Nikon D810 vs Sony A99 II

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Nikon D810 vs Sony A99 II

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35mm 861.6mm²
36.3 megapixels
ISO 64 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D810 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D810 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D810.
Compare Nikon D810 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D810 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A99 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A99 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A99 II.
Compare Sony A99 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A99 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D850
Compare D810 vs D850
Compare Nikon D850 vs Sony A99 II

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Differences

Nikon D810 advantages over Sony A99 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$2079 vs $3198*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.2 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.
D810 test data on DxO Mark A99 II test data on DxO Mark

2,853 vs 2,317 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D810 test data on DxO Mark A99 II test data on DxO Mark

14.8 vs 13.4 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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

1200 vs 490 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Sony A99 II advantages over Nikon D810

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Less shutter lag
0.11 vs 0.21 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 36.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
More AF points
79 vs 51
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
10.5 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 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
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D810 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A99 II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Handles even better than its predecessors; Absolutely spectacular images from the 36-megapixel image sensor; Unusually wide sensitivity range for its resolution; Improved performance and buffer depths; Improved video feature set; Impressive low-light autofocus
Prone to moire and false color with some subjects; No longer available with a low-pass filter; Demands excellent lenses for the best detail; White balance tends warm under tungsten lighting
Read our Nikon D810 Review

Superb image quality at low, moderate ISOs; Improved high ISO performance; Fast continuous shooting speeds; Very impressive hybrid autofocus; High-quality 4K UHD video; Rugged camera body.
Multi-selector joystick can be awkward to use; No EVF live view at fastest burst rate; Buffer clearing is slow with no UHS-II support; 4K UHD video isn't as full-featured as E-mount counterparts.
Read our Sony A99 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2246
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A99 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$2099
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A99 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D800

Nikon D810

Nikon D800

$2246
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1850
35mm

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800

Sony A99 II

Nikon D800

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1850
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A99 II vs Nikon D800

Compared to Nikon D800E

Nikon D810

Nikon D800E

$2246
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$2212
35mm

Fast startup

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800E

Sony A99 II

Nikon D800E

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A99 II vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Nikon D850

Nikon D810

Nikon D850

$2246
35mm

Internal flash

$2464
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D850

Sony A99 II

Nikon D850

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2464
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A99 II vs Nikon D850

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D810

Pentax K-1 II

$2246
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-1 II

Sony A99 II

Pentax K-1 II

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A99 II vs Pentax K-1 II

Compare Other Cameras?