Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D700

81

Winner

Nikon D700

"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
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Nikon D5000

43

Runner-up

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
Light-weight
590 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 590 g vs 1,074 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $879.95 vs $2,649.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,769 cheaper (3x less)
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 868 ISO
Help
The D700 has excellent image quality 1.4 f-stops higher ISO than the D5000
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 2x larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 72.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 276 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 510 shots
Help
Around 2x more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D700'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 D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
43 vs 81
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D5000 or the D700,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Petter-Persson last month
Nikon D3S vs Nikon D700

I consider myself more as a professional then a beginner, have taking on some photography jobs wit...

0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."

0
votes
by Jithmi-Alwis last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

iam a beginner ...and need a good entry level dslr...which is cheap...and have great image stab...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The D3100 is a great starter camera"

0
votes
by Neeraj-Jain last week
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
votes
by telmanri this month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D5000

I'm photography enthusiast and I plan to move on for my first dSLR. I want to buy a refurbished ...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D5000:12.2 MP
D700:12.1 MP
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
D5000:3,200 ISO
D700:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5000:4 fps
D700:5 fps
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D5000:720p @ 24fps
D700:None

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
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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 significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has slightly less color depth

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 Shoots movies
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Focus points Many fewer focus points

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D700
Nikon D5000 Nikon D700
Nikon D5000 Nikon D700

discussion

Showing 0 comments