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Canon 30D vs Nikon D800

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Revealed April 2006
  • Earlier Model is Canon 20D
  • Replacement is Canon 40D
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Replaced the Nikon D700
  • Successor is Nikon D810
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Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Canon 30D vs Nikon D800, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and D800 (36MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and D800 (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The 30D was brought out 7 years before the D800 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the 30D grades vs the D800 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Nikon D800

 30D D800 

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Canon 30D

 D800 30D 
ReleasedJune 2012April 2006More recent by 75 months
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon 30D and Nikon D800

 30D D800 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon 30D comes with external measurements 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 D800 has measurements of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Look at the Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the 30D compared to the D800.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 30D and D800 is 58 and 54 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The photograph below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 30D and D800.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 30D because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Nikon D800 will show greater detail having its extra 28MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older 30D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 30D
Portrait photography with Nikon D800
51
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8MP)
83
focusing manually
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D Street photography advice
Nikon D800 Street photography advice
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
60
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 30D Sports photography details
Nikon D800 Sports photography details
44
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
74
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Travel photography camera
42
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
66
weather proof
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 30D
Landscape photography with Nikon D800
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
no Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D Vlogging features
Nikon D800 Vlogging features
9
can't record video
30
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Canon 30D vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Nikon D800
 Canon EOS 30DNikon D800
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 30D Nikon D800
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2006-04-04 2012-06-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 337.5mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3504 x 2336 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Amount of lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 784g (1.73 pounds) 900g (1.98 pounds)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 59 95
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 25.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 14.4
DXO Low light rating 736 2853
Other
Battery life - 900 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Storage slots One 2
Retail pricing $773 $2,999