Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Canon EOS 7D

71

Runner-up

Canon EOS 7D

"The Canon EOS 7D is a camera that can convince in all areas, and at its current pricing is going to be a very serious competitor for Nikon's flagship APS-C DSLR, the D300S."
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's overall-performance
"Excellent build quality with magnesium body and environmental sealing"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
8 fps
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
19
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 7D

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Size Much smaller 148x111x74 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
More than 30% more lenses available
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 860 g vs 1,300 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 854 ISO
Help
The D3 has excellent image quality 1.4 f-stops higher ISO than the 7D
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 800 shots
Help
Around 5.5x more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
Around 30% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 88 ms vs 131 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 8 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
71 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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One person recommends the Canon 7D:

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1
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1
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Canon T3i vs Canon 7D

I have a Canon 20D with 28-135 lenses. It takes great pictures but I want to upgrade and use it...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
7D:131 ms
D3:88 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
7D:860 g
D3:1,300 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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
7D:12,800 ISO
D3:25,600 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

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly 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

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
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

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3

discussion

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