Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D4

Nikon D4
Winner
Nikon D4

95

vs
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

81
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
89.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.1 EV
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Thickness
 Thin
3"
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Size Much smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 15.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,069.95 vs $5,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,927 cheaper (2.9x less)
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.70x
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 1,815 ISO
Help
 The D4 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 850 shots
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 More than 3x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 89.0 vs 79.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
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 Around 10% larger screen
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 11 fps vs 3.9 fps
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 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
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 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 11.9 EV
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 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
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 Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
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 Automatically focuses shooting video
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
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 The D4's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.7 bits
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 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
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 Grab focus in difficult situations
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
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 The D4's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
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 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
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 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
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 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
81 vs 95
Explain scores
Nikon D4 Nikon D4
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
D4:2,965 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D4:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
5D Mark II:400 ms
D4:300 ms
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
5D Mark II:850 g
D4:1,340 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
5D Mark II:None
D4:Contrast detection
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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.
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
D4:12,800 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 with 24-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,299 - $1,725 body only

$1,499 with 28-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D4
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D600 vs the D4
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D4

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Lens availability More lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$4,699 - $6,699 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D4

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D4

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Pieropereira (2:38 AM, January 10, 2012)
Thanks Parksed, I really work on studio and try to get the most of size and resolution from my photographs rather than high speed shooting or high ISO. Maybe I have to move to medium format to upgrade from my D300
 
Parksed24 (0:35 AM, January 10, 2012)
I believe that 16megs allows for a much better low noise/high ISO quality.  The D4 shoots very crisp photos in the higher ISO range compared to other cameras from what I've heard.

Guess it depends on what you'd like to use your camera for, I'm particularly interested in live band shots and night time photography so (provided I could come up with THAT much extra money) I would go for the D4.  

I shoot a D7000 now and that does pretty darn well in low light situations, so I'm imagining the D4 should blow it away.
 
Pieropereira (9:05 PM, January 09, 2012)
I use Nikons since 1972 but at these point why should i spend  US$6K on a 16Meg D4 if Canon 5DMII sells at US$2.5K and throws 21MEGS!!!
Can somebody answer this question?