Nikon
D800
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (December, 2011): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D800

86

  
Nikon D90

58

  
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 D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Size
 Really small
Professional size 132x103x77 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the D90
Overall image quality Much better image quality 95.0 vs 73.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 3x more detail in your photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
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
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.63x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 930k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
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 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D800's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much 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 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 900 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Nikon D90
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 Lighter 703 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $674.95 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,122 cheaper (4.1x less)
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
86 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
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
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D800:200 ms
D90:300 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
D90:4.5 fps
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800:Contrast detection
D90:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D800:6,400 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

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 D90
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
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 D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
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
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
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 D90
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the D90

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
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 D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90

appearance

Nikon D800 Nikon D90
Nikon D800 Nikon D90
Nikon D800 Nikon D90

discussion

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