Nikon D850 officially announced, US price: $3,296.95

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The Nikon D850 camera is finally officially announced. The big surprise of course, is the US price: $3,296.95 (Europe: €3,799, Canada: $4,399, UK: £3,499.99).

Nikon D850 pre-order links (now live):

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Like the new Nikon D850 Facebook page and join the growing Nikon D850 Facebook group for a more detailed coverage of the upcoming announcement.

Here is the full press release and list of primary features:

Full-Frame, Extreme Speed & Epic Resolution: The New Nikon D850 DSLR Defines Professional Versatility

New Nikon DSLR Offers Incredible Combination of Performance, Image Quality and Thoughtful Features

MELVILLE, NY – Today, Nikon announced the new Nikon D850, a powerful full-frame DSLR camera that provides professional photographers and multimedia creators with an impressive combination of resolution and high-speed performance. The 45.7-megapixel D850 is Nikon’s first DSLR with an FX-format, back-side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor for image quality that is nothing short of majestic, allowing professionals to create stunning, high resolution still images and full-frame 4K UHD video. Despite its monumental resolution, the D850 is capable of an astoundingly fast capture rate of up to 7 frames-per-second (fps) or 9-fps with the optional battery grip and EN-EL18a/b battery, while offering a range of new user-friendly features requested by Nikon shooters around the world.The Nikon D850 is a serious tool that expertly enables every kind of photographer. Whether capturing for client work or personal projects, the camera delivers intense clarity and accurate skin tones for portraits, with the added benefit of low-light ability for weddings and events. It is versatile enough to be used for landscapes and fine art where broad dynamic range is critical, for sports that require a high frame rate and decisive AF, or for video creators who want 4K UHD flexibility. Whether in the studio or on-location, from the catwalk or the scenic overlook, to a wedding ceremony or night sky, the Nikon D850 is the tool that can capture it all, with astounding resolution and speed.

“The Nikon D850 is much more than a camera, rather it’s a statement that Nikon is continuing to listen to customer needs, to innovate for the next 100 years, and bring to market a full-frame DSLR that exceeds the expectations of the professionals that rely on this caliber of camera to make a living,” said Kosuke Kawaura, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc.

“I have had the pleasure of putting this camera through its paces, and there is nothing like it. The Nikon D850 introduces a whole new generation of photographers to medium format quality; the resolution is out of this world, and the tonality and range are at a level I never thought possible from a DSLR,” said Nikon Ambassador and award-winning wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis.

The Ultimate Combination of Resolution and Speed

The Nikon D850 is the new benchmark in DSLR image quality, with an unprecedented combination of resolution, dynamic range, ISO and processing power. The 45.7-megapixel CMOS sensor approaches medium format-level resolution and forgoes an optical low pass filter (OLPF) to harness the maximum sharpness of NIKKOR lenses, with fantastic fidelity, tonality and clarity. This is also Nikon’s first DSLR to incorporate a BSI CMOS sensor, which captures light more efficiently, resulting in a wider dynamic range and low-noise image capture. Beyond the immense resolution, the Nikon D850 offers photographers superior performance:

High-Speed Capture: The D850 is capable of shooting up to 7 fps at full resolution, with full AF/AE or 9 fps at full resolution with the addition of an optional battery grip (MB-D18) and EN-EL18a/b battery (Buffer approximately 51 frames of 14-bit lossless RAW capture / 170 frames of 12-bit lossless).
Wide ISO Range: The D850 offers a wide ISO range from 64-25,600 (Expandable down to ISO 32, up to 102,400).
Flagship Focus System: The D850 uses the Nikon D5’s 153-point, Multi-Cam 20K AF system, which features 99 cross type sensors, 15 of which are sensitive to f/8.
EXPEED 5: Behind every great sensor is a great image-processing engine. EXPEED 5 is Nikon’s most powerful engine yet, allowing for fast data readout and swift image processing, improved low light performance, high speed shooting, full-frame 4K UHD video capture and greater power efficiency for longer battery life.

Innovation Built for the Needs of Professional Creators

In addition to its phenomenal performance, the Nikon D850 hosts a range of innovative and thoughtful new features that enhance workflow, and will leave every photographer or content creator wondering how they ever lived without them:

