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Nikon D3 vs Nikon D800

6.28 in
6.18 in
Nikon D3 Digital Camera
Nikon D3
5.7 in
4.8 in
Nikon D800 Digital Camera
Nikon D800
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
28
4.5 out of 5
8 user ratings
5 stars
75 %
4 stars
12 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
17
4.5 out of 5
7 user ratings
5 stars
71 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
44
4.3 out of 5
44 user ratings
5 stars
45 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
18 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
48
4.2 out of 5
48 user ratings
5 stars
39 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
14 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatFXFull frame
Sensor size1.42 in1.41 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx37.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx36.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
Max resolution4256 x 2832 px7360 x 4912 px
Other resolutions
  • 3184x2120
  • 2128x1416
  • 6144x4912
  • 6144x4080
  • 5520x3680
  • 4800x3200
  • 4608x3680
  • 4608x3056
  • 3680x2456
  • 3600x2400
  • 3072x2456
  • 3072x2040
  • 2400x1600
ProcessorExpeedExpeed 3

Image

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • Auto
ISO minimum10050
ISO maximum2560025600
Boosted ISO minimum10050
Boosted ISO maximum2560025600
Maximum image resolution4256 x 2832 px7360 x 4912 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPEG XR
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
HDRnoyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Magnification (Crop factor)1.0 x1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)noLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Focal length multiplier1x1x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points5151
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)5151
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots922000921000
Touch screennono
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.7 x0.7 x
Eye relief0.71 in0.67 in
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Number of exposures22
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/250s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash modes
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connection
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Flash metering systemi-TTLi-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive11.0 fps4.0 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer optionscustomcustom
Speed (JPEG)9.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)9.0 fps4.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 1.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Video recordingnoyes
HD typeNot supportedFull HD
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show

Design

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumAluminum-magnesium
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemnoyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Weight43.74 oz31.75 oz
Width6.28 in5.7 in
Height6.18 in4.8 in
Depth3.44 in3.2 in

Storage

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Compatible memory cards
  • CF
  • CF Type II
  • MicroDrive
  • CF
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots21
Storage typesCompact Flash Type I/II
  • Compact Flash Type I
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)4300900
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
HDMIyesyes
USB version2.03.1
Remote controlyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)noyes
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D800Nikon D800
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnoyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesTrimming
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
  • Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3

          Often compared with Nikon D800