Canon EOS
7D
 vs
Nikon
D300

Canon EOS 7D

97
Winner

Canon EOS 7D
"Highly flexible new AF system with 19 cross-type sensors"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's auto-focus
"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

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
Nikon D300

91
Runner-up

Nikon D300
"The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's build-quality
"High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR), ISO 6400 usable for small output"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 854 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The 7D has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 227 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 15
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 7D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 7D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Weight Slightly lighter 860 g vs 925 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $1,329.00 vs $1,672.81
Help
 The best price we've seen is $344 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 67.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 800 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
97 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 7D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 7D
 Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D300
NikonD300
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
19
14
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
16
18
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
13
18
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
12
19
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
12
16
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
13
19
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
7D:162 lenses
D300:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
7D:920k dots
D300:922k dots
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
7D:19
D300:15
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
7D:860 g
D300:925 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
7D:148x111x74 mm
D300:147x114x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
7D:$1,329.00
D300:$1,672.81
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
7D:12,800 ISO
D300:6,400 ISO
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D300:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
7D:6,400 ISO
D300:3,200 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
7D:800 shots
D300:1000 shots
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.62x
Color depth Poor color depth Help
7D:22 bits
D300:22.1 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
7D:66.0
D300:67.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
7D:854 ISO
D300:679 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Cross type focus points Has slightly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D300
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D300
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Weight Is significantly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 7D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D300
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D90 vs the D300

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 7D.

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300.

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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