- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How they compare
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Compare with...
- Sony SLT-A99
- Nikon D600
- Nikon D700
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- Nikon D3
Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (May, 2012)Boasting a 36-megapixel FX format sensor, the Nikon D800 is currently the highest-resolution “35mm size” digital SLR camera in the world.
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The viewfinder displays all key exposure information including the ISO speed, and there are four metering modes including a tighter 1.5% Spot metering mode, useful in tricky lighting conditions as an alternative to the excellent and consistent Evaluative metering system.
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Nikon D800 compared to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
MP36.2
Full frame
Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (May, 2012)Featuring a remarkable 36 megapixel full-frame sensor, the D800 also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage.
22.1 MP
Full frame
Rated 82% by by c|net (Jan, 2009)Raw images look great and unambiguously better through ISO 1600, though.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 36.2 MP   | 40 MP |
D800 by KD (Jun, 2012)The beauty of a high megapixel camera is that it makes your pictures better at the same megapixel size as your last camera!
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)Although the specification on the box says 1080p, with regards resolution the 5D Mark III is a huge let down and the $600 Panasonic GH2 offers a far more detailed 'true 1080p' image (whilst maintaining a relatively large sensor for video and interchangeable lens mount).
sensor size
D800 by Jiunjr-Feng--Robert (Apr, 2012)D800 is my first full frame camera, which I wasn't thinking full frame to be necessary because of good flash is able to handle low light condition, which seems the most key reason for people to choose full frame.
EOS 5D Mark III by DOBrien--We-review-stuff. (Mar, 2012)If you have the cash and are looking for a full frame with video capabilities, this is an excellent choice with the improvements made.
viewfinder size
D800 by Photography Blog (May, 2012)Otherwise the Nikon D800 is a highly dependable and capable camera that offers a versatile and improved auto focus system, an enhanced viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and a very good movie mode.
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)The size of the viewfinder is a key factor in usability - the bigger it is, the easier it is to frame and focus your shots, and the more enjoyable and involving process it is.
body size
146 x 123 x 82 mm
152 x 116 x 76 mm
D800 by Clint (Aug, 2012)It exceeds the quality of medium format film cameras in a much more portable size and weight.
EOS 5D Mark III by C.-Concepcion (Apr, 2012)The camera is not heavy I would say but with the lens and the first all day shooting I felt the weight.
focus points
| 0 | 61 | 70 |
D800 by P.-SUSo good I am willing to not use any other focus points but the center one for now, until Nikon release a service advisory for it.
Performance Real world tests of Nikon D800 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III
DxOMark image quality
D800 by Doctor.GenerosityFewer pixels would have enhanced colors and dynamic range and contrast, the non-MP ingredients of meaningful image quality.
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)The Canon EOS 5D Mark III's out-of-camera JPEGs offer good colors, tonality and dynamic range with a very smooth highlight roll-off but in terms of pixel-level detail the images are not quite as good as we might expect from a 22MP sensor with a Canon L-lens mounted in front of it.
DxOMark low light performance
D800 by J.-Blaha--JrThe automatic white balance in absolutely amazing in low light conditions, as I shot landscape under a full-moon with long exposure the other night, and it looked like the shot was taken during daylight, complete with the blue sky with stars visible and white clouds, which made for a nice wow factor.
EOS 5D Mark III by DL (Jan, 2013)Canon 5diii (with 28~105mm L, and 70~300mm L lens) to my eyes has most natural color, very sharp, like high end audio tube analog components vs digital sound (Nikon), unbelievable low light performance, great auto mode, great focus speed, you do not need much skill to take great photos.
shutter lag
| 0 ms | 120 ms | 200 ms |
D800 by Photography Blog (May, 2012)The Nikon D800 lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well for exposure times of practically any length, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography.
