Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D800

Nikon D800

98

  
Nikon D4

95

  
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Runner-up

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
2600 shots
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
204,800 ISO
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 3x more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 11 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 2,853 ISO
Help
 The D4 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Nikon D800
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 15.9 MP
Help
 Capture around 2.5x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 95.0 vs 89.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13.1 EV
Help
 1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Much smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 24.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.2" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Significantly lighter 1,000 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
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
Lowest price Cheaper $2,796.95 vs $5,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,200 cheaper (2.1x less)
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
95 vs 98
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
D4:2,965 ISO
D800:2,853 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D4:89.0
D800:95.0
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.2"
Color depth Good color depth Help
D4:24.7 bits
D800:25.3 bits
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D4:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D4:13.1 EV
D800:14.4 EV
Focus points Many focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D4:0.70x
D800:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D4:300 ms
D800:200 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
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
Weight Heavy Help
D4:1,340 g
D800:1,000 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
D4:3.6"
D800:3.2"
Size Large Help
D4:160x157x91 mm
D800:146x123x82 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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

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
D4:12,800 ISO
D800:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D600 vs the D4
Compare the D600 vs the D800
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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Overall image quality Has slightly lower image quality
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the D4
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the D4
Compare the D700 vs the D800
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 significantly smaller sensor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D4
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Compare the D3S vs the D800

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D4.

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D800.

appearance

Nikon D4 Nikon D800
Nikon D4 Nikon D800
Nikon D4 Nikon D800

discussion

Showing 9 comments

Henning Hansen (1:09 PM, May 14, 2013)
Why are you afraid to compare the Sony a99? It produces fantastic results equal or better than both, translucent technology blows the others away and offers in one camera what Nikon is trying to achive in two!
 
Avatar for PSAGuy PSAGuy (7:08 PM, January 22, 2013)
High ISO performance is easier to achieve with a lower megapixel rating. True high iso performance is possible on the D4.
 
Avatar for PSAGuy PSAGuy (7:06 PM, January 22, 2013)
You are forgetting MUCH longer shutter life on D4 !!
 
Treepop (5:25 AM, March 24, 2012)
 Hows is 100 to 99 a tie?
 
Greg Post (9:48 PM, March 13, 2012)
Agreed, I prefer the more blocky look of the D700 over the new D800 look. Still, one hell of a camera.
 
stefano diez (3:43 PM, February 14, 2012)
Sorry, in marketing more is better?
 
stefano diez (3:42 PM, February 14, 2012)
I' think that 36Mpx is too much on fx format to obtain clear quality, and why the flagship (D4) have "only" 16 Mpx. Peraphs in marketig low is better?
 
W2778823 (6:39 AM, February 08, 2012)
The rounded D800 is less of beauty.  Fuji X100 is the recent neo-classic beauty.  Nikon F4S is also a beauty of metal.
 
gerel (0:53 AM, February 08, 2012)
great camera ... can u explain iso noise?? d800 & d4