Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D3

Nikon D4

95

  
Nikon D3

84

  
Winner

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
4300 shots
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 2,290 ISO
Help
 The D4 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 89.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 11 fps vs 9 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
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 D3
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 2600 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Thickness Thinner 3.5" vs 3.6"
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 160x157x88 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 1,300 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
95 vs 84
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
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
D4:2,965 ISO
D3:2,290 ISO
Battery life Very long battery life Help
D4:2600 shots
D3:4300 shots
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points Many focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
D4:11 fps
D3:9 fps
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
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
D4:1,340 g
D3:1,300 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
D4:3.6"
D3:3.5"
Size Large Help
D4:160x157x91 mm
D3:160x157x88 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D4:15.9 MP
D3:12.1 MP
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D4:Contrast detection
D3:None
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
D3:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 - $3,297 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Compare the D800 vs the D3
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D3
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Compare the D3S vs the D3
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
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D600 vs the D4
Compare the D600 vs the D3
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
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$6,699 body only
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3X vs the D4
Compare the D3X vs the D3
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Size Is much smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the D4
Compare the D700 vs the D3

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

appearance

Nikon D4 Nikon D3
Nikon D4 Nikon D3
Nikon D4 Nikon D3

discussion

Showing 0 comments