Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Sony NEX-7

Nikon D3S

67

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Sony NEX-7

59

Runner-up

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
True resolution
High true resolution
24 MP
Light sensitivity
High ISO
16,000 ISO
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 430 shots
Help
More than 10x more shots per battery charge
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,016 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the NEX-7
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
More than 15x more lenses available
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
4x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7

Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
8.9x smaller
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
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
Weight Much lighter 350 g vs 1,240 g
Help
3.5x lighter
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.5"
Help
2.3x thinner
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 Much cheaper $1,199.99 vs $5,196.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $3,997 cheaper (4.3x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 12 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 9 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
67 vs 59
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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1
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3S:82.0
NEX-7:81.0
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
921k dots
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
NEX-7:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Light sensitivity Extremely good maximum light sensitivity Help
D3S:12,800 ISO
NEX-7:16,000 ISO
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3S:23.5 bits
NEX-7:24.1 bits
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D3S:12 EV
NEX-7:13.4 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
D3S:9 fps
NEX-7:10 fps
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3S:Pentaprism
NEX-7:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D3S:1/8000s
NEX-7:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Lowest price Very expensive Help
D3S:$5,196.95
NEX-7:$1,199.99
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Much smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Movie format Does not take movies
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
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

Size Much smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weight Lighter
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$2,298 body only

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Nikon D3S Sony NEX-7
Nikon D3S Sony NEX-7
Nikon D3S Sony NEX-7

discussion

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