What were they thinking?

I just acquired a d850 after using d800e since they were introduced in June 2016. I upgraded/added the 850 partly because of the higher resolution sensor, but mostly the tilting monitor. The first thing I discovered was that the bracketing function, by comparison, is complicated and cumbersome compared to the original issue 800's. What were they thinking?

I don’t have a D850 but I do have a D810 and used to have a D800. I’m curious, how have the bracketing controls changed?

At this point, it is easier to refer a YouTube tutorial entitled, "Nikon d850 Exposure Bracketing Setup Tutorial"

YouTube tutorial entitled, "Nikon d850 Exposure Bracketing Setup Tutorial"

This one:

?

 

Same procedure on the D850 as on my D810 and the D800/D800e, just the location of the bracketing (BKT) button is different on the latter. Pressing the info button as shown on the D850 tutorial above is superfluous - it just serves to see the procedure on the back LCD as well as on the top LCD. In essence, the camera is set to CH, A mode and the number and spacing of the bracketing sequence are set via the command and sub-command dial while depressing the BKT button (believe there's an option to not have to keep the BKT button depressed while rotating the dials - it's not how I have my cameras set up though). If I recall correctly, then I have used this exact procedure on the D200, D300, D7100, D7200, D700, D800, D810, and D500.

 

In what way does your D800e procedure differ from the one shown in the video?

Yeah, what’s the diff besides the button location? So the BKT button is on the left side of the pentaprism hump instead of on top of the turret. But the procedure is unchanged.

Yeah, what’s the diff besides the button location? So the BKT button is on the left side of the pentaprism hump instead of on top of the turret. But the procedure is unchanged.

You are right. After practicing it a few times, it does not seem much more complicated. Just different from the d800e. I have used 2 800e's for several years. Switching one from the other is a no-brainer. 800-850? Stop-Look-Listen.

Auto bracketing is too complicated for me so whenever I need it I do it manually.

Just different from the d800e

I still don't get what you mean by "different". The only thing different is the location of the BKT button; the procedures to set the camera up are identical.