Sony A77 II vs Nikon D810

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Sony A77 II vs Nikon D810

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

Go in depth with our full Sony A77 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A77 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A77 II.
Compare Sony A77 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A77 II conclusion.

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.

Succeeded by the Nikon D850
Compare D810 vs D850
Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D850

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Differences

Sony A77 II advantages over Nikon D810

Less expensive
$1798 vs $2079
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.21 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More AF points
79 vs 51
More AF points improve autofocus
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
11.5 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Nikon D810 advantages over Sony A77 II

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
~0.50 vs 0.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 480 shots
Capture more photos
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
Bigger JPEG buffer
57 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

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
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
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 Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A77 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D810 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All A77 II Deals

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Buy the Nikon D810

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-120mm lens

All D810 Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.
Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.
Read our Sony A77 II Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A77 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1198
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2249
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2278
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D800

Sony A77 II

Nikon D800

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1850
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D800

Nikon D810

Nikon D800

$2278
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1850
35mm

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800

Compared to Nikon D800E

Sony A77 II

Nikon D800E

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D800E

Nikon D810

Nikon D800E

$2278
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$2212
35mm

Fast startup

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Canon 70D

Sony A77 II

Canon 70D

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1149
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 70D

Nikon D810

Canon 70D

$2278
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1149
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 70D

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1597
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Nikon D810

Canon 7D Mark II

$2278
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1597
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 7D Mark II

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