of a DSLR mirror box is less than ideal, this makes the D850 a competitor to mirrorless cameras.

You not only achieve full-resolution images without any sound, but you can shoot at up to 6 frames per second of continuous shooting with the electronic shutter.

Silent shooting is made possible via the robust tilting, touch-operational 8cm (3.2”) 2,360K-dot LCD monitor that features not only Touch AF but also Touch Shutter.

Massive Battery Life
In its standard, out-of-the-box setup, the Nikon D850 achieves an incredible 1,840 still images on a single charge of the EN-EL15a battery.

However, when using the MB-D18 battery grip with an EN-EL18B battery (from the Nikon D5), the Nikon D850 will shoot for up to 5,140 still images on a single charge – that’s more than entire day of shooting without needing to change battery. What’s more, the MB-D18 battery pack allows you to use standard AA batteries, or the EN-EL15 if you need to.

This battery life equates to approximately 70 minutes of filming in UHD 4K resolution using the standard EN-EL15a battery, or approximately 200 minutes with the battery grip and EN-EL18B battery.

Full Frame High Resolution & High Speed Video
The Nikon D850 uses the entire FX-format, 45.4 megapixel full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor to record ultra-high definition 4K video at up to 30p, which means you don’t need to worry about a crop factor.

By using the full-frame sensor rather than a cropped part of it to record 4K video, D850 users benefit from access to the entire range of Nikon Nikkor lenses. So you can shoot everything in cinematic 4K, even using a wide-angle lens.

With the outstanding low-noise capabilities of the D850’s sensor, supported by the EXPEED 5 processing engine, 4K video output is clean, noise-free and full-frame.

In Full 1080p HD movie mode, the D850 will shoot at up to a massive 120fps, giving the ability to shoot at high speed and capture amazing slow-motion shots.

As the Nikon D850 is a stills camera and not a camcorder (a tax-based distinction), it is limited to a maximum recording time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds. However, when it’s hooked up to an external video recorder such as an Atomos Ninja, the recording time is unlimited.

Fully Connected
Getting your images to a client on the other side of the world as soon as you’ve finished a shoot, or checking your images mid-shoot on a big screen is an essential part of the pro’s workflow.

To aid this, the Nikon D850 comes with a USB 3.0 port to enable high-speed data transfer and tethering mid-shoot, as well as built-in Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi capabilities (which can only be used with SnapBridge) and allow you to transfer images and video to a smart device instantly, to share on social media streams or send around the world in seconds.

With the additional optional WT-7A wireless transmitter, you can send files to an FTP server or computer at speeds of up to 866.7 Mbps, allowing for ultra-fast wireless and Ethernet transfer of your images.

For remote-controlled flash-lit photography, the D850 supports the Nikon wireless lighting system for extended flash range and distance shooting.

4K In-Camera Timelapse + True 8K Possible
With frame sizes from the full-frame 45.7 megapixel sensor of 8256 x 5504 pixels, the Nikon D850 gives you the ability to produce true 8K timelapse movies. These are created using the cameras’ internal interval shooting mode, and can be compiled using 3rd party software. However, the D850 will shoot and compile 4K timelapse movies in-camera, including advanced exposure smoothing.

300 Image Focus Stacking
The Nikon D850 features an in-camera Focus Shift mode that enables the creation of a stack of up to 300 images at fixed focus intervals.

This feature allows you bring incredible clarity and infinite depth of field to images, whether they’re of small wonders or vast scapes.

The Focus Shift mode lets you stack up to 300 images at fixed intervals, or shoot continuously at up to 5 frames per second for full-resolution images. You simply set the parameters, including the distance of each focus step from 10 selectable levels, and the D850 gradually shifts the focus from a starting point to infinity, which you can then compile in post-production to create images with everything from the foreground to background in superb detail.

Flexible Workflow
The ability to select between Large, Medium, or Small RAW images in the D850 gives professionals the flexible workflow options to record high quality RAW images that are full of detail, but cut the size down when you don’t need to use the full 45.4 megapixels. RAW images can be captured at the full 45.4 megapixels, or medium sized at 25.5 megapixels, or small sized at 11.3 megapixels.

To drive the point home that the D850 is built for the working pro and is as happy in the studio as it is out in a slightly moist field, Nikon have included an HDMI/USB cable dock in the box which, when attached to the side of the camera, prevents your cables from being snapped off when they’re in the port by keeping them nice and straight, and organised. A nice little addition.

Furthermore, the D850 is extensively weather sealed on both the body, lens mount, and optional battery grip, meaning it can be used for longer periods, anywhere. The D850 body is pro-level tough and is constructed from a magnesium alloy.