Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D700

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 D700

88
Runner-up

Nikon D700
"The Nikon D700 is an excellent camera that is extremely versatile and performs well both in the studio and on location."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's overall-performance
"Class-leading high ISO performance, usable up to ISO 12800"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.1 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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 2,303 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
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 42 ms vs 150 ms
Help
 3.6x less delay when taking photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Less startup delay 120 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 3.3x less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 900 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 3" 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
Size Slightly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,349.00 vs $2,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $650 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
100 vs 88
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

advice

Need help deciding?

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D800:2,853 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D800:95.0
D700:80.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
0.72x
Color depth Good color depth Help
D800:25.3 bits
D700:23.5 bits
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
D800:42 ms
D700:150 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D800:900 g
D700:1,074 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
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D700:5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D700:147x123x77 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
D700:$2,349.00
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D800:900 shots
D700:1000 shots
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D700
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 D700
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
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 slightly more expensive
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Compare the D4 vs the D700
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D3S vs the D800
Compare the D3S vs the D700

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D700.

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D700
Nikon D800 Nikon D700
Nikon D800 Nikon D700

discussion

Showing 13 comments

JKan (4:38 AM, May 17, 2012)
D800 doesn't replace or upgrade or update the d700. D700 is much more sport orientated, like Ongopt mentioned, it's basically a mini d3, which is true (assuming with the battery grip of course). On the other hand, I'm one of the lucky few that gets to shoot the d800. Although the traditional technology is that the more mega pixel you pack into a sensor, the smaller is the pixel size, thus create crazy noise. However, if you just do a little bit, just a little bit of research, the d800 is actually amazing at low night. Obviously they are doing some newer technology. Don't judge a camera using traditional mindset, I was skeptical with the d800 noise performance at first, but after reading a few reviews and actually able to work with one (i work for a professional photographer that owns a d800), the low light quality is extremely good. If i have to compare the d800 to something, probably the d3x, except the d3x sucks at low light. The d800 definitely replace the d3x in my opinion. Definitely drop that more mega pixel = crappy noise idea, totally not true with the d800. 


It is your choice to believe someone who never shot with a d800 before, or someone that actually have. I'm sure majority of people looking at this review does not own the d800 (since nikon is still limiting it). Personally, I'm still stick with the d700, sports and events, D700 is much better fit for me. It all depends on what kind of photography you are looking for/shooting.
 
Frank Billson (6:40 PM, March 17, 2012)
Does anybody even consider that they made advances in sensor technology during the 4 years since the D700 came out? I mean if you compare the pictures for yourself, the D800 is at least as good as the D700 in high ISO, if not even slightly better. So you basically get a D700 with much higher resolution (which is awesome for everyone who still actually prints), video and slightly better ISO performance. The disadvantage is that it's slightly slower due to the huge files. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
 
Max (10:17 PM, March 01, 2012)
How could someone possibly rate a camera that isn't even in stores? O_o
 
Marky (9:45 AM, February 22, 2012)
If you're a wedding photographer hold on to your D700. But, I'm pretty sure you know this. The D800 is OVERKILL when it comes to weddings only because we don't need that extra resolution. It's pretty much what I expected to come out. I am so lucky I didn't bother grabbing one. I would love to see the videos it produces though :]
 
Avatar for Joe Leong Joe Leong (2:40 PM, February 17, 2012)
Ordered my D800 and D4. No issues or complaints whatsoever. Let's shoot
 
Makjabari (4:12 AM, February 14, 2012)
which is better, to have higher true resolution (i.e. 36 mb) or higher sensor pixel size (i.e. 74)
 
Reloo (2:13 PM, February 10, 2012)
 But if a image taken by D800 with 36MB and high ISO, then shrinked to 16MB compared with a D4 image at the same ISO and 16MB. Will the result with noise still be better with D4 than D800?
 
Ongopt (4:11 AM, February 10, 2012)
Too bad Nikon succumbed to the pixel wars. Bumping 12 to 36 means lower ISO and lower dynamic range. Instead of a versatile camera like the D700, we now have a camera limited to portraits and landscapes. The stat above for D700 frame rate is wrong. It has always been able tl shoot 5 fps and 8 with the grip and battery like I have.

The D700 was mini D3. The D800 is none of that. If yoy want high performance at pro level in landscapes, portraits and sports there is only one option now: the $6000 D4. Before there was a choice. One could get the D700 which offered a huge chunk of the D3's performance for almost half the price. Maybe that is what Nikon is trying to do and say: if you want to play with the big boys, there is now a very high price of admission. I'll be keeping my very versatile D700 until it dies.
 
Avatar for Сергей Зубов Сергей Зубов (7:24 PM, February 07, 2012)
oh no:(
 
Reloo (7:53 AM, February 07, 2012)
 It's now official! :)
 
Reloo (7:52 AM, February 07, 2012)
Very nice! I wish I know more about how it's working with high ISO though.. and some compare images. But I'll guess it will show up as soon as people are allowed to test shoot the D800 :)
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:05 PM, January 30, 2012)
Nikon Rumors published rumored specs
 
Avatar for Сергей Зубов Сергей Зубов (8:30 PM, January 29, 2012)
Hey where do you took this info abt 36mpx D800's sensor. I don't beleive