Nikon D850
THE NIKON D850 scooped two of the most prestigious trophies at this year’s AP Awards, picking up the Best Professional DSLR award and the highly acclaimed Product Of The Year award. After a quiet couple of years that had photographers questioning the direction of Nikon’s future, in 2017 we saw the manufacturer throw everything into making the finest full-frame camera it has ever made.
The D850’s high-resolution 45.7MP full-frame (FX-format) CMOS sensor features superb light- gathering capabilities, handling noise well and recording an astonishingly high level of detail.
Autofocus is as good as that on Nikon’s flagship DSLR, the D5 – it’s astoundingly good at tracking fast and erratically moving subjects, even in fading light. The option to shoot in complete silence in live view is advantageous for those who need to shoot discreetly, and every key function has its own button or dial, making it incredibly intuitive to shoot with when working under pressure. Handling, battery stamina and continuous shooting speeds are all enhanced by adding the MB- D18 grip (£369) and EN- EL18 high-power battery.
Whether professional, semi-professional or a serious enthusiast, users of the D850 will be overwhelmed by its all-round performance and versatility.
Since the D850’s launch, Sony has produced its own sensational highresolution all- rounder in the A7R III. But there can only be one winner, and with the D850 beating its other professional DSLR nominees hands down, it came down to the D850’s superior handling, longer battery life, wide compatibility with the Nikon lenses range and intuitive user experience – which gave it the lead over its mirrorless rival by the thinnest of margins. The D850 will go down in history and be remembered as the DSLR that offered everything a photographer could wish for.