Nikon D3
Competitors

As well as being compared against other pro DSLRs, the Nikon D3 is also often compared to entry-level DSLRs. The Nikon D3's top rivals come from Nikon (such as the D700 and the D800) and Canon (such as the EOS 5D Mark II and the EOS 5D Mark III)

Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D3 compared to other pro DSLR competitors include: it shoots faster continuously (9 fps vs 6 fps), has slightly less shutter lag (88 ms vs 197 ms), has a much longer battery life (4300 shots vs 1000 shots) and has more storage slots (2 vs 1).

However, on average it doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 30fps), has a slightly smaller screen (3.0" vs 3.2"), takes significantly lower resolution photos (12.1 MP vs 21 MP), lacks a built in HDR feature and is older (august, 2007 vs january, 2012).

Nikon D700 10 months newer $2,649 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D700 (vs the D3) Has a self cleaning sensor Significantly smaller: Large 147x123x77 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Significantly thinner: 3" vs 3.5" Significant disadvantages of the D700 (vs the D3) Much shorter battery life: 1000 shots vs 4300 shots Shoots significantly slower: 5 fps vs 9 fps Significantly more shutter lag: 197 ms vs 88 ms common strengths of the D700 and D3 Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Many focus points: 51 vs 51 Supports RAW
	Compare the D700 vs the D3
Nikon D800 4 years newer $2,999 - $3,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D800 (vs the D3) Much higher true resolution: 36.2 MP vs 12.1 MP Significantly better image quality: 95.0 vs 81.0 Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the D800 (vs the D3) Much shorter battery life: 900 shots vs 4300 shots Shoots significantly slower: 4 fps vs 9 fps common strengths of the D800 and D3 Minimal startup delay: 120 ms vs 300 ms Minimal shutter lag: 42 ms vs 88 ms Large sensors: Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
	Compare the D800 vs the D3
Nikon D3S 2 years newer $5,197 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D3S (vs the D3) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 3,253 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Has a self cleaning sensor Better boost ISO: 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO Significant disadvantages of the D3S (vs the D3) Significantly more shutter lag: 197 ms vs 88 ms common strengths of the D3S and D3 Minimal startup delay: 300 ms vs 300 ms Very long battery life: 4400 shots vs 4300 shots Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
	Compare the D3S vs the D3
Nikon D4 4 years newer $5,999 - $6,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D4 (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significantly larger screen: 3.2" vs 3.0" Has in-camera HDR Significant disadvantages of the D4 (vs the D3) Much shorter battery life: 2600 shots vs 4300 shots Significantly more shutter lag: 208 ms vs 88 ms common strengths of the D4 and D3 Minimal startup delay: 300 ms vs 300 ms Great battery life: 2600 shots vs 4300 shots Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
	Compare the D4 vs the D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 1 year newer $2,130 (body only) $2,875 - $2,999 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significantly higher true resolution: 21 MP vs 12.1 MP Has a self cleaning sensor Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the D3) Much shorter battery life: 850 shots vs 4300 shots Many fewer focus points: 9 vs 51 Shoots significantly slower: 3.9 fps vs 9 fps common strengths of the 5D Mark II and D3 Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW
	Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs the Nikon D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark III 4 years newer $3,499 - $3,500 (body only) $4,299 - $4,300 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D Mark III (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significantly larger screen: 3.2" vs 3.0" Much higher true resolution: 22.1 MP vs 12.1 MP Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark III (vs the D3) Much shorter battery life: 950 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the 5D Mark III and D3 Minimal startup delay: 100 ms vs 300 ms Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Many focus points: 61 vs 51
	Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs the Nikon D3

Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D3 compared to entry-level DSLR competitors include: it is much less noisy at high ISO (2,290 ISO vs 977 ISO), has slightly better image quality (81.0 vs 73.0), significantly larger viewfinder (0.70x vs 0.54x), has a weather sealed body and shoots faster continuously (9 fps vs 4.5 fps).

However, on average it doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 24fps), takes slightly lower resolution photos (12.1 MP vs 16.1 MP), lacks a built in HDR feature, lacks autofocus (none vs contrast detection) and slightly fewer lenses available (121 lenses vs 162 lenses).

Nikon D7000 3 years newer $1,000 (body only) $1,100 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D7000 (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs None Much smaller: Professional size 132x105x77 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Significantly higher true resolution: 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP Significant disadvantages of the D7000 (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 1050 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the D7000 and D3 Very low noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Good image quality: 80.0 vs 81.0 Good color depth: 23.5 bits vs 23.5 bits
	Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Nikon D5100 3 years newer $500 - $597 (body only) $600 - $697 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D5100 (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much smaller: Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Has a flip-out screen Significant disadvantages of the D5100 (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 660 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the D5100 and D3 Very low noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Good image quality: 80.0 vs 81.0 Good color depth: 23.5 bits vs 23.5 bits
	Compare the D5100 vs the D3
Nikon D90 1 year newer $897 (body only) $1,047 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D90 (vs the D3) Much smaller: Professional size 132x103x77 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Shoots movies: 720p @ 24fps vs None Has a self cleaning sensor Significant disadvantages of the D90 (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 850 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the D90 and D3 Relatively low noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 2,290 ISO High resolution screens: 930k dots vs 922k dots Above average viewfinder size: 0.63x vs 0.70x
	Compare the D90 vs the D3
Pentax K-5 3 years newer $888 - $1,129 (body only) $1,033 - $1,283 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the K-5 (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 25fps vs None Much smaller: Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Image stabilization: Sensor shift vs None Significant disadvantages of the K-5 (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 1,162 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 740 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the K-5 and D3 Very low noise at high ISO: 1,162 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Extremely good image quality: 82.0 vs 81.0 Good color depth: 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
	Compare the Pentax K-5 vs the Nikon D3
Nikon D3100 3 years newer $500 - $547 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D3100 (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs None Much smaller: Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Much lighter: 505 g vs 1,300 g Significant disadvantages of the D3100 (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 919 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 550 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the D3100 and D3 Minimal startup delay: 400 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the D3100 vs the D3
Canon Rebel T2i 2 years newer $544 - $949 (body only) $649 - $867 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T2i (vs the D3) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much smaller: Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm vs Large 160x157x88 mm Significantly higher true resolution: 17.9 MP vs 12.1 MP Significant disadvantages of the T2i (vs the D3) Much more noise at high ISO: 784 ISO vs 2,290 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much shorter battery life: 440 shots vs 4300 shots common strengths of the T2i and D3 High resolution screens: 1,040k dots vs 922k dots Minimal startup delay: 400 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs the Nikon D3