Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D80

Nikon D800

85

  
Nikon D80

34

  
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"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
 
Runner-up

Nikon D80

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Size
 Really small
Professional size 132x103x77 mm
Weight
 Light-weight
668 g
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 524 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 2.4 f-stops higher ISO than the D80
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 60% better image quality
Screen size Much larger screen 3.2" vs 2.5"
Help
 Around 30% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 3.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 3.5x more detail in your photos
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.62x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 200 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D80
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 668 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $1,707.70 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,089 cheaper (around 40% less)
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
85 vs 34
Explain scores
Nikon D80 Nikon D80
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D80:3 fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D800:6,400 ISO
D80:1,600 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800:Contrast detection
D80:None
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Compare the D600 vs the D80
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the D80
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D80
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D800
Compare the D90 vs the D80
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
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 D80
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the D800
Compare the D3200 vs the D80
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the D800
Compare the D5200 vs the D80

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
GPS Has a GPS
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the D80
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,081 body only
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the D200 vs the D80
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3000 vs the D80

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D80
Nikon D800 Nikon D80
Nikon D800 Nikon D80

discussion

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