Nikon D800 Vs. Nikon D700 Specs Comparison

Now that the Nikon D800 is released, I am sure many photographers will be interested in seeing feature differences between the now obsolete Nikon D700 and the new D800. In this Nikon D800 vs Nikon D700 comparison, I will write about the specifications of both cameras and talk about their differences. Please keep in mind that the information below is purely based on specifications. A detailed comparison with image samples and ISO comparisons will be provided once I get a hold of the Nikon D800 in March.

Model Nikon D800 Nikon D700
Effective Pixels 36.3 million 12.1 million
Sensor Size 35.9mm x 24mm 36.0mm x 23.9mm
File Format Still Images JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression
NEF (RAW): lossless compressed 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed
TIFF (RGB)
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline-Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60 percent
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless Compressed): approx. 60-80 percent
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
TIFF (RGB)
Uncompressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW)
Picture Control Landscape
Monochrome
Neutral
Portrait
Standard
User-customizable Settings
Vivid
Monochrome
Neutral
Nine User-customizable Settings
Standard
Vivid
Storage Media CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA)
SD
SDHC
SDXC
CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA)
Card Slot 1 CompactFlash© (CF) card and 1 Secure Digital (SD) card 1 CompactFlash© (CF) card
Viewfinder Frame Coverage FX (36×24): 100% Horizontal and 100% Vertical Approx.
1.2x (30×20): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
DX (24×16): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
5:4 (30×24): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
95 % Approx.
Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x Approx. 0.72x Approx.
Interchangeable Focusing Screens
Lens Compatibility at a Glance*** AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible
Metering with AI lenses
AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible
Metering with AI lenses
Fastest Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec. 1/8000 sec.
Slowest Shutter Speed 30 sec. 30 sec.
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution 4 frames per second 5 frames per second
Scene Modes
Exposure Compensation ±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV ±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV in increments of 1/3
1/2
1
Exposure Bracketing 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
Mirror Lock Up Yes Yes
ISO Sensitivity ISO 100 – 6400
Lo-1 (ISO 50)
Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
ISO 200 – 6400
Lo-1 (ISO 100)
Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
Dynamic AF Mode Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking) Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
Auto-area AF Mode Yes Yes
Focus Modes Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A)
Continuous-servo (AF-C)
Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only
Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only
Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder
Normal area
Single-servo AF (AF-S)
Wide area
Auto
Continuous-servo (C)
Manual
Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder
Single-servo AF (S)
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points 51 51
Built-in Flash Yes Yes
Flash Bracketing 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
Top FP High Speed Sync Up to 1/8000 Up to 1/8000
Flash Sync Modes Front-curtain sync (normal)
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Slow sync
Front-curtain sync (normal)
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Slow sync
Flash Compensation -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) CLS Supported Built-in flash Commander Mode
CLS Supported
White Balance Auto (2 types)
Choose color temperature (2500K–10000K)
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored)
Shade
Auto (2 types)
Auto (TTL white balance with 2,016-pixel RGB sensor)
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Fine Tune by Kelvin color temperature setting (2,500 K to 10,000K)
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset manual (up to 5 values can be stored)
Seven manual modes with fine-tuning
Shade
White Balance Bracketing 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV 2 to 9 exposures
Live View Shooting Photography Live View Mode
Movie Live View Mode
Handheld mode
Tripod mode
Movie HD 1,920×1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 24 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 60 fps
Movie Audio Built-in microphone, monaural
External stereo microphone (optional)
Monitor Size 3.2 in. diagonal 3.0 in. diagonal
Monitor Resolution 921,000 Dots 921,000 Dots
Monitor Type Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD Super Density
Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
Playback Functions Auto Image Rotation
Full-Frame and Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar)
Histogram Display
Image Comment
Movie Playback
Movie Slideshow
Playback with Zoom
Slideshow
Highlights
Auto Image Rotation
Full Frame
Highlight Point Display
Histogram Display
Slideshow
Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments)
Zoom
In-Camera Image Editing Color Outline
Color Sketch
D-Lighting
Distortion Control
Edit Movie
Filter Effects
Fisheye
Image Overlay
Miniature Effect
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Perspective Control
Quick Retouch
Red-eye Correction
Resize
Selective Color
Side-by-Side Comparison
Straighten
Trim
Color Balance
Color Balance
D-Lighting
Filter Effects
Image Overlay
Monochrome
Red-eye Correction
Trim
GPS GP-1 GPS unit GP-1 GPS unit
Battery / Batteries EN-EL15 Lithium-ion Battery EN-EL3e Lithium-ion Battery
Battery Life (shots per charge) 900 Battery Life (shots per charge) (CIPA) 1,000 shots (CIPA)
AC Adapter EH-5b AC Adapter
Requires EP-5B Power Supply Connector
EH-5a AC Adapter
Approx. Dimensions Width 5.7 in. (144.78mm)
Height 4.8 in. (121.92mm)
Depth 3.2 in. (81.28mm)
Width 5.8 in. (147mm)
Height 4.8 in. (123mm)
Depth 3.0 in. (77mm)
Approx. Weight 31.7 oz. (900g)camera body only 35 oz. (995g)camera body only
 Price $2,999.00 $2,199.95