D700 vs D800 comparison pics, which is better?

lesovers · 2nd June 2012, 9:08 PM

Have my new D700 and a loan D800 from work, so why not take a heap of the same comparison pics to see if I have the best camera

Both cameras were set on manual mode and the same 50mm 1.8G or 24-70mm 2.8G ED lens with a SB-900 flash interchanged between the cameras. Just follow the Flickr link in each photo then click on the "Nikon D700" or "Nikon D800" link on the top right for the camera setting. All photos are jpeg as I just wanted to see the image out of the camera, using raw files is always a much better option for keepers.

1. D700 Bookshelf

D700 Bookshelf by lesovers, on Flickr

2. D800 Bookshelf

D800 Bookshelf by lesovers, on Flickr

The red colours appear to be more accurate and vivid on the D700 compared to the D800.

3. D700 Garage (Low Light)

D700 Garage (Low Light) by lesovers, on Flickr

4. D800 Garage (Low Light)

D800 Garage (Low Light) by lesovers, on Flickr

Nothing in this between both cameras, the ISO4000 noise appears to be the same.

5. D700 Kitchen (Flash)

D700 Kitchen (Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr

6. D800 Kitchen (Flash)

D800 Kitchen (Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr

No much between these to pictures just a slight green tint on the D800.

7. D700 Kitchen (No Flash)

D700 Kitchen (No Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr

8. D800 Kitchen (No Flash)

D800 Kitchen (No Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr

No real difference here.

9. D700 Distant Living Room

D700 Distant Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr

10. D800 Distant Living Room

D800 Distant Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr

11. D700 Living Room

D700 Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr

12. D700 Living Room

D800 Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr

The living room photos show as the brightness drops on the D800 there is a greater green tint. The D700 does not appear to have this issue at all.

13. D700 TV Room

D700 TV Room by lesovers, on Flickr

14. D800 TV Room

D800 TV Room by lesovers, on Flickr

The D700 seems to give better reds and a brighter image.

15. D700 Front Yard

D700 Front Yard by lesovers, on Flickr

16. D800 Front Yard

D800 Front Yard by lesovers, on Flickr

17. D700 Back Yard

D700 Backyard by lesovers, on Flickr

18. D800 Back Yard

D800 Backyard by lesovers, on Flickr

The D800 appears to have sightly high saturated greens and slightly better dynamic range, not much in it.

19. D700 Barbeque Area

D700 Barbeque Area by lesovers, on Flickr

20. D800 Barbeque Area

D800 Barbeque Area by lesovers, on Flickr

The D800 is lighter, faster, has better dynamic range, 3x pixel resolution and seems to have better focus than the D700. The D700 just seems to take better pictures most of the time compared to the D800. For example it appears to have better reds, more consistent white balance vs brightness and more low level light in each photo. Raw files should, however, hopefully allow most of this to be fixed up later in software.

These are both fantastic cameras however and you should be extremely happy with either one.

HumbleBum · 2nd June 2012, 9:36 PM

What did you use to process? If you say lightroom is it 4.1?

lesovers · 2nd June 2012, 9:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleBum

What did you use to process? If you say lightroom is it 4.1?

Hi HumbleBum,

No processing at all, just the jpegs from each camera. The original size jpegs are available on Flickr. Wanted to see how each camera fared without any software fixes.

Les

zach · 2nd June 2012, 9:41 PM

Nice house

Dropbear · 2nd June 2012, 10:03 PM

Ive read on reviews that the d800 produces 'under saturated' type images. That seems to show it. Nothing that can't be boosted (if you wanted to) in PhotoRoom

berek · 2nd June 2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesovers

Hi HumbleBum,
just the jpegs from each camera.

