Nikon D850 Review For Wildlife, Landscape, and Nature Photographers

[@backcountrygallery]

Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today! bcgforums.com/index.php Bonus - I also post exclusive tips, tricks, and techniques to the forum you can't get anywhere else! Check it out!

[@CitSF]

A referral to your website has helped soothe (somewhat) the humbling I have received this past two weeks - it is the best new camera I have owned and your book on the AF system is awesome. Subscribed. Followed. Customer. Thankful.

[@JMHSPhoto]

Steve's reviews are the 'standard' by which all other reviews should be measured. No fluff, real world, things other's wouldn't even notice.. and no SPEC overload. Huge thanks Steve.

[@backcountrygallery]

Thank John!

[@scallen3841]

I agree

[@bobani17]

i Agree, nobody makes me want to buy a new camera or a lens like Steve. =) I also have a tendensy to just watch his videos because i like his voice and the way he talks. I wish we had more videos, or that i could do an internship or something, haha

[@southeastgasservices]

Just bought one of these second hand, I have only had it a couple of days, all I can say is WOW, what a camera.....just amazing.

[@kodilutv]

Absolutely the best review of the D850 I've seen só far. Excellent work. I can't even remotely imagine the amount of effort put into this. THANK YOU!

[@Milagerdi]

Steve, you are the best. An actual photographer, knowledgeable, practical and great at explaining details about the gears you actually using. I've watched many D850 (and other cameras ) reviews and none of them, not a single of them can compare to yours. We need to get you more subscribers ... thanks.

[@dhdoctors]

Upgraded to the 850 last year, thanks for tons of useful info. Most important tip for this high res sensor, is careful attention to shutter speed and steady camera. For hand held, double shutter speed to focal length minimum. For bigger glass triple it, example 200mm set 1/640 or faster. VR can buy you a couple stops, but use a tripod when ever possible. Also I usually use the 2 second timer. For street I use P* mode, or A priority auto ISO. It's a pro camera, and when you nail it the images are gorgeous incredibly sharp.

[@johncurwen8122]

What a brilliant review!! I really love my D850; the number of features it has are awesome. The simple, forthright explanation you provide, Steve, convey a practical enthusiasm that is contagious and inspiring. Thank you!

[@dunnymonster]

Absolutely the best review of the D850 I've seen. Excellent work 😃

[@WorldinFastForward]

I have never watched a better camera review. Steve Perry is just a absolutely Nikon wildlife hero

[@19Photographer76]

Steve is a very good photographer but IMO, he's an outstanding educator!

[@vineetreddy4077]

100% agreed! This review was ridiculously clear!

[@Veymock-who]

Yeah, the best review !!

[@ganeshbeee]

Unbiased, factual and the best review ever. Period.

[@PatriciaPomerleau]

Your tutorials are the best! Just got back from three weeks in India using the D850 and the shots right out of camera are astonishing. The colors blow my mind. You are correct, much less post processing is required in RAW. I would no had captured nearly as good images had I not watched your "D 850 set up" video and read your AF book before I left for the trip. So, thanks a million Steve! You helped me capture some gorgeous photographs.

[@SKgeostrat]

Steve, you are without hesitation the best reviewer I know and this one confirms it. Structure and organisation are your secret. I always feel that I get something useful when I have viewed your stuff and you are not afraid of having a real opinion. Thanks and keep it up.

[@jamesollick4413]

The best D850 overview I have seen. Thank you. I picked up a new D850 a couple of weeks ago when it went on sale. It replaces my D810. I am extremely pleased with the performance. I completed 3 events since I received it and the resulting results were awesome.

[@nandi123]

The best review and tutorial anywhere! Thanks!

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks!

[@donaldlyons7143]

Great job, Steve. Loving my new D850😃

[@rickdunlop2431]

Steve Perry oppoppppp

[@rickdunlop2431]

Steve Perry has

[@zihengshao544]

Great video! I'm currently a Sony a9 user and I shot a lot of football but I really plan to purchase a Nikon D850 in couple of months because the image quality is amazing and 105mm F1.4E is exotic! And your real life usage review is much more useful than other reviewers' videos,great work!

