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              5d3dxotest
              5d3dxotest
              April 19, 2012
              Lee Morris

              [News] Nikon D800 Stomps Canon 5DM3 In DxO Test

              The Nikon Vs Canon war rages on, this time Nikon fan boys will gain a little ammunition. As you may have heard, the 36mp sensor inside the Nikon D800 is the highest rated sensor of all time (a 95), beating even medium format cameras that cost over $50,000.00. DxO Mark recently released their reviews of the Canon 5D Mark III sensor and it received a score of 81 that puts the camera in 10th place. Whether you are a Nikon or Canon fan, remember that we are giving both of these cameras away in our current Facebook contest so everyone wins right?

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              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=687531541 Kris Armstead

                I don’t understand why every comparison for these cameras that I see online, shows that the 5dmk3 kicks the d800′s butt in low light. Yet, DxO says, that it’s the opposite? Hmm.

              • Gilly Ribeiro

                A test is a test is a test. It’s like shooting ISO charts. Do Pros shoot charts for a living? I don’t think so. :-)

                It all comes down to what one finds useful in a camera body. (And, perhaps, the investment already in on lenses, flashes, etc.)

              • John Wannabe

                Regardless, the real winners are the consumers, these two cameras are kick ass.

              • dachinster

                Fstoppers most of the time only post reviews and situations that favour Nikon. Many real world tests show the 5DMKIII trouncing the D800 in low light and in AF where even renowned photographers like Scott Bourne and other reviewed it in actual situations that test the AF. You would never see those reviews here though. Granted the sensor in the D800 has some nice dynamic range, I will concede that. I guess those Sony boys did a good job for Nikon in that regard.

                I am not a fan boy of either camp since I have both Canon and Nikon gear. It just bothers me that Fstoppers has such a wide reach and they are so clearly biased to Nikon which then influences the public.

              • http://twitter.com/qazwsxujmedc george washington

                haha the cannon shooters get all defensive

              • Michael Murphy

                i’m suspicious of that site. not sure how the d800 would beat those medium formats or the d4. I have recently ordered the d4. could have gotten myself two d800s for the price of the d4. After doing my research, I have no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision choosing the D4.

                The d800 and 5diii are more readily available to consumers than are the flagship models. I believe this site pushes on those models for advertising purposes. hey i could be wrong but things just seem very fishy on that site.

              • http://www.rlmorris.com Lee Morris

                I agree we definitely lean towards Nikon here not because we dislike Canon, but simply because Patrick and I own Nikon and so reviewing Canon gear is harder for us because we can’t get our hands on it. We are trying to hire more people who will be solely responsible for reviewing Canon and other brands but until then, we are killing ourselves to even review the gear that we already own. 

                This post is a non-bias post though and I would have made it even if the results were the other way around. 

              • Clément Barthes

                Who cares about what brand you shoot with! Keep posting great photography posts as you already do. When I need spec sheets I have no problem finding them online anyway…

              • http://www.rlmorris.com Lee Morris

                It wins because they average a bunch of tests together. If you were scoring simply on resolution of course the Phase would win but when you average that with ISO performance the Phase can’t keep up.

                If you shoot sports, obviously the D4 will beat the D800 but for an all around sensor, their tests show the D800 is superior.

              • http://profile.yahoo.com/WTQBRIHKLF5VTSPPHL6VSEC33U Yovan

                Hmmm, I think FStoppers news is a ‘little’ biased to Nikon. Maybe because this site or moderator or news poster is sponsored by Nikon :)

                But I think its not a huge problems, still FStoppers is the best. Keep a good work guys :D

              • http://www.rlmorris.com Lee Morris

                I wish Nikon would sponsor us :)

              • http://2dhouse.com/ David Dvir

                I dunno man, I think they’re doing a great job reviewing whatever they can.  Fstoppers is defined pretty much however Lee and Pat see fit so they can post “spec sheets” if they’d like… not a big deal.  I’m happy with content, no such thing as too much unless it’s crap quality or illegitimate.  Now I want spec sheets galor!!! :P

              • http://www.facebook.com/hiroschneider Jaron Schneider

                Seriously. Even as a Canon guy I would be stoked by that. 

              • http://gototennis.com freakyfritters

                ughh gawd… canon fanboys all defensive.. fstoppers guys are Nikon users, period.
                just admit defeat Canon users. ;)
                i kid, i kid.

