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Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Comparison

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Nikon D800E

36 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D800E
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Nikon D700

12 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D700
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Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing D800E and D700, two Advanced DSLR cameras by Nikon. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Nikon D800E has a 36.0 MP and Nikon D700 has a 12.0 MP resolution. Nikon D800E was introduced to market in June 2012 and Nikon D700 was launched in October 2008. As you can see, D700 is 4 years older than D800E. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D800E Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-06-11
  • 36MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 25600)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 4 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 900g. 146 x 123 x 82 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D700 Compare

Nikon D700 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-10-07
  • 12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 6400 ( expands to 100-25600)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 1074g. 147 x 123 x 77 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon D800E was replaced by Nikon D810. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800E
Nikon D810 vs Nikon D700

Nikon D700 was replaced by Nikon D750. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D750 vs Nikon D700
Nikon D750 vs Nikon D800E

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D800E over Nikon D700
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
36 MP vs 12 MP 200% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3" 0.2 inches larger display
Viewfinder Coverage
100% vs 95% More accurate viewfinder
Weight
900 g vs 1074 g 174 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Color Depth
25.6 vs 23.5 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.3 vs 12.2 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
2979 vs 2303 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs None Higher Resolution Video
Shutter Life Expectancy
200000 cycles vs 150000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
11 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds


Reasons to choose Nikon D700 over Nikon D800E
Viewfinder Magnification
0.72x vs 0.7x Larger Viewfinder
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 4.0fps 1 fps faster
Battery Life
1000 shots vs 900 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area
71.70µm2 vs 23.83µm2 200% larger pixel area

Common Strengths of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 922k dots High resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy
200000 cycles vs 150000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D800E has external dimensions of 146 x 123 x 82 mm (5.75 x 4.84 x 3.23″) and weighs 900 g (1.98 lb / 31.75 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D700 has external dimensions of 147 x 123 x 77 mm (5.79 x 4.84 x 3.03″) and weighs 1074 g (2.37 lb / 37.88 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700.

Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700.

Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D800E is significantly lighter (174g ) than the Nikon D700 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 have the same Nikon F lens mount and Full frame sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D800E
D700
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D800E
D700
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both D800E and D700 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D800E's 3.2" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon D700's 3" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D800E has a 36.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 3 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D700 has a 12.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed processor.

Nikon D800E's sensor provides 24MP more than Nikon D700's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D800E's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D800E and D700 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 Cameras


Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D800E has scored 96, 16 points higher than D700.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D800E 96 25.6 bits 14.3 Evs 2979 ISO
Nikon D700 80 23.5 bits 12.2 Evs 2303 ISO
Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 have the same Nikon F lens mount so have 309 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 106 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D800E Lenses # of Nikon D700 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 21 (18 Full Frame) 21 (18 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 48 (46 Full Frame) 48 (46 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 53 (43 Full Frame) 53 (43 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 45 (44 Full Frame) 45 (44 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 30 (6 Full Frame) 30 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 (3 Full Frame) 8 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 26 (23 Full Frame) 26 (23 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 11 (11 Full Frame) 11 (11 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 1 (0 Full Frame)
TOTAL 309 (228 Full Frame) 309 (228 Full Frame)

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for D800E and D700
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
35mm FF 425gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G
35mm FF 290gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
35mm FF 1340gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8G
35mm FF 185gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
35mm FF 745gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G
APS-C / DX 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR
APS-C / DX 530gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D800E for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon D700 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D800E for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon D700 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D800E for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D700 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
15 Cross Type Focus sensors
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 900 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1000 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D800E for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon D700 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
900g
Body Thickness 82mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1074g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details

Nikon D800E for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D700 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details

Nikon D800E vs Nikon D700: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D800E and Nikon D700, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D800E and Nikon D700 scores compare:

Nikon D800E
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #13 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #60 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Nikon D700
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #47 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #258 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon D800E is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D700 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon D800E
Nikon D800E
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Nikon D700
Nikon D700
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Nikon D700 vs Nikon D800E Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D800E Nikon D700
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2012-06-11 2008-10-07
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 861.60mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 36 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 7360 x 4912 4256 x 2832
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 25600 ISO 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 51 51
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 309 309
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.2" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7x 0.72x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) n/a
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 None
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 900g 1074g
Dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm 147 x 123 x 77mm
Battery Life 900 shots 1000 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 96 80
DxO Color Depth 25.6 23.5
DxO Dynamic Range 14.3 12.2
DxO Low Light ISO 2979 2303
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