Nikon D610 vs D800

The Nikon D610 and the Nikon D800 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in October 2013 and February 2012. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The D610 has a resolution of 24.2 megapixels, whereas the D800 provides 36.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D610

 

Nikon D800

Digital single lens reflex

Digital single lens reflex

Nikon F mount lenses

Nikon F mount lenses

24.2 MP – Full Frame sensor

36.2 MP – Full Frame sensor

1080/30p Video

1080/30p Video

ISO 100-6,400 (50 – 25,600)

ISO 100-6,400 (50 – 25,600)

Optical viewfinder

Optical viewfinder

3.2″ LCD – 921k dots

3.2″ LCD – 921k dots

Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)

Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)

6 shutter flaps per second

4 shutter flaps per second

Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body900 shots per battery charge900 shots per battery charge

141 x 113 x 82 mm, 850 g

146 x 123 x 82 mm, 1000 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D610 and the
Nikon D800? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D610 and the Nikon D800 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Nikon D800 is notably larger (13 percent) than the Nikon D610. Moreover, the D800 is markedly heavier (18 percent) than the D610. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses.
You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D610 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 33 percent) than the D800, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as “crop factor”) of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras
that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the D800 offers a higher
resolution of 36.2 megapixels, compared with 24.2 MP of the D610.
This megapixels advantage translates into a 22 percent gain in linear resolution.
On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the D800 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 4.88μm versus 5.97μm for the D610). Moreover, it should be noted, that the D610 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 8 months) than the D800, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of individual pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D800 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the
possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D800 for good quality output (200 dots per inch)
amounts to 36.8 x 24.6 inches or 93.5 x 62.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 29.4 x 19.6 inches or 74.8 x 49.9 cm, and for
excellent quality (300 dpi) 24.5 x 16.4 inches or 62.3 x 41.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D610 are
30.1 x 20.1 inches or 76.4 x 51 cm for good quality, 24.1 x 16.1 inches or 61.1 x 40.8 cm for very good quality, and 20.1 x 13.4 inches or 50.9 x 34 cm for
excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D610 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-25600.
The Nikon D800 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth (“DXO Portrait”), dynamic range (“DXO Landscape”), and low-light sensitivity (“DXO Sports”) of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

 
 
Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall

1.

 

Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.42925942.

 

Nikon D800 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.314.42853953.

 

Canon 6D Full Frame 20.0 5472 36481080/30p23.812.12340824.

 

Nikon D780 Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/30p25.314.32877955.

 

Nikon D850 Full Frame 45.4 8256 55044K/30p26.414.826601006.

 

Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.01324837.

 

Nikon D750 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/60p24.814.52956938.

 

Nikon D810 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.714.82853979.

 

Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.712568310.

 

Nikon Df Full Frame 16.2 4928 3280none24.613.132798911.

 

Nikon D600 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.229809412.

 

Nikon D800E Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.614.329799613.

 

Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2230380

Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D610 and the D800 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as
the same magnification (0.70x). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D610 and Nikon D800 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

 
 
Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab

1.

 

Nikon D610optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
2.

 

Nikon D800optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
3.

 

Canon 6Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 4.5/s n n
4.

 

Nikon D780optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n n
5.

 

Nikon D850optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n n
6.

 

Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
7.

 

Nikon D750optical Y3.2 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.

 

Nikon D810optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
9.

 

Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
10.

 

Nikon Dfoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
11.

 

Nikon D600optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
12.

 

Nikon D800Eoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
13.

 

Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n

Notes: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The Nikon D610 and the Nikon D800 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D610 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the D800 uses Compact Flash or SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D610 and Nikon D800 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

 
 
Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support

1.

 

Nikon D610Ymono / monoYYmini2.0—
2.

 

Nikon D800Ymono / monoYYmini3.0—
3.

 

Canon 6DYmono / monoY-mini2.0Y–
4.

 

Nikon D780Ystereo / monoYYmini3.1Y-Y
5.

 

Nikon D850Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
6.

 

Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
7.

 

Nikon D750Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y–
8.

 

Nikon D810Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y–
9.

 

Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0—
10.

 

Nikon DfY

–

 / 

–

–mini2.0—
11.