Differences in picture styles (tonal curve/saturation) and auto white balance (the green tint under flouro's) when shooting jpg's.

lesovers · 2nd June 2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zach

Nice house

Thanks, bought it new and now 11 years old.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dropbear

Ive read on reviews that the d800 produces 'under saturated' type images. That seems to show it. Nothing that can't be boosted (if you wanted to) in PhotoRoom

True, raw files would have been better, however the CF cards I had did not work in the D800 and I only had a very small SD card. The only problem I can see is fixing the inconsistent white balance (green tint) on some of the images.
I dont know if you could also improve the reds to the same quality as the D700 if the orginal detail is not there

Les

HumbleBum · 2nd June 2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dropbear

Ive read on reviews that the d800 produces 'under saturated' type images. That seems to show it. Nothing that can't be boosted (if you wanted to) in PhotoRoom

I would say this is somewhat true. my d800 raw's can appear a little 'under sat'd'

Dropbear · 2nd June 2012, 10:36 PM

Having a sensor like the D800 and asking it to produce jpegs makes baby Jesus cry..

HumbleBum · 2nd June 2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dropbear

Having a sensor like the D800 and asking it to produce jpegs makes baby Jesus cry..

I took 51 images today.. 4gb.

lesovers · 2nd June 2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berek

Differences in picture styles (tonal curve/saturation) and auto white balance (the green tint under flouro's) when shooting jpg's.

Hi Berek,

Sorry, should have recorded raw as well, however was not planning on fixing any of these photos.

#Differences in picture styles (tonal curve/saturation)
Does this mean the default used by the D800 camera needs to be changed to get better jpegs or will you always need to take raw for everything?

# auto white balance (the green tint under flouro's)
14. (D800) has no flouro light and still appears to have a green tint. Does this also mean the default auto white balance used by the D800 camera needs to be changed to a preset or custom setting to get better jpegs or will you always need to take raw for everything?

Les

lesovers · 3rd June 2012, 3:47 PM

OK have spent the time to correct 14. (D800) in Lightroom 4.1 and if you have the time, or use preset if the images need the same correction, the result is about the same as the D700.

21. D800 TV Room (Corrected in Lightroom 4.1)

D800 TV Room (Corrected in Lightroom 4.1) by lesovers, on Flickr

spectre257 · 3rd June 2012, 4:58 PM

I think the D800 wins here. I can read the titles of the dvds on your bookcase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleBum

I took 51 images today.. 4gb.

I get 40meg raws out of my D800 so it ain't all that bad

HumbleBum · 3rd June 2012, 5:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectre257

I think the D800 wins here. I can read the titles of the dvds on your bookcase.

I get 40meg raws out of my D800 so it ain't all that bad

err.. how? mine are all 70-78mb each

berek · 3rd June 2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesovers

Does this mean the default used by the D800 camera needs to be changed to get better jpegs or will you always need to take raw for everything?

Does this also mean the default auto white balance used by the D800 camera needs to be changed to a preset or custom setting to get better jpegs or will you always need to take raw for everything?

Just off the top of my head on why the same scene could be different when shot with 2 different cameras. They're no doubt entirely different in camera processing engines so will be noticeable in direct comparisons.

You don't need to shoot raw for everything by any means. But it's good to get lots of exposures under your belt and then fine tune the jpg settings to your taste.