[@juliefletcher879]

Hi Steve, I am fairly new to your channel and just bought a D850 an upgrade from the D800 and although I am predominately a landscape photographer I do enjoy a bit of wildlife stuff also. I have been testing the new camera out and have been stumped on a few things which you have now cleared up for me. Thankyou so much for your great information. Now I can go forth and conquor. Your work is just beautiful by the way. Thanks again.

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks - glad to help :)

[@paolomatarelli]

Hi, I've buy one too, but I've much hot pixels in my long exposure. yours? thank you

[@MrModerate_kane]

Best review of the D850 on the net truely. I send people to this video when asking almost every question related to it. One thing you might like to add Steve. I use it at weddings. LV preview mode, With Focus peaking enabled, no need to switch body to manual "IF" your on AF-F, i turn focus ring and i get focus peaking and its so simple swapping around then, i can hit rear button focus and its straight back to Auto, if i am set AF-S i then have to set Body to manual. Love this video for a long time, mostly i think the reason i bought the D850 over the D500 tbh, great job.

[@fekard]

I owned the camera for more than a year now I have your books and still learn new stuff here. Quality Channel.

[@fxrober]

As John Skinner and others have already commented...a review with an intelligent method, actual real-world testing, biases noted where they exist....a model of a perfect review. The pacing and presentation are also excellent. Thank you for the well-conceived and executed work here. Subscribed!

[@zemudikat]

thanks steve!! love your reviews, you're honestly the best, and its VERY clear that you've used this camera extensively. there are many reviewers on youtube that "review" gear that they havent even used. thanks for being so thorough!

[@MrDgm80503]

Great review - and thanks for confirming my desire to keep my D500 and reducing my GAS. You are the best reviewer out there - keep up the great work!

[@photographybyrobd]

You have done so much work for this video. Well done mate, really great job! 🎉

[@Stefan1968ful]

As usual, your videos are really excellent. I just got my Nikon D850 delivered and it simply rocks. But I have to say the Nikon D850 does not replace my Nikon D500. I use the Nikon D500 as a 2nd body on my travels as this makes sense for me. Btw, your Secrets to Stunning Wildlife Photography can be highly recommended, really a hands-on approach rather than a lot of theory.

[@blakeparry1983]

Definitely the best D850 review i've seen - covered every base and always good to see real world performance. I currently shoot with D4, D800 and D500 - plus a D3S for backup (for wildlife and sports) My thoughts are pretty much to sell off the D800, D3S and D500 - the D850 looks it it could pretty much replace all of them with the grip. Keep the D4 for my second body - does the D850 grip work with the D4 batteries?

[@Tanguero5380]

Once again, Steve delivers a professional review. Clear, concise but in depth and complete. I have watched several D850 reviews on KZbin, some of them revealing total misunderstanding of how the body technically works. Steve is way above !

[@ferrarif430lover]

Hi Tim, Awesome job on the review, straightforward facts, to the point, easily understood and extremely accurate... and I've watched dozens and dozens of D850 videos and comparison videos, you're the best! I am a serious amateur using nothing but Nikon for 50 years and and I agree the D850 (I've had it one year) is the ultimate DSLR and I am 100% with you about the glass, currently I have the Nikkor 24-70 f2.8E and the Nikkor 70-200 F2.8E and the results are absolutely breathtaking!!! Took me many years to learn that a camera is only as good as the lens but this combo has proven it with every shot. I wish I could reshoot all of my favorite shots from the past with this setup! It is heavy, especially with the 70-200 but that allows me stability for handheld shots and the large size fills my hands perfectly. To fully utilize the camera requires study and a good memory but the touch screens make set-up fast! I'm rapidly approaching 80 and I wanted my last camera to be the best...and my D850 will be my companion to the end!

[@NoNeNoNeNoNe134]

Killer camera needs killer review and this one is... Your absolutely stunning review wipes floor with all other reviews... I believe others need to go back to drawing board for reviewing their camera reviews...

