NIKON D850 | 1 YEAR REVIEW | The Pros and Cons?

I've now owned the Nikon D850 DSLR camera body for an entire year! So I thought it was about time that I actually give my 1 year review and tell you all about the pros and cons. An entire year of use gives me a good body of real world experience in which to base this review so I'd like to think this will be a relatively objective and accurate review, I'll try my best! Overall there are way more positives than negatives to using the Nikon D850 but how do I feel about it a year on?
I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on the camera body. Do you own it? What do you like and dislike about it? As always thanks very much for watching and if you have not yet done so please consider subscribing. Thanks very much! :-)
#Nikon #D850 #Photography
*My full equipment list at the time of filming this video*
CAMERA & LENSES
Main Landscape Photography Camera - amzn.to/2XsahZ2
My Main Lens - amzn.to/2UEPQps
My Wide-Angle Lens - amzn.to/2UExPHt
My Telephoto Lens - amzn.to/2G7X95M
My Astrophotography Lens - amzn.to/2GTz5nB
ACCESSORIES
Camera Bag - amzn.to/2CYiVoT
Main Tripod - amzn.to/2QypAOE
Shutter Release Cable - amzn.to/2ooKmVg
Head Torch - amzn.to/37dwBKu
Micro Fibre Cleaning Cloths - amzn.to/2rbeBzL
Spare Main Camera Batteries - amzn.to/2NZr1nw
L Bracket - SunwayFoto PNL-D850
VLOGGING GEAR
Vlogging Camera - amzn.to/2Bk2lPN
Vlogging Lens - amzn.to/35fpP57
Vlogging Tripod - amzn.to/2QxTsul
Vlogging Microphone - amzn.to/2BYvKzk
Variable ND Filter - amzn.to/2KB21Rr
Drone - amzn.to/2OpNXvb
Spare Vlogging Camera Batteries - amzn.to/2ptAh9U
PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS
Circular Polariser - amzn.to/2UAmPLp
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10 Stop ND - amzn.to/2D42s2h
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2, 3 & 4 Stop NDs - amzn.to/2JpFp5Q
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Filter Carrying Pouch - amzn.to/2CUvRMy
Reverse Grad ND - Benro 3 Stop Reverse Grad
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[@djl2407]

This is one of the most refreshing reviews I've ever seen. No BS, just accurate observations and honest opinions. Very well done. Cheers!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much David! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@ottersphotography304]

I was looking to upgrade at about the time Nikon was launching the D850. I bit the bullet and forked over the money. I have owned it for one year this month and I am pleased to say I could not be happier. It does all I expected and more. First I will say I do not use it for video, other than time lapse. The very first images I took, I raced home to download them and closely examine them. I was struck by the dynamic range, the color detail, the amount of detail, the ability to crop and lose very little data, hardly noticeable even. I have taken thousands of images with it since then. I have shot in extreme conditions of all sorts. Freezing, sleet, mountains, deserts, and since I live on the Oregon Coast, water of all sorts. It is a rugged workhorse, the images are phenomenal, the touchscreen has spoiled me for life, the options and features are everything I need in my daily workhorse camera. It is heavy, to be sure. However every time I hike into an area and take that heavy backpack off my shoulders, I am happy and confident knowing I am going to pull out my D850. If the shot gets messed up, missed or ruined, it is my fault and not the camera at all.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for sharing your d850 story. I 100% agree with everything you say. Especially the point of having confidence in your camera 👌

[@D800Lover]

I bought mine in January, I sold my D810 and had a feeling that the D850 somehow was the camera that I was to keep for a number of years and I still feel that being the case. In the first ten months I did not have a chance of fully testing it out, a lot of issues in my life. But in the last month I was able to take it on an extended inter-continental trip and I was struck by the fact that I was getting a picture quality straight out of the camera I had not seen before. I do recommend that you set it to Vivid and bump it up for mainly out of doors shots (definitely not indoors or under artificial light) and even without resorting to Lightroom or Photoshop, the shots just had pop and colours and detail that was amazing. I use RAW and Fine as that suits me (OK, need a fair bit of memory), so I am not limited in post, but some of those Fine Jpegs right out of the box just amazed me. If you can, if you are up to the challenge, want a camera that is going to continue to challenge your abilities and technique, you will not be disappointed. About the price, consider what medium format cameras sell for, and many are technically deficient in ways the D850 is not, then unless you live in countries that have rip-off prices (like Australia, but the price has come down), this camera is almost a bargain. Bottom line? A camera for camera lovers - but, you need good glass too. May I suggest the Nikon 16-35mm F4 highly, I shoot well over 50% of my shots with it. Also, be not afraid to shoot in DX mode, they still look superb and great for sports. And focusing abilities etc, not perfect but still top drawer - and that it makes it such a good all-rounder and maybe that is the best news of all.

