Updated (December, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D800

Canon EOS 1D X

91

 
Nikon D700

84

 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1D X

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,786 ISO
Screen size
Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.76x
Light sensitivity
High ISO
51,200 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
14 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
 
Runner-up

Nikon D700

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1D X

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 51,200 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The 1D X's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 14 fps vs 5 fps
Help
Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,786 ISO vs 2,303 ISO
Help
The 1D X has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 41 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 36 ms vs 197 ms
Help
5.5x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
The 1D X's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
50% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.72x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 80.0
Help
Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Focus points More focus points 61 vs 51
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS 1D X Learn more about
the Canon 1D X

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.8 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Much smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 158x164x83 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 1,074 g vs 1,530 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.3"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Cheaper $3,499.99 vs $6,799.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $3,299 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 1D X Canon EOS 1D X
91 vs 84
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 1D X.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
1D X:2,786 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
1D X:0.76x
D700:0.72x
Focus points Many focus points Help
1D X:61
D700:51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
1D X:1,530 g
D700:1,074 g
Size Large Help
1D X:158x164x83 mm
D700:147x123x77 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
1D X:Contrast detection
D700:None
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
1D X:17.9 MP
D700:12.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly lighter
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Focus points Has much fewer focus points

Canon EOS 1D X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

Dynamic range More dynamic range
Size Smaller
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Canon EOS-1D C

Canon EOS-1D C

Pro DSLR

$15,754 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Slower autofocus
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,270 - $1,697 body only

$2,227 with 85mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality

appearance

Canon EOS 1D X Nikon D700
Canon EOS 1D X Nikon D700
Canon EOS 1D X Nikon D700

discussion

Showing 0 comments