Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III 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
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

76

Runner-up

Canon EOS-1Ds

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.76x
True resolution
High true resolution
21 MP
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

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.72x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
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-1Ds Mark III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,663 ISO
Help
The D700 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Significantly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 150x160x80 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
Lowest price Much cheaper $2,649.00 vs $9,135.19
Help
The best price we've seen is $6,486 cheaper (3.4x less)
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
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0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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 Lighter 1,074 g vs 1,385 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
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 III Canon EOS-1Ds
76 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
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:1,663 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
80.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
EOS-1Ds:0.76x
D700:0.72x
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1Ds:24 bits
D700:23.5 bits
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1Ds:45
D700:51
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:1,385 g
D700:1,074 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds:1,600 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
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:3,200 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 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
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

$2,130 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Weight Is slightly lighter
Focus points Has significantly 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
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
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
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 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Overall image quality Worse image quality

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D700.

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D700
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D700

discussion

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