Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D3X

Nikon D800

97

  
Nikon D3X

84

  
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
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,992 ISO
Help
 The D800 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 24.4 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 95.0 vs 88.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 24.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13.7 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D800's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
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
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,796.95 vs $6,699.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,902 cheaper (2.4x less)
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Lighter 1,000 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
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 D3X
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 5x more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 161 ms vs 209 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
97 vs 84
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D800:95.0
D3X:88.0
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D800:2,853 ISO
D3X:1,992 ISO
Color depth Good color depth Help
D800:25.3 bits
D3X:24.7 bits
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D800:14.4 EV
D3X:13.7 EV
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Focus points Many focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D800:0.72x
D3X:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D800:36.2 MP
D3X:24.4 MP
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:200 ms
D3X:300 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
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
D800:1,000 g
D3X:1,260 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
D800:3.2"
D3X:3.5"
Size Large Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D3X:160x157x88 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800:Contrast detection
D3X:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D800:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D3X:5 fps
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

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) One has boost ISO Help
D800:25,600 ISO
D3X:None
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

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Compare the D600 vs the D3X
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
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Overall image quality Has slightly lower image quality
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3X
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Compare the D4 vs the D3X
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
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the D3X
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 D3X
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 slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 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 D3X

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3X.

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D3X
Nikon D800 Nikon D3X
Nikon D800 Nikon D3X

discussion

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