Best Nikon D850 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:
The full-frame DSLR Nikon D850 is an excellent update from its illustrious predecessor, the D810. A device for professionals offering very high level performance in all circumstances, and which gains a certain number of functionalities hitherto missing.
In the battle for full-frame professional SLR cameras, Nikon and its D810 were somewhat heckled by their rivals, notably the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Sony Alpha 7R II . But the famous “Japanese Optics Company” , which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, does not intend to let it go and therefore takes out heavy artillery with a D850 with characteristics of (very) high flight.
In the program, new backlit sensor (BSI CMOS 23.9×35.9) of 45.7MP, just that, new autofocus allowing to reach 9 frames per second in burst (with the necessary accessories), Expeed 5 processor, new cell exposure measurement 180,000 pixels… In short, heavy, sold at the consequent price of 3800 euros naked and 4599 euros with an AF-S 24-120 mm f / 4 optics
Best Nikon D850 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020
1. Nikon D850 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body
2. Nikon D850 DSLR Camera Body – Bundle with 32GB SDHC U3 Card, Camera Case. Spare Battery, Cleaning Kit, Memory Wallet, Card Reader, Pc Software Package
3. Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body (Renewed)
4. Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body w/AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm F/4G ED VR Lens (International Model)
5. Nikon D850 DSLR Camera Body – Bundle with 32GB SDHC U3 Card, Camera Case. Spare Battery, Cleaning Kit, Memory Wallet, Card Reader, Mac Software Package
Design and ergonomics
When we were talking to you about heavy artillery, we didn’t say that only figuratively. And yes, the D850 is large (146 mm wide by 124 high and 78.5 deep) and heavy (1.005 kg), but so are its competitors, with the exception of the Sony A7R II. However, this gives a real impression of solidity. Besides, be aware that the D850, with a magnesium chassis, is tropicalized. So no problem shooting in the rain or in the middle of a sandstorm…
The device is also very pleasant to handle thanks to its large handle. As with its other latest generation SLRs, Nikon has inverted the Mode and ISO buttons, which is really practical: you can manage the exposure parameters with one hand and trigger immediately. Other good news, the device now has a large 3.2 inch LCD screen vertically orientable, finally touch (multipoint), offering HD definition 2.4Mpx and faithful colors. Top ! Obviously, we also have a very good 100% optical viewfinder. Note that the brand has removed the built-in flash, which will not please everyone but does not really bother in fact as the device is efficient in low light (but we will come back to this). In addition, the device manages wireless flashes.
Menus and connectivity
The menus have also been updated (and they are tactile!). With many settings, they are very comprehensive but nevertheless a bit cluttered and sometimes counter-intuitive. As usual at Nikon. The Snap Bridge smartphone app is of course always there to transfer your photos via bluetooth. You can also connect the device via Wi-Fi, a welcome but limited innovation: it is impossible to send the images directly to a PC for example. Regarding Snap Bridge, the application “does the job” , the transfer is quite fast if we reduce the size of the images. Things get complicated when you keep the maximum size. By the way, note that there is still no integrated GPS.
In terms of autonomy, the brand announces 1,800 views but do not expect to reach them if you consult your photos a little too much or use the live view mode too often. You can also opt for an optional power grip to extend this figure to 5140 views. In general, the autonomy remains satisfactory. The connection of the D850 is quite complete, you will find an SD and XQD card port, an HDMI 4: 2: 2 8 bit output, a micro USB port, a microphone and headphone jack in mini jack as well as a remote control and flash. Unfortunately, it is a micro USB type B port. Not yet type C at Nikon, too bad.
Image quality
Considering the features of the device, we could expect very high quality images, and unsurprisingly, it really is. The D850 delivers great, beautiful shots from every point of view, offering one of the best image qualities on the market.
The sharpness of the shots is simply excellent, and thanks to the 45.7 Mpx of the sensor (for images of 45.4 Mpx max), you have a considerable cropping margin. As on the previous model, you can choose between different formats: FX (full format), DX (APS-C), crop 1.2x, 5: 4 or even 1: 1 Instagram-style. Note that in DX format, the images keep a definition of 19.5 MP, which is very satisfactory. Icing on the cake, you can now combine two different formats when shooting in RAW + JPG. However, you will notice that the 16: 9 format is unfortunately not available.
Another weak point, the Nikon D850 sensor is not stabilized. Beware of shutter speeds that are too low without a tripod and without a stabilized lens. This is probably its main shortcoming in terms of image quality, especially since its rival from Sony offers very good stabilization. During our test, the A7R II allowed us to shoot freehand at a speed of 1/8 with the ZA 35mm f / 1.4 lens. In a similar configuration, it was difficult with the D850 to avoid camera shake below 1/15.
That said, we can easily compensate for this by increasing ISO sensitivity, because on this point, the D850 is really excellent. It can easily go up to ISO 6400 while maintaining a very satisfactory noise level. And then even at 12800, the noise level remains really correct. We also appreciate that the manufacturer has been reasonable in terms of sensitivity range. This rises from 64 to ISO 25600, values which therefore remain usable.
And on video?
In video, the great novelty of the Nikon D850 is its ability to film in 4K, at 30 frames per second and without cropping what is more. The D810 sticked to Full HD while the Nikon SLRs making it possible to film in 4K, like the D5 , the D500 or the D7500 , imposed a crop of 2.2x: not great for very wide angles. But this limitation is no longer, and the D850 now uses all of its large sensor for quality images, good news.
On the other hand, the integrated microphone is rather average, as it is often the case. It lacks a bit of bass and even induces a rather annoying little hiss (which a noise gate should nevertheless easily erase). Outside 4K, you can also shoot in Full HD (with electronic stabilization) 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p or 24p, or even in 120p but with cropping in DX format (APS-C). Finally, last little news, it is possible to achieve timelapse with an 8K definition.
Responsiveness and autofocus
Here again is an area in which the Nikon D850 shines. Indeed, it is very reactive, it turns on and off in a fraction of a second. The autofocus, with its 153 collimators (99 on the cross), is also damn efficient, at least in the viewfinder because in live view, its speed drops significantly (it remains nevertheless suitable … if you don’t shoot the moment). In manual mode, the development is finally facilitated by focus peaking and focus steaking features, welcome novelties that were sorely lacking at Nikon.
The D850 also makes good progress in burst compared to the D810 and its 5 RAW per second. In CH engine mode, we timed the latest Nikon to 6.7 frames per second in RAW and 7.2 fps in JPG. In total, we were able to take 19 RAW at full speed (on SDXC class 10 card) before the rate fell, and 46 in JPG. With an XQD card, that figure rises to 28 RAW and 207 JPG. Note that with the optional grip and the EN-EL 18b battery of the D5, the rate also increases to around 9 fps, but this is a fairly expensive additional investment. These performances are therefore satisfactory, although we are not yet at the level of a D5, which can reach 14 fps. Finally, be aware that the D850 is far from being the king of silence when triggered.
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