[@robertad242]

I would be interested in videos too actually, but I’m not sure :/

[@CarnivalVillage]

Same here on my purchase of the D850 it is incredible Nikon really developed a magnificent camera to celebrate their 100 anniversary

[@josephnevin]

I just love these sort of reviews. Totally relaxing and entertaining at the same time. I prefer stuff like this over the commercial cooked reviews of the top vloggers on KZbin.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much!

[@cyallouz]

The best D850 analysis, congratulations and thank you!

[@bojidardimitrov7220]

You do not review the Nikon D850. The Nikon D850 reviews you.

[@olakunleolafisoye8433]

Hahahaha

[@Stop-All-War]

😂 so true

[@alexonanadventure]

You ain’t lying my new camera just telling me hey rookie you suck go back and do your homework 😂

[@Jeff82556]

Thanks again James, for your fair unbiased and thorough review! I just bought the D780 w/kit lens 24-120mm. (and added a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G) I couldn't afford the more expensive D850. Hopefully I won't regret my decision - especially since I'm a totally green amateur but anxiously wanting to learn about photography. Again thanks for your hard work and straight-shooting reviews!

[@alandunham2643]

Trustworthy honesty i think, I'll be watching more of your films. Thanks James

[@peterdekeles.]

I want to buy one so I've watched a lot of videos. Yours was the most straight forward and covered some features no one else has. Thanks from across the pond

[@davidross4036]

Thanks for this. Laughed when I heard you describe why you waited a year - I can relate to “end of the honeymoon”!

[@COCOTEIER]

I own a D810 myself and love it. Excellent review and really nice pictures!

[@jimsignorelli9317]

Thanks!!!! I've been debating whether to buy it - You've given me a lot to think about.

[@keesgroeneveld4252]

Great review! Thx a lot. I order now the Nikon D850!

[@stevewhitworth7580]

Great review, many thanks. I ordered mine yesterday after procrastinating for ages! :) Can't wait for it to arrive. Been using the D800 and D800E for years..... the D850 looks to be a huge step-up. Didn't know about the backlit buttons (although I should've done)...... as an astro shooter I share your glee at this feature. Didn't know about the focus peaking either. In 2020 XQD cards are still pricey, as I'm sure you know. Managed to get a 64Gb from E-Infinity for A$219.

[@yummyinmy454]

Great review I own a Nikon D850 and a D750 and I got to tell you they're both great cameras I do landscape Sports wildlife and I have not found one negative thing about the d850 it is a great camera

[@RussDnB]

This was a fantastic summary, thank you. Having owned a D90 for over 10 years now, if I make this leap, I guess I'll see a quantum leap in changes.

[@TechStories79]

Lol I'm still shooting with the d90 too! But it's definatetly time.

[@WESLEYUSA23]

Lol it’s like upgrade a Nissan 2010 to a Lamborghini 2021 lol

[@RussDnB]

Lol I did make the leap, and quite a keep it is too

[@Luigi13]

Thank you for the review especially after the experiences you had.

[@frankzayas3103]

I have had the D850 since August. Since then I have started a gradual shift to Sony mirrorless with the a7III. I sold my D800 and D4, but I am hanging on tight to the 850 because I love it and, like others, I believe its the best DSLR ever made. Mirrorless is the future and in the short time I've had my Sony, I can certainly see why, so the 850 is likely my last DSLR I will ever buy but in the few yearsI have left before I retire, I believe the two systems can co-exist for me. I am in the stage of sorting out which camera works best for which type of job. It's re-energized me. These are fun times!

[@h4r1sda1nonli]

Frank Zayas which camera do you like better between your Sony and D850? In terms of picture dynamic range/quality or however you would compare

[@m.maclean8911]

I waited to try out the Z7, then I bought the far superior D850. Super discount sale with free grip promo too. Easier to hold and operate (I don’t have lady hands). Balances well with the pro lenses. Dual cards, faster focus tracking, functional grip, backlit buttons, etc, etc. I hike with lots of gear and the body is the least of these... my video results are amazing ... no complaints. I always use it with the grip. Makes it easier to hold and to adjust. I don’t see smaller as a benefit, rather it is a huge hindrance to shooting. If you need lighter then you might have some health issues you should address.

[@DessieTots]

Cracks are NOT wear and tear. Send it back and get that part replaced and tell them to pass on a message to not overtighten and to use the correct torque screwdriver.

