Canon EOS
7D
 vs
Nikon
D300S

Canon EOS 7D

73

  
Nikon D300S

69

  
Winner

Canon EOS 7D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

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%
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 
Runner-up

Nikon D300S

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 7D
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
True resolution Significantly 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 225 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 10% 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
Weight Slightly lighter 860 g vs 938 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 7D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 70.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 800 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
73 vs 69
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 7D.

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
D300S:169 lenses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
7D:400 ms
D300S:300 ms
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
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Weight Heavy Help
7D:860 g
D300S:938 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
7D:12,800 ISO
D300S:6,400 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
7D:6,400 ISO
D300S:3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D300S:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
7D:66.0
D300S:70.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
7D:22 bits
D300S:22.5 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
7D:854 ISO
D300S:787 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
7D:148x111x74 mm
D300S:147x114x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
7D:$1,499.00
D300S:$1,242.59
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
7D:17.9 MP
D300S:12.2 MP
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.62x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
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 D300S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7100 vs the D300S
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D300S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly 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 D300S
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
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D300S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D90 vs the D300S

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 7D

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,764 body only
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the D300 vs the D300S

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D300S

discussion

Showing 8 comments

Nickvelaborja (5:05 AM, June 30, 2012)
I'm planning on upgrading from my Canon Rebel T1i, and I can't decide what to go with. I shoot mostly portraiture, both still and action. I don't have any lighting equipment save for a reflector (not much equipment in general). I'm anticipating something in the pro-sumer level of camera like either the Canon 7D or Nikon D300s since I don't have the money for the professional level bodies (or the skill/professionalism for that matter, let's be real). But I just don't know. Someone help me out with some suggestions or some research i've missed?
 
Alwynjsmit (9:17 AM, May 14, 2012)
Both the 7d and D300s have weather sealed bodies
 
Avatar for BayAreaHydro BayAreaHydro (2:29 PM, February 02, 2012)
There is no question that the video on Canon 1080 surpasses that of Nikon's 720.Dollar for dollar there is no comparison, Canon wins hands down.
 
Ishaanctg (8:09 PM, January 17, 2012)
@Hojayho Bro,whats the cheapest lense that u use for d300s and how is its result, and how is the image quality of d300s compared to d7000 in a similar lense
 
Fearless (6:55 PM, November 19, 2011)
I belive that 7D has weather sealed body also
 
Engr Omerfarooq (1:01 PM, October 28, 2011)
both 7d and d300s are excellent. but i go for more towards ergonomics at pro level because image quality will always be great by big companies like nikon and canon. i like handling of nikon more then canon. just personal preference.
 
Maj_mike28 (2:46 PM, June 07, 2011)
I would agree on this statement... My Fav is D7000 of all bodies I have and had. Currently I own a D300s, D7000, and D5000. The image quality for D7000 is really good. Thumbs up for D7000 and most of the time when I cover an event D7000 is really handy supported back by my D300s and for real emergency D5000. The quality of the D5000 is not as far from D300s but you can only obtain a good quality on D5000 once you do it manually and not in Aperture Priority mode or etc.
 
Hojayho (10:59 PM, May 21, 2011)
I just sold my 7d which I had for 1 year and four months, and got a nikon d300s.

The hand feel of the 7d is heavier and more solid, but the image quality of the 300s is better, sharper, more dynamic range and more detail. I still have a 5d and 1d mark iin, and a d7000, d1x and 3100, and all 3 fuji s2, s3 & s5. The s3 is the best in portraits, but sport shots would have to be the 7d.
The image qualiy of the d300s is as good as the 5d and 1d mark iin.

I am happy to have switched the 7d to d300s, cos the 7d's pictures seem dull.
My favorite is the d7000, for the price and full hd video with constantly focusing while filming.