Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D5100

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

79

"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

Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Nikon D5100

62

Runner-up

Nikon D5100

"Image quality is definitely the D5100's trump card. It offers effectively the same image quality as the higher-end D7000, at a lower cost."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's image-quality
"Unintimidating interface, but with plenty of manual control."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 104 ms vs 273 ms
Help
2.6x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 4 fps
Help
2.5x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 30% larger viewfinder
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 660 shots
Help
Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
More than 40% larger sensor
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
20% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 74.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
2x smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,230 g
Help
2.2x lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $499.99 vs $4,999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,500 cheaper (10x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
79 vs 62
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D5100
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D5100
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D5100

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