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

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
Great battery life
4300 shots
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

71

"Highly detailed 16MP images in a wide range of condition"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's image-quality
"Superb build quality with magnesium alloy body and environmental sealing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
39
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 39 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 9 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 156x157x80 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 1,230 g vs 1,300 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
The D3 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 1500 shots
Help
Around 3x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 81.0 vs 74.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 104 ms
Help
Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
71 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."

1
votes
by Michele-McCormick last month
Nikon D800 vs Nikon D3

I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competi...

2 people recommend the Nikon D800:

"Image quality, low light... definitely go D800. You know I've shot Canon for years but a few of yo..."

"The D800 is better is almost every regard (notably, better low light performance and less shutter ..."

0
votes
by Jos-Ab-lio-Perez this month
Nikon D3 vs Nikon D3S

I´m looking for some combination of body/lenses with the following characteristics: - not ver...

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
D3:51
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:104 ms
D3:88 ms
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:10 fps
D3:9 fps
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1500 shots
D3:4300 shots
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
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
D3:1,300 g
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D3:160x157x88 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
D3:12.1 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
D3:6,400 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
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

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Is significantly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3

discussion

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