Nikon D7000 vs D780

The Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D780 are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2010 and January 2020. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (D7000) and a full frame (D780) sensor. The D7000 has a resolution of 16.1 megapixels, whereas the D780 provides 24.3 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D7000		Nikon D780
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
16.1 MP, APS-C Sensor		24.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor
10800/24p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 921k dots		3.2 LCD, 2359k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
1050 shots per battery charge		2260 shots per battery charge
132 x 105 x 77 mm, 780 g		144 x 116 x 76 mm, 840 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D780? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D780 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D780 is notably larger (21 percent) than the Nikon D7000. Moreover, the D780 is markedly heavier (8 percent) than the D7000. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the D780) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (D7000). You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D7000 gets 1050 shots out of its EN-EL15 battery, while the D780 can take 2260 images on a single charge of its EN-EL15b power pack. The power pack in the D780 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D7000	132 mm	105 mm	77 mm	780 g	1050	Y	Sep 2010	1,499
2.		Nikon D780	144 mm	116 mm	76 mm	840 g	2260	Y	Jan 2020	2,299
3.		Canon 60D	145 mm	106 mm	79 mm	755 g	1100	Y	Aug 2010	1,399
4.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	1,699
5.		Nikon D6	160 mm	163 mm	92 mm	1270 g	3580	Y	Feb 2020	6,499
6.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
7.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
8.		Nikon D500	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	860 g	1240	Y	Jan 2016	1,999
9.		Nikon D7200	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	1110	Y	Mar 2015	1,199
10.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
11.		Nikon D7100	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	1,199
12.		Nikon Df	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
13.		Nikon D300S	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	938 g	950	Y	Jul 2009	1,799
14.		Nikon D90	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	703 g	850	n	Aug 2008	1,299
15.		Nikon D300	147 mm	114 mm	74 mm	925 g	1000	Y	Aug 2007	1,799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D7000 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 35 percent) than the D780, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D7000 features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon D780 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the D780 is 131 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the D780 uses a more advanced image processing engine (EXPEED 6) than the D7000 (EXPEED 2), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 24.3MP, the D780 offers a higher resolution than the D7000 (16.1MP), but the D780 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 4.80μm for the D7000) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the D780 is a much more recent model (by 9 years and 3 months) than the D7000, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D780 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D780 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.2 x 20.1 inches or 76.8 x 51.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.2 x 16.1 inches or 61.4 x 40.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.2 x 13.4 inches or 51.2 x 34.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D7000 are 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The D780 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Nikon D7000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D780 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D7000	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	10800/24p	23.5	13.9	1167	80
2.		Nikon D780	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon 60D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.5	813	66
4.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
5.		Nikon D6	Full Frame	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
6.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
7.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
8.		Nikon D500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.0	14.0	1324	83
9.		Nikon D7200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.5	14.6	1333	87
10.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93
11.		Nikon D7100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.7	1256	83
12.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279	89
13.		Nikon D300S	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.5	12.2	787	70
14.		Nikon D90	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	977	73
15.		Nikon D300	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	12.0	679	67

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the D780 provides a better video resolution than the D7000. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the D7000 is limited to 10800/24p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D7000 and the D780 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the D780 has a higher magnification than the one of the D7000 (0.70x vs 0.63x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D780 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D7000	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
2.		Nikon D780	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	n
3.		Canon 60D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.3	Y	n
4.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
5.		Nikon D6	optical	Y	3.2	2359	fixed	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
6.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
7.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
8.		Nikon D500	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
9.		Nikon D7200	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
10.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
11.		Nikon D7100	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
12.		Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
13.		Nikon D300S	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
14.		Nikon D90	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	Y	n
15.		Nikon D300	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D7000 has one, while the D780 does not. While the built-in flash of the D7000 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D780 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D7000 and the D780 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. The D780 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the D7000 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D780 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D7000	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D780	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon 60D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 7D	Y	mono	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Nikon D6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
6.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
7.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Nikon D500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
9.		Nikon D7200	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Nikon D7100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D300S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D90	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D300	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the D780 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D7000 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D780 (unlike the D7000) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The D780 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the D7000 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D7000 was succeeded by the Nikon D7100. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon website.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D7000 or the Nikon D780 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D7000:

• More compact: Is smaller (132x105mm vs 144x116mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (35 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2010).

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D780:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24.3 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 23%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (EXPEED 6 vs EXPEED 2).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 10800/24p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.63x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2359k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (2260 versus 1050) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards on both slots.
• More modern: Reflects 9 years and 3 months of technical progress since the D7000 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D780 is the clear winner of the contest (23 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D780 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D7000 or the D780 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D7000	4/5	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	1,499
2.		Nikon D780	5/5	..	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2020	2,299
3.		Canon 60D	5/5	+	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	1,399
4.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	1,699
5.		Nikon D6	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	6,499
6.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
7.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
8.		Nikon D500	5/5	+ +	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,999
9.		Nikon D7200	4/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2015	1,199
10.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
11.		Nikon D7100	5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	1,199
12.		Nikon Df	4/5	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
13.		Nikon D300S	5/5	+ +	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	1,799
14.		Nikon D90	..	+ +	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	1,299
15.		Nikon D300	..	+ +	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D780

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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