EOS 5D Mark III by J.-Howell (Apr, 2012)Shutter lag and mirror blackout is now faster than before and leads to a more instant, responsive feel while shooting.
continuous shooting
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)In terms of continuous shooting the EOS 5D Mark III is not quite on the same level as dedicated sports and action cameras such as Canon's EOS-1D Mark IV, but nevertheless its 6 frames per second in Continuous Hi mode still make it a capable tool for shooting fast moving subjects.
battery life
900 photos
950 photos
EOS 5D Mark III by c|net (Jan, 2009)The Mark II uses a new battery pack, the LP-E6, which seems to last a reasonably long time: it's CIPA rated at between 750 and 850 shots, depending upon temperature.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
| Much better overall image quality | 95.0 | vs | 81.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 20% better image quality | |||
| Much better dynamic range | 14.4 ev | vs | 11.7 ev |
| More than 20% better dynamic range | |||
| Much higher resolution | 36.2 MP | vs | 22.1 MP |
| More than 60% higher resolution; Capture more detail, good for large prints | |||
| Much more color depth | 25.3 bits | vs | 24.0 bits |
| Around 10% more color depth | |||
| Has a built-in flash | Built in flash | vs | None |
| About half of cameras have a built-in flash; Take photos in low-light with no extra gear | |||
| Less noise at high ISO | 2,853 ISO | vs | 2,293 ISO |
| More than 20% higher low light performance | |||
| Significantly more highly reviewed by consumers | 89.35% | vs | 87.13% |
| Almost the same | |||
| Less startup delay | 200 ms | vs | 500 ms |
| 2.5x less startup delay; Be ready for anything | |||
Advantages compared to the Nikon D800
| Significantly more cross-type focus points | 41 | vs | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 more cross type focus points; Easier and faster focusing in low light | |||
| Significantly less delay taking photos | 120 ms | vs | 209 ms |
| More than 40% less shutter lag; Avoid missing spontaneous moments | |||
| Higher light sensitivity | 102,400 ISO | vs | 25,600 ISO |
| 4x higher light sensitivity; Avoid blur in low light situations | |||
| Faster rapid fire | 6 fps | vs | 4 fps |
| 50% faster continuous shooting; Take photos in rapid succession to capture motion | |||
| More phase-detection focus points | 61 | vs | 51 |
| 10 more phase detection focus points; Faster autofocus in reasonably lit settings | |||
| Significantly thinner | 76 mm | vs | 82 mm |
| Around 10% thinner | |||
| Smaller | 152 x 116 x 76 mm | vs | 146 x 123 x 82 mm |
| Around 10% smaller | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Nikon D800 | Canon EOS 5D Mark III | ||
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 | Rated by 236 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by Charles (Jun, 2012) Rated 20% by by E.-K.-Wlin (Jul, 2012) | Rated by 174 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012) Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012) Rated 100% by by Greg-K (Aug, 2012) | |
sensor
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by TrustedReviews (May, 2012)When set to any of these alternative aspects/sensor sizes the D800 helpfully displays the area covered with a black outline in the viewfinder to make easier work of composing your image.
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by Guillermo-CB (Aug, 2012)High Dynamic Range, new focusing alternatives, High ISO low noise, larger LCD and of course the best sensor in market makes D800 teh best camera you can get for the price.
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by E.-Ford--Ed-Ford (Jun, 2012)In addition, though the D800 is a full frame sensor camera it will use my APS-C lenses as well - it simply switches to DX (Nikon's term for APS-C) mode and includes a black frame in the view finder to show the coverage of the lens.
focus
Nikon D800 | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)The D800's fast and accurate phase-detection AF system is not available in live view mode, which of course, includes video recording.
Nikon D800 | Rated 40% by by A.-Amiri (Jun, 2012)We conclude that the issue with the accuracy of the outer AF focus points of the D800 is real and probably affects all units out there to some (varying) extent.
Nikon D800 | Rated 60% by by Fabian-GonzalesGiven that your new D800 is likely to have the same AF issue, and given that the sensor is so demanding it will expose every single flaw of every one of your lenses, expect to send both your camera and lenses in to Nikon for service.
image quality
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by TrustedReviews (May, 2012)Similarly, there are no digital filters or panoramic modes, although the D800 does offer the standard range of Picture Control settings that can be used to customise the look of still images and videos by adjusting sharpness, contrast, saturation and hue values.
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by kennThe D800 is phenomenal in all aspects: color saturation, spectral hi-light defination, resolution, linear sharpness - you name it: It's got it above ALL other DSLR's and most medium and large format film cameras.
Nikon D800 | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)The D800's low light focusing ability is impressive, among the better performing cameras we've seen.
iso
Nikon D800 | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)Fortunately, the D800 also excels in areas that require no extra effort on your part; notably its impressive high ISO performance, fast and accurate AF system and the wide dynamic range of its image files.