[@ChocolateHabanero22]

Like the stupid FStopper's review, for starters!

[@jamesmichaelspence2014]

History of Ishes into wourlr

[@abhishijack]

THE BEST REVIEW EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER.

[@idaholarch]

That may be the best review I've ever seen...of anything. Plus, tons of really useful tips! Thank you!

[@jen43072]

Came to your channel 2 years ago as I started my photography journey in earnest with a D500, bought your AF book, loved and saved several videos and then, after a year or so, thought Sony's eye af was calling me... made the jump and while it is a good system, I missed my dslr a lot. I never got rid of the D500, and have decided to switch back to Nikon with a D850. Selling all my Sony gear at a loss to do this, bc Nikon's DSLRs just can't compare. Sony is too sterile for me. Thanks for keeping your channel up and continuing to provide quality education for photographers!

[@maldridge7630]

In this field, I think you are simply the best!

[@scarface1961]

I bought your ebook yesterday and just started going through the first 20 pages and it holds your interest and is just as informative as your videos.

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks!

[@tronderikbrekke8792]

Great review Steve, as usual. Very thorough and well put together. I can only give you that one thumb up, but it deserves a whole lot more. Great photography too!

[@burritobrosvideos8060]

This is the best review I've ever seen for any camera. Wish you made reviews on different brands

[@seantomlinson3320]

This was great, good job Steve. Your books are terrific too, I'm so glad I spent that pittance to get such terrific information. Thank you Steve!

[@2906rick]

The best reviews hands down!! Great work once again!! Now I need to work overtime so that the D850 will be mine! :) Nices pictures btw!

[@hishamosman4341]

Greetings from Malaysia.Steve you are by far the best Nikon teacher online. I just bought all your e-books which I believe is paramount if one wish to increase knowledge, especially with Nikon system. Thank you Sir!

[@TradinTigerJohn]

Steve, it is so refreshing to hear a camera review by someone...are you sitting down???...who has used the camera extensively for actually taking pictures. Your review makes a great tutorial since you've obviously worked out lots of operational details in the field. Thanks!

[@backcountrygallery]

Thanks!

[@antonoat]

This has to be the best video available for this new camera, it's obvious Steve you really know your stuff, thanks for sharing all of this information, it's really appreciated. cheers

[@JeffSelf]

Wow! I'm exhausted from this review. Fantastic!

[@sandorclegane7007]

Probably the best review on the D850 anywhere on the internet. Great job Steve, love ya work.

[@anjouanwaeterloos7709]

Congrats for the 100k subscribers! It is well deserved, probably the best photography channel I follow!

[@DVBMurphy]

This is the best and most useful camera review I've seen, every question I have on the D850 thouroughly answered and the answers justified and proved, I have a new favourite channel!

[@saraventura1333]

So greatful for this channel... You give great explanations and enjoyable contant... Good job pal

[@blarkdexture8899]

*THE REAL DEAL*

[@KlausPeterFriedl]

This review is great! You not only phone in the tech-specs, but show what they are good for! I have owned this fantastic camera now for over a month, but your guideline called my attention to a few things I had not found out so far. At last one review i really could draw profit of! Thank you! Great photos too, BTW!

[@tomasgustavophotography]

Thank you Steve, for bringing the best reviews and the best nature photography content on the web. Cheers!!

[@groncal]

Simply superb review. I learn so much from your reviews despite not owning the camera. You're a wealth of knowledge...thank you for your time and energy! Great work and awesome personality. Always a joy to check you out. God bless you and your family, Steve.

[@DGK007]

I've just picked up a D850. This is the crazy part, it's my first DSLR. I've been dreaming of learning Landscape and Nature photography. I'm normally a one and done kind of guy, so I followed that idea with this camera. I'm on the steep side of the curve so this video was wroth it's weight in gold. Thanks Steve and If I cant become half the photographer that you are I'll be a happy fulfilled guy.

[@scarface1961]

This is the best review plus it provides tutorial information on many aspects of the camera's features. I am waiting for my D850 as it is on backorder. I'll definitely be getting your Ebook on NIkon AF System and will be watching this vid again when my camera arrives. Great job.