[@derekgillan7314]

screws are too tight after repair, tell the repair centre they screwed up.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Derek! I suspect you are right. It may have to go back for further repairs

[@derekgillan7314]

Nikon cameras are quite well designed, the silly problems they have are usually down to assembly issues like dirt/ excess oil. I shoot Nikon too, but hate Nikon as a company. Having had problems with Nikon cameras, their after sales service is poor. Screws too tight they break the plastic casing. BAD!They are also an arrogant company. Look at the latest D7500, the D3500, like why take basics away? Money grabbing. You are too nice a guy to deal with Nikon.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

@@derekgillan7314 thank you Derek, that's very nice of you to say. My experience of their repairs has been pretty average so far to be honest so you're probably right 👍

[@tonyfabris367]

Never any problem for the last 45 years.....BEST COMPANY.

[@PatrickBoening]

Derek is absolutely right. It is not the material, it is the technician that overdid the tightening.

[@pamelajensen2009]

I think your review is spot on. Absolutely spot on! Ironically my screen cracked. Still not sure how. Now wondering if that is a similar to the cracks around the eye piece you have experienced. Other than that - the positives out weight the negs two-fold. I do love the joy stick but find that if the back screen is slightly opened for live view - the corner of the screen can block the joy stick movement. It’s just a bit awkward. It is heavy camera - not for everyone. Not an issue for me, it makes me pack light. I’m not shy to pull out a monopod or tripod. It requires a good sturdy tri-pod too. The photos are spectacular! The camera rises to the occasion very time! I absolutely love it!

[@christophercardoza6364]

So this will be the video that sealed my final purchasing decision. I found this very informative. I've been using the Nikon D500 and am now about to get a secondary camera. I've been on the ropes, should I go mirrorless? Should I wait for the D6, etc. This video helped me relax and realize that I won't regret my decision. Thank you for sharing, and cheers from Texas!!!

[@CarnivalVillage]

Good review, just purchase my D850 and getting all the knowledge I can get before my exploration begins

[@vasanthdigitalz]

Nikon D850 King 🤴 of DSLR,TODAY TOMORROW AND FOREVER ❤❤❤👌🏻👍🏻

[@justinwatson384]

I upgraded from the d7100 to the d810 and couldn't be happier. I'm a traveler, I needed a pro body, the excellent dynamic range is a definite bonus. The improved ISO performance with an FX sensor is great too

[@trojanhman8136]

I am considering the D810 today. I wonder what your opinion of it is now?

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Awesome review James. Spot on. I love my D850 and you've covered all the reasons why. I've shot corporate videos with it and mostly used the slow mo HD video feature. Can do it all this Nikon beast. Cheers mate :)

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Adrian! I think it's a great video camera but just a bit clunky to use. Hate the auto focus systems too, Nikon need to up their game there significantly in future. Overall those are just minor gripes, the camera is an absolute triumph 👍

[@JeffSelf]

I've had mine for about two weeks. Loving it so far.

[@fretplec5326]

Great honest review. I bought one recently and have yet to find time to get in to it. I’ll get back to you soon as spring is here soon.... Mind what I have used has been impressive especially the cleanness of high ISO and the resolution.

[@drferry]

Everything you said in this review has been my experience with camera as well. I can never get over having 8356 pixels on the long side! I didn’t know about the focus stacking

[@SuperTramp4223]

Great review James! Very detailed and accurate! I've upgraded from Nikon D5200 to Nikon D810 with Nikkor 105mm f2.8 and Nikkor 24-120mm F4, and the difference is night and day! Amazing camera! I aimed for Nikon D850, but it was too expensive, but no argue is the superior camera!

[@drferry]

I have been fortunate to get my hands on the Nikon 500 mm f5.6 PF, and this lens coupled with the D850 has been the largest change in bird photography in 30 years. Except for video, the tripod stays in the car. The 500 is a little bit longer but no heavier than my Nikon 70-200 f2.8, and I am hand-holding the D850 and the 500 with a 1.4 extender for 700 mm. Who would have believed it?

[@bentebbens]

Thanks so much for telling us!

[@drferry]

@@bentebbens Let me give another update. I have since acquired a Z9, and by incredible luck was able to get the Nikon 800mm f 6.3 PF. Forget the 500, this thing changes the world! A five pound 800mm that can be hand held! I just took it to Panama for bird photography, and when using the 1.4x, I had 1120mm with a full frame sensor on the Z9. Little birds that were once dots in the frame are now portraits. Unbelievable.

