Nikon D850 vs Nikon D90

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D850 compared with D90

	NikonD850	NikonD90
Overview
Released
Released	September 2017	September 2008
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	Full frame	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	Backside-illuminated CMOS	CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	35.9 × 23.9 mm	23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	45.7 MP	12.3 MP
Largest image
Largest image	8256 × 5504	4288 × 2848
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	64–25600	200–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	46.89 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.	12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats
Image formats	12/14-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	NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW
ISO detail
ISO detail	Expandable to equivalent ISO 32–102400; Auto ISO available	Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED 5	EXPEED
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	9 fps	4.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Compatible 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.	DX angle of view approximately 1.5× FX focal length; AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses permit manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Autofocus	Viewfinder 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.	Multi-CAM 1000 phase detection, 11 points including one cross-type; single, dynamic, auto-area and 3D tracking. Live view uses contrast detection with face-priority, wide and normal areas
Shutter
Shutter	1/8000 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	1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releases
Burst detail
Burst detail	Main 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.	High-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens. Electronic movie vibration reduction available with mode restrictions.	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Flash	No built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe, ISO 519 sync terminal and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights	Pop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 17 at ISO 200 in metres; commander for two remote groups; ISO 518 hot shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M; ±5 EV compensation; 180K-pixel RGB metering sensor, unlike Photography Blog's erroneous 91K-pixel narrative	P/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensation
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps	1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detail
Video detail	Full-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.	Motion-JPEG AVI at 24 fps; 720p limited to approximately five minutes, 640 × 424 and 320 × 216 to approximately 20 minutes; autofocus unavailable during recording
Audio
Audio	Built-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone monitoring; PCM or AAC depending on file format; slow motion has no audio	Monaural movie sound
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3.2″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	2,359,000	920,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	Yes	–
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	Yes	No
Display detail
Display detail	Tilting TFT, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; maker US announcement specifies 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels	Fixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism, approximately 100% FX coverage, 0.75× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 17 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment	Pentaprism, approximately 96% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Yes	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Yes	–
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	1840 photographs	850 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	915 g	620 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Announced 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.	Nikon's original US announcement specifies September 2008 availability; Nikon Japan records 19 September there. Main retains the month without assigning the Japanese day to every region
Recording media
Recording media	Current 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.	SD and SDHC cards
Ports
Ports	USB 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	Hi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 4.1; SnapBridge	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-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.	EN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 grip
Charging
Charging	External MH-25a charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power connector	External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 146 × 124 × 78.5 mm	Approximately 132 × 103 × 77 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 915 g body only or 1005 g including battery and XQD card, excluding body cap	Approximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover
Materials
Materials	Weather-sealed construction; maker operating range 0–40°C	–
In the box
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	EN-EL3e battery, MH-18a charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-21 eyecup, UC-E4 USB cable, EG-D2 AV cable, AN-DC1 strap, BM-10 monitor cover, body and shoe caps; regional contents may differ