Nikon
D4
 vs
Nikon
D300S

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"
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Nikon D300S

71
Runner-up

Nikon D300S
"Most high-end DSLRs feature Magnesium alloy construction but the D300 stood out as a particularly weighty and well-constructed example"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's build-quality
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Size
 Really small
Professional size 147x114x74 mm
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
 The D4 has excellent image quality 1.9 f-stops higher ISO than the D300S
Overall image quality Much better image quality 89.0 vs 70.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.2 more bits of color
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 950 shots
Help
 More than 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 5 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 11 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 208 ms vs 225 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
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 938 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 30% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $1,690.00 vs $5,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,309 cheaper (3.5x 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 D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
99 vs 71
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4.

advice

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1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."
0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."
0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"
0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."
0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

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
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
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
D300S:938 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
D300S:12.2 MP
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D4:208 ms
D300S:225 ms
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D4:12,800 ISO
D300S: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 D300S
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 D300S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D4
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S
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 D300S

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
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 D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300S.

appearance

Nikon D4 Nikon D300S
Nikon D4 Nikon D300S
Nikon D4 Nikon D300S

discussion

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