In our autofocus test, the D800 proved slightly slower than the D700 in very bright light, but either the same or faster in average and dim lighting. If you don’t plan to print an image very large, you will occasionally be able to get good results at ISO 6400. If you apply heavy noise reduction, you should be able to bring ISO 6400 down to acceptable levels while maintaining a lot of resolving power.

While the D800 managed to hold noise to a Low or better rating only up to ISO 800, it remained in acceptable territory up to ISO 3200. Even at its worst, the D800 out-resolves the D700 at its best-that camera delivered 2420 lines at ISO 100. The D800 held resolution above 3000 lines all the way to ISO 3200, where it resolved 3330 lines. It’s also more than Nikon’s D3X, which turned in 3180 lines in the same test. That’s almost 300 more than the Sony Alpha 900’s 24.6MP sensor delivered at its lowest sensitivity of ISO 100. At ISO 50, it served up 3510 lines per picture height. The D800 has enough resolution for an Excellent rating through all but its top ISO of 25,600. The benefit of all those pixels is the highest resolution we have seen yet from a 35mm-format DSLR. The camera’s limiting factor was noise: With its record-setting number of pixels (for a 24x36mm full-frame sensor) noise proves to be a challenge as sensitivity rises. In the Test Lab The Nikon D800 earned an Excellent rating in overall Image Quality from ISO 50 through ISO 800. But the D800 shoots at a slightly lower burst rate and produces more noise at very high ISOs than the 5D Mark III, which has smaller image files and fewer pixels to contend with.Īre the D800’s incredibly detailed images enough to make you forget about the Canon’s charms? Ultimately, it depends on your priorities as a photographer. Now Nikon’s new D800 ($3,000, street, body only) leaps forward with a 36.3MP sensor that leaves Canon’s EOS 5D Mark III playing resolution catch-up. Despite its lower resolution (the Nikon’s 12.1MP sensor trailed the Canon’s 21.1MP), the D700 offered plenty of bang for the buck-with a pop-up flash to top it all off. When the Nikon D700 hit the market in 2008, it fought off competition from Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II with a much fancier autofocus system, a slightly faster burst rate, and comparable sensitivity settings. How does the Nikon D800 stack up against its competition the Canon 5D Mark III Check out our in-depth comparison in the Buying Guide.

Nikon d800