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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D850

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SNikonD850
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009September 2017
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSBackside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP45.7 MP
Largest image4288 × 28488256 × 5504
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–320064–25600
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reduction46.89 million total pixels; no optical low-pass filter; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off reference data. UK effective resolution rounded to 45.7 MP; Japan specifies 45.75 million, distinct from the 45.44-million-pixel largest file.
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG12/14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; medium/small RAW fixed at 12-bit lossless; JPEG, RGB TIFF and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISOExpandable to equivalent ISO 32–102400; Auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 5
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst7 fps9 fps
Lens detailBody AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedCompatible F-mount lenses include G/E/D, other supported AF, P and AI non-CPU lenses with restrictions; DX lenses use a cropped image area. Non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported.
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningViewfinder Multi-CAM 20K phase detection with 153 points, 99 cross-type and 55 user-selectable; 15 support f/8. Live view uses contrast detection with face, wide, normal, pinpoint and tracking modes. Review references to a Multi-CAM 3500 module are incorrect.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cycles1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; mechanical focal-plane and electronic front-curtain options; flash sync 1/250 second with compatible Auto FP support; electronic silent live-view modes
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited to approximately 2.5 fpsMain 9 fps requires optional MB-D18 grip, EN-EL18b battery and BL-5 cover; body with EN-EL15-series battery reaches 7 fps. Full-resolution silent Mode 1 reaches 6 fps. Brief silent Mode 2 reaches 30 fps for at most three seconds with fixed focus/exposure and 3600 × 2400 DX JPEG Normal files; this restricted mode is not the headline continuous rate.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens. Electronic movie vibration reduction available with mode restrictions.
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe, ISO 519 sync terminal and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerP/S/A/M; ±5 EV compensation; 180K-pixel RGB metering sensor, unlike Photography Blog's erroneous 91K-pixel narrative
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps
Video detail1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod modeFull-width FX or DX UHD 3840 × 2160 at 29.97/25/23.976p; Full HD up to 59.94p and cropped silent slow-motion capture at 100/119.88 fps played at 25/29.97/23.976p. H.264 MOV/MP4; recording limit 29 minutes 59 seconds. In-camera 4K time-lapse; 8K time-lapse requires still-frame assembly in external software.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivityBuilt-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone monitoring; PCM or AAC depending on file format; slow motion has no audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0002,359,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsTilting TFT, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; maker US announcement specifies 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentaprism, approximately 100% FX coverage, 0.75× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 17 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment
Connections and design
Wi-FiNoYes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs1840 photographs
Body weight840 g915 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthAnnounced on 24 August 2017 after a July development announcement; Nikon US states September availability and Nikon Japan specified 8 September. Main retains September because the exact first UK retail day is unconfirmed.
Recording mediaDual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupportedCurrent maker specification supports CFexpress Type B/XQD plus UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation and card copying. Launch specification had XQD plus SD.
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, 10-pin remote terminal and flash-sync socket; Ethernet requires the optional WT-7 transmitter
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-FiWi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 4.1; SnapBridge
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 950 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cellsEN-EL15a/15b; maker CIPA claim approximately 1840 shots using the camera's own EN-EL15-series battery, not requiring the D5 battery as UK marketing prose could suggest. EN-EL15c may be supplied. Optional MB-D18 supports EN-EL18b, EN-EL15-series or eight AA cells.
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapterExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power connector
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 146 × 124 × 78.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 915 g body only or 1005 g including battery and XQD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key pointsWeather-sealed construction; maker operating range 0–40°C
In the box–EN-EL15-series battery, MH-25a charger, HDMI/USB cable clip, UC-E22 USB cable, AN-DC18 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-17F eyepiece; battery revision may vary

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