Nikon D800E vs Sony A6000

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Nikon D800E vs Sony A6000

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35mm 861.6mm²
36.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D800E Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D800E.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6000 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6000 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6000.
Compare Sony A6000 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6000 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D810
Compare D800E vs D810

Succeeded by the Sony A6100
Compare A6000 vs A6100

Compare NIKON D810 vs SONY A6100

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Differences

Nikon D800E advantages over Sony A6000

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.88 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 2.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D800E test data on DxO Mark A6000 test data on DxO Mark

2,979 vs 1,347 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

900 vs 360 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More pixels
36.3 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A6000 advantages over Nikon D800E

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
45 mm vs 81 mm
Thinner
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D800E User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6000 User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Rugged build; Excellent controls; Extremely high resolution, even more than the D800; Dual cards; Surprising high ISO performance.
Moire problem with certain subjects; Very large files; Slower frame rate; Battery life lower than D700.
Read our Nikon D800E Review

Amazing image quality for the price; Blazing-fast hybrid autofocus; Swift burst shooting with generous buffer depths; Good battery life with LCD monitor; More compact than a DSLR; In-camera Wi-Fi wireless networking
Continuous autofocus can't match its burst rate; High-ISO JPEGs can look overprocessed; Sluggish startup; No touch-screen display; Wi-Fi can be a bit frustrating to use
Read our Sony A6000 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D800

Nikon D800E

Nikon D800

$2212
35mm

Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1850
35mm

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D800E vs Nikon D800

Sony A6000

Nikon D800

$548
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$1850
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A6000 vs Nikon D800

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$2079
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

Compare Nikon D800E vs Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A6000

Canon 5D Mark III

$548
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A6000 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Nikon D800E

Samsung NX3000

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$950
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D800E vs Samsung NX3000

Sony A6000

Samsung NX3000

$548
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$950
APS-C

Slow-motion videos

Compare Sony A6000 vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Nikon D810

Nikon D800E

Nikon D810

$2212
35mm

Fast startup

$2291
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Nikon D800E vs Nikon D810

Sony A6000

Nikon D810

$548
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2291
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A6000 vs Nikon D810

Compared to Sony A6300

Nikon D800E

Sony A6300

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$748
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D800E vs Sony A6300

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

$548
APS-C

Less expensive

$748
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

Compare Sony A6000 vs Sony A6300

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