 

Nikon D600Ymono / monoYYmini2.0—
12.

 

Nikon D800EYmono / monoYYmini3.0—
13.

 

Nikon D700Y

–

 / 

–

–mini2.0—

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

The D610 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon.
In contrast, the D800 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D800 was succeeded by the Nikon D810. Further information on the features and operation of the D610 and D800 can be found, respectively, in the
Nikon D610 Manual (free pdf) or the
online Nikon D800 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D610 or the Nikon D800 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Nikon D610:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (141x113mm vs 146x123mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 150g or 15 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (33 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 8 months after the D800).

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D800:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (36.2 vs 24.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2012).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D610 comes out slightly ahead of the D800 (5 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D610 05

:

04 D800

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D610 and the Nikon D800 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D610 or the D800 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera’s market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Specifications: Nikon D610 vs Nikon D800

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications

Camera Model

Nikon D610
Nikon D800

Camera Type

Digital single lens reflex

Digital single lens reflex

Camera Lens

Nikon F mount lenses

Nikon F mount lenses

Launch Date

October 2013

February 2012

Launch Price

USD 1,999

USD 2,999

Sensor Specs

Nikon D610

Nikon D800

Sensor Technology

CMOS

CMOS

Sensor Format

Full Frame Sensor

Full Frame Sensor

Sensor Size

35.9 x 24.0 mm

35.9 x 24.0 mm

Sensor Area

861.6 mm2

861.6 mm2

Sensor Diagonal

43.2 mm

43.2 mm

Crop Factor

1.0x

1.0x

Sensor Resolution

24.2 Megapixels

36.2 Megapixels

Image Resolution

6016 x 4016 pixels

7360 x 4912 pixels

Pixel Pitch

5.97 μm

4.88 μm

Pixel Density

2.80 MP/cm2

4.20 MP/cm2

Moiré control

Anti-Alias filter

Anti-Alias filter

Movie Capability

1080/30p Video

1080/30p Video

ISO Setting

100 – 6,400 ISO

100 – 6,400 ISO

ISO Boost

50 – 25,600 ISO

50 – 25,600 ISO

Image Processor

EXPEED 3

EXPEED 3

DXO Sensor Quality (score)

94

95

DXO Color Depth (bits)

25.1

25.3

DXO Dynamic Range (EV)

14.4

14.4

DXO Low Light (ISO)

2925

2853

Screen Specs

Nikon D610

Nikon D800

Viewfinder Type

Optical viewfinder

Optical viewfinder

Viewfinder Field of View

100%

100%

Viewfinder Magnification

0.70x

0.70x

Top-Level Screen

Control Panel

Control Panel

LCD Framing

Live View

Live View

Rear LCD Size

3.2inch

3.2inch

LCD Resolution

921k dots

921k dots

LCD Attachment

Fixed screen

Fixed screen

Shooting Specs

Nikon D610

Nikon D800

Focus System

Phase-detect AF

Phase-detect AF

Continuous Shooting

6 shutter flaps/s

4 shutter flaps/s

Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations200 000 actuationsTime-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in

Fill Flash

Built-in Flash

Built-in Flash

Storage Medium

SDXC cards

CF or SDXC cards

Single or Dual Card Slots

Dual card slots

Dual card slots

UHS card support

UHS-I

UHS-I

Connectivity Specs

Nikon D610

Nikon D800

External Flash

Hotshoe

Hotshoe

Studio Flash

PC Sync socket

PC Sync socket

USB Connector

USB 2.0

USB 3.0

HDMI Port

mini HDMI

mini HDMI

Microphone Port

External MIC port

External MIC port

Headphone Socket

Headphone port

Headphone port

Wifi Support

no Wifi

no Wifi

Body Specs

Nikon D610

Nikon D800

Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body

Battery Type

EN-EL15

EN-EL15

Battery Life (CIPA)900 shots per charge900 shots per charge

Body Dimensions

141 x 113 x 82 mm
(5.6 x 4.4 x 3.2 in)

146 x 123 x 82 mm
(5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2 in)

Camera Weight

850 g (30.0 oz)

1000 g (35.3 oz)

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.