Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D4

Nikon D4

99

Winner

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
89.0
Color depth
Great color depth
24.7 bits
Screen size
Large screen
3.2"
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
11 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

71

"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
39

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 39 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 208 ms
Help
2x less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 156x157x80 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.6"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 1,230 g vs 1,340 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $4,999.99 vs $5,999.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $999 cheaper (around 20% less)
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D4

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
The D4 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the EOS-1D Mark IV
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 89.0 vs 74.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.59x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Help
Around 70% larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12 EV
Help
1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 2600 shots vs 1500 shots
Help
More than 70% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 102,400 ISO
Help
The D4's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 11 fps vs 10 fps
Help
10% faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
71 vs 99
Explain scores
Nikon D4 Nikon D4
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4.

advice

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Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

I currently have the D3x and D7000.  I shoot some commercial, some events, some video.  I am try...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:45
D4:51
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:10 fps
D4:11 fps
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1500 shots
D4:2600 shots
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Light sensitivity (boost) Very good boost ISO Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:102,400 ISO
D4:204,800 ISO
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,230 g
D4:1,340 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:$4,999.99
D4:$5,999.00
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D4:160x157x91 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:16 MP
D4:15.9 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Size Is significantly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 - $6,800 body only

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is much smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV.

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D4.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D4
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D4
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D4

discussion

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