No other DSLR comes close to the Nikon D850 — save a massive $600 on our best DSLR for astrophotography for Black Friday weekend

In the world of DSLRs, no other camera comes close to the Nikon D850 in terms of capability and value for money. It has a huge 45MP sensor, 153 points of autofocus (AF) and a native base ISO of 64 for super-deep dynamic range. We saw BH Photo and Video take $600 off the D850 ahead of Black Friday, and the deal is still running after the main event, so it could end soon.

You can get the Nikon D850 on sale right now at BH Photo and Video for $1997.

I gave the Nikon D850 a huge four and a half stars in my review, praising its professional features and capabilities that even rival some mirrorless cameras. A full-frame high-res DSLR, it is highly capable of a range of different photography styles, including astrophotography. It features in five of our buying guides because it is just that great value for money. Even with Black Friday’s main event finished, we are still seeing plenty of deals live across cameras, lenses, telescopes and binoculars.

Award-winning photographer

Award-winning photographer

Jase Parnell-Brookes

Jase Parnell-Brookes is the Managing Editor for e-commerce for Space and Live Science. Previously the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space, Jase has been an editor and contributing expert across a wide range of publications since 2010. Based in the UK, they are also an award-winning photographer and educator winning the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters degree in 2011 and qualifying as a teacher in 2012, Jase has spent the last two decades studying and working in photography and publishing in multiple areas, and specializes in low light optics and camera systems.

You might think that DSLRs can’t handle the same workload as a modern mirrorless camera and yes, while they lack some of the high-end features in cameras like the Nikon Z8, the Nikon D850 is more than capable of tackling whatever you throw at it. For still photography, it is an absolute beast, with a huge 45MP resolution sensor and low native ISO of 64, capable of outstanding, detailed shots with incredible dynamic range.

For an astrophotographer on a smaller budget, this is the perfect camera, with an autofocus detection range down to -4EV so you can see stars more easily. The D850 comes packed with handy design features that make it a breeze to operate in the dark, like illuminated back buttons and a textured sub-selector to quickly change the autofocus points. Basically, you get a camera with powerful specs without overspending on an expensive mirrorless system.

Save money without sparing on the specs you need for professional photography, no matter your style, with $600 off the Nikon D850. On top of the incredible technical performance, it also has a dual memory card slot supporting SD and CFexpress types, so you can shoot away without worrying about storage space or transfer speed. For those wanting the best of the best, try this Nikon Z8 deal from Amazon, it has in-body image stabilization (IBIS), 493-point autofocus (AF) and 8K video functionality.

Key features: Full-frame DSLR camera, 45.4MP sensor, F-mount lens system, 64 – 25600 ISO range, 4K at 30P video, weight 2 lb 3.5 oz, dual slot (SD and CFexpress type B)

Product launched: August 2017

Price history: During last year’s 4th of July sales, we saw it go down to $2215, but this deal from BH Photo and Video takes it down to $1997, one of its lowest ever prices.

Price comparison: BHPhotoVideo: $1997 | Adorama: $1997

Reviews consensus: Picked as our best DSLR overall in our best DSLR guide, I think this is an amazing camera. It packs plenty of professional-level features into a DSLR, like illuminated back buttons, 45MP resolution sensor and extraordinary dynamic range from a native ISO of 60.

Space: ★★★★½ | Digital Camera World: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best cameras, best cameras for astrophotography, best DSLR cameras, best Nikon cameras, best cameras for timelapse

✅ Buy it if: You are looking for a camera with professional features that is capable of amazing astrophotography, but don’t have the budget for one of the newer mirrorless offerings from Nikon.

❌ Don’t buy it if: You need the latest tech and features that are available from modern mirrorless cameras, such as the Nikon Z8, also on sale for Black Friday.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.