[@desertoo23]

Definitely subscribing..... I was about to buy this one but with the Z7, Z6 I hold my decision and now I honestly don`t know what to do... this was a very very good video as you pointed out a few times there are way more positives than negatives and I'd say this is a near-perfect camera. Excellent video.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Bruno! I can totally sympathise with your difficult decision. I guess you just have to assess the pros and cons of each and how well suited they are to your needs. Once you've done that it will hopefully be clear which way you need to go. Good luck! 🙂

[@VintageLynx]

Really good review. I wish more were like this - no fluff or shouting, just good info. Thank you. I too own a D850 and 100% agree with what you said. Just add that you can go the other way and make it lighter to carry on a long hike by fitting just a light prime lens. Makes it easier on all day hikes.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it

[@MisterSinister47]

Good review brother. I'll check out this Nikon.

[@InCountry6970]

Nice review and solid points, thanks

[@marshallartsmedia]

Great review, very helpful! Thank you. I have a D800 for 7 years, it's a workhorse, held together with Gaffer's tape after many years on the road and many falls it still works flawlessly for photography but is outdated for video. I'm a pro video shooter and I want the 4K video so this could be my B cam instead of my D800 as C cam. I trust Nikon's solid engineering and will expect to get 5-7 years from the D850 when it comes my way, soon hopefully. Thanks for the review!

[@touristguy87]

I'm sure that you'd get 20 years or more from the D850 if you just don't stop using it for 20 years

[@cowboyyoga]

Great video.... today was at the store and still didn't buy it. But now for sure will buy it! Thanks for kicking me off the fence! )))

[@DiegoMcCartney]

It’s a beast of a body man and like you said an overall very strong camera. I still have my Mark IV but really think within the next 12 or so months it may be time to upgrade. I can honestly say I’ve never tried the D850 but have been out in the field with others. I thought the focus stack feature was fantastic. Happy shooting James.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much Diego! A mirrorless upgrade is probably the way to go but I'd wait until the next gen offerings come out within the next 12-18 months 👌

[@harrylomax7981]

I was impressed by this review, the way it was delivered and the standard of presentation were excellent. I own a D3 and have had since it was first introduced, I have used it in many situations and it has never let me down all in all a great camera. But I have decided that an upgrade is needed to either a D5 or D6 {when available}, the review has made me add the D850 to my checklist, and, it might be that I get this camera instead.

Great review James, carry on! :)

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thank you

[@johnhumphreys4923]

Good review. Have a D850 and like you impressed having been a Nikon owner from the FE2 through the digital age when the FUJIFILM FINE PIX S2 PRO in a nikon body ruled it as did the FUJIFILM F5 Pro in a nikon body Good to see they have sorted the software.Nothing but praise for the Nikon HQ in Kingston Sorted many lenses out for me due to travel and sand so a minor issue you had

[@jimwlouavl]

Very nice review and I like that you waited to do it. I was set to buy one in 2020 but found a refurbished D810 for enough less that I settled. I now wish I’d held out for the touch screen, joystick, extra focus points, articulating screen, and backlit buttons.

[@nickreid5939]

D810 IMAGE QUALITY IS THE SAME

[@mikldude9376]

Great warts and all review mate , well done .

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thank you!

[@BrancoAviacao]

Excelent review! Thank you!

[@matthewpolansky1762]

Great non biased review. In the market for a new camera, I think you got me off the fence!

[@CarlyWaarly]

Just ordered ours yesterday 2021, with grip after working with D800's that are brilliant workhorses. Mainly still life but recently wildlife and commercial. Terrific review and very useful, the D800's are heavy as are the lenses so no problem there, used to go to the gym and can be used for exercising the biceps! Thanks for sharing. Most work leans towards gallery prints and fine art.

[@quasiguy]

Thanks for taking the time to make this review. I've been using the d750 for several years, largely for video (yes, I know--most videographers use Canon or Sony--but I had so much Nikon glass and I didn't want to start over). Anyway, I purchased a d850 earlier this year and was excited by some of the new features for video--especially focus peaking (despite its limitations). One of the first jobs I was capturing with the d850 was a live dance performance. I was shooting in 1080p mode when, 4 minutes into the show, the camera stopped recording and I got an onscreen message saying "Recording has stopped". I broke out in a cold sweat as I tried to get the camera recording again. It took removing the battery and, rather than take a chance, I grabbed for my d750 to get the rest of the show. Long story short, I spent an hour or more on the phone with Nikon and they seemed both uniformed and, frankly, disinterested in what I went through. I finally got someone on the phone who pulled out a d850 and was able to replicate the "recording has stopped" problem while I was on the phone with them. All they could say was, "Yeah, it shouldn't do that. You'll probably want to send it back." Since then, I've tried to get reassurance from Nikon that this is a known problem and that it's been addressed in some sort of firmware update. No one at Nikon was willing to address the problem with me or reassure me that I could buy another d850 and record video with confidence. As a result, I do not own a d850 and can't imagine buying a new Nikon for my video work.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Sounds like absolutely awful customer service and I can totally sympathise with your decision. Nikon have a bit of a bad rep for their support which is such a shame

