Nikon D4
Winner
Nikon D4

95

vs
Nikon D3S

92

Nikon D3S
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

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
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Battery life
 Great battery life
4200 shots
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4

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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
Overall image quality Better image quality 89.0 vs 82.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.2 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 (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 102,400 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

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Battery life Much longer battery life 4200 shots vs 2600 shots
Help
 More than 60% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 2,965 ISO
Help
 The D3S has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 197 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 Around 10% 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 Lighter 1,240 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Nikon D4 Nikon D4 95
Retailer
    Style
      Color
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        vs
        92 Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
        Retailer
          Style
            Color
              You save

              similarities

              Compared to recent DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
              D4:2,965 ISO
              D3S:3,253 ISO
              Battery life Very long battery life Help
              D4:2600 shots
              D3S:4200 shots
              Sensor size Large sensors Help
              D4:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
              D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
              Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
              0.70x
              Focus points Many focus points Help
              51
              Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
              D4:11 fps
              D3S:9 fps
              Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
              300 ms startup delay
              Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
              Shoot in extreme weather
              Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
              Pentaprism
              Built-in focus motor Both have a built-in lens focus motor, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
              Autofocuses with more lenses
              Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
              2
              Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
              100%
              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
              D3S:1,240 g
              Thickness Quite thick Help
              D4:3.6"
              D3S:3.5"
              Lowest price Very expensive Help
              D4:$5,949.00
              D3S:$6,199.99
              Size Large Help
              D4:160x157x91 mm
              D3S:160x157x88 mm
              True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
              D4:16.2 MP
              D3S:12.1 MP
              Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
              Less flexible
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              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

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              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 significantly heavier
              Built-in focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
              Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
              Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D3S
              Nikon D800

              Nikon D800

              Pro DSLR

              $2,797 - $3,297 body only

              $3,997 - $4,597 with 24-120mm lens
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
              Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
              Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
              Compare the D800 vs the D4
              Compare the D800 vs the D3S
              Nikon D4s

              Nikon D4s

              Pro DSLR

              $6,497 body only
              Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
              Light sensitivity (boost) Much higher boost light sensitivity
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D4s vs the D4
              Compare the D4s vs the D3S
              Nikon D810

              Nikon D810

              Pro DSLR

              $3,297 body only
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
              Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
              Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
              Compare the D810 vs the D4
              Compare the D810 vs the D3S
              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Pro DSLR

              $3,399 body only

              $3,990 - $3,999 with 24-105mm lens
              Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
              True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
              Built-in focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
              Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3S
              Nikon D610

              Nikon D610

              Pro DSLR

              $1,897 body only

              $2,397 - $2,430 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
              Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
              Compare the D610 vs the D4
              Compare the D610 vs the D3S
              Nikon D3

              Nikon D3

              Pro DSLR

              $7,995 body only
              Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
              Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
              Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
              Compare the D3 vs the D4
              Compare the D3 vs the D3S

              Nikon D4 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

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

              Nikon D3S Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3S.

              appearance

              Nikon D4 Nikon D3S
              Nikon D4 Nikon D3S
              Nikon D4 Nikon D3S

              discussion

              Nikon D4
              D4
              Nikon

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              Nikon D3S
              D3S
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              Showing 2 comments

              Avatar for Thorsten Odinsson Thorsten Odinsson (4:03 PM, December 31, 2013)
              "Lucky" all those, who have so much money to buy one of these two cameras !!! :/
               
              Avatar for joneill517 joneill517 (1:10 AM, August 10, 2013)
              I love my D3s. The D4 seems to have some cool features but I can't see plunking down six grand for the improvements.The 102,000 ISO boost on the D3s looks like crap anyway.