Canon
EOS-1D Mark IV
 vs
Nikon
D3X

Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

100
Winner

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

84
"Very good high ISO performance even at 25,600"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's iso-noise
"Highly detailed 16MP images in a wide range of condition"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 15
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 161 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 156x157x80 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $4,999.99 vs $7,999.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,000 cheaper (around 40% less)
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Slightly lighter 1,230 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 88.0 vs 74.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
 The D3X has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 1500 shots
Help
 Around 3x more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.59x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Help
 Around 70% larger sensor
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
84 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS-1D Mark IV
 Canon EOS-1D Mark IV vs Nikon D3X
NikonD3X
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
20
36
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
27
34
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
21
38
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
21
39
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
22
34
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
20
39
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
21
39
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,320 ISO
D3X:1,992 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:74.0
D3X:88.0
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:45
D3X:51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:39
D3X:15
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1500 shots
D3X:4400 shots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:400 ms
D3X:300 ms
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
D3X:1,260 g
Sensor cleaning Neither has a self cleaning sensor Help
May require cleaning
Lowest price Very expensive Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:$4,999.99
D3X:$7,999.95
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D3X: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

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Is significantly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3X
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3S vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D3S vs the D3X
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D4 vs the D3X
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Pro DSLR

$7,714 body only
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS-1Ds Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS-1Ds Mark III vs the D3X
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D800 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3X

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3X.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3X
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3X
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Nikon D3X

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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