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Canon 30D vs Nikon D850

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Nikon D850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
77
Features
87
Overall
81

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Revealed April 2006
  • Succeeded the Canon 20D
  • Successor is Canon 40D
Nikon D850
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1015g - 146 x 124 x 79mm
  • Revealed August 2017
  • Replaced the Nikon D810
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Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Canon 30D and Nikon D850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and D850 (46MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and D850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The 30D was brought out 12 years before the D850 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the 30D scores vs the D850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Nikon D850

 30D D850 

Reasons to pick Nikon D850 over the Canon 30D

 D850 30D 
RevealedAugust 2017April 2006Newer by 138 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution2359k230kSharper screen (+2129k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon 30D and Nikon D850

 30D D850 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon 30D provides exterior measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) while the Nikon D850 has proportions of 146mm x 124mm x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1") having a weight of 1015 grams (2.24 lbs).

Examine the Canon 30D and Nikon D850 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the 30D compared to the D850.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 30D and D850 is 58 and 54 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 30D and D850.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 30D because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Nikon D850 will offer extra detail having its extra 38 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged 30D is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 30D as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D850 as a Portrait photography camera
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (8 megapixels)
86
manual focus
fantastic sensor resolution (46 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D850 as a Street photography camera
52
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
66
screen tilts
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,015 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 30D Sports photography info
Nikon D850 Sports photography info
44
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
fantastic sensor resolution (46 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (1,840 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D Travel photography features
Nikon D850 Travel photography features
42
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low MP (8MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
65
better than average battery life (1,840 shots)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
provides focus via touch
fantastic sensor resolution (46 megapixels)
more heavy than competition in class (1,015 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 30D
Landscape photography with Nikon D850
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
82
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
fantastic sensor resolution (46MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery life (1,840 per charge)
2 card slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D Vlogging factors
Nikon D850 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
29
touchscreen capability
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,015g)
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Canon 30D vs Nikon D850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Nikon D850
 Canon EOS 30DNikon D850
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 30D Nikon D850
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2006-04-04 2017-08-24
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Expeed 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 46 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3504 x 2336 8256 x 5504
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 32
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 153
Cross focus points - 99
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Total lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 2,359k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.75x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Front-curtain sync (normal), Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 784 grams (1.73 pounds) 1015 grams (2.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 146 x 124 x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 59 100
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 26.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 14.8
DXO Low light score 736 2660
Other
Battery life - 1840 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL15a
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) + XQD
Card slots Single 2
Launch cost $773 $2,997