[@truetothegame2928]

Sony are the worst... a commercial giant who dont care

[@TFM3234]

love it, love it, love it

[@Gazr_Music]

Expensive camera over here, i wish i would have one of these nice picts just keep us inform all the time i like this channel alot

[@musictomyears870]

I need to sell more of my body parts to be able to afford this camera. One day I'll own one, if there's anything left of me. Great review.

[@warrentaylor8428]

MOL (Meowing Out Loud)!

[@wissell4287]

Just don't sell your arms. You can't use the camera of you don't have arms

[@pianoman6639]

Loving this review and am really impressed .. no sales pap great review

[@MikeAustin2012]

I left a comment some 5 months ago, love your review. You hit great points and cover many things I didn't know. Prices finally cropped a bit so I ordered mine and I LOVE it. Then I realized that the only full frame glass I have is Sigma? 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 I think. Soft junk and worthless. Since I added a, Nikkor AF-S 24-120mm f4 G ED VR and the Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and the Battery Grip, not for the 9-FPS but added battery life. Now, you can complain about how heave it is. I'm gonna get that old guy seat with wheels to cart this around. That or a "Fork lift" I may add a nice 20 or 24mm, f2.8 prime if its faster or sharper than the zoom. I love the low light shooting. My son races so the 4K video is just wonderful to have. As for the cracks, If I start seeing anything like this, you'll know. You will hear me scream from across the pond! Thanks again for one of the best, intelligent and most informative reviews.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for your kind words. You've made a wise purchase 👍

[@Remer714]

2:40 "Why did you take a picture of me!?" - "I didn't want to, the camera's just too good!" Thanks for the video - will probably buy that one too. :) If I remember this video after a year or so (or KZbin randomly recommends me that vid) I'll gladly give you my opinion on the D850 if I go through with the purchase.

[@racheljones1625]

great review...as i am on the fence, this was helpful

[@rockapejv]

A year on from my first exciting encounter with my D850, and it still amazes and delights. In truth, my D800e was almost on par with image quality and DR (pop up flash aside, that is a really tough body too!), but the D850 is hands down the better camera in terms of usability (faster, much better AF, lower base ISO, better ergonomics etc, etc). I use it a lot for wildlife photography, and it tracks fast subjects really well (impressive hit rate). This will be my main camera for a few years to come, by which time Nikon's mirrorless cameras will hopefully be as, or more formidable than the D850.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for sharing your experience of the d850! A superb camera body! I suspect that the era of mirrorless is about to take off and that my next camera purchase (years away) will be a mirrorless model 👍

[@pilsplease7561]

@@JamesBrewphoto i dont like mirrorless

[@bodkinsbestphotography]

Quick question for you. I notice you have a bubble level mounted in your hot shoe. Do you ever use an actual flash? I had a level mounted in my hot shoe for about 8 months before I bought myself a flash and finally started using it. When I finally mounted it I noticed it rattled a fair bit in the mount. I wonder if the level may have bent the mount a little thus making the flash rattle.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Very rarely - I only really do landscape photogaphy so 99% percent of my shooting never needs one

[@williampalminteri1727]

Excellent presentation, very helpful, thank you !

[@robroyig-robroyphotography9225]

Hello James, great video and nice, short, to the point, comments on each aspect of this camera. I own the D850, and I love it. I am an aspiring enthusiast..lol. But I have been shooting for quite a while, and have tried various other bodies out. To me, and in my opinion, I love the Nikon menu. Add to that, the 850, as you stated, took all the "would like to have's" that many photographers wanted, and put them into this body. I really don't have much to add to what you stated, but would really like to emphasize the magnification of your technical ability..lol. 45mp does bring out any flaws you have in any hand holding captures for sure. Even with a lens that has VR on it, the slightest vibration can be seen. And yes, that is a big deal if you print big. But, because of that, I use this bad boy almost strictly on tripod. Overall, I still love it after a year, and don't see a trade in, or upgrade any time soon. The Z7 might be an option after it has been out a while. Thanks again for great video!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts Rob :-)

[@markburton3306]

Nice video. I upgraded to a D810 18 months ago and have been very impressed by it. My last camera (D300) lasted me 9 years, so I doubt I'll ever need to replace the D810 :)

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Mark! The d810 is a fine camera and will last you a very long time indeed 👍

[@nairbyad7188]

just got one; you're correct that any of my mistakes are captured well, too!

