What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800. Math Corrected!

[Mt Spokane Photography]

What does a person have to pay for a Nikon D800 to match a Canon setup? I've taken a Canon 5D MK III lit with the 24-120mm L lens and top of the line flash versus the closest that nikon has to offer.

Here is the list.


Here are some prices of similar packages. You can argue about quality, but they are top of the line with similar specs. The secret is that Canon includes items in the package that Nikon Charges you for separately.


Nikon D800
Body - $3000
24-120 lens - $1296
Nikon SB-910- $547
Nikon Camera Control Pro $146
Nikon Capture NX2 $135
Total $5124 (Correction)



Canon 5D MK II
Body with lens kit $4300
24-105mm L (included in Kit) $0
Canon 600EX RT $630
Canon Camera Control Software $0
Canon Photo editing Software $0
Total $4930

Some may ask: What happens when you need service? Nikon is refusing to sell parts to the hundreds or thousands of small local camera repair outfits. You must send your camera to nikon or a authorixed repair station and pay big prices. They get you coming and going.

 

[XanuFoto]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

I am adjusting is a bit. I will pull out the software price because eventual both bodies will have their raw files readable in LR4
Nikon D800
Body - $3000
24-120 lens - $1296
Nikon SB-910- $547
Nikon Camera Control Pro $146
New computer to handles the files with good memory and huge disk space 1500
Total $6489

 

[Actionpix]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

"New computer to handles the files with good memory and huge disk space 1500"

I upgraded 2 computers for 1000. (And have a lot of parts for sale now.) These things get cheaper by the day. I know of people that ruined their wedding pictures in compression while for a few bucks they could have fitted a larger disk. (From me for instance.) A lot of people already have a fast system to play their newest video games. With a new camera mostly also comes new software. New software does not come cheap either. Things change. If you want to go with the flow it will cost you. Complaining you can't use your steam driven 1930's TV nowadays is just useless. Things change. At least for me multi TB fast systems are not unreachable. (But I won't waste 3500 on a camera with specs I would have liked in the 5DII, years ago.)

 

[filmmaker24p]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Might want to check your math...

What does a person have to pay for a Nikon D800 to match a Canon setup? I've taken a Canon 5D MK III lit with the 24-120mm L lens and top of the line flash versus the closest that nikon has to offer.

Here is the list.


Here are some prices of similar packages. You can argue about quality, but they are top of the line with similar specs. The secret is that Canon includes items in the package that Nikon Charges you for separately.


Nikon D800
Body - $3000
24-120 lens - $1296
Nikon SB-910- $547
Nikon Camera Control Pro $146
Nikon Capture NX2 $135
Total $5797

Canon 5D MK II
Body with lens kit $4300
24-105mm L (included in Kit) $0
Canon 600EX RT $630
Canon Camera Control Software $0
Canon Photo editing Software $0
Total $4930

Some may ask: What happens when you need service? Nikon is refusing to sell parts to the hundreds or thousands of small local camera repair outfits. You must send your camera to nikon or a authorixed repair station and pay big prices. They get you coming and going.

 

[TAR]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

what kind of calculation is this?..just say i am interested in 5D3 or D800 with 24-70L II or AF-S 24-70.. with battery grip..it totally changes your math..

 

[Loswr]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Might want to check your math...

+1.85436209147



The correct total for the Nikon package is $5,124, less than $200 more that the Canon package, and personally I wouldn't need the Camera Control Pro software.

But what's not factored into the cost is that the Canon 24-105mm delivers better optical quality than the Nikon 24-120mm...

 

[randplaty]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

"New computer to handles the files with good memory and huge disk space 1500"

I upgraded 2 computers for 1000. (And have a lot of parts for sale now.) These things get cheaper by the day. I know of people that ruined their wedding pictures in compression while for a few bucks they could have fitted a larger disk. (From me for instance.) A lot of people already have a fast system to play their newest video games. With a new camera mostly also comes new software. New software does not come cheap either. Things change. If you want to go with the flow it will cost you. Complaining you can't use your steam driven 1930's TV nowadays is just useless. Things change. At least for me multi TB fast systems are not unreachable. (But I won't waste 3500 on a camera with specs I would have liked in the 5DII, years ago.)

