Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D800

Nikon D800

100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Nikon D4

99
Tie

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
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

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 11 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 3x more shots per battery charge
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
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 42 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 5x less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 13.1 EV
Help
 1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Significantly smaller 146x123x82 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 24.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Weight Significantly lighter 900 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.2" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 120 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when turning on
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 $2,999.00 vs $5,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,000 cheaper (2x less)
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
99 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the D4 or the D800,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by John-Newton last month
Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

I am no expert on cinematography, but some friends of mine and I produce low budget (actually no...

One person recommends the Nikon D800:

" Budget is relative. In the world of motion pictures, either of these is budget. While I do recom..."
0
votes
by Judson-Abts last month
Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

I currently have the D3x and D7000.  I shoot some commercial, some events, some video.  I am try...
0
votes
by Phoenix-Mayet 5 days ago
Leica M9 vs Nikon D4

I take portraits of people with tattoos so I need to be able to capture small tattoo details as ...
0
votes
by Michael-Fernau this month
Nikon D800 vs Nikon D300S

Been using nikon cameras since 1976 have a d300s and wondering if I need to take a jump and buy ...
0
votes
by Michelle-Perry-Hollenshead last month
Nikon D800 vs Sony NEX-7

I am a photo hobbyist, at best. I have always gotten compliments on photos of my children, tho...

2 people recommend the Sony NEX-7:

" If you have to ask, you're not ready for a big DSLR. Where DSLRs really benefit is their speed a..."

" I'd recommend the Sony NEX-7, yes, you'll be able to blow photos up to 16x20 without any issue, ..."

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 Extremely good image quality Help
D4:89.0
D800:95.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D4:24.7 bits
D800:25.3 bits
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.2"
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D4:13.1 EV
D800:14.4 EV
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D4:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D800:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Focus points Lots of 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
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D4:300 ms
D800:120 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
Weight Heavy Help
D4:1,340 g
D800:900 g
Size Large Help
D4:160x157x91 mm
D800:146x123x82 mm
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D4:12,800 ISO
D800:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
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 D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the D4
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a much 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

$5,197 body only
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Compare the D3S vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D4
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3X vs the D4
Compare the D3X vs the D800
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D5100 vs the D4
Compare the D5100 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 6 comments

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