The Nikon Z9 is named as the most advanced camera the brand has ever produced. It is specially designed for the most professional people looking to get the highest quality images, with an amazing speed and with an incredible level of detail, both in photographs and in the recording of movie videos, for any kind of field, whether it is nature, sports, action…
The Nikon D850 is a very complete reflex camera to which the best experts could make the most of, combining resolution, speed and idyllic light sensitivity and obtaining excellent results. She is also able to work in different scenarios (weddings, sports, nature, events, fashion), very versatile.
In the following, we will specify the characteristics of both cameras.
Specifications of the Nikon z9 VS Nikon D850
As always we are going to compare the Nikon Z9
against its fiercest competitor, in this case the camera that can stand up to it would be the Nikon D850, and now we will see how they differ.
NIKON Z9 | NIKON D850 | |
SENSOR | 35.9 mm x 23.9 mm FX CMOS with 45.7MP | 35.9 x 23.9 mm FX CMOS with 45.7 mpx resolution |
PROCESSOR | Expeed 7 | Expeed 5 |
FOCUS (AF) | Hybrid phase detection/Contrast detection AF with AF assistance 493 points | 153 points |
VIEWER | OLED electronic display of approximately 3690 k dots | Single lens reflex viewfinder with pentaprism at eye level |
DISPLAY | 3.2-inch LCD display with touch capability | TFT LCD (8 cm), approx. 2,359,000 px (XGA), tiltable 170º and touch-sensitive |
ISO | ISO 64 to 25600 (upgradeable to ISO 204800) | 64 a 25600 |
SHOTS PER SECOND | 30 FPS, Up to 120 FPS | 9 FPS (with AF/AE tracking) |
MAXIMUM RAPIDITY | 30 FPS, Up to 120 FPS | 9 FPS |
DYNAMIC RANGE | 8K H.265 full-frame and 4K ProRes HQ with N-Log at a base of ISO800. | Matrix metering or Center-weighted metering: -3 to +20 EV. Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV. Highlight weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV |
VIDEO RESOLUTION | 8K UHD at 30p / 4K UHD at 120p | 4K at 30 fps |
CONNECTIVITY | USB type C, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS | Wifi and Bluetooth |
BATTERY | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery EN-EL18d | Lithium ion EN-EL15b. Approx. 1840 shots
|
MONTURA | Nikon Z Mount | Nikon F-mount |
WEIGHT | Approx. 1160 g | 1005 g |
Sensor
The Nikon Z9 also applies a new full-frame CMOS sensor, increasing the Sony’s resolution with 45.7 megapixels of resolution, yet all of this works together with an “ultra-fast” Expeed 7 processor, delivering impressive quality. All this allows us to capture images at an impressive speed of 30 FPS (JPEG) and 20 FPS (RAW) being able to capture more than 1000 images in a single burst, in addition, it offers the possibility of extending the speed to 120 FPS (JPEG). On the other hand, the sensor in the camera of the Nikon D850 is a full-format, back-illuminated CMOS camera that takes 45.4 MP photos in fine detail. The seamless micro-lens architecture built into chips maximizes the light reaching the sensor and provides the camera with an extremely wide and dynamic ISO range. You will have the ability to shoot in any lighting situation or increase exposure and achieve even the finest detail.
Approach
The Nikon Z9 includes a novel focusing, an amazing AF system, artificial intelligence “Deep Learning” and advanced 3D tracking.
The superb advanced automatic AF system, with 493 points (405 auto points), enables continuous AF calculations at astounding speeds, as well as subject recognition using advanced AI algorithms and subject tracking throughout the frame. On the other hand, it improves on the previous named camera thanks to the artificial intelligence “Deep Learning”, this one stands out with a difference as no other AF system can recognize so many subjects in a scene at the same time, as it recognizes up to nine different types of subjects (whether people, animals, vehicles, birds). The D850 features the renowned 153-point autofocus system that will take care of precision. You can also use, like the Z9, 3D tracking to control even the smallest or fastest subjects with total precision and any level of illumination.
Battery
The camera Nikon D850 shoots at 7 fps. But, if you prefer, you can shoot at 9 fps if you use the MB-D18 multi-battery pack with the EN-EL18B battery (used in the D5) in it. You’ll get full-resolution images, even when shooting in RAW, and the D5’s battery offers up to 1840 shots on one charge (in frame-by-frame shooting mode, according to CIPA standards). However, ta Nikon Z9 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion EN-EL18d battery. A professional battery that allows more than 700 shots on a single charge, and thanks to its 10.8V, you will be able to move the autofocus of the largest telephoto lenses without problems.
Video
The Z9 also stands out here, the camera’s incredible power allows it to record mind-blowing 8K video at 30p in full aspect ratio. As well as UHD 4K up to 120p, offering stunning quality as well as absolute clarity. In addition, to a perfect exposure highlighting any type of skin tones. There is also the option to extract high-resolution still images of the videos from the 8K footage and save them as individual JPEG files. Finally, it is accompanied by spectacular sound, allowing you to record with superb dynamic audio with 24-bit sound.
With the Nikon D850 video recording gets worse, you can shoot time-lapse videos in 4K on the camera, which are fine and have great resolution, but they are no longer 8K like the previous one. Importantly, the sensor’s 45.7 effective megapixels will allow you to create stunning 8K time-lapse videos in post-production after an in-camera time-lapse shooting session.
Opinion
Both cameras feature a sensor combined with a processor thanks to which we find higher resolution and better color reproduction, allowing images to better represent and highlight every single detail, such as skin textures or animal details.
The Nikon D850, although it has lagged a little behind the Nikon Z9 While it’s true that this one came out a bit later, its image and video resolution, speed and multitude of optimized features make it a more powerful camera for more professional photographers. Although, the Nikon Z9 is an impressive and magnificent camera for any space, it is dedicated to any kind of professional audience, in any kind of field, whether for nature, action, sports, reportage, even for fashion professionals, looking to have an ideal camera for all territories, as well as unsurpassed quality, as the new Nikon Z9 copes with the toughest professional demands, characterized by being a tough camera, resistant in any circumstances, comfortable and fast.
