Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

59

Winner

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
True resolution
High true resolution
24 MP
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.4 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

56

"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

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
400 ms startup delay
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
125 lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
1500 shots

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Battery life Much longer battery life 1500 shots vs 430 shots
Help
Around 3.5x more shots per battery charge
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 125 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
More than 15.5x more lenses available
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
More than 40% larger sensor
Focus points More focus points 45 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
3x less delay when turning on
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 223 ms
Help
2.1x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7

Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
7.9x smaller
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Weight Much lighter 350 g vs 1,230 g
Help
3.5x lighter
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Overall image quality Better image quality 81.0 vs 74.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x 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 Much cheaper $1,199.99 vs $4,999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $3,800 cheaper (4.2x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 12 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
56 vs 59
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-7. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:920k dots
NEX-7:921k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-7:1080p @ 60fps
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:74.0
NEX-7:81.0
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:16 MP
NEX-7:24 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Light sensitivity Extremely good maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
NEX-7:16,000 ISO
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12 EV
NEX-7:13.4 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:22.8 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
10 fps
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:Pentaprism
NEX-7:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1/8000s
NEX-7:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Lowest price Very expensive Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:$4,999.99
NEX-7:$1,199.99
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

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

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Battery life Much longer battery life
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weight Lighter
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-7
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-7
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-7

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