Nikon D850 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D850? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D850 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D850 below.

In any case, the D850 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was announced on July 25th, 2017, which means that, as of today, the camera is 2327 days old (young?). Given that the D850 is a relatively recent model, it forms part of the current Nikon product line-up.
Nikon's user manual for the D850
The camera's user manual is 400 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D850 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D850 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D850 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Nikon D850
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D850 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Nikon D850 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
amazon.com
Nikon D850 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D850.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Nikon D850?
The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D850 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D850 with the EXPEED 5 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D850?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 64 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 32-102400.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D850?
Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the D850. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D850 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D850?
Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D850 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D850?
No, the Nikon D850 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D850 for flash photography?
The D850's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Nikon D850 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s).
Which battery does the Nikon D850 use?
The camera gets its power from the EN-EL15a (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D850?
Yes, Nikon offers the MB-D18 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the Nikon D850?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Nikon.
Further reading
How does the D850 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 10D vs Nikon D850
- Canon 1D Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Canon G5 X Mark II vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-T100 vs Nikon D850
- Leica V-LUX 3 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D100 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D850 vs Olympus E-M5 III
- Nikon D850 vs Panasonic GX850
- Pentax K-1 II vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A3000 vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A9 II vs Sony ZV-E1
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D850.
Camera Model | Nikon D850 | |
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Nikon F mount lenses | |
Launch Date | July 2017 | |
Launch Price | USD 3 299 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
---|---|---|
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.9 x 23.9 mm | |
Sensor Area | 858 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43.1 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 45.4 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 8 256 x 5 504 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.35 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.30 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 64 - 25 600 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 32 - 102 400 ISO | |
Image Processor | EXPEED 5 | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 100 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 26.4 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.8 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2660 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.75x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 2359k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 9 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC or XQD cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | EN-EL15a power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 1840 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.9 x 3.1 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 1 005 g (35.5 oz) |
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