Which to Buy: Nikon Z7 vs D850 Comparison

February 2019

The Z7 is 7 year(s) old while the D850 is 8 years old. These are both FX 45.7 megapixel cameras and there are additional similarities but also some differences worth noting.

The similarities between these two cameras are:

45.7 megapixel FX sensor
No anti-aliasing filter/optical low pass filter
Fast startup and little shutter lag
Support JPEG, TIFF, 12-bit and 14-bit RAW images
Dedicated Fn (function) buttons
Matrix, center-weighted and spot metering
Highlight-weighted metering
Native ISO 64-25600
Hotshoe
HDMI jack
External microphone jack
Headphone jack
Top-side control panel
Tilting monitor
Touchscreen monitor
30-1/8000th sec. mechanical shutter speeds
Bulb shutter
Focus-stacking
Auto FP High-Speed flash sync
4K UHD video, 30 fps
Slow motion video - 1080p, 120 fps
4:2:2 video output
High dynamic range mode
Timelapse photography support
Electronic silent shutter
100% viewfinder coverage
DX crop mode
Built-in WiFi to pair the camera with a smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth to pair the camera with a smartphone
Nikon SnapBridge
5:4 image size option
Price

The advantages the D850 has over the Z7 are:

3.2 in. 2359k-dot TFT LCD monitor vs 2100k-dot
Much longer rated battery life at 1840 shots vs 330 shots
Buffer holds more RAW images (51 vs 18 images)
Dual card slots (SDXC and XQD) vs single XQD
1/250th sec. flash sync speed vs 1/200th
7 frames-per-sec. stills w/AF vs 5 fps
Back-illuminated buttons
Optional battery grip accessory
Better auto-focus in low-light (-4 EV vs -2 EV)
Built-in NFC to pair the camera with a smart device

The advantages the Z7 has over the D850 are:

Compact mirrorless camera design
Much lighter at 675g (1 lb 7.9 oz) vs 1005g (2 lb 3.5 oz)
5-axis IBIS
3690k-dot EVF vs pentaprism optical viewfinder
492 AF points (with 90% frame coverage) vs 153 points (99 cross type)
Eye autofocus (Eye-AF)
Slow motion video with sound
On sensor phase detect AF for video
EXPEED 6 image processor vs EXPEED 5
Compatible with Z- and F-mount lenses

Neither camera has:

Built-in flash
Built-in GPS
Panorama Mode

Additional Notes

The Z7 exhibits banding in the shadows due to its on-sensor phase detection, but this is not a huge problem.

The D850 has back illuminated buttons to aid in low-light photography.

Conclusion

Want the latest tech even though it still needs some refining? Then go with the Z7. Otherwise, go with the D850, a very/more capable photographic machine.

See these comparisons: