DXOMark has just released their review of the Nikon D850 and it has officially knocked the Sony a7R II into second place to claim the mantle as the best camera they have ever tested with an incredible score of 100.
This is huge news for Nikon who already held second position after the aR7 II with the D810 (now positions 1 and 3) on the list. Nikon now holds 6 of the top 10 spots on the DXOMark leaderboard.
“The introduction of the first BSI sensor in a full-frame Nikon DSLR with a super-high 45.7Mp resolution puts the Nikon D850’s image quality on par with, and often better than, medium-format cameras. The first DSLR to hit 100 points — rather apt for Nikon’s hundredth anniversary year — puts the Nikon D850 in a class of its own for image quality. At base ISO, it’s unrivaled for color in the DSLR class, and its headline dynamic range score is outstanding, too.,” says DxOMark.
All those megapixels will be welcome for photographers who like to print large prints and the dynamic range will certainly be welcomed by photographers who can take advantage of it (landscape etc).
Alternative to Medium Format?
Did you spot that claim?
“…image quality on par with, and often better than, medium-format cameras.”
That is a huge bit of news for DSRL shooters who have always been a little jealous of their bigger cousins in the medium format world and a huge compliment to the sensor of the D850. Medium format sensors have traditionally held the edge in sensor quality due to the physical size of the sensor being able to deliver more megapixels and photosites.
D850 Specs
45.7Mp BSI CMOS full-frame FX sensor
No optical low-pass filter
Expeed 5 image processor
Native ISO 64-25,600 (expandable to ISO 32,000-102,400)
153-point multi-cam 20K autofocus
7fps burst shoot (9fps with battery grip)
4K@30fps & 1080p@120fps video
Example Images
1 Comment
Oh my goodness is all I can say. This sensor and the color profiles. It appears to blend Nikon and Panasonic together. There seems to be a Kodak Portra look but slightly digital to the images I’ve been seeing.
The newer Nikon glass seems to render this way also. I have the new Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 e. I love it in many ways in how it renders colors. I also have the afs-d 80-200 f/2.8. So different the two are but both beautiful in rendering. They both represent the look of their era. This is a big statement for Nikon.
But I believe many reviewers who have been saying it wasn’t revolutionary enough. They are just not getting it. This sensor is revolutionary. Not in the standard sense but as a new look Nikon has been moving towards and a new Quality and direction they are heading. I’m actually falling in love with Nikon all over again.