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lance-Burns/100000135954450 Lance Burns

                When I order something and it’s delivered on time, do I care if it was shipped via ups or fedex? Not at all. As long as it’s where I need it  to be on time. Nikon / Canon… to be honest, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is if the client is happy. They don’t care what system you shoot. 

                To top it off, the majority of these tests that are out there will not effect 99% of people. There are much bigger things in life to worry about.

              • MarkFore

                A camera is a tool. Shoot the one that best suites you. I just wish that this site would stop preaching Canon hate all the time. I get it you guys shoot Nikon.

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ameed-El-Ghoul/540286188 Ameed El-Ghoul

                 I like your way of thinking, I had the same exact thought before, this site is more based Nikon + Bocketwizard, while some others are Canon + RadioPopper :) I think it is the PC vs. Mac war, but in the photography world :) Cheers,

              • http://www.facebook.com/nyajtimauteyaaj Nyaj Timautes Yaaj

                eh…nikon may have better sensors, but canon definitely beats them on ergonomics and glass.

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                We posted both those rodeo and studio shoot videos that leaned heavily towards Canon in real world situations.  DXO seems to be the goto site for scientific reviews so of course we have to post their results.  

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                Exactly, the D800 wins because of the average score.  Medium format cameras can’t win in ISO or Speed and those make up maybe 1/3 of the overall test score.  

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                Let it be known that even as writers of a major photography site, NPS members, AND at the top of the BH preorder list….I still haven’t gotten my D4 and Lee only recently got his after making a fuss.  So yeah no pref treatment here

              • mcabigon

                if you guys want an in depth review of cameras.  Got to DPreview and it will give the most objective reviews of the camera.  They have been in the business for years.  My lenses are canon already and changing to nikon is really a big move that I’m not willing to take.  Both cameras are good but I have made money with my canon already.  Technicalities are technicalities, it all boils down to your creative composition of the image.  You guys may just be engineers if you go too technical.  No body cares about low light, grain, or any technicalities exept the geeks.  What the masses want to see is the artistic view of each individual.

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                We aren’t preaching anything, only sharing what DXO has found….perhaps the most trusted test comparison site.  Would you be offended if DPReview had the same findings?

              • jeremybigred

                I disagree.  If you catch the videos posted in http://bit.ly/I0mxUd and http://bit.ly/IDzjeJ, you’ll see that the reviewers have already addressed the slow AF and questionable low-light sensitivity, as well as the slow frame rate of the D800.  While the first video slightly sides with the D800, the second video overwhelmingly sides with the 5DMkIII.

              • http://twitter.com/pgshooter pgshooter

                If you’re like most higher-end camera-body users it won’t make any difference whether a new Nikon trumps a new Canon in tests and reviews. Most people are going to go with whichever camera their previous investments in glass have been. The decision, for the majority of photographers, is not going to be about whether they should  suddenly switch from Canon to Nikon or visa verse.  The decision, for most, is going to be. “Should I buy this new high-end Canon (or Nikon) or not based on what I already own in high-end glass.”

              • http://www.facebook.com/VanityForcePhotography Mike Jimenez

                I’m an avid Canon shooter but I mess around with Nikon whenever I get the chance.  I like both systems, but am obviously more comfortable with Canon.  I recently got my hands on a friend’s D800 and I couldn’t help but be impressed by it.  I will have my hands on a 5DIII next week to mess with for a day and I’m anxious match them up.  I found the articles that Pat and Lee posted interesting and I think that both models of cameras under discussion here contribute immensely to the craft we all love so much.  But, Canon wins……just joking….  Thanks Lee and Pat for sharing again.

              • http://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.lowman Jeff Lowman

                I could care less which camera is better, What I need out of my next camera is a full frame sensor that shoots 720p at 60fps.  The canon 5d Mark III does that for me….So that is the camera I will buy.

              • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WZFNDSQFYXL2TP3NP2AVEQV32U RUSS

                for me if i was going to buy one of the new releases. I’d rent them both and test them both, doing what I do, and how i do it. AND THEN JUDGE which is best. then i’d buy.
                But that’s me.

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Garcia/100003520988317 Dan Garcia

                If you don’t like what fstoppers posts, stop complaining and start your own photography site. Keep it up HalLee.

