Sony a900 vs Nikon D700

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a900 and Nikon D700. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a900 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D700 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

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 a900 has a 25 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 a900 has a 102 % 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

Nikon D700 has a larger ISO-range than Sony a900. Nikon D700 has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 25600 while Sony a900 has 100 to 1600.

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 a900
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 a900 can shoot up to 5 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.

Though, neither Sony a900 or Nikon D700 can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

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 20% heavier than Sony a900 and its 895 gr (or 1.97 lb).

Sony a900 vs Nikon D700 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a900 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 a900	Nikon D700
Name	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Release Year	2008	2008
Release Date	2008-09-09	2008-07-01
MSRP	2999 USD	2999 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a900	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	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6048 x 4032 pixels	4256 x 2832 pixels
Megapixels	25 MP	12,1 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	EXPEED
Image	Sony a900	Nikon D700
ISO Range	100 - 1600	200 - 25600
White Balance Presets	7	12
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView
Focus Points	9	51
Lens Mount	Sony A 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 a900	Nikon D700
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	921600	922000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	TFT Xtra Fine color LCD	TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view	No	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.74x	0.72×
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Frames per second	5 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 Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot Average
Exposure Compensation	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Memory Card	Compact Flash Memory Stick Pro Duo	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a900	Nikon D700
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional))	Optional
GPS	No	Yes Optional through GP-1
Body & Dimensions	Sony a900	Nikon D700
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	880 shots	1000 shots
Width	156 mm	147 mm
Height	117 mm	123 mm
Depth	82 mm	77 mm
Weight	895 gram	1074 gram