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Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II

Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75
Nikon D800E front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
93
Overall
82

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Key Specs

Nikon D800E
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon D700
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Succeeded the Sony A9
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Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon D800E and Sony A9 II, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the D800E (36MP) and A9 II (24MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (Full frame).

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The D800E was unveiled 8 years before the A9 II and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D800E being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the D800E scores vs the A9 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D800E over the Sony A9 II

 D800E A9 II 
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Nikon D800E

 A9 II D800E 
ReleasedOctober 2019June 2012More recent by 89 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k921kCrisper screen (+519k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon D800E and Sony A9 II

 D800E A9 II 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon D800E has outside measurements of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) and the Sony A9 II has sizing of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D800E and Sony A9 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the D800E and the A9 II.

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D800E and A9 II is 54 and 62 respectively.

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D800E and A9 II.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon D800E to provide you with more detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older D800E will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Portrait photography camera
83
has manual focus
high megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
85
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D800E Street photography advice
Sony A9 II Street photography advice
60
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Sports photography camera
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
high megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
88
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (690 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proofing
high megapixels (36 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
73
better than average battery power (690 per charge)
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D800E Landscape photography info
Sony A9 II Landscape photography info
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
high megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
86
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery power (690 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D800E Vlogging details
Sony A9 II Vlogging details
30
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Nikon D800E vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D800E and Sony A9 II
 Nikon D800ESony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D800E Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Class Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-06-11 2019-10-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 3 BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 7360 x 4912 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO 25600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 51 693
Cross focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Sony E
Total lenses 309 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 900g (1.98 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 2979 not tested
Other
Battery life 900 photographs 690 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Two Two
Price at launch $2,389 $4,498