Reasons to choose D5
Released in 2016, D5 has about 856 mm² of sensor area, 20.8 MP effective resolution, and a 1,415 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D5
vs Nikon D810
VS
Sensor area
856 mm²
D5862 mm²
D810- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 6 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0.7%
The D810 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D5MetricD810
20.8 MPEffective pixels36.3 MP
35.8 × 23.9Sensor35.9 × 24
6.41 µmPixel pitch4.87 µm
41.14 µm²Pixel area23.74 µm²
2.43 MP/cm²Pixel density4.21 MP/cm²
1.01Crop factor1
3,840 × 2,160Maximum video1,920 × 1,080
1,415 gWeight980 g
CF1 / XQDStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC/Type I CompactFlash
EN-EL18a lithium-ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryEN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D810 has the larger sensor area. The D810 has the lighter body. The D810 has the higher effective resolution. The D5 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D810
Released in 2014, D810 has about 862 mm² of sensor area, 36.3 MP effective resolution, and a 980 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.