Canon EOS
5D
 vs
Nikon
D700

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

100
Winner

Nikon D700
"It has the same ultra solid feel as its bigger (and smaller) brother, and the same magnesium alloy body and soft rubber grips front and back."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance, usable up to ISO 12800"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
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
Canon EOS 5D

69
Runner-up

Canon EOS 5D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 895 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 12.7 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Size Slightly smaller 152x113x75 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Learn more about
the Canon 5D

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,368 ISO
Help
 The D700 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 71.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
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
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.71x
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,749.99 vs $3,243.40
Help
 The best price we've seen is $493 cheaper (around 20% less)
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS 5D
69 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 5D
 Canon EOS 5D vs Nikon D700
NikonD700
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
5
3
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
7
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
3
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
3
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
2
4
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
4
4
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D:1,368 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D:0.71x
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
5D:895 g
D700:1,074 g
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
5D:96%
D700:95%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
5D:12.7 MP
D700:12.1 MP
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
5D:152x113x75 mm
D700:147x123x77 mm
Thickness Thin Help
3"
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
5D:3,200 ISO
D700:25,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D:3 fps
D700:5 fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D:1,600 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
5D:2.5"
D700:3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 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
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,160 - $2,400 body only

$2,799 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Cross type focus points Has significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 5D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$849 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 5D
Compare the D90 vs the D700
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D700
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$1,029 - $1,500 body only

$1,349 - $1,650 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
Compare the K-5 vs the EOS 5D
Compare the K-5 vs the D700

Canon EOS 5D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 5D.

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$4,999 - $5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D3S vs the D700
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Lens availability More lenses available
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D300S vs the D700

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Nikon D700
Canon EOS 5D Nikon D700
Canon EOS 5D Nikon D700

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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