Canon EOS
7D
 vs
Nikon
D3S

Updated (December, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3S

91

  
Canon EOS 7D

73

  
Winner

Nikon D3S

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 7D

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%
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
 

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 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Size Much smaller 148x111x74 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 15
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Weight Significantly lighter 860 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
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 D3S
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 854 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 1.9 f-stops higher ISO than the 7D
Battery life Much longer battery life 4200 shots vs 800 shots
Help
 Around 5.5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D3S's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
73 vs 91
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
7D:400 ms
D3S:300 ms
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
D3S:1,240 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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.
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
7D:17.9 MP
D3S:12.1 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
7D:6,400 ISO
D3S:12,800 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

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
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D3S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm 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
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7100 vs the D3S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3S
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
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3S
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D5200 vs the D3S
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D600 vs the D3S

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Video autofocus
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 7D

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$6,699 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3S
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3S
Canon EOS 7D Nikon D3S

discussion

Showing 0 comments