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

Nikon D3S

95

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
4400 shots
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
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 Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 39 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 197 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
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
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the EOS-1D Mark IV
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 1500 shots
Help
Around 3x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 74.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.59x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm 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
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 D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
71 vs 95
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

advice

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by Petter-Persson last month
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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
D3S:51
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:10 fps
D3S:9 fps
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1500 shots
D3S:4400 shots
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Light sensitivity (boost) Very good boost ISO Help
102,400 ISO
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
D3S:1,240 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:$4,999.99
D3S:$5,196.95
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D3S: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
D3S:12.1 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
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
Size Is significantly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
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 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
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
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 D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3S.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3S
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3S
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3S

discussion

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