Reasons to choose D850
Released in 2017, D850 has about 858 mm² of sensor area, 45.7 MP effective resolution, and a 915 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D850
vs Nikon Z6
VS
Sensor area
858 mm²
D850858 mm²
Z6- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The D850 and Z6 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 1 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D850MetricZ6
45.7 MPEffective pixels24.5 MP
35.9 × 23.9Sensor35.9 × 23.9
4.33 µmPixel pitch5.92 µm
18.77 µm²Pixel area35.02 µm²
5.33 MP/cm²Pixel density2.86 MP/cm²
1Crop factor1
3,840 × 2,160Maximum video3,840 × 2,160
915 gWeight585 g
SD/SDHC/SDXC/XQDStorageXQD
EN-EL15a lithium-ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryEN-EL15b rechargeable Li-ion battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D850 and Z6 have the same sensor area. The Z6 has the lighter body. The D850 has the higher effective resolution. The Z6 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Z6
Released in 2018, Z6 has about 858 mm² of sensor area, 24.5 MP effective resolution, and a 585 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.