Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D300

Nikon D4

99
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
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Nikon D300

68
Runner-up

Nikon D300
"The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's build-quality
"High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR), ISO 6400 usable for small output"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Size
 Really small
Professional size 147x114x74 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The D4 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the D300
Overall image quality Much better image quality 89.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
 More than 2.5x more shots per battery charge
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 11 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 5 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D4's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 208 ms vs 227 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Much smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 925 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 More than 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 Significantly cheaper $1,999.99 vs $5,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,999 cheaper (3x less)
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
99 vs 68
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D4:1,340 g
D300:925 g
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
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D4:15.9 MP
D300:12.2 MP
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D4:208 ms
D300:227 ms
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D4:12,800 ISO
D300:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the D4
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Compare the D800 vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D4
Compare the D90 vs the D300
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
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D4
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Compare the D300S vs the D4
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Weight Is significantly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the D4
Compare the D3100 vs the D300
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the D4
Compare the D700 vs the D300

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 - $6,800 body only
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
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

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 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
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the D3X vs the D4
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$2,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D4

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300.

appearance

Nikon D4 Nikon D300
Nikon D4 Nikon D300
Nikon D4 Nikon D300

discussion

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