Canon
EOS-1D Mark IV
 vs
Nikon
D800

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

Nikon D800

100
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

71
"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
39
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 39 vs 15
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the EOS-1D Mark IV
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 74.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture around 2.5x more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.5 more bits of color
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Help
 Around 70% larger sensor
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 42 ms vs 104 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 120 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 3.3x less delay when turning on
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
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 Significantly lighter 900 g vs 1,230 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $2,999.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,001 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
71 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

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 IV:45
D800:51
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:104 ms
D800:42 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,230 g
D800:900 g
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D800:146x123x82 mm
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

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
D800:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D3S vs the D800
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS-1Ds vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D800.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D800
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D800
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D800

discussion

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