Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E
57 Imaging
53 Features
65 Overall
57


54 Imaging
72 Features
80 Overall
75
Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Key Specs
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
- Launched June 2012
- Earlier Model is Nikon D700

Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Overview
Lets look a bit more in depth at the Canon 50D versus Nikon D800E, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 50D (15MP) and D800E (36MP) and the 50D (APS-C) and D800E (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizing.

The 50D was introduced 4 years prior to the D800E and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).
Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the 50D scores against the D800E for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon EOS 50D & Nikon D800E. The whole galleries are provided at Canon 50D Gallery & Nikon D800E Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 50D over the Nikon D800E
50D | D800E |
---|
Reasons to pick Nikon D800E over the Canon 50D
D800E | 50D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | June 2012 | ![]() | October 2008 | More recent by 44 months |
Screen sizing | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 920k | Sharper screen (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Canon 50D and Nikon D800E
50D | D800E | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither offers Touch screen |
Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon 50D offers exterior measurements of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") having a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) while the Nikon D800E has sizing of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).
Check out the Canon 50D versus Nikon D800E in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the 50D compared to the D800E.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 50D and D800E is 57 and 54 respectively.

Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The visual here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 50D and D800E.
To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 50D having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon D800E will provide you with greater detail using its extra 21 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older 50D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 50D vs Nikon D800E Specifications
Canon EOS 50D | Nikon D800E | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Nikon |
Model type | Canon EOS 50D | Nikon D800E |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Released | 2008-10-30 | 2012-06-11 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Digic 4 | Expeed 3 |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor area | 332.3mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 15MP | 36MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 5:4 and 3:2 |
Max resolution | 4752 x 3168 | 7360 x 4912 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Max enhanced ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 51 |
Cross type focus points | - | 15 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Canon EF/EF-S | Nikon F |
Total lenses | 326 | 309 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.6 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3" | 3.2" |
Resolution of display | 920 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | TFT liquid-crystal color LCD | TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.6x | 0.7x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 6.3 frames/s | 4.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m (ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) |
Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video data 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 | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 822g (1.81 lbs) | 900g (1.98 lbs) |
Dimensions | 146 x 108 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") | 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 63 | 96 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.8 | 25.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.4 | 14.3 |
DXO Low light rating | 696 | 2979 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 800 photos | 900 photos |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | BP-511A | EN-EL15 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA | Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant |
Storage slots | Single | Two |
Cost at release | $996 | $2,389 |