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 D300S

71

Runner-up

Nikon D300S

"Most high-end DSLRs feature Magnesium alloy construction but the D300 stood out as a particularly weighty and well-constructed example"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's build-quality
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

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"
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 787 ISO
Help
The D800 has excellent image quality 1.9 f-stops higher ISO than the D300S
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 70.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 3x more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.8 more bits of color
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 23.6x15.8mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 42 ms vs 225 ms
Help
5.4x less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
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
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
Weight Slightly lighter 900 g vs 938 g
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D300S

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 80% 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
Lowest price Cheaper $1,690.00 vs $2,999.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,309 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
100 vs 71
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D800 or the D300S,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Michael-Fernau this month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D800

Been using nikon cameras since 1976 have a d300s and wondering if I need to take a jump and buy ...

1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."

0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."

0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"

0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."

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
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:120 ms
D300S:300 ms
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D800:900 g
D300S:938 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
D300S:3,200 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D300S: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
D300S:$1,690.00
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D800:25,600 ISO
D300S:6,400 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D800:900 shots
D300S:950 shots
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D300S:7 fps

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
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
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
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

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 D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300S.

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D300S
Nikon D800 Nikon D300S
Nikon D800 Nikon D300S

discussion

Showing 0 comments