Despite having been released back in 2017, the Nikon D850 is still the best DSLR for wildlife photography in 2025. Watch my video about the D850 above. Or, read all about this amazing DSLR below.

The Best DSLR For Wildlife Photography

Search Reddit, Google, or YouTube and you'll quickly learn that the Nikon D850 is still the best DSLR for wildlife photography. In fact, it's still one of the best cameras around for shooting wildlife.

When you look at the Nikon D850, it's resolution, low light capability, fast autofocus, and programable function buttons make it hard to beat. The Nikon D850 is also available for between $1,000 and $1,600. For comparison, the Nikon Z9, the only camera Nikon makes that comes close in terms of those features, is over $5000.

As a result you can buy a Nikon D850 and have lots of extra cash to spend on lenses.

The Nikon D850: The Wildlife Photography King

When it comes to DSLRs there is no getting around it. The D850 is the king of wildlife photography cameras. Of course, there are competitors. In 2024 we reviewed the Nikon Z6iii.

To sum up what we found, it's a solid contender when it comes to the low light, high ISO, and fast autofocus. That said, it lags when it comes to battery life (as all mirrorless do). Plus, the programmability of the buttons is still not there.

Z6iii Vs D850

My biggest disappointment with the Z6iii is with the front function buttons. While they can both be programed to switch metering they can't be set to a specific focus area. Of course Nikon will tell you that their eye-tracking means you don't need to switch from wide to single point. However, I still want to decide between a wider and smaller area.

I truly think Nikon and others are making a mistake here. After all, when it comes to wildlife photography I want that fine level of control. In fact, for any action photography I feel better having that control.

Are DSLRs Still Worth It in 2025

If you're a wildlife photographer or interested in wildlife photography then yes. DSLRs are still worth buying in 2025. In fact, the D850, as the best wildlife photography DSLR out there still makes a ton of sense to buy. Here is my article breaking down DSLRs vs Mirrorless cameras.

Of course, if money is no object then go nuts.

Otherwise, don't overlook the incredible value of this amazing wildlife photography beast.

I'm full time professional event and headshot photographer Don Orkoskey. Since 2007 I've owned WDO Photography. Additionally, I teach photography in partnership with a number of amazing organizations as well as offering my own group photography classes and individual photography lessons. I teach classes for both adults and children and lead free nature photography meetups each month. I also write a monthly newsletter full of great information and maintain a list of free photography resources and a YouTube channel to help you learn photography.