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

Nikon D3X

87

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

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

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
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 5 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $4,999.99 vs $7,996.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,997 cheaper (around 40% less)
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
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 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
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
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.59x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
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 Slightly 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
71 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X.

advice

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0
votes
by Vgill25 this month
Nikon D3X vs Nikon D7000

I love taking photos, all kind of photos. I love it when it is sharp and stunning.

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
D3X:51
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1500 shots
D3X:4400 shots
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:104 ms
D3X:161 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
Lowest price Very expensive Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:$4,999.99
D3X:$7,996.95
Size Large Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:156x157x80 mm
D3X:160x157x88 mm
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
D3X:1,600 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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Is significantly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
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 slightly better image quality
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,135 - $9,321 body only

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm 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 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 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

discussion

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