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Canon 30D vs Nikon D780

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Nikon D780 front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
89
Overall
81

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Released April 2006
  • Succeeded the Canon 20D
  • Replacement is Canon 40D
Nikon D780
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 840g - 144 x 116 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2020
  • Old Model is Nikon D750
Photography Glossary

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Canon 30D and Nikon D780, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and D780 (25MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and D780 (Full frame) have different sensor sizing.

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The 30D was manufactured 14 years earlier than the D780 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the 30D matches up vs the D780 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Nikon D780

 30D D780 

Reasons to pick Nikon D780 over the Canon 30D

 D780 30D 
LaunchedJanuary 2020April 2006More modern by 167 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution2359k230kSharper screen (+2129k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon 30D and Nikon D780

 30D D780 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Canon 30D comes with external dimensions of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") having a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) whilst the Nikon D780 has sizing of 144mm x 116mm x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 840 grams (1.85 lbs).

Look at the Canon 30D and Nikon D780 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the 30D against the D780.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 30D and D780 is 58 and 57 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The image here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 30D and D780.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 30D featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Nikon D780 will offer you more detail due to its extra 17MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged 30D is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 30D Portrait photography features
Nikon D780 Portrait photography features
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (8MP)
86
manual focus
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D Street photography highlights
Nikon D780 Street photography highlights
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
71
screen tilts
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 30D Sports photography factors
Nikon D780 Sports photography factors
44
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (2,260 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D Travel photography details
Nikon D780 Travel photography details
42
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery life (2,260 shots)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus via touch
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 30D
Landscape photography with Nikon D780
46
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
81
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery life (2,260 CIPA)
2 card slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D Vlogging info
Nikon D780 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
32
screen is touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Canon 30D vs Nikon D780 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Nikon D780
 Canon EOS 30DNikon D780
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 30D Nikon D780
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2006-04-04 2020-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 337.5mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3504 x 2336 6048 x 4024
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max enhanced ISO 3200 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 51
Cross focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Number of lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 2,359k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 900s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 784 grams (1.73 lb) 840 grams (1.85 lb)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 144 x 116 x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 736 not tested
Other
Battery life - 2260 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL15b
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 Dual
Cost at release $773 $2,297