Nikon D3X

80

Winner

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
True resolution
High true resolution
24.4 MP
Nikon D7000

69

Runner-up

Nikon D7000

"The D7000's Live View is certainly quite functional as a basic means of framing for stills and video shooting, as long as you understand its limitations"
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's video-quality
"The 'feel' of the new camera is far closer to the D300S though, thanks to its heavy-duty magnesium alloy construction."
dpreview.com | talking about the D7000's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3X

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 1,167 ISO
Help
The D3X has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 1050 shots
Help
More than 4x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 80.0
Help
10% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
Around 30% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 161 ms vs 238 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 39
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
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 D7000

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 132x105x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.1x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D7000's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Much cheaper $999.99 vs $7,996.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $6,997 cheaper (8x less)
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 780 g vs 1,260 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 5 fps
Help
20% faster continuous shooting
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
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
80 vs 69
Explain scores
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X. 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.

advice

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0
votes
by Vgill25 this month
Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D3X

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

0
votes
by Darlene-Palesh-Carlo yesterday
Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D7000

I used a Minolta SRT-201 30 years ago and loved it!  I want something that can duplicate the qua...

1
votes
by Elisabeth-Williams last month
Nikon D60 vs Nikon D7000

i have had the d60 for a couple of years and i am looking to transfer or upgrade to the d7000. s...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" The D7000 is better than the D60 in every way (except being bigger and heavier). With respect t..."

One person recommends the Nikon D60:

" If budget is a concern, you should also consider the possibility of buying a faster lens for you..."

1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."

0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D3X:13.7 EV
D7000:13.9 EV
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3X:88.0
D7000:80.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3X:24.7 bits
D7000:23.5 bits
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
D3X:51
D7000:39
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
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
D7000:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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
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

Nikon D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Nikon D3X Nikon D7000
Nikon D3X Nikon D7000
Nikon D3X Nikon D7000

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Vmitri (10:04 PM, December 20, 2011)
im an owner for the D7000, I have to say that my experience with this camera is amazing, there is nothing i can want in a camera that it does not exist some how in the D7000. My only issue is that its not a Full frame camera and thats all.

however i was going through the comparison between the D3x and D7000 and I'm surprised that in your results that the D7000 is better even in image quality then all the cameras. i guess that your reports and results is not based on any technical comparison. i have not used the D3x however i cant believe that $8000 top of the line cameras can be rated less then the entry level.

i guess you need to think twice about your rating.