2nd June 2012, 9:08 PM	#1
lesovers Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 121	D700 vs D800 comparison pics, which is better? Have my new D700 and a loan D800 from work, so why not take a heap of the same comparison pics to see if I have the best camera Both cameras were set on manual mode and the same 50mm 1.8G or 24-70mm 2.8G ED lens with a SB-900 flash interchanged between the cameras. Just follow the Flickr link in each photo then click on the "Nikon D700" or "Nikon D800" link on the top right for the camera setting. All photos are jpeg as I just wanted to see the image out of the camera, using raw files is always a much better option for keepers. 1. D700 Bookshelf D700 Bookshelf by lesovers, on Flickr 2. D800 Bookshelf D800 Bookshelf by lesovers, on Flickr The red colours appear to be more accurate and vivid on the D700 compared to the D800. 3. D700 Garage (Low Light) D700 Garage (Low Light) by lesovers, on Flickr 4. D800 Garage (Low Light) D800 Garage (Low Light) by lesovers, on Flickr Nothing in this between both cameras, the ISO4000 noise appears to be the same. 5. D700 Kitchen (Flash) D700 Kitchen (Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr 6. D800 Kitchen (Flash) D800 Kitchen (Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr No much between these to pictures just a slight green tint on the D800. 7. D700 Kitchen (No Flash) D700 Kitchen (No Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr 8. D800 Kitchen (No Flash) D800 Kitchen (No Flash) by lesovers, on Flickr No real difference here. 9. D700 Distant Living Room D700 Distant Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr 10. D800 Distant Living Room D800 Distant Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr 11. D700 Living Room D700 Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr 12. D700 Living Room D800 Living Room by lesovers, on Flickr The living room photos show as the brightness drops on the D800 there is a greater green tint. The D700 does not appear to have this issue at all. 13. D700 TV Room D700 TV Room by lesovers, on Flickr 14. D800 TV Room D800 TV Room by lesovers, on Flickr The D700 seems to give better reds and a brighter image. 15. D700 Front Yard D700 Front Yard by lesovers, on Flickr 16. D800 Front Yard D800 Front Yard by lesovers, on Flickr 17. D700 Back Yard D700 Backyard by lesovers, on Flickr 18. D800 Back Yard D800 Backyard by lesovers, on Flickr The D800 appears to have sightly high saturated greens and slightly better dynamic range, not much in it. 19. D700 Barbeque Area D700 Barbeque Area by lesovers, on Flickr 20. D800 Barbeque Area D800 Barbeque Area by lesovers, on Flickr The D800 is lighter, faster, has better dynamic range, 3x pixel resolution and seems to have better focus than the D700. The D700 just seems to take better pictures most of the time compared to the D800. For example it appears to have better reds, more consistent white balance vs brightness and more low level light in each photo. Raw files should, however, hopefully allow most of this to be fixed up later in software. These are both fantastic cameras however and you should be extremely happy with either one. __________________ "My first computer was a soldered together MicroBee kit in 1982, how things have changed" Last edited by lesovers; 2nd June 2012 at 11:43 PM.

2nd June 2012, 9:36 PM	#2
HumbleBum Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Melbourne... Posts: 14,345	What did you use to process? If you say lightroom is it 4.1? __________________ The world is broken. We are the last chocking embers of a fire waiting to burn in. Long before your grandfathers and their fathers before them. We started pulling our planet apart in the name of progress and blind ambition. The greed of man has devoured this earth until there was nothing left. We watch as time eats us alive - A generation born to witness the end of the world

2nd June 2012, 10:03 PM	#5
Dropbear Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 8,941	Ive read on reviews that the d800 produces 'under saturated' type images. That seems to show it. Nothing that can't be boosted (if you wanted to) in PhotoRoom __________________ 500Px \| Model Mayhem \| Flickr \| DeviantArt

2nd June 2012, 10:36 PM	#9
Dropbear Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 8,941	Having a sensor like the D800 and asking it to produce jpegs makes baby Jesus cry.. __________________ 500Px \| Model Mayhem \| Flickr \| DeviantArt

3rd June 2012, 3:47 PM	#12
lesovers Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 121	OK have spent the time to correct 14. (D800) in Lightroom 4.1 and if you have the time, or use preset if the images need the same correction, the result is about the same as the D700. 21. D800 TV Room (Corrected in Lightroom 4.1) D800 TV Room (Corrected in Lightroom 4.1) by lesovers, on Flickr __________________ "My first computer was a soldered together MicroBee kit in 1982, how things have changed" Last edited by lesovers; 3rd June 2012 at 3:52 PM.

2nd June 2012, 9:41 PM	#4
zach Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: chermside.bris.qld.au:80 Posts: 2,568	Nice house