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Canon 7D vs Nikon D800

Portability
56
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Canon EOS 7D front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Canon 7D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 860g - 148 x 111 x 74mm
  • Released November 2009
  • Refreshed by Canon 7D MII
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Previous Model is Nikon D700
  • Later Model is Nikon D810
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Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Canon 7D vs Nikon D800, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the 7D (18MP) and D800 (36MP) and the 7D (APS-C) and D800 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 7D was announced 3 years prior to the D800 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 7D scores vs the D800 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 7D over the Nikon D800

 7D D800 

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Canon 7D

 D800 7D 
RevealedJune 2012November 2009Newer by 31 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Canon 7D and Nikon D800

 7D D800 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 7D provides exterior measurements of 148mm x 111mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) and the Nikon D800 has proportions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

See the Canon 7D 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 depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the 7D against the D800.

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 7D and D800 is 56 and 54 respectively.

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The picture here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 7D and D800.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 7D with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Nikon D800 will render extra detail with its extra 18MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged 7D will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 7D Portrait photography details
Nikon D800 Portrait photography details
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
83
has manual focus
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 7D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
60
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 7D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Sports photography camera
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 per charge)
74
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 7D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Travel photography camera
54
environment proofing
megapixel count good (18MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (800 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
66
weather proof
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 7D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Landscape photography camera
63
has manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
excellent megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 7D Vlogging advice
Nikon D800 Vlogging advice
29
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
30
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 7D vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 7D and Nikon D800
 Canon EOS 7DNikon D800
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 7D Nikon D800
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-11-06 2012-06-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual Digic 4 Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 19 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Total lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT color LCD, liquid-crystal monitor TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 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
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 grams (1.90 lb) 900 grams (1.98 lb)
Physical dimensions 148 x 111 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 95
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 25.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 14.4
DXO Low light rating 854 2853
Other
Battery life 800 photographs 900 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 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 feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive cards Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Card slots One 2
Pricing at release $1,050 $2,999