Nikon D4S Comparison Review
The Nikon D4S is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was officially introduced in February 2014 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 16.2 megapixel.
Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Nikon D4S relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.



The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Nikon D4S alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
Camera Body Specifications |
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Camera | Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life (CIPA) |
Weather Sealing (y/n) |
Camera Launch (year) |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price (amazon) |
Used Price (ebay) |
|
Nikon D4S | 160 mm | 157 mm | 91 mm | 1350 g | 3020 | YES | 2014 | 6,499 | discont. | check | |
Canon 1D X (⇒ lft | rgt) | 158 mm | 168 mm | 83 mm | 1551 g | 1120 | YES | 2011 | 6,799 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D5 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 160 mm | 159 mm | 92 mm | 1415 g | 3780 | YES | 2016 | 6,499 | latest | check | |
Nikon D750 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 141 mm | 113 mm | 78 mm | 750 g | 1230 | YES | 2014 | 2,299 | latest | check | |
Nikon D810 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 146 mm | 123 mm | 82 mm | 980 g | 1200 | YES | 2014 | 3,299 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D610 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 141 mm | 113 mm | 82 mm | 850 g | 900 | YES | 2013 | 1,999 | latest | check | |
Nikon Df (⇒ lft | rgt) | 144 mm | 110 mm | 67 mm | 760 g | 1400 | YES | 2013 | 2,749 | latest | check | |
Nikon D4 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 160 mm | 157 mm | 91 mm | 1340 g | 2600 | YES | 2012 | 5,999 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3S (⇒ lft | rgt) | 160 mm | 157 mm | 88 mm | 1240 g | 4200 | YES | 2009 | 5,199 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3X (⇒ lft | rgt) | 160 mm | 157 mm | 88 mm | 1260 g | 4400 | YES | 2008 | 7,999 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3 (⇒ lft | rgt) | 160 mm | 157 mm | 88 mm | 1300 g | 4300 | YES | 2007 | 4,999 | discont. | check |
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Nikon D4S was launched in the US market at a price of $6,499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.
The Nikon D4S features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Nikon D4S among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Sensor Characteristics |
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Camera | Sensor Class |
Resolution (Megapixel) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
Nikon D4S | Full Frame | 16.2 | 4928 | 3280 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 13.3 | 3074 | 89 | |
Canon 1D X (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 23.8 | 11.8 | 2786 | 82 | |
Nikon D5 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 20.7 | 5588 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 25.1 | 12.3 | 2343 | 88 | |
Nikon D750 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.5 | 2956 | 93 | |
Nikon D810 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 36.2 | 7360 | 4912 | 1080/60p | 25.7 | 14.8 | 2853 | 97 | |
Nikon D610 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/30p | 25.1 | 14.4 | 2925 | 94 | |
Nikon Df (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 16.2 | 4928 | 3280 | no | 24.6 | 13.1 | 3279 | 89 | |
Nikon D4 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 16.2 | 4928 | 3280 | 1080/30p | 24.7 | 13.1 | 2965 | 89 | |
Nikon D3S (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 12.1 | 4256 | 2832 | 720/24p | 23.5 | 12.0 | 3253 | 82 | |
Nikon D3X (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 24.4 | 6048 | 4032 | no | 24.7 | 13.7 | 1992 | 88 | |
Nikon D3 (⇒ lft | rgt) | Full Frame | 12.1 | 4256 | 2832 | no | 23.5 | 12.2 | 2290 | 81 |
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D4S and comparable cameras. The full specs-sheets can be found in the camera manual or, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.
Core Features |
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Camera | Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots) |
Control Panel (Y/n) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution ('000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (Y/n) |
Shutter speed (1/sec) |
Shutter flaps (1/sec)) |
Build-in Flash (GN) |
Build-in Image Stab |
|
Nikon D4S | optical | YES | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | no | 8000 | 11.0 | no | no | |
Canon 1D X (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 1040 | fixed | no | 8000 | 14.0 | no | no | |
Nikon D5 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 2359 | fixed | YES | 8000 | 14.0 | no | no | |
Nikon D750 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 1229 | tilting | no | 4000 | 6.0 | 12 | no | |
Nikon D810 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 1229 | fixed | no | 4000 | 5.0 | 12 | no | |
Nikon D610 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | no | 4000 | 6.0 | 12 | no | |
Nikon Df (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | no | 4000 | 5.5 | no | no | |
Nikon D4 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | no | 8000 | 11.0 | no | no | |
Nikon D3S (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | no | 8000 | 11.0 | no | no | |
Nikon D3X (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.0 | 922 | fixed | no | 8000 | 5.0 | no | no | |
Nikon D3 (⇒ lft | rgt) | optical | YES | 3.0 | 922 | fixed | no | 8000 | 11.0 | no | no |
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D4S. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites. The detailed reviews can be accessed, respectively, on the websites of cameralabs.com, dpreview.com, ephotozine.com, imaging-resource.com, and photographyblog.com.
Review scores |
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Camera | camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch (year) |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price (amazon) |
Used Price (ebay) |
|
Nikon D4S | - | - | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 2014 | 6,499 | discont. | check | |
Canon 1D X (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | - | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 2011 | 6,799 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D5 (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | 89/100 Gold | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 2016 | 6,499 | latest | check | |
Nikon D750 (⇒ lft | rgt) | HiRec | 90/100 Gold | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 2014 | 2,299 | latest | check | |
Nikon D810 (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | 86/100 Gold | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 2014 | 3,299 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D610 (⇒ lft | rgt) | HiRec | 87/100 Gold | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 2013 | 1,999 | latest | check | |
Nikon Df (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | 81/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2013 | 2,749 | latest | check | |
Nikon D4 (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | - | 4.5/5 | - | 4.5/5 | 2012 | 5,999 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3S (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | 89/100 Gold | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 2009 | 5,199 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3X (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | 86/100 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 2008 | 7,999 | discont. | check | |
Nikon D3 (⇒ lft | rgt) | - | HiRec | 5/5 | reviewed | 4.5/5 | 2007 | 4,999 | discont. | check |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Nikon D4S FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D4S.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the D4S?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D4S with the EXPEED 4 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the D4S?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-409600.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The D4S's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Which battery does the D4S use?
The camera gets its power from the EN-EL18a, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting. If you cannot find the camera you are interested in, please contact me, and I will try to locate and add the respective data to the application.
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