Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R III

Leave Feedback

35mm 858.0mm²
45.7 megapixels
ISO 64 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D850 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D850 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D850.
Compare Nikon D850 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D850 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R III.
Compare Sony A7R III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R III conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7R IV
Compare A7R III vs A7R IV
Compare Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R IV

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D850 advantages over Sony A7R III

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1840 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
590k vs 360k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.08 vs 0.25 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 82 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 30 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Sony A7R III advantages over Nikon D850

Less expensive
$1805 vs $2197*
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7R III test data on DxO Mark D850 test data on DxO Mark

3,523 vs 2,660 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer video battery life
100 vs 70 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Lighter weight
657g vs 915g
Lighter weight
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.2 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D850 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R III User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D850

Body Only

Body Only
Filmmaker's Kit

All D850 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A7R III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 lens

All A7R III Deals

Review Excerpt

Class-leading resolution; Excellent dynamic range; Very good high ISO performance; Very fast AF and burst shooting; Durable weather-sealed body; Improved ergonomics; Touchscreen; Dual card slots; 4K video.
Live view/video mode still uses sluggish contrast-detect AF; Viewfinder only tests at ~98% coverage; No 4K at 60p; 30-minute video clip limit; Focus peaking not supported with 4K.
Read our Nikon D850 Review

Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.
Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.
Read our Sony A7R III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5DS R

Nikon D850

Canon 5DS R

$2464
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$1849
35mm

Less expensive

Compare Nikon D850 vs Canon 5DS R

Sony A7R III

Canon 5DS R

$2151
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1849
35mm

Less expensive
Lens selection

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon 5DS R

Compared to Sony A7R II

Nikon D850

Sony A7R II

$2464
35mm

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D850 vs Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II

$2151
35mm

Touchscreen
High resolution composite

$2348
35mm

In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Sony A99 II

Nikon D850

Sony A99 II

$2464
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D850 vs Sony A99 II

Sony A7R III

Sony A99 II

$2151
35mm

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A99 II

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

$2464
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

Compare Nikon D850 vs Pentax K-1 II

Sony A7R III

Pentax K-1 II

$2151
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Built-in GPS

Compare Sony A7R III vs Pentax K-1 II

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Nikon D850

Nikon Z7 II

$2464
35mm

Less expensive

$2330
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer video battery life

Compare Nikon D850 vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A7R III

Nikon Z7 II

$2151
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$2330
35mm

Top deck display
Newer

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon Z7 II

Compare Other Cameras?