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

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
Pentax K-x

60

Runner-up

Pentax K-x

"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 123x92x68 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.7"
Weight
Light-weight
580 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 811 ISO
Help
The D700 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the K-x
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 72.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.56x
Help
Around 70% larger viewfinder
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 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
More than 30% more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 420 shots
Help
Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
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More than 30% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D700's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/6000s
Help
More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700

Advantages of the Pentax K-x

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 @ 24fps vs None
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Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 97 ms vs 197 ms
Help
2x less delay when taking photos
Size Significantly smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Significantly lighter 580 g vs 1,074 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.7" vs 3"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $674.92 vs $2,649.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,974 cheaper (3.9x less)
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D700 Nikon D700
81 vs 60
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
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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2 people recommend the Nikon D700:

" If you can afford it, you'll love the D700. I own one (along with a D70, and D200), and the high..."

" The D700 is a full-frame camera and has much better image quality in low light conditions (accor..."

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
D700:95%
K-x:96%
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D700:12.1 MP
K-x:12.2 MP
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D700:5 fps
K-x:4.7 fps
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D700:None
K-x:720p @ 24fps

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
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

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
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
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

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

Movie format Shoots movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality

appearance

Nikon D700 Pentax K-x
Nikon D700 Pentax K-x
Nikon D700 Pentax K-x

discussion

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