Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Nikon D700

88

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
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

82

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.74x
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,431 ISO
Help
The D700 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
Around 2x more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
Almost the same
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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 880 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
20% less delay when turning on
Size Slightly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A900

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.72x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 183 ms vs 197 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 895 g vs 1,074 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A900
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D700 Nikon D700
88 vs 82
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

advice

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0
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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
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D700:80.0
DSLR-A900:79.0
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D700:0.72x
DSLR-A900:0.74x
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
DSLR-A900:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
D700:23.5 bits
DSLR-A900:23.7 bits
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
D700:1,074 g
DSLR-A900:895 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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D700:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A900:1,600 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
Size Fairly small Help
D700:147x123x77 mm
DSLR-A900:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D700:$2,649.00
DSLR-A900:$2,892.58
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D700:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A900:6,400 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D700:1000 shots
DSLR-A900:880 shots
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D700:15
DSLR-A900:1
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
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
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
Thickness Is 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 Records higher quality movies
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
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
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
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

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Pro DSLR

$2,900 with 28-75mm lens

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Viewfinder coverage Less viewfinder coverage

appearance

Nikon D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Nikon D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Nikon D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Lindsey Knipp Lindsey Knipp (9:26 AM, February 28, 2012)
Why does it say the A900 doesn't have built in HDR? It does.