Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D4

86

  
Nikon D5100

58

  
Winner

Nikon D4

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
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The D4 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the D5100
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 Around 4x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 89.0 vs 80.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 90% larger viewfinder
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 11 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D4's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 2.4x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 3.1" vs 3.6"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $496.95 vs $5,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,500 cheaper (12.1x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
86 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D4:15.9 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D3200 vs the D4
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the D5200 vs the D4
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D3100 vs the D4
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the D4
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D4
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Compare the D7100 vs the D4
Compare the D7100 vs the D5100
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 significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D4
Compare the D600 vs the D5100

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 - $3,297 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$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

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

appearance

Nikon D4 Nikon D5100
Nikon D4 Nikon D5100
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discussion

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