[@richardtetreault3767]

Hello Steve, this is the best real world review I've seen on the D850. Thank you so much. Take care.

[@colinbaterip2373]

I have both your books already and they are fantastic and read more than once. This review is up to the same very high standard so thank you for publishing it.

[@CS90]

Best channel for photography-related views right here. Hands down. A lot of so-called "experts" are more about presentation, entertainment and getting a review out ASAP rather than the actual content of the review. Steve Perry is the opposite and it is refreshing. Plus, there's the occasional humorous joke thrown in for good measure.

[@bubbadahut9639]

Definitely a very comprehensive review and im glad you took your time on it . Thumbs up, glad i got the book btw! super awesome! Even if this review was from two months ago when i first got my D850.. i would have still have purchased the D850... i mean... it is a "small" upgrade compared to my D80.... added a 5 in the middle woot :)

[@ponti281]

Steve thanks for a great setup for photographing wildlife.....love the methodical approach you took!

[@donwest1869]

As always, very informative and helpful. I may need to rewatch just to hone your tips thx for all of these

[@joelcrow]

The section of vs D5 just saved me $3000!! Thanks so much for these incredibly detailed and intelligent reviews, Steve!

[@beenice9867]

Thank you for this review and your images are amazing. Slowing down how fast you speak could be a major bonus here.

[@larsgjelten2961]

Thanks for a great review. Just stopped by this video and ended up watching the whole thing and probably gonna buy the e-books as well :)

[@Needacreate]

Your reviews are really in a class of their own, Steve, both in content and illustration. And the images you're producing are absolutely incredible. I don't even shoot Nikon, but I keep returning to your channel to be amazed and learn. Love your channel.

[@backcountrygallery]

Eventually I'm going to start putting up videos that don't have to do exclusively with Nikon LOL!

[@Needacreate]

Well, while being admirably specific about the Nikon system, many of your tips are to some degree (if not completely) applicable across brands. Also, despite your awesome field-earned technical expertise, your ultimate passion is the perfect image, for which the gear is just a tool, and that is tangible in all your videos. Even the most casual zoo, pet, or farm photography with a consumer telezoom can benefit from some your basic approaches, IMO.

[@horstschoninger1190]

Very professional....get the most out from his reviews.....worth any minute to watch...Thanks ...Steve for your work...!

[@Sean_Coyne]

Great review Steve, as always. I'm in complete agreement with you on the D850. I've had mine since the day it was released and have been loving it, especially as it was my big leap from a DX D7200 to FX. I'm mainly into macro and landscape, but after buying my first FX zoom (the Sigma 24-105 f4 Art) I have been using it for just about everything, street walkarounds, architecture, you name it. In fact, my only limitation at present is a paucity of FX glass. Friends who I share my work with have all commented on the great colours I have been getting from this camera, even though I have always shot raw. Like you, I have noticed the difference in easier post. Anyway, thanks again for your review and tips as well as the great wildlife examples. :-)

[@santiagovanegas3812]

Best D850 review ever. Actually, best review of anything ever :) Everything you covered about the AF is very impressive. I’m curious if you’ve had any experience with the Zeiss Milvus lenses on the Nikon. How does the image quality compare to Nikkor primes?

[@lwanfry]

Superb and 100% review, as usual. No going crazy over this or that minor flaw, no going over enthusiastic over that not so important feature. Perfect. Just like your book I just finished to read, it was a great read! N.B.: Tell me when you downsample the D850 images you used nearest neighbor as your downsampling interpolation, otherwise any other interpolation method is actually reducing noise in pretty much the same way printing does when the input resolution is higher than the target resolution, and that would mean the D850 is actually noisier than the other 3 !

[@1DafEO]

Am curious to know what interpolation method you use for downsampling too - been looking into it recently - can get significant changes - if you leave it as Automatic - Photoshop uses Bicubic Sharper - which partially emphasises noise.

