Nikon
D3X
 vs
Nikon
D700

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3X vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

88
"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality

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
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Nikon D3X

87
Tie

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
 Around 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 80.0
Help
 10% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 161 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,992 ISO
Help
 The D700 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Significantly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D700's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,649.00 vs $7,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,348 cheaper (3x less)
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Lighter 1,074 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
87 vs 88
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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0
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1
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2 people recommend the Nikon D700:

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" The D700 is a full-frame camera and has much better image quality in low light conditions (accor..."
0
votes
by Vgill25 this month
Nikon D3X vs Nikon D7000

I love taking photos, all kind of photos. I love it when it is sharp and stunning.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D3X:1,992 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3X:88.0
D700:80.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3X:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3X:24.7 bits
D700:23.5 bits
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D3X:0.70x
D700:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3X:1,260 g
D700:1,074 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3X:1,600 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D3X:None
D700:25,600 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Compare the D800 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3X
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
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 D3X
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3X
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the D3X
Compare the D300S vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3X
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D700

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3X
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,135 - $9,321 body only
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS-1Ds vs the D3X

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D3X Nikon D700
Nikon D3X Nikon D700
Nikon D3X Nikon D700

discussion

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