Nikon
D3
 vs
Nikon
D700

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

100
Winner

Nikon D700
"It has the same ultra solid feel as its bigger (and smaller) brother, and the same magnesium alloy body and soft rubber grips front and back."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's build-quality
"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

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Nikon D3

97
Runner-up

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
4300 shots
Focus points
 Many focus points
51

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
 Around 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 80% faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when taking photos
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Size Much smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,749.99 vs $6,682.39
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,932 cheaper (2.4x less)
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Weight Lighter 1,074 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
97 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD3
 Nikon D3 vs Nikon D700
NikonD700
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
5
34
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
29
6
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
18
15
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
26
10
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
26
10
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
26
11
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
D3:2,290 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3:81.0
D700:80.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D3:0.70x
D700:0.72x
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
922k dots
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
15
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3:300 ms
D700:400 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3:1,300 g
D700:1,074 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.1 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,160 - $2,400 body only

$2,799 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$4,999 - $5,197 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the D3
Compare the D3S vs the D700
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
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 D3
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$849 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the D90 vs the D3
Compare the D90 vs the D700
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the D3
Compare the D300S vs the D700

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D700
Nikon D3 Nikon D700
Nikon D3 Nikon D700

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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