[@lwanfry]

Any downsampling algorithm/filter will eat up some noise by averaging pixels, the main issue with downsampling is that it has a visible to noticeable improvement effect usually every time you divide image size by a factor of 2 or more. But for example if I downsample to favor noise reduction, bilinear will work better than bicubic (or bicubic sharper, which will have the same black halos side effect as a sharpening tool). In some image viewing programs (such as XNVIEW which I really like for it's super wide file types support, including various camera raw), lanczos works for both sharpening and noise reduction, gaussian is softer but better at noise reduction. Mitchel is inbetween etc.

[@jcphenix1]

Steve is still the king of KZbin reviewer. a lot of work, a lot of art. hail to the king ! ;)

[@glhernan1]

Absolutely the BEST review and tutorial on the D850! Best DSLR. I still prefer this over Mirrorless.

[@MrJueKa]

"I don`t believe that you shooting a couple of hundred shots qualifies as a real test. I wanna to really get to know the camera before I writed a verdict." over 16.000 photos in 2 Month, 11 states and 2 countries.....there`s nothing more to say about the quality of this review and Steve`s awesome work - with a good cup of coffee I`ve enjoyed every second of this review, which is the best about this camera I`ve ever seen (hope I`ve got the quotation right because English isn`t my first language, if not feel free to correct, I`ll never stop learning)

[@coreychappelle2543]

Upgraded to a d810 and recently added a d850, I LOVE it!

[@mickmckean7378]

Awesome review as usual Steve, thanks so much for your work and very balanced comments.

[@frederichore1890]

Excellent review Steve. I invested in this cam and found your tips and suggestions to be succinct and to the point, much more helpful than the 374 page manual! One small observation - at 3:40, you talked about the similarities between the FX D850 controls to the DX D500, but labelled it as the D810. I realize trying to correct this is too late, as you would have to remove the video and re-edit it. EDIT: Game changer! Your tip about how to quickly change focus points using the PV button (7:00) is just a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Done! Stunning review! Thanks again. Subscribed! Cheers from Montréal.

[@joshashdown4431]

Steve, this is a fantastic video. You were informative and kept it interesting. I went ahead and bought your book a few minutes ago and look forward to reading it and using the skills. On a side and related note, you gallery is outstanding!

[@CarlyWaarly]

Fabulous work Steve, so beautiful! Terrific review as well, we mainly do still life and commercial work and have been using a couple of D800 so looking forward to this D850 with grip ordered yesterday!

[@kenvanwyk7176]

Brilliant review Steve. I enjoyed every bit of it. To the point and filled with all the info. that any Professional Photographer could wish for. My sincere thanks.

[@CameraMystique]

My most favorite things: *a)* No need for any editing anymore, it gets the WB right (D810 needed tiny WB fix), I just convert the raw to jpeg in NX-D and send it for print as is, and *b)* For the first time all light paths in my tests (focus path, viewfinder "dot", liveview) match exactly on all my Zeiss lenses.

[@the_ah_photo]

That cat litter container pendulum test is pure genius! Great review.

[@mautsukuda]

Probably THE most informative review of the D850 I've seen from ANYBODY. Thank you, Steve, for the great video and keep up the amazing work!

[@carle5538]

Great reviews. Thank you

[@stevemaloney7305]

Loved the review. Bought my first FX in the D750 last year. Now how D850 envy. Just can't decide. At almost double the MP count the d850 is winning. Steve, love your books. I bought both and refer to them often when out shooting. Cheers!

[@WildInstinct_CostaRica]

Amazing review Steve! We can’t wait to have back my friend!

[@therampanthamster]

thanks Steve - I've already crumbled and bought the d850 a few weeks ago, but i'm still very much enjoying watching your review! :)

[@manojprabhakar9862]

Best review and usage of Nikon D850 :) Looking quite long for this kind of video with proper explanation. Gr8 and please continue posting good learning videos.

[@dougnelson423]

One of the best videos ever. Thanks Steve. I had switched to the Sony A7r III but am going back to Nikon D850.

[@AndreasLarzon]

Thank you Steve for the most straight forward and best explenation regarding focus shift I have ever seen. Now I understand it and it works just fine...