[@zsolthary5903]

Really enjoyed this review James. I'm still waiting for Canon to produce their answer to this camera :) Hopefully the 5dmkV (whenever it arrives) will do the trick. Cheers Z

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers! Yeah I suspect the next gen of mirrorless will be the way to go, they will likely be enormously improved over the current offerings 🙂

[@davidalanmedia]

Great review of the D850.

[@2kBofFun]

Best feature: the JPEG and MP4 pretty much always nails it. Especially the white balance, it's astonishing! So there is no need to mess around with RAW or C-LOG in most situations. That that is a HUGE time saver! Also because of the insane resolution, 8-bit JPEG still allows pretty decent shadow recovery. Subsampling to 23 mpixel 16-bit also means that you roughly have the RAW recovery options from the D750 in JPEG!

[@camiloville]

Thanks, great review. You mentioned weight as a negative so have you experienced any issues with your me photo tripod ? Does it match well with the D850 ?

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks! Yeah the carbon fibre version of that tripod is quite light and I've liked it a lot so far. Not the best ever tripod but very solid without spending silly money

[@marka.200]

This is still useful info. Thanks!

[@RalphGoldsmith]

Excellent review James. I don't have the D850 but I decided to buy the D810 shortly after the D850 came out, which meant I got it for a really good price (about half the price of the D850 with some careful looking around) and it's still a really good camera. There are definitely some features on the D850 that I would have liked on my D810, like the crop previews and the tilt screen, but not enough for me to pay the extra. Like you I'm hoping to get a few years out of my D810 and by the time I want to change I suspect that mirrorless will be the only way to go.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks Ralph. The d810 is still an exceptional piece of kit. It's very much a case of diminishing returns with the rate of quality improvements in these bodies now. I suspect that both these cameras will last us a very long time indeed. Mirrorless definitely looks the way the entire market is going though👍

[@seanherbert4583]

Thank u very much James, i wanna buy one for sure...

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Sean!

[@markfletcher3755]

Update on my d850 dim focus box comment. I went to a Camera store to check out another d850 and indeed that one had an equally dim focus box. Called Nikon to see if there would be a firmware update to allow for adjustment and they said they didn't know of one. I love the d850. Even bought the grip and special battery (with special end cap). But if I can't focus on my client's eye in a wedding reception, I'm very limited. So, I sent it back and bought the D5. (The D5 focus box has adjustable brightness on the focus box). (Sidenote: the Mac Lightroom RAW download issue was indeed on my end. My computer ended up crashing due to an unrelated issue. Thanks for the comments and thanks again for your review of the d850. If they fix the dim focus box I'll consider picking one up for landscape photos.

[@savagefrieze4675]

It is a wonderful camera.

[@timfdubois]

Thanks for the video on positives and negatives regarding the Nikon D850. I currently own one and agree that it does lack important features but the build of the camera and ample features do outweigh the few options Nikon could have built into the camera.

[@83jbbentley]

My first full frame and this past Milkway season was my first! I’ve been in love with this camera since I bought it.

[@kemsdd]

Hi, did you tried it on andean high lands? or in places with high elevation ? some cameras stop responding correctly in places with high elevation. Thank you so much !

[@gregsyoutube5772]

James, this is a great review of the camera, both the pros and cons. The crack in the eyepiece, could that have been done when you sent it in for repairs by someone overtightening the screw when it was places back on the camera? The weight of the camera is partially due to the metal that is the body. I look at it as "solidly built". Plastic cameras are surely lighter. One more comment, if the camera weighs a lot on long hauls, you may consider using a shoulder strap to help support the weight. This is a world of give and take and I feel like you do, this is the best camera purchase I have made to date.

[@alg4633]

Nice review! I use a Indigo Marble Padded Neoprene Anti-Slip Sling Camera Strap with the 850. Really works well and allows the camera to ride my thigh/hip and cut down on fatigue.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for the suggestion 👌

[@thepsychicpractitioner5dsh679]

Great review, question about the body hairline fracture, is that covered under the warranty?, really about to spring for this unit so wanting to make sure that this is covered? Thanks

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Yeah that kind of thing is definitely covered under warranty if it happens through no fault of your own

[@jamesss1953]

D850 was my camera and simply loved it to bits. BUT. I eventually jumped to the NIKON Z 7 II ….. new learning for new mirrorless camera - but lighter. The Z7 to me is just like my old D850 but more compact, still has truly amazing performance …. Good review by the way

[@Samantha-ql3qi]

Thank you for your excellent review

[@oddbjrnaustevikfoto]

Never owned a Nikon, heard good things though. However, it's nice to get to "know" a bit more about of the tools of your choice :) Good review, easy to follow and straight to the point!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much! Yeah understanding other "tools" can sometimes help appreciate your own that little bit more I find. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@Enonymouse_]

I had the original 800E from this series, i'm wanting to trade up soon-ish. This has some strong selling points for the kind of shooting I like to do.

