Nikon D850 vs Sony SLT Alpha 99 II — Which Is Better?

The Nikon D850 and the Sony SLT Alpha 99 II are full-frame DSLRs from 2017 and 2016, built for high-resolution work from a large, weather-sealed body. The D850 uses an optical pentaprism viewfinder and the Nikon F FX mount, while the Alpha 99 II pairs an electronic viewfinder that previews exposure with the Sony Alpha mount, so lens choices follow the body you buy.

The D850 is the stronger choice for detail-driven work such as landscape and studio photography, with 45.7 megapixels against 42.4 on the Alpha 99 II. That extra pixel count gives you more room to crop a distant subject or print larger. Both sensors share a 25600 native ISO ceiling.

For fast action, the Alpha 99 II shoots at 12 frames per second versus 7 on the D850, helping you catch a decisive moment in sports or wildlife. The D850 answers with 153 autofocus points against 79. The Alpha 99 II also offers in-body stabilisation, steadying handheld shots with any lens.

The Alpha 99 II is the better pick for slow-motion work, reaching 120 fps against 30 fps on the D850. That headroom lets you slow fast action, such as a gymnast mid-air, to a quarter speed in editing. Both record 4K as their maximum resolution.

The D850 includes a built-in interval timer for timelapse sequences, which the Alpha 99 II lacks, so night-sky or construction-progress projects need no external trigger.

The D850's 3.2-inch touchscreen carries 2,359,000 dots against 1,228,800 on the Alpha 99 II's 3-inch screen, so image review is sharper and menus respond to taps. The Sony screen is not touch-sensitive, but it tilts out for waist-level or overhead shooting, which the fixed D850 screen cannot do.

The D850 supports Wi-Fi for wireless transfer, a connection the Alpha 99 II lacks, though both include Bluetooth. Both bodies are weather-sealed and support external flash, and neither offers a built-in flash or GPS, so location tagging needs an accessory either way.

The D850 is far better suited to long shooting days, rated at 1840 shots against 490 on the Alpha 99 II under their respective test conditions. A full-day event or cold-weather session has far more rating headroom on the Nikon, and neither camera charges over USB.

Both have dual card slots, but the formats differ. The D850 accepts SD at UHS-II speed plus XQD, so fast cards can keep pace with its 45.7-megapixel files, while the Alpha 99 II takes SD at the slower UHS-I speed.