Nikon D800
Winner
Nikon D800

97

vs
Nikon D700

85

Nikon D700
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

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 | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 3x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 922k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Weight Slightly lighter 1,000 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,796.95 vs $3,399.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $603 cheaper (around 20% less)
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 197 ms vs 209 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Size Slightly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
97 vs 85
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

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
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
Focus points Many 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
D800:200 ms
D700:400 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Weight Heavy Help
D800:1,000 g
D700:1,074 g
Size Large Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
D700:147x123x77 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800:Contrast detection
D700:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D700:5 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

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) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Compare the D600 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
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 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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the D700
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 D700
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
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
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,405 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 6D 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