Nikon
D700
 vs
Pentax
K-7

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-7

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
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
Pentax K-7

62
Runner-up

Pentax K-7

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-7

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
93 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 131x97x73 mm
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The D700 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the K-7
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 61.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700

Advantages of the Pentax K-7
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 93 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.5 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 131x97x73 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 750 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $1,299.62 vs $2,649.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,349 cheaper (2x less)
Pentax K-7 Learn more about
the Pentax K-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D700 Nikon D700
81 vs 62
Explain scores
Pentax K-7 Pentax K-7
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 pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
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
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D700:12.1 MP
K-7:14.5 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D700:6,400 ISO
K-7:3,200 ISO
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D700:None
K-7:720p @ 30fps

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
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Compare the D7000 vs the K-7
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
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-7
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
Compare the D5100 vs the K-7
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
Size Is slightly larger
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-7
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Compare the K-5 vs the D700
Compare the K-5 vs the K-7
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D700
Compare the D90 vs the K-7
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D300S vs the D700
Compare the D300S vs the K-7

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Thickness Thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D700

Pentax K-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the K-r vs the K-7
Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

Entry-level DSLR

$675 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Compare the K-x vs the K-7

appearance

Nikon D700 Pentax K-7
Nikon D700 Pentax K-7
Nikon D700 Pentax K-7

discussion

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