The competition
Images: Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Pentax 645D
At the time of writing, the high resolution of the D800 outperforms any full-frame DSLR, and is comparable to medium-format models.
The Pentax 645D has a sensor measuring 44x33mm with 40 million effective pixels compared to the 35.9x24mm with 36.3 million effective pixels of the D800. However, the Nikon model is less than a third of the price, and its impressive handling and autofocus system make it more suitable for a wider range of use.
Comparable as an enthusiast-level, full-frame model, Canon’s EOS 5D Mark III is the D800’s most obvious competition. The EOS 5D Mark III cannot match the resolution of the D800, nor its AF performance in extreme low light. However, the Canon’s resolution and ability to control levels of noise rest somewhere between the D4 and the D800, and so does its price.
