Nikon D800

100

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
Color depth
Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
Nikon D5100

62

Runner-up

Nikon D5100

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 127x96x78 mm

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Size Significantly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 900 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $2,999.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,499 cheaper (6x less)
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D800

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
The D800 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 80.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 2x larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 42 ms vs 273 ms
Help
6.5x less delay when taking photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Startup delay Less startup delay 120 ms vs 500 ms
Help
4.2x less delay when turning on
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 900 shots vs 660 shots
Help
Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
62 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

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by TheRylander last month
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Hi, I am looking for advice on the best camera to take travelling on a Round the World trip. I cur...

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I am a beginner that will never be an expert.  My life is busy as a single mom and we are always...

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Nikon D800 vs Sony NEX-7

I am a photo hobbyist, at best. I have always gotten compliments on photos of my children, tho...

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
D800:95.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5100:13 EV
D800:14.4 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
D800:25.3 bits
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
4 fps
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D800
Nikon D5100 Nikon D800
Nikon D5100 Nikon D800

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