Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS-1D Mark III vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

88

Winner

Nikon D700

"The control layout on the right side on the top of the camera is identical to the D300."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's button-layout
"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Canon EOS-1D Mark III

63

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
94 ms shutter lag
Battery life
Great battery life
2200 shots
Focus points
Many focus points
45
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 5 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 2200 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 150 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Less startup delay 100 ms vs 400 ms
Help
4x less delay when turning on
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS-1D Mark III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,078 ISO
Help
The D700 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the EOS-1D Mark III
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 71.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.61x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-H 28.7x18.7mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Size Significantly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.1 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D700's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
Weight Lighter 1,074 g vs 1,335 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark III Canon EOS-1D Mark III
63 vs 88
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1D Mark III:45
D700:51
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
EOS-1D Mark III:94 ms
D700:150 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1D Mark III:1,335 g
D700:1,074 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
EOS-1D Mark III:10.1 MP
D700:12.1 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark III:3,200 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1D Mark III:6,400 ISO
D700:25,600 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS-1D Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Placeholder

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Screen size Much smaller screen
Live view No live view
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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 Mark III Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1D Mark III Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1D Mark III Nikon D700

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