Nikon D800 | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)The D800's viewfinder displays a comprehensive set of shooting information including exposure mode and metering pattern, alongside shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation and ISO.
Nikon D800 | Rated 60% by by Doctor.GenerosityI would have much preferred if the D800 had used their D4 sensor with 16MP and ISO up to 100,000, which would allow me to take more unusual pictures and have more latitude in aperture and shutter speed.
autofocus
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by lunitic (May, 2012)Add in latest-gen processing power to handle a 35mm FX sensor rated at 36 MP with an autofocus system not dissimilar from that on the D4 and the D800 pulls an astonishing amount of detail out of the whole frame across a huge range of exposure.
Nikon D800 | Rated 100% by by E.-Bowles (May, 2012)The new AF system of the D800 is excellent - very quick and accurate.
Nikon D800 | Rated 40% by by A.-Amiri (Jun, 2012)I tried to include links to them but Amazon won't let me, but a quick search for 'D800 left point Auto Focus problem' will give you the information you need.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Sony SLT-A99 Highest resolution screen |
 | 2 | Nikon D600 Least noise at high ISO |
 | 3 | Nikon D700 OK viewfinder |
 | 4 | Canon EOS 5D Mark II 5-way tie: Largest sensor |
 | 5 | Nikon D3 Most shots per battery charge |
 | 6 | Canon EOS 6D Much faster benchmarked shot to shot times |
 | 7 | Sony SLT A77 Fastest rapid fire mode |
 | 8 | Canon EOS 7D 6-way tie: Has a built-in flash |
Popular Questions
July 6, 2012
If you were to switch camera brands, which camera would you buy?
Tell us what camera you have already, and what camera you would get if you had to switch camera brands.
Beginner I
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Answers October 17, 2012
Why would you select the A99 over the D800 or 5D MKIII?
I own a Canon 60D with a few lenses, but am thinking of jumping into the full framed world, I'm not glued to Canon and I have no issues leaving them behind. I'll be using it as an all-purpose be...
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Wedding photography
As a wedding photographer, I want a camera with great image quality that also performs well in low light. I see the D800 is a better camera overall and has significantly better image quality, is...
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November 22, 2012
Image Quality
Hi There I take photos of two things: 1. People - portraits, parties, weddings 2. Sporting Events and other events I 'm wondering which camera is best for me, because i believe that has...
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Answers Community What does Sortable's community think
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Nikon D800
51% of users recommend the Nikon D800 over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Nikon D800
Peter-Berardi 
Intermediate I
Given the two I'd go with the D800. I don't think the Canon is worth the extra $500 that could go towards new lenses. From what I have seen, shot by a friend who owns an 800, it shoots incredibly... View Peter-Berardi's recommendation
- 0 comments
- October 16, 2012
- Reply to: Wedding photography
Dastan-Zhumagulov 
Beginner II
*Amazing image quality - check dxomark.com scores - d800 is top sensor quality-wise *AF assist for shooting in low light without flash - 5d m3 does not have that *Amazing quality low price... View Dastan-Zhumagulov's recommendation
- 0 comments
- October 17, 2012
- Reply to: Why would you select the A99 over the D800 or 5D MKIII?
Peter-Berardi
Intermediate I
Given the two I'd go with the D800. I don't think the Canon is worth the extra $500 that could go towards new lenses. From what I have seen, shot by a friend who owns an 800, it shoots incredibly... View Peter-Berardi's recommendation
- 0 comments
- October 16, 2012
- Reply to: Can't Decide
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Crisandjason-Langley 
Beginner II
The 5DMKIII handles iso noise better than anything I've seen. Canon L glass is legendary, 85 f1.2 and 50 f1.2 are probably the best lenses in their class. NIkon bodies have great ergonomics and I... View Crisandjason-Langley's recommendation
- 0 comments
- October 14, 2012
- Reply to: Wedding photography
heuscher 
Intermediate II
If you are open to either and there isn't a particular lens from either you 'must have', then the fundamental difference is the sensor. It's not possible to say one is better than the other. so... View heuscher's recommendation
- 0 comments
- July 16, 2012
- Reply to: Can't Decide
Guy-Levavi 
Beginner I
I'm a nikon guy But The mk III does better at video than the D800 Less megapixels =less noise View Guy-Levavi's recommendation
- 0 comments
- May 28, 2012
- Reply to: For video only: lowlight, sharpness, focus & post grading?
