Canon EOS
5D Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D800

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800

Nikon D800

97

  
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

81

  
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
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Thickness
 Thin
3"
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Size Smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 850 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,069.95 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $727 cheaper (around 30% less)
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 79.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,815 ISO
Help
 The D800 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 21 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 2.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 900 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
81 vs 97
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
D800:2,853 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
5D Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D800:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
5D Mark II:400 ms
D800:200 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
5D Mark II:850 g
D800:1,000 g
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D800:4 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
5D Mark II:None
D800:Contrast detection
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,799 with 18-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the D800

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D800

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Beldievirgil (1:53 PM, April 23, 2012)
I think you are wrong whit ISO Canon it's better  i take a photo whit ISO 10000 and not have noise .............