I personally edit on a MacBook with a 256gb ssd installed. I'd either have to get a 750gb ssd, or just edit 3x as fast as I used to so I can get the files off my drive and into my backup drives.

 

[briansquibb]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Just shows how irrelevant the cost of the body is.

Again people only reading as far as the headline numbers - like the mps

 

[iso79]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Didn't Nikon just raise the prices of the D4 and D800 by 300 bucks to keep up with demand? :

 

[Matsuoka]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

you know for somebody currently using EFs lens and APSC bodies, jumping ship doesn't sound so difficult...
so it is a lot easier for xxD / 7D owners to jump ship...

 

[briansquibb]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

you know for somebody currently using EFs lens and APSC bodies, jumping ship doesn't sound so difficult...
so it is a lot easier for xxD / 7D owners to jump ship...

Can you elaborate? Is it just because the loss on the kit is less??

 

[TAR]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

you know for somebody currently using EFs lens and APSC bodies, jumping ship doesn't sound so difficult...
so it is a lot easier for xxD / 7D owners to jump ship...

Can you elaborate? Is it just because the loss on the kit is less??

because you cant use EF-S lens on FF cameras..anyway they have to getrid of them..

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Might want to check your math...

What does a person have to pay for a Nikon D800 to match a Canon setup? I've taken a Canon 5D MK III lit with the 24-120mm L lens and top of the line flash versus the closest that nikon has to offer.

Here is the list.


Here are some prices of similar packages. You can argue about quality, but they are top of the line with similar specs. The secret is that Canon includes items in the package that Nikon Charges you for separately.


Nikon D800
Body - $3000
24-120 lens - $1296
Nikon SB-910- $547
Nikon Camera Control Pro $146
Nikon Capture NX2 $135
Total $5797

Canon 5D MK II
Body with lens kit $4300
24-105mm L (included in Kit) $0
Canon 600EX RT $630
Canon Camera Control Software $0
Canon Photo editing Software $0
Total $4930

Some may ask: What happens when you need service? Nikon is refusing to sell parts to the hundreds or thousands of small local camera repair outfits. You must send your camera to nikon or a authorixed repair station and pay big prices. They get you coming and going.

Thanks, It was late last night. i've corrected it.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

what kind of calculation is this?..just say i am interested in 5D3 or D800 with 24-70L II or AF-S 24-70.. with battery grip..it totally changes your math..

No, it doesn't, because my math is for the equipment listed. You can do the same thing for your combination, there are a infinite number of combinations.

 

[prestonpalmer]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

For most of us professional photographers, we care very little about the price, and a whole lot about the image quality and performance. Until we see some controlled side by sides with both the 5D3 and D800, we won't know if canon dropped the ball on the one or not. In the meantime, my 5D3 will be here on Monday, and I have a D800 on back order.

 

[JR]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Just shows how irrelevant the cost of the body is.

Again people only reading as far as the headline numbers - like the mps

Totally agree! Not to mention to get the same lens in Nikon I got in Canon would cost me an arm and a leg. Apart from the new Canon lenses being announced, a lot of the Nikon lens are inferior to Canon and more expensive on top of that!

My bet is that with the body + lens combo, all these test spec fall apart and both system will be good. Anyway I made my move...LOVING CANON. The new mkIII feels great - trying it out this afternoon at a birdthay

 

[DarkKnightNine]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

For most of us professional photographers, we care very little about the price, and a whole lot about the image quality and performance. Until we see some controlled side by sides with both the 5D3 and D800, we won't know if canon dropped the ball on the one or not. In the meantime, my 5D3 will be here on Monday, and I have a D800 on back order.

Just picked up my 5D Mark III and Speedlite 600EX-RT tonight. Two things, the IQ is really good. I haven't pixel peeped any images yet (still trying to figure my workflow since neither Aperture or LR can import the native CR.2 files), but looking at them in the Canon supplied software (ImageBrowser EX), they are simply beautiful. The new Speedlite does a great job of mixing fill flash with ambient light.


