Sony a9 vs Nikon D700

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a9 and Nikon D700. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a9 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D700 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony a9 is a Mirrorless camera while Nikon D700 is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

Even though the camera sensors might be called differently they are both considered Full frame which means that the focal length of the lenses is not affected. There is no crop factor on any of these cameras and sensors.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony a9 has a 24 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D700 has 12,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a9 has a 99 % larger resolution than Nikon D700. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Sony a9 has a larger ISO-range than Nikon D700. Sony a9 has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 51200 while Nikon D700 has 200 to 25600.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a9
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D700

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a9 can shoot up to 20 pictures per seconds and Nikon D700 can shoot up to 8 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

When comparing these two cameras there is only one of them that can shoot movies and that is Sony a9. Unfortunately Nikon D700 does not support recording movies and movie clips.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Nikon D700 weighs 1074 gr (equal to 2.37 lb) which is 60% heavier than Sony a9 and its 673 gr (or 1.48 lb).

Sony a9 vs Nikon D700 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a9 and Nikon D700, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Name	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Release Year	2017	2008
Release Date	2017-04-19	2008-07-01
MSRP	4499 USD	2999 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 23.9 mm) Also known as "FX"
Sensor Type	Stacked CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels	4256 x 2832 pixels
Megapixels	24 MP	12,1 MP
Image Processor	Bionz X	EXPEED
Image	Sony a9	Nikon D700
ISO Range	100 - 51200	200 - 25600
White Balance Presets	10	12
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis))	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView
Focus Points	693	51
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm	FX (Full frame) No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	1440000	922000
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	TFT LCD	TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Electronic	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.78x	0.72×
Viewfinder Resolution	3686400	N/A
Photography features	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Frames per second	20 fps	8 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average	Multi Center Weighted Spot Average
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Video recording	Yes	No
Video format	MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD	N/A
Video resolution	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160	N/A
Built-in Microphone	Yes	No
Built-in Speakers	Yes	No
Storage	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Memory Card	SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a9	Nikon D700
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (802.11/b/g/n with NFC)	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or wireless)	Optional
GPS	No	Yes Optional through GP-1
Body & Dimensions	Sony a9	Nikon D700
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FZ100	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	650 shots	1000 shots
Width	127 mm	147 mm
Height	96 mm	123 mm
Depth	63 mm	77 mm
Weight	673 gram	1074 gram