Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc
54 Imaging
77 Features
87 Overall
81


79 Imaging
69 Features
80 Overall
73
Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 46MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Tilting Display
- ISO 64 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 1015g - 146 x 124 x 79mm
- Introduced August 2017
- Replaced the Nikon D810
(Full Review)
- 21MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Nikon Z Mount
- 445g - 135 x 94 x 44mm
- Released June 2021

Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Overview
Below is a in-depth review of the Nikon D850 and Nikon Z fc, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Nikon. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the D850 (46MP) and Z fc (21MP) and the D850 (Full frame) and Z fc (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

The D850 was launched 4 years before the Z fc and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon Z fc being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the D850 grades vs the Z fc with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon D850 & Nikon Z fc. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon D850 Gallery & Nikon Z fc Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D850 over the Nikon Z fc
D850 | Z fc | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen size | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Screen resolution | 2359k | ![]() | 1040k | Crisper screen (+1319k dot) |
Reasons to pick Nikon Z fc over the Nikon D850
Z fc | D850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | June 2021 | ![]() | August 2017 | More recent by 46 months |
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Nikon D850 and Nikon Z fc
D850 | Z fc | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D850 enjoys external measurements of 146mm x 124mm x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1") with a weight of 1015 grams (2.24 lbs) while the Nikon Z fc has measurements of 135mm x 94mm x 44mm (5.3" x 3.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 445 grams (0.98 lbs).
Check out the Nikon D850 and Nikon Z fc in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the D850 versus the Z fc.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the D850 and Z fc is 54 and 79 respectively.

Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Sensor Comparison
Often, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The photograph here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D850 and Z fc.
As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The D850 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon D850 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 25MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older D850 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z fc Specifications
Nikon D850 | Nikon Z fc | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Nikon | Nikon |
Model type | Nikon D850 | Nikon Z fc |
Type | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2017-08-24 | 2021-06-28 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Expeed 5 | - |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Full frame | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 858.0mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 46 megapixels | 21 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 8256 x 5504 | 5568 x 3712 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 51200 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 102400 | 204800 |
Min native ISO | 64 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Min enhanced ISO | 32 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 153 | 209 |
Cross type focus points | 99 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Nikon F | Nikon Z |
Amount of lenses | 309 | 21 |
Focal length multiplier | 1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3.2 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 2,359k dot | 1,040k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,360k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.75x | 0.68x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 7.0 frames per second | 11.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Front-curtain sync (normal), Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync | Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250s | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
Maximum video resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
Video file format | MPEG-4 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 1015g (2.24 pounds) | 445g (0.98 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 146 x 124 x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1") | 135 x 94 x 44mm (5.3" x 3.7" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 100 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 26.4 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 14.8 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 2660 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 1840 shots | 300 shots |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | EN-EL15a | EN-EL25 |
Self timer | Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs) | Yes |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) + XQD | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) |
Storage slots | 2 | One |
Cost at release | $2,997 | $949 |