| Introduction | Hands-on | Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4 | Nikon D800 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II | Nikon D800 vs Nikon D700 | Sensor performance | Conclusion |

The table comparing the two cameras’ technical specifications is very telling: the Nikon D800 is radically superior to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
The D800 has largely erased Canon’s lead in certain domains such as resolution and video. Further, the D800 brings with it some important improvements to areas in which Nikon was already strong: an autofocus and a finish and even a viewfinder at 100% worthy of the term “professional.”
| Nikon D800 | Canon EOS 5D Mark II | |
| Resolution | 36,8 megapixels | 21,1 megapixels |
| ISO latitude | 100 to 6 400 (expendable to 25 600 ISO) | 100 to 6 400 (expendable to 25 600 ISO) |
| Autofocus | “enhanced” Multi-Cam 3500-FX AF system with 51 focus points 15 of the points are cross-type sensors 11 midpoints can operate at f/8 |
9 focus points |
| Exposure metering | Scene Recognition System with 91k pixel RGB metering sensor | TTL 35 zone SPC metering with 4 variations |
| Video | 1080p Full HD mode up to 30 fps, HDMI video output, audio out, and mic. Input | 1080p Full HD mode up to 30 fps |
| Viewfinder | 100% - magnifiction 0,7x | 98% - magnifiction 0,71x |
| Screen | 3" / 921 000 dots with 170° viewing angle | 3" / 921 000 point |
| Frame rate | 4 fps (6 fps in DX format -15 MPixels crop- with MB-D12 grip and EN-EL18 batteries) | 3,9 fps |
| Built-in flash | Yes | No |
| External flash sync | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0,900 kg | 0,810 kg |
| Battery life | 850 photos | 850 photos |
| Price | $2,999 | |
| Weather sealing | Similar to D700 | No |
We are waiting to see just how Canon will respond to this challenge.
As for image quality, the D800 will doubtless meet all expectations with respect to sensitivity as well as to resolution. It will be very interesting indeed to compare the DxOMark results for the 5D Mark II and the D800 so as to verify that the Nikon has taken full advantage of its sensor specifications.
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Added by cwms |
February 01
Hmmmm
I'm curious why DxOMark lists the D800 as "semi-pro" and the 5D Mark III as "Professional", they even called the 5d Canon's "Flagship" in their review(?) Am I mistaken, or are these two cameras in the same class?
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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |
February 11
Re: Hmmmm
Hello,
No you're right! These 2 cams are in the same class. Between professional and semi pro… They do not replace the 1Ds Mark III and D3x so their marketing segment are slightly ambiguous... Kind regards, Emilie Reply |
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Added by Max Dof |
January 17
Best camera sensor ever, but no lenses tested after almost a year?
Dxo rates the D800/D800E higher than any other camera sensor. You would think they would be interested to see how well various lenses perform with it. It's now been almost a year since the camera's been released and, to date, they have tested only one lens with it; and the lens they chose to test? A cheap Tamron.
Please, let's see some tests with the kinds of lenses a Nikon D800 user is likely to own. Maybe even a Nikon lens... Start with a few decent primes, like the 16mm, 24mm, 60mm, 85mm f/1.4 105mm and/or 200mm. Then a few of the decent zooms, like the 12-24mm, 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and/or 200-400mm. Any D800 owner will have one or more of those lenses in their kits. It would be nice to know how my new D800E stacks up against the camera I upgraded from. Just knowing how the sensor alone compares isn't all that useful, since I rarely shoot without a lens on my camera. What do you say? By the way, for those interested in whether the D800E produces moire in the real world: I've shot over 4,000 photos on the D800E, including lot of shots with textiles and architecture, and so far, there's been zero moire. Reply |
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Added by vigorotaku |
November 20, 2012
D4 vs D800
My main Reasons for the D4:
1)Speed of focus - I can't use my 85 f/1.4 or 24 f/1.4 on my D3 or on a D800 and have it focus fast enough to get in focus shots of toddlers or other erratically moving things. 2)Ethernet port ethernet tethering- I use a Netgear WNCE2001 and Mophie Powerstation Gen 2 which works quite well. D4 Wireless Tethering Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by My Self |
November 22, 2012
Re: D4 vs D800Quote: <div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D800">this page on the website</a></div>My main Reasons for the D4: 1)Speed of focus - I can't use my 85 f/1.4 or 24 f/1.4 on my D3 or on a D800 and have it focus fast enough to get in focus shots of toddlers or other erratically moving things. 2)Ethernet port ethernet tethering- I use a Netgear WNCE2001 and Mophie Powerstation Gen 2 which works quite well. <a href="http://vigorotaku.blogspot.com/2012/11/d4-wireless-tethering.html">D4 Wireless Tethering</a> Please tell me you're a pro who works for Parents magazine or some such. We now need a D4 to take snapshots of toddlers? First world problems. LOL Reply |
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Added by fishnose |
November 22, 2012
Re: D4 vs D800Quote: Please tell me you're a pro who works for Parents magazine or some such. We now need a D4 to take snapshots of toddlers? First world problems. LOL He MUST be joking, I can't imagine any other explanation.... Reply |
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Added by Rogerio Medeiros |
November 06, 2012
D800 vs D600
I am considering one of these cameras. I have read many reviews but none has given a definitive answer to image enlargement. I intend to print the files at 40X60 to 40X80, with interpolation, of course. It seems, from what I read, that a minimal camera shake, even from the mirror movement might not reveal the extra resolution of the sensor. Besides the array of lenses suited to work with the D800 in order to bring out all of its qualities seems to be rather limited and expensive. Ultimately will the 30% increase in pixel count make such a big difference for the print sizes I'm aiming at?
