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Canon 5D vs Nikon D800

Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
41
Overall
49
Canon EOS 5D front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
72
Features
80
Overall
75

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Canon 5D
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
  • Introduced November 2005
  • Replacement is Canon 5D MII
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon D700
  • Renewed by Nikon D810
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Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Canon 5D and Nikon D800, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the 5D (13MP) and D800 (36MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (Full frame).

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The 5D was revealed 7 years earlier than the D800 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the 5D grades versus the D800 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D over the Nikon D800

 5D D800 

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Canon 5D

 D800 5D 
ReleasedJune 2012November 2005More modern by 80 months
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D and Nikon D800

 5D D800 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 5D comes with outer dimensions of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Nikon D800 has sizing of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

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Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the 5D versus the D800.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 5D and D800 is 55 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by checking a spec sheet. The image below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D and D800.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Nikon D800 to resolve more detail because of its extra 23 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged 5D is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D Portrait photography details
Nikon D800 Portrait photography details
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (13 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
83
manual focus
MP count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
59
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D Sports photography info
Nikon D800 Sports photography info
55
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
good megapixels (13 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (800 shots)
73
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count amazing (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D Travel photography information
Nikon D800 Travel photography information
49
environment proofing
good megapixels (13MP)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (800 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
66
weather sealing
MP count amazing (36MP)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D Landscape photography highlights
Nikon D800 Landscape photography highlights
54
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
good megapixels (13 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
not so great battery (800 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
78
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
MP count amazing (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D Vlogging highlights
Nikon D800 Vlogging highlights
9
lack of video recording
30
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
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Canon 5D vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D and Nikon D800
 Canon EOS 5DNikon D800
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 5D Nikon D800
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2005-11-12 2012-06-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic II Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4368 x 2912 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Nikon F
Number of lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings External Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 900 grams (1.98 pounds)
Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 95
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 25.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 14.4
DXO Low light rating 1368 2853
Other
Battery life 800 pictures 900 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-511A 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 recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Card slots One Dual
Cost at release $2,780 $2,999