Tilting LCD Touchscreen: The 3.2-in., high resolution (2359k-dot) LCD monitor offers Nikon’s most extensive touch functionality ever.
Silent Shooter: The D850 offers the ability to operate with an electronic shutter in Live View. When in this mode, users can shoot in complete silence, which is ideal for weddings, ceremonies and events where the shutter sound is discouraged. The electronic shutter operates at up to 6 fps (AF/AE locked) at full resolution, while an additional mode enables 8.6-megapixel capture in DX image area mode at up to 30 fps.
Radio Flash Control: Like the D5 and D500, the D850 also supports Radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting with the optional SB-5000 Speedlight and WR-A10 and WR-R10 accessories.
RAW Processing Power: Users can choose from 3 sizes of RAW files to enhance workflow, including Large (45.4-MP), Medium (25.6-MP) and Small (11.4-MP). Additionally, the D850 lets users batch process RAW files in camera, saving time in post-production.
Phenomenal Battery Performance: Shoot all day and well into the night with up to 1,840 shots at full resolution or approximately 70 minutes of video on a single charge. Users who opt for the additional control and handling benefits of the optional battery grip can expect up to 5140 shots (CIPA standard).
Focus Stacking: Ideal for macro, product and landscape photographers, the Focus Shift Photography feature of the D850 is high resolution meets high magnification. This feature lets the user automatically shoot up to 300 shots at adjustable focus step intervals to infinity which can be easily assembled into a focus-stacked image using third party software.
Negative/Positive Scanning: With the optional ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter and compatible Micro-NIKKOR lens, the camera enables super high-resolution digitizing of 35mm slides or negatives and converts them in-camera to positives
Durable Construction: Ready for any field assignment or production environment, the rugged and weather-sealed magnesium alloy body lets users work with confidence in a wide range of tough environments.
Square shooter: Photographers can choose from five formats, including FX-format, 1.2x, DX, 5:4, or 1:1 square with viewfinder shading for easy composition.
Built-in Wi-Fi¹ & Bluetooth² Connectivity: Users can seamlessly send images to their compatible smart devices through an always-on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection or through Wi-Fi. Nikon SnapBridge³ also gives the ability for remote capture and preview.

Nikon’s Widest and Brightest Optical viewfinder: The 0.75x viewfinder magnification is the highest ever for a Nikon DSLR, and offers a wide and bright view of the frame to easily track and compose subjects.

Dual Card Slots: The D850 features dual memory card slots — XQD for high-speed capture and transfer, as well as readily available SD media.
Illuminated Buttons: Buttons that light up at the turn of a dial increase visibility and allow easy shooting at night or in low-light scenarios.

Multimedia Production Ready

Multimedia content creators and filmmakers alike will appreciate a wide range of considerate, industry-leading new features that can help to elevate any production:

Full-frame 4K UHD at 24/30 fps: The D850’s FX BSI CMOS sensor allows 4K UHD output at a full-frame width at 16:9, to increase lensing options and provide a true field of view.
Slow Motion: Creators can also capture Full HD 1080p at up to 120 fps (4x or 5x) for dramatic slow-motion video capture.
Focus Peaking: When shooting Full HD or in Live View for stills, focus peaking can be enabled which highlights in-focus subjects in the frame to ensure sharpness.
8K / 4K Time-lapse: Users can create 4K UHD time-lapse videos easily in-camera, or can use the built in intervalometer to capture images for an ultra-high resolution 8K time lapse that can be assembled in post for those who want the ultimate in video quality.
Zebra stripes: The D850’s highlight display mode uses zebra patterns to quickly spot overblown highlights. What’s more, the zebra patterns come in two varieties, selectable according to the patterns and textures of the subjects.
HDMI output: Using HDMI, users can record uncompressed, broadcast quality 4:2:2 8-bit 4K UHD footage, directly to an external digital recorder while simultaneously recording to a card.
Audio Control: The D850 features an onboard stereo microphone, as well as inputs for headphones and microphone. The camera also features a new audio attenuator to regulate sound levels.

THE FX-Format advantage

The amazing performance and image quality of the Nikon D850 is best coupled with the wide variety of NIKKOR lenses, heralded for their unmatched image quality, color reproduction and optical characteristics. For maximum fidelity, Nikon’s Gold Ring Series of lenses provide the highest caliber of optical performance needed for such immense resolution applications.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D850 will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $3,299.95^*, and will be available in September 2017. The MB-D18 Multi Power Battery Pack will have an SRP of $399.95^*, while the ES-2 film digitalizing adapter will have an SRP of $149.95^*. For more information on the latest Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Primary Features

1.An effective pixel count of 45.7 megapixels and a new backside illumination Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor

The D850 is Nikon’s first digital SLR camera to be equipped with a backside illumination CMOS sensor. Together with the camera’s low-noise performance, this enables it to achieve a maximum standard sensitivity of ISO 25600 (with expansion up to Hi 2, ISO 102400 equivalent) despite its high pixel count, with incident light more effectively guided to the photodiodes. The same minimum standard sensitivity of ISO 64 (with expansion to Lo 1, ISO 32 equivalent) supported by the D810 is also offered by the D850, achieving an incredibly broad range of sensitivities. In addition, no optical low-pass filter means that the D850 is able to make the most of high-resolution NIKKOR lenses to produce extremely sharp and clear images. Images captured with the D850 can be enlarged up to A2 size* for printing, and even used for 8K digital signage displays.

*At 300 dpi.

