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

Nikon D700

88

Winner

Nikon D700

"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
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
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

59

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

True resolution Higher true resolution 16.6 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
More than 50% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,480 ISO
Help
The D700 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 74.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Size Significantly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 156x158x80 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D700's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Significantly lighter 1,074 g vs 1,565 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 23.3 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 30% faster continuous shooting
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D700's boost ISO is 3 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-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
59 vs 88
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:0.70x
D700:0.72x
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,565 g
D700:1,074 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,600 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:4 fps
D700:5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:3,200 ISO
D700:25,600 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:16.6 MP
D700:12.1 MP
Screen size Very small screens Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:2.0"
D700:3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 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 much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Cross type focus points Has slightly fewer cross-type focus points
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Pro DSLR

Screen size Much larger screen
Live view Has live view
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Thickness Thicker
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm 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-1Ds Mark II Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Nikon D700

discussion

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