Canon
EOS-1Ds
 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-1Ds Mark III

76
Runner-up

Canon EOS-1Ds

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.76x
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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.72x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
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
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,663 ISO
Help
 The D800 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 21 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 24 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Size Smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 150x160x80 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D800's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,999.00 vs $9,136.74
Help
 The best price we've seen is $6,138 cheaper (3x less)
Weight Significantly lighter 900 g vs 1,385 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS-1Ds
76 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
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:1,663 ISO
D800:2,853 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1Ds:80.0
D800:95.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1Ds:24 bits
D800:25.3 bits
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
EOS-1Ds:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
EOS-1Ds:0.76x
D800:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1Ds:45
D800:51
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
EOS-1Ds:21 MP
D800:36.2 MP
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
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-1Ds:1,385 g
D800:900 g
Size Large Help
EOS-1Ds:150x160x80 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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds:1,600 ISO
D800:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds:5 fps
D800:4 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:3,200 ISO
D800:25,600 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 Significantly 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-1Ds
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-1Ds
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 much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1Ds
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1Ds
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-1Ds
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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the EOS-1Ds
Compare the D3S vs the D800
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1Ds
Compare the D5100 vs the D800

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III.

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D800
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D800
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D800

discussion

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