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Added by fishnose |
November 06, 2012
Re: D800 vs D600
The D800 is an exceptional camera in all situations. I use it for everything, including fast action, as well as for live evening performances without flash at iso 6400. Hand held in all situations. No shake troubles at all. And the images look great.
As long as you have reasonably disciplined technique, it's not any more 'difficult' to use than other cameras. That said, the D600's 24MP is a LOT. Just think - the highest resoluton DSLR in the world was 24MP until just a year ago (D3x) - so the D600 will do a fantastic job. And it has a far better sensor than the D3x, it's much faster, has better iso etc.... Reply |
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Added by pepegidwa |
October 16, 2012
Where are the lens tests? !!!
Where are the lens tests?
Where are the lens tests? Where are the lens tests? Reply |
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Added by My Self |
September 20, 2012
Where are the lens tests?
In the article you said:
"Even though the D800’s sensor results are exceptional, we are looking forward to measuring the best Nikon lenses on it" Where are the tests? Reply |
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Added by electronicbazaar |
August 18, 2012
Nikon D800
The D800/D800E render levels of texture, nuance and detail to your photography that, until now, have been the exclusive domain of the complicated medium-format system. Define every eyelash, every line in tree bark, and every shimmer of light. Savor the exceptional depth in your still images — with the combination of an astounding 36.3 effective megapixel, the world's highest*, and the outstanding performance of NIKKOR lenses, you can. Enlarge them as big as A1 poster-sized prints (59.4 x 84.1 cm/23.4 x 33.1 in.) at 200 dpi, or crop aggressively to reach the composition you desire, all without sacrificing the detail and tonal range of the original. In order to maintain clean, high-resolution images, 14-bit A/D conversion within the sensor and a high signal-to-noise ratio deliver phenomenal images in a diverse array of situations. The image sensor's incredible potential does not stop with photography, either. For cinematographers ready to put their exceptionally sharp NIKKOR lenses into action, the D800/D800E's 36.3 effective megapixel data is efficiently processed for exquisite 1080p broadcast quality video at 30p.
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Added by koleh77 |
May 07, 2012
thanks for test
I`ll soon buy this new king !
I hope this is great camera ! Thank You a lot for test !!! ------------------------------- http://photo-wed.blogspot.com/ Reply |
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Added by wmac |
April 02, 2012
What is the point of D4 then?
Now that the sensor does not have any considerable advantage?
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Added by SLRist |
April 13, 2012
Re: What is the point of D4 then?
How about the fact that it shoots 10fps?
Horses for courses. Sport and news do not need 36MP. They want speed and ultra low-light shooting. Reply |
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Added by fishnose |
April 19, 2012
Re: What is the point of D4 then?Quote: Better battery life? Hardly. You can use the D4 battery in the D800 if you have the grip and the right grip cover. Reply |
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Added by eireann |
March 29, 2012
D800 price
Here in Singapore they offer the D800 for S$4488 which is 20% above the price in the USA, 2999US$ and lower than the hefty price Europeans have to pay....2900Euro
I think the camera should be sold everywhere at the same price. I am now thinking of asking an American friend to buy the camera for me there and bring it over. Maybe I even go for the D800E which is cheaper in the US than here the D800. @impurenrg...I think you got things confused here. The D800 sensor was rated higher than the D700 sensor. Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by PapaRomeo |
April 12, 2012
Re: D800 price
Well the US price is with no sales tax. The Europe price is with VAT. Vat ranges from 17% - 25% in different EU countries. Crazy! But the VAT 0% price is about 2200 euros in Finland for instance. How does that compare to your price?
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Added by SLRist |
April 13, 2012
Re: D800 price
Beware - as Nikon camera body warranties are generally very restrictive, and if you buy one from elsewhere, you will not find a local dealer who is prepared to service it.
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