2.High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 7 fps/9 fps captures motion

The D850 is equipped with a backside illumination CMOS sensor capable of high-speed readout of high-volume data, the EXPEED 5 image-processing engine that processes an incredibly large amount of information at high speed, and newly designed shutter and mirror mechanisms. These three features work together to enable high-speed continuous shooting at up to approximately 7 fps*¹ with just the camera, and up to approximately 9 fps*^1,*² when the MB-D18 Multi-Power Battery Pack is used. What’s more, up to approximately 51 14-bit or 170 12-bit (image size L) RAW images with lossless compression can be captured in a single burst of continuous shooting*³. Further, adoption of the same high-performance 153-point AF system used by the D5 ensures certain capture of intended subjects including those that are moving, in a wide variety of scenes, effectively expanding the practical range of this high-pixel-count camera.

*1With continuous-servo AF, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values.

*2When an EN-EL18b/EN-EL18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (available separately) is used. Optional BL-5 Battery Chamber Cover is required for use of the EN-EL18b/EN-EL18a.

*3When a Sony QD-G64E XQD memory card and EN-EL15a/EN-EL15 are used with shooting at ISO 100.

3.Silent photography eliminates the sound of shutter release and mechanical vibrations with capture of 45-MP images

The D850 is equipped with a silent photography feature with which the image sensor performs operations normally performed by the mechanical shutter’s front and rear curtains with live view photography, enabling silent capture of full-frame images. The sound of shutter release and mechanical vibrations are completely eliminated, making this an effective choice in situations when the sound of shutter release is distracting or impolite, as at a museum or wedding, or when mechanical vibrations are a concern, such as when photographing starscapes or heavenly bodies.

Note: In M (manual) or A (aperture-priority auto) exposure mode. In P (programmed-auto) or S (shutter-priority auto) exposure mode, the sound of aperture operation can be heard.

4.Nikon’s first digital SLR camera to support full-frame 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) movie recording

The D850 supports full-frame, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/30p recording, allowing users to record movies that make the most of wide-angle lenses’ broad angles of view, as well as the superior resolution at the edges of the frame exhibited by NIKKOR lenses. In addition, 4x and 5x slow-motion movies* can be recorded in Full-HD format (100- or 120-fps readout is recorded at 24p, 25p, or 30p). This enables dramatic expression of a moment’s movement in slow motion. Further, the addition of a dedicated movie shooting menu, the ability to choose the format in which movies are recorded from MOV and MP4, and the ability to apply detailed settings for highlight display make the D850 a much more convenient way to record movies for multimedia users.

*Image quality is fixed at normal and image area is fixed at DX regardless of settings.

5.8K time-lapse video creation that makes the most of interval timer photography

The interval timer shooting function has been significantly enhanced with the D850. The interval timer shooting function is not only capable of recording still images (8256 x 5504) that can be used to create time-lapse movies with a frame size that exceeds that of the 8K format*¹, but it also offers a silent photography option that can be enabled to capture a large volume of images without concern for the mechanical shutter wear. When silent interval timer photography and exposure smoothing options are enabled, not only are the variations in exposure between individual shots effectively suppressed, but the camera is also able to meter exposure with significantly less light than the -3 EV*² that is minimally required. This makes it possible for photographers to use A (aperture-priority auto) exposure mode in situations where it is impossible to use manual exposure to capture a series of images, all of which exhibit optimal exposure, of the sky’s transition from sunset to starry night sky or from starry night sky to sunrise, for example. The D850 also meets the requirements of professional time-lapse movie creation, offering fast, in-camera batch processing of a huge number of RAW images.

*1Requires third-party software for creation.

*2ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F, using matrix or center-weighted metering.

6.Other Features

Equipped with a 180K-pixel RGB sensor that greatly increases the precision and accuracy of automatically controlled functions, such as autofocus (AF), auto exposure (AE), and auto white balance (AWB)
Auto Picture Control, with which the camera automatically fine-tunes images in accordance with the scene
The new natural light auto white balance option that achieves more accurate color reproduction for a variety of scenes captured under natural lighting
RAW image size can be selected from large, medium*¹, and small*¹ depending upon how images will be used
A magnification of approximately 0.75x that enables a broad view has been achieved for the optical viewfinder
The convenient 8-cm/3.2-in., approximately 2359k-dot, tilting TFT touch-sensitive LCD monitor
A power-saving design that enables capture of approximately 1,840 shots or approximately 70 minutes of movie recording*² on a single charge*³
A focus shift function that makes it easy to acquire the materials (shots) needed for the technique known as focus stacking*⁴, used to increase depth of field
A negative digitizer that makes it easy to convert color or black-and-white film negatives to digital data (JPEG)*⁵
Support for radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting, which increases the flexibility of multi-flash photography

*1Recorded in 12-bit, lossless compressed format.

*2With testing in accordance with CIPA standards. Maximum length is 29 min. 59 s. with a single recording.

*3When an EN-EL15a/EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery is used.

*4Focus stacking requires third-party editing software.

*5The ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter (available separately) is required.

*Specifications, design, product name and supplied accessories may differ by country or area. Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

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