              • http://www.johndunnephotography.com/ John Dunne

                Very disappointed in the DR results for the new Canon. According to DxO tests it’s actually slight worse then the Mark II. While I have no intention of jumping ship I also now have no desire of upgrade

              • dachinster

                To Lee AND Patrick,

                It is also the propaganda involved that bothers me. Take for example that same rodeo shoot. Was it titled “Canon has better AF than Nikon” ? No, it carried a title that just generically had 5DMKIII vs D800.

                Has Fstoppers posted about the 5DMKIII light leak? Yep, it exists! Did the D800 beat the 5DMKIII on the DXOMark test, Definitely! No problem with that, but what about the D800 long exposure problem? Link here: http://emmanuelcoupe.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/nikon-d800-long-exposures-issues/

                The glaring D800 AF issues with lenses? Link here: http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/04/05/and-the-nikon-d800-autofocus-saga-continues-with-some-comments-on-specific-lens-performance/

                The fact that a D800 “exploded”?! Link here:
                http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=41145852

                That the D800 has speed issues with writing to cards? Link here:
                http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_wb_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-12451

                The list goes on and on for BOTH cameras.

                The point is not that it is a Nikon/Canon war, but if I was interested in an SLR and I never tried either brand and I did a search on the internet, due to the wide influence of Fstoppers, one would think that Nikon has some clear advantage and has almost no issues, which it doesn’t. Both brands like all products, have issues.

                The way this post was made shows clear bias because it makes it seem like the D800 is clearly superior sensor-wise than medium format cameras. This test by DXOMark averages in ISO and speed, which are fields the medium format cameras were never meant to compete in.

                You guys need to be a little more politically correct in how you post and the content of the posts because as well respected photographers running an extremely popular blog, your words can have quite a strong effect on those now starting out in this craft.

                P.S
                On a totally unrelated note, as I have the attention of both of you, you all should get a copy-editor because quite a few of the recent slate of posts by the other authors have embarrassing grammatical and spelling errors.

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                well the Canon T2i, T3i, 7D and the Nikon D800 and D4 all shoot 60fps at 720 so there are lots of choices

              • http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall

                Lee Hall is actually my uncle’s name 

              • http://www.facebook.com/people/Fran-Camargo/100001011276707 Fran Camargo

                The test is not the sensor and the focusing system, or the number of camera shots …WARNING!

              • http://www.facebook.com/shannon.wimberly1 Shannon Wimberly

                B…ia…S

              • ValentinoAntonio

                Take both cameras along for the ride and the 5DmkIII either beats it in ISO or AF etc, or they are VERY close or tied in other areas. . . . . . Then you have a sensor score of 95 v. 81, and you are all finally seeing what I have been saying for years: that only people that THINK they are “photographers” salivate at these scores if they hapen to be also fanboys for one company ort the other, makes no difference. I dare to take real world tests/results, and see for yourselves that what I just said in the previous line was not as offensive as it sounded. If you shoot with Nikon, don’t bnother worrying about 95 points v. if you are with Canon worrying about a score of 81. . . . I guarantee that out THERE you will NOT notice those numbers, or even think they exist. THAT is the truth about such sensor scores. And SUDDENLY AFTER the FILM DAYS, thanks to the digital age we have a society of pixel peepers, as if they were failed microbiologists. Photography is NOT about a DR score of 23v. 24.5, etc etc etc . . .  it is about the things that exist out there and in us to make beautiful photos or tense photos or art, etc. . . . .I ama  Canon user, and I just CAN’T stand Canon cheerleaders and NIkon cheerleaders.. . . . it’s almost as suffocating as such worthless sensor scores . . . I had a Canon 30D, and it got a scorte of 51+ (?) . . . the photos were amazing, and I never saw the 51 score.

              • tompano1

                The d800 also does surprisingly well against the h4d.

                http://www.iso1200.com/2012/04/d800-vs-medium-format-hasselblad-h4d-40.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotographyVideoBlogForPhotographersIso1200Magazine+%28Photography+Video+blog+for+photographers+|+ISO+1200+Magazine+|%29

              • a. tnb

                This would be biased if the fact wasn’t that the D800 is kicking the 5dmk3′s ass.  I shoot both systems and I couldn’t care less which one wins out because my images taken with my existing cameras will not be affected.  Don’t let the geek in you defeat the artist that is trying to create a beautiful image.

              • http://milk78.myopenid.com/ Michael L

                That is one place Canon has never gotten close to Nikon….On the ergonomics… There are so many things on Canon cams that require you to push several buttons or go to the menu that you can do on a Nikon while holding the camera in a single hand. It’s been like that for 20 years and it continues to this day even though Canon has improved over the last 3-4 years.