[@johnhilliard4498]

I really enjoyed you review of the D850. I was thinking of upgrading to the D850 until watching your review. I love my photography but I also equally enjoy my videography but I cannot afford to buy two separate camera, so it looks like I will have to keep with my D7200 for now. And look at another brand that will give me both.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Nikon really lag behind in the video I find. Who knows, maybe they'll finally get it right on new models 👍

[@terryduff2270]

Great review mate well done I have a D810 and looking for a second body so yep I think Im sold, from Melbourne Aust.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Terry! Good luck with your purchase, you won't regret it

[@JohnSmith-qc6bq]

As you mention astro photography a few times, I hope you can answer a few questions. Currently I mostly do astro work, and currently use the d810, which has a relatively poor (if not the worst) low light capabilities . The noise visible at iso levels from 3200 and up, (even before that) is quite disappointing. And at iso 6400 which I often shoot at is quite dramatic. What difference do you find with the 850 regarding high iso shooting? Would be very helpful if you could compare it with the 810. I have recently been thinking of switching to the Sony A7R III for the low light shooting abilities and the fact that it will shoot 10 fps which the 850 should have been made capable of doing without having buy an overpriced battery grip. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thank you

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks John. We'll it's difficult for me to compare to the d810 because that's a camera I have never owned or used. What I can say is that I don't have a problem with noise levels on the d850. I feel it performs well and in line with other competitor models. It's probably not technically the absolute best available but it's certainly not bad at all. As I only shoot landscape the fps was never an issue for me. Although I can see that being a showstopper for event, sports or wildlife photographers. Hope that helps 👍

[@Luigi13]

Hello James, good review by the way. I currently use the Nikon D-810 and enjoy the camera very much. I used to own the 5D2 for years and I learned a lot with that camera. I switched to Nikon for the resolution, dynamic range, and the price really? From your review and what I thought about the D-850 I agree with you on the XQD cards. I have quite a few CF cards for my D810 that I prefer using those. Also a fully articulated screen is what I really prefer and I wish Nikon would introduce another version of the D-850 but I doubt it it would happen. All the other points you mentioned about the usability of the cameras are excellent indeed. Having two bodies is always helpful when traveling and I might purchase it in the future. Cheers.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much Gino. Glad you found the review useful. A second body is firmly on my wish list too 🙂

[@joecerda630]

I have this along with my D500...best combination in my opinion...agree with your review...love them and haven't looked back...😁

[@seanchristopher1827]

Excellent review Mark. Like many others I've been contemplating my next upgrade which I've been ready to do for months. I'm sure I'll grab an 850. Now if we could just get nikon to make a pro grade 16-35 or equiv for us landscape photogs!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers Sean! Good luck with your purchases 👍

[@phillloyd47]

You should have a look at the tamron 15-30 f2.8, great lens

[@sherryinxs]

I own a D850 and have to say this is the best camera out there. Exceptional IQ and beast of a body!

[@giulianopeloso8056]

Bellissimo video, la più performante macchina che Nikon abbia mai fatto

[@rajpassy4154]

Super review James. Agree with everything you've said. Moved up from a D750. On top of the downsides you mentioned, my minor gripes are, Snapbridge mostly sucks. Kills battery if left on, so I keep mine on Airplane mode. And the other tiny thing, the AF points aren't illuminated brightly enough through the viewfinder!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thank you! Excellent additional points, Snapbridge is just the Worst!!

[@alleyeson2594]

How did you like D750?

[@rajpassy4154]

@@alleyeson2594 I actually love it. It does almost everything beautifully. But, whilst my multiple gripes with the D850 are minor, the 1 gripe with the D750 is major. The buffer! I shoot weddings and although I don't need a super fast camera, I do sometimes need to shoot multiple frames (first kiss, walk down the aisle, first dance etc) and the buffer would fill up too fast. I used the best SD cards possible (although I was writing to two cards) but it would still not be able to keep up. No such issues with the d850 though! The d750 is still my back up camera and after 220k shutter actuations it's still going strong :) What about you?

[@archereegmb8032]

So...... I sold my children, gave my soul to the Devil, and ordered it. Can you stop making me buy stuff now?