I mention all of this because I was considering the D800 for it's resolution, but common sense tells me that there are going to be problems with that camera. Fitting that many pixels on a FF sensor is going to have negative results down the road IMHO.


I'm still looking at the Leica S2 for my studio work once I win the lottery. lol

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

For most of us professional photographers, we care very little about the price, and a whole lot about the image quality and performance. Until we see some controlled side by sides with both the 5D3 and D800, we won't know if canon dropped the ball on the one or not. In the meantime, my 5D3 will be here on Monday, and I have a D800 on back order.

+1

Thanks for the comment.

What you say is true, but it is a fact that most consumers go for price, given a similar Camera, and many think they are saving money to buy a D800, when the prices are more of a wash.

 

[prestonpalmer]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Just picked up my 5D Mark III and Speedlite 600EX-RT tonight. Two things, the IQ is really good. I haven't pixel peeped any images yet (still trying to figure my workflow since neither Aperture or LR can import the native CR.2 files), but looking at them in the Canon supplied software (ImageBrowser EX), they are simply beautiful. The new Speedlite does a great job of mixing fill flash with ambient light.


I mention all of this because I was considering the D800 for it's resolution, but common sense tells me that there are going to be problems with that camera. Fitting that many pixels on a FF sensor is going to have negative results down the road IMHO.


I'm still looking at the Leica S2 for my studio work once I win the lottery. lol

Totally agree. 22mp using more than enough for me! Just hope it performs!

 

[AndysRollei]

Re: What is the Real Cost of a 5D MK III versus a D800

Hello everyone, just signed up seeing what is going on here at Canon Rumors, looking forward to posting more. I should preface this by saying I have Nikon and Canon cameras, although more Nikon than Canon, both systems are good but below are purely numbers and not my Nikon bais.

[/quote]

Totally agree! Not to mention to get the same lens in Nikon I got in Canon would cost me an arm and a leg. Apart from the new Canon lenses being announced, a lot of the Nikon lens are inferior to Canon and more expensive on top of that!

My bet is that with the body + lens combo, all these test spec fall apart and both system will be good. Anyway I made my move...LOVING CANON. The new mkIII feels great - trying it out this afternoon at a birthday
[/quote]

Here is a very comparable set up based solely on cameras and lenses, nothing else, and in US dollars taken from the respective manufacturer's website.

24 1.4, Canon $1800, Nikon $2200

35 1.4, Canon $1500, Nikon $1800

50 1.4, Canon $400 (1.2 $1600), Nikon $450

85 1.2/1.4, Canon 1.2 $2200, Nikon 1.4 $1700.

24-70 2.8, Canon IS II $2400, Nikon $1900

70-200 2.8, Canon $2500, Nikon $2400

Total for Canon lenses is $10,800: Total with 5DM3 body is $14,300

Total for Nikon lenses is $10,450: Total with D800 body is $13,450

Difference of $350 ($850 with body)

And these are supposed to be the best lens in each category, I have not mentioned the Canon 50 1.2, but if included price point would be $12,000 lenses only ($15,500 with 5DM3 body), a difference of $1550 ($2050 with body included)

Not sure where you are getting the arm and a leg mark from, so far.

And a set up with body and four prime lenses 24 1.4, 35 1.4, 50 1.2/1.4, and 85 1.2/1.4.

D800 $3000

24: $2200

35: $1700

50: $450

85 1.4: $1700

Lenses only $6050

Total with body $9050

-------------------------------------------

Canon 5DM3 $3500

24: $1800

35: $1500

50: $400 (1.2 $1600)

85 1.2: $2200

Lenses only $5900 (including Canon 50 1.2 rises price to $7100)

Total with body $9400 (including Canon 50 1.2 rises price to $10,600)

Difference of $350 ($1550 with 50 1.2 included)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make the bodies the same at $3000: Nikon total is $9050, Canon total is $8900 ( $10,100 with 50 1.2 included)

Difference of $150 (Canon cheaper this time) And difference including Canon 50 1.2 is $1050, Nikon cheaper.

Now with the bodies the same price the Canon kit is actually a little cheaper than Nikon but, not if you include the Canon 50 1.2 which again makes the Canon kit more expensive.

If I missed anything let me know.

Andy