[@myroadtours6147]

So much solid info in one video! I have to pause and finish watching later. PS: If and when Nikon releases a D860, this could be the ultimate camera! I mean Nikon is ever so slowly updating the D800 system and narrowing the gap in a lot of places between it and the pro bodies. All they have to do for example is tweak the AF some and increase the buffer size and Wildlife shooters will have an awesome FX body!

[@ullybleil]

WOW, your review & explanations are absolutely incredible!! Thanks.

[@thomasphillips5850]

Excellent review , thank you, you answered so many questions I had.

[@darthsquider8586]

Your reviews are so informative and comprehensive that I subscribed, first time ever doing so. Keep up the good work!

[@weddingbells100]

Brilliant video and very very informative, so much information to absorb, need to watch it, again and again, many thanks, Steve.

[@iemboyshostel]

Probably the best review of D850

[@davechristienortheastimagi1917]

Your presentation and knowledge is second to none....i would be surprised if you had'nt been approached by any networks ...subscibed !!

[@WhittyPics]

Awesome review as always. It was worth the wait. Thanks Steve.

[@kimtruong4676]

Definitely the best review. He presents objective evidence (photo comparison) for every claim he states. Comprehensive. I wish all of youtube would have watched this video first so they can avoid wathing no value added rant videos on d850.

[@toddcooper9057]

Great review and chock full of helpful info! Thank you sir !!!

[@kharodm1]

This has been extremely helpful, thank you.

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

Super review. Not just for the D850. Along the way we learned a lot about the other Nikon compatibles. Well done.

[@KhwajaImranMohammed]

One of the best camera and I bought my D850 on 9-September-18. Really privileged to have one 👍👌

[@klackon1]

Excellent presentation Steve, easily the best review of this camera I have seen: I was momentarily tempted to sell my Olympus gear to buy one, but as I also own a D500 I let the moment pass. This is the only FF camera I would consider buying. Two areas where my Olympus EM1 mark II excells over the D500 and D850 are: 1. It has three custom settings on the top plate dial (absolutely brilliant for near instantaneous switching between stationary and moving subjects). 2. In camera focus stacking. So, I'll stick with what I have: but I do like this D850.

[@KeyurNandaniya]

As always the best review and yes I got both the book and those are absolutely full of necessary information for a good wildlife photography. And special thanks more making D5 King in the last.

[@christosphillips3568]

Hey Steve ......nailed it once again, well worth the wait 😃 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏, man you are a beast in reviewing (just like the D850 😊), knocked it out of the park with this one. I would highly recommend people into Nikon and wildlife shooting , to get BOTH of Steve's E-books. No matter if you are a pro or an amateur , these books are THE BIBLE when it comes to wildlife shooting. I have been shooting Nikon since the mid 80's and let me tell you that I find myself referring to the E-Books frequently to remind myself on some of the features these cameras offer. Steven thanks for putting in the effort and the time towards producing this video as well as the E-Books. Great stuff man God bless. You sir are a breath of fresh air in a world full of information garbage in YT and the Net. If only there were more YT channels like this one out there.

[@backcountrygallery]

As always thanks so much for the kind words!!

[@thinktank8389]

Thank ypu for supplying the lens list. Been looking for just that.... thanks for all od your efforts.

[@grossidm]

I've had mine since the beginning of October Steve. So many people we're talking about how going to a high megapixel camera would expose technique flaws. I shunned it off thinking it was mostly bs. I came from (though I still use) a D500. I was far from sold on the D850 being much better (if any) than my D500 for wildlife after a few weeks of use. The images simply weren't as crisp as the images coming out of my D500. Late afternoon yesterday I finally had enough light to go from my normally comfortable 1/1600 to 1/3200 and that really improved things. I was out on a fishing pier shooting terns fishing in 15mph+ wind on my tripod and 600 + tc14. Getting up to 3200 also seemed to improve my results with the tc. It's been a real struggle using that since I bought it a few months ago. Anyway, thanks for the review and tips. Once I get consistently good results at 1/3200 I'll see if can get back down to 1600.