[@JamesBrewphoto]

🤣

[@archereegmb8032]

Mine arrived yesterday, and already I love it. But man it's LOUD. I think it could scare off prowling lions. So I think I'll have to use e shutter or quiet mode for wildlife. Or keep my D500.

[@bernhardtsen74]

I use the D750 after using the D800 for 5 yrs time!its mediocre at best compared to the D800 line!I bought it last year after the D810 was discontinued and no D810 in stock!pretty sure I am getting the D850 next year or the D760 if its arrive this fall!

[@nevvanclarke9225]

Archeree GMB how is the camera

[@CarnivalVillage]

Lmao...

[@greglevick9662]

Great review, I’ve just bought a as new D850 as an upgrade from a D800 so it’s good to hear you are happy On the cracking around the viewfinder screws, that looks like they have been over tightened maybe?

[@robertpatashny7473]

It's an exceptional full frame camera!!! I've used it since March and couldn't believe the dynamic range and detail of my images. Like you mentioned, "it's unforgiving." If you don't nail the focus, your photos will be trashed. So now I use a tripod midday, unless there's lots of sun light. Great review!

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks very much Robert! There's certainly no hiding when using the d850!

[@adrianlapas5501]

I've had mine for a little over a year. I am not a professional (not even a good amateur) but I really like this camera. I expect that mine will last for ten years or more so I "went big" as well. I think the auto focus is great and I use the spot focus and it works great. I have used the higher ISO and have been impressed with the quality of the images at the higher ISO. The down side is, as James states, it is heavy. I typically keep my 28-70mm lens and that is adds to the weight (with my 50mm, feels really light). I don't use the video features. Overall, I've been tickled with it.

[@R-SAHI]

I own this beauty, amazing camera

[@BuckChristensen75]

Thanks for your review. I've had my D850 for about 6 months, and my primary lens is also the Tamron 24-70 G2. It's one of my only lenses (in addition to a Tamron 70-300) that does not work well with the camera's live view autofocus. All my other lenses work flawlessly.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for watching Buck. Interesting, I've not encountered any issues myself.

[@BuckChristensen75]

@@JamesBrewphoto At about 10:26 of your video, you mentioned that the live view autofocus "absolutely sucks," which is why I brought it up. Maybe you just meant that it hunts too long or that it fails altogether? With the 2 lenses I mentioned, it reports that my given focus point is a focus lock (indicated by a green square), but the point is in fact usually blurry (out of focus). My workaround is to either tweak the focus manually or to focus through the viewfinder instead.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

@@BuckChristensen75 I find that the auto focus is just poor full stop regardless of which lens I'm using. Its something which Nikon really need to get better at 👍

[@CJamesPhoto]

Nice review man, really well explained 😁 also about video, funny enough I use it for a lot of my B-roll clips... but I think I’m going to be getting the Z7, I need video just as much as I need photo.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Cheers mate! Yeah the z7 looks really nice. Will be very interested to see how you get on with that. Mirrorless is unquestionably the future 👌

[@CJamesPhoto]

James Brew Yeah hopefully it works out the way I want :) and yeah I think dslr’s are not going to be updated soon. We will see

[@Artur_Kozlov]

Hi! In which codec will video be recorded to the Nikon D850 camera when using an Atomos Ninja 5 external recorder? Apple ProRes, DNxHD or H264?

[@stefanomaceocarloni9822]

I’ve liked very much your review. ❤

[@Watchmann94]

Really great review! I`ve bought my Nikon D750 about a year ago and I do really like it but is there such a "big" difference between the 750 and the 850 which would be really worth to upgrade? I mainly do astrophotgrahy and a bit of landscapephotography. I mean the backlit controls are really handy for doing Astro ^^

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks! The d750 is an awesome camera. I'm not sure there his a huge need to upgrade from that but it all depends on personal circumstances. The back-lit controls are certainly pretty amazing 👍

[@ingaavanesova3607]

Nikon d750 iso is batter than d850

[@mcheaiteli]

Thank you for the amazing review, I got the D850 a few months ago and I am based in West Africa, weather conditions are rough most of the year for electronics, the camera has been doing very well with heat, rain and humidity. At first I was again any screens that move because of the possibility of it breaking but its been the total opposite. One thing that I needed to manage also was the size of the raw files which obviously I cant complain but it needs a super computer to be able to handle that and it takes a long time even with a good one.

[@JamesBrewphoto]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Agree that the raw files are ludicrously large 👍

[@dynamicphotography_]

GREAT review! So much valuable info. Much appreciated. Cheers!