              • http://twitter.com/DNewGA David New

                100 years from now are we really going to be asking which camera created which image?

              • http://gototennis.com freakyfritters

                Mmmm… Nikon glass has always been superior to Canon… Nikon has always been an optics company.
                As a matter of fact Nikon used to make glass for Canon.
                http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/nikon_canon.htm

                Dont know about ergonomics, as this depends on what system you are used to.
                Im used to Nikon’s ergonomics, where the fstop and shutter speeds and all be adjusted with one hand with two dials smartly designed around the thumb and index finger.
                When Im shooting with a Canon, i find it so clunky and clumsy.

                Only thing i like on a Canon, ergonomics wise, is the large dial on the backside when reviewing images. Thats about it.

                Ive always found the “Av” = aperture priority, and “Tv”= shutter priority on Canons to be so back-asswards

                On a Nikon and many other cameras A=aperture priority, and S=shutter priority
                Simple + makes sense…

                So as for your comment on ergonomics….heck no… NIkon all the way..
                But like i said… all depends on what you are used to.

                Sensible ergonomics = Nikon
                Clumsy ergonomics = Canon

                ;)

              • http://www.facebook.com/matt.koby Matt Koby

                honestly when it comes down to it, you’re reading a blog. fstoppers never tries  to tell you its not a blog. blogs are naturally biased and not politically correct. This blog was started by 2 professional photographers heavily invested in nikon products, of course the sunk cost fallacy is going to have at least a small effect on their mind. you should never trust one source for any information these days, the internet is full of lies. 

                and as far as grammar technicalities, its a blog… the meaning of  their posts is never misunderstood so in linguistic terms they are communicating perfectly.

              • http://www.michaelkormos.com/ Michael Kormos

                This honestly reads like the kind of pompous, sensationalist stuff Ken Rockwell writes. Is he the new guest contributor at fstoppers?

              • http://twitter.com/HotDuckZ Thanatham

                You?

              • patrick diaz

                The d800 looks very nice for dsrl, but real MF cameras are superior in many ways. Getting 36mp on same sensor size doesn´t make it MF. Don´t take for granted what those ifninite “reviews and test results” all over the web tells you. Just get both cameras and for yourselves.

              • http://twitter.com/awerllow awerllow

                Touchy subject. I’m a Canon user and yes, I think that this site sometimes sides favorably toward Nikon …. With that said, I think that this site features some of the best and most helpful posts about photography around. I mean, they introduced Peter freakin’ Hurley to us for crying out loud. Like most things in life, I just weed out what I consider the bad / irrelevant or sometimes “the bitter truth”, and just absorb the good. 

                I’m a Canon user and an fstoppers follower.

              • http://twitter.com/SandyPhimester Sandy Phimester

                It does sometimes feel a little one sides here sometimes, I gotta say…. I like my Mamiya gear more than my Canon gear, and I’ve shot Nikon too. Just as a neutral consumer it feels a little weird coming here sometimes and reading how some of this stuff is written. Honestly.

                Besides, it’s paraded around by folks, but none of this mess, Canon or Nikon, will make your photos any better. I think these tests are more for people who love talking about #s, as opposed to taking photos every day for a living. Lame.

                And yes, it would come off just as weird to me if the results were the other way around. The wording reads like a tabloid.

              • Dake Liu

                The purpose of purchasing a full frame camera is largely resolution and high-ISO picture quality.  If a canon full frame performs no better in either areas compared to a crop-sensor Nikon, then why buy a full-frame at all?

              • Nasir Hamid

                When I see lots of bickering of this thing being better than that thing a certain phrase comes to mind ‘shut up and shoot’.

                I just bought a Rolleiflex MF camera. It’s had 40 years of heavy use and looks well worn in but I can tell you that I had more fun shooting the first roll of film through it than I ever did with my D700 in the past 3 years. How many D800′s do you think will be in use 40 years from now? Just shut up and shoot and have some fun with it. 

              • http://www.facebook.com/threebythree Simon Whitehead

                I’m a professional photographer and I still use the 5D MK I exclusively. For those that have invested in glass, these reviews are unlikely to make them switch brand but rather inform whether to upgrade or not. Honestly i’m still waiting for a body that will convince me to upgrade, because in real-world situations and in terms of customer satisfaction, my MK I continues to deliver the goods

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