Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D3X

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"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Nikon D3X

87
Runner-up

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 95.0 vs 88.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 42 ms vs 161 ms
Help
 3.8x less delay when taking photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,999.00 vs $7,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,998 cheaper (2.7x less)
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 120 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Weight Significantly lighter 900 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 Around 30% 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
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
Thickness Thinner 3.2" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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
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
100 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

advice

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0
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by Michael-Fernau this month
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Been using nikon cameras since 1976 have a d300s and wondering if I need to take a jump and buy ...
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1
votes
by Michele-McCormick last month
Nikon D800 vs Nikon D3

I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competi...

2 people recommend the Nikon D800:

"Image quality, low light... definitely go D800. You know I've shot Canon for years but a few of yo..."

"The D800 is better is almost every regard (notably, better low light performance and less shutter ..."
3
votes
by John-Newton1 this month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Nikon D800

I am no expert on cinematography, but some friends of mine and I produce low budget (actually no...

11 people recommend the Canon 5D Mark II:

" The Nikon D800 at this point isn't worth the price. "

"I honestly prefer Canon. I have a Canon 7D and it takes amazing movie quality video in 1080i HD. I..."

" Canon t2i is inexpensive and uses the same sensor as the 5D (used to shoot the show House) altho..."
One person recommends the Nikon D800:

" very comfortable in hand. the buttons are placed correctly. and high iso performance are better ..."
-1
votes
by Nicolas-David this month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Nikon D800

Expert, can't decide alone. What's better ?

One person recommends the Nikon D800:

"Nikon D800 and I am a Canon user. 24-70 Canon not brilliant"

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Extremely 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
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
D800:36.2 MP
D3X:24.4 MP
Focus points Lots of 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
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:120 ms
D3X:300 ms
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
D800:42 ms
D3X:161 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
D3X:1,260 g
Size Large Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D3X:160x157x88 mm
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
D3X:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D3X:5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D800:25,600 ISO
D3X:None
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared 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
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
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 D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the D3X
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 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
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3X
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the D800
Compare the D3S vs the D3X
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
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 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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