Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D300

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 D300

68
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

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the D300
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 3x more detail in your photos
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 42 ms vs 227 ms
Help
 5.4x less delay when taking photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D800's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 120 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $1,999.99 vs $2,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $999 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
100 vs 68
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:120 ms
D300:300 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
D800:900 g
D300:925 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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
D800:6,400 ISO
D300:3,200 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D300:147x114x74 mm
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D800:$2,999.00
D300:$1,999.99
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D800:25,600 ISO
D300:6,400 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D800:900 shots
D300:1000 shots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D300:6 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the D300
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D300
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D800
Compare the D90 vs the D300
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the D800
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300

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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
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
Compare the D4 vs the D800
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
Compare the D3S vs the D800

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D300
Nikon D800 Nikon D300
Nikon D800 Nikon D300

discussion

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