Updated (December, 2011): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4

Nikon D800
Winner
Nikon D800

97

vs
Nikon D3

84

Nikon D3
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
4300 shots
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 3x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
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 2,853 ISO vs 2,290 ISO
Help
 The D800 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.2" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 1,000 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 More than 20% 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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 5x more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 209 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
97 vs 84
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D800:2,853 ISO
D3:2,290 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
D3:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points Many focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D800:0.72x
D3:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:200 ms
D3:300 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D800:1,000 g
D3:1,300 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
D800:3.2"
D3:3.5"
Size Large Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D3:160x157x88 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800:Contrast detection
D3:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
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.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,797 with 28-300mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Compare the D600 vs the D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the D3
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Light sensitivity (boost) Much higher boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Compare the D4 vs the D3
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the D3
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D3

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D800.

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D3
Nikon D800 Nikon D3
Nikon D800 Nikon D3

discussion

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