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.

Is the Nikon D4S a good camera? The D4S has a Camera Elo of 2129. This rating puts the D4S among the top 30 percent of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the D4S ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3.5-star performance rating.

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Nikon D4S	160 mm	157 mm	91 mm	1350 g	3020	Y	Feb 2014	6,499
2.		Canon 1D X	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1551 g	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799
3.		Nikon D6	160 mm	163 mm	92 mm	1270 g	3580	Y	Feb 2020	6,499
4.		Nikon D5	160 mm	159 mm	92 mm	1415 g	3780	Y	Jan 2016	6,499
5.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
6.		Nikon D810	146 mm	123 mm	82 mm	980 g	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
7.		Nikon Df	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
8.		Nikon D4	160 mm	157 mm	91 mm	1340 g	2600	Y	Jan 2012	5,999
9.		Nikon D3S	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1240 g	4200	Y	Oct 2009	5,199
10.		Nikon D3X	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1260 g	4400	Y	Dec 2008	7,999
11.		Nikon D3	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	4,999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

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

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D4S	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	1080/60p	24.4	13.3	3074		89
2.		Canon 1D X	Full Frame	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.8	11.8	2786		82
3.		Nikon D6	Full Frame	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
4.		Nikon D5	Full Frame	20.7	5588	3712	4K/30p	25.1	12.3	2343		88
5.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956		93
6.		Nikon D810	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.7	14.8	2853		97
7.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279		89
8.		Nikon D4	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	1080/30p	24.7	13.1	2965		89
9.		Nikon D3S	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	720/24p	23.5	12.0	3253		82
10.		Nikon D3X	Full Frame	24.4	6048	4032	none	24.7	13.7	1992		88
11.		Nikon D3	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2290		81

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The D4S indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the D4S can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the D4S has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.70x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D4S and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D4S	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
2.		Canon 1D X	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
3.		Nikon D6	optical	Y	3.2	2359	fixed	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
4.		Nikon D5	optical	Y	3.2	2359	fixed	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
5.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
6.		Nikon D810	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	Y	n
7.		Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
8.		Nikon D4	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
9.		Nikon D3S	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0	n	n
10.		Nikon D3X	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
11.		Nikon D3	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0	n	n

One useful feature of the D4S is a presence of a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D4S and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D4S	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon 1D X	Y	mono	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Nikon D6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Nikon D5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Nikon D810	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
7.		Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D4	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Nikon D3S	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D3X	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon D3	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the D4S has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

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 (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

Review Scores

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Nikon D4S	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	6,499
2.		Canon 1D X	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799
3.		Nikon D6	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	6,499
4.		Nikon D5	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	6,499
5.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
6.		Nikon D810	5/5	..	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	3,299
7.		Nikon Df	4/5	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
8.		Nikon D4	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	5,999
9.		Nikon D3S	5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2009	5,199
10.		Nikon D3X	..	..	86/100	4/5	5/5	Dec 2008	7,999
11.		Nikon D3	..	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	4,999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

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.

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.

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