Nikon
D800
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Sony NEX-7n

Nikon D800

81

  
Sony NEX-7

55

  
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 24 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the NEX-7
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Overall image quality Better image quality 95.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 900 shots vs 430 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Screen size Larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 More than 15x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 200 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
 6x less delay when turning on
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13.4 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 24.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 5.9x smaller
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Weight Much lighter 350 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 2.9x lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 1.3 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.2"
Help
 2.2x thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $948.00 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,849 cheaper (3x less)
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
81 vs 55
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
D800:36.2 MP
NEX-7:24 MP
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D800:95.0
NEX-7:81.0
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D800:14.4 EV
NEX-7:13.4 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Color depth Good color depth Help
D800:25.3 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor cleaning Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D800:Pentaprism
NEX-7:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D800:1/8000s
NEX-7:1/4000s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 7D vs the NEX-7
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-7
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the SLT A77 vs the D800
Compare the SLT A77 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the D800
Compare the D5200 vs the NEX-7
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-7

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Size Smaller
Weight Lighter
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D600 vs the D800
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Size Significantly larger
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Slightly smaller
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Movie format Does not take movies
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
Size Smaller
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-7
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX-7
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,114 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,000 body only

$1,399 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the X-E1 vs the NEX-7
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the NX300 vs the NEX-7

appearance

Nikon D800 Sony NEX-7
Nikon D800 Sony NEX-7
Nikon D800 Sony NEX-7

discussion

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