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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D4

6.28 in
6.18 in
Nikon D3S Digital Camera
Nikon D3S
6.3 in
6.16 in
Nikon D4 Digital Camera
Nikon D4
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
29
4.4 out of 5
10 user ratings
5 stars
70 %
4 stars
20 %
3 stars
10 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
29
4.3 out of 5
8 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
50 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
41
4.0 out of 5
41 user ratings
5 stars
34 %
4 stars
39 %
3 stars
24 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
45
4.0 out of 5
45 user ratings
5 stars
26 %
4 stars
44 %
3 stars
26 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor size1.42 in1.42 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
Max resolution4256 x 2832 px4928 x 3280 px
Other resolutions
  • 3552x2832
  • 3552x2368
  • 3184x2128
  • 2784x1848
  • 2656x1776
  • 2128x1416
  • 2080x1384
  • 1776x1416
  • 1776x1184
  • 1392x920
  • 4096x2720
  • 4096x3280
  • 3696x2456
  • 3200x2128
  • 3072x2456
  • 3072x2040
  • 2464x1640
  • 2400x1592
  • 2048x1360
  • 2048x1640
  • 1600x1064
ProcessorExpeedExpeed 3

Image

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
ISO
  • 200
  • 12800
  • 100
  • 12800
ISO minimum200100
ISO maximum1280012800
Boosted ISO minimum10050
Boosted ISO maximum102400204800
Maximum image resolution4256 x 2832 px4928 x 3280 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Fine
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPG
  • NEF
  • RAW
  • TIF
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios16:9
  • 3:2
  • 5:4
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
HDRnoyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Lens mountNikon F
  • Nikon D
  • Nikon F
  • Nikon-AF
Magnification (Crop factor)1.0 x1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)noFlash
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modenoyes
Focal length multiplier1x1x
Autofocus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Centre weighted Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Multi Point Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Spot Auto Focus
  • Tracking Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Number of focus points5151
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)5151
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD TFT
Screen dots921000921000
Touch screennono
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.7 x0.7 x
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures23
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/250s
Built-in flashyesno
Flash modes
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connection
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Hot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive11.0 fps11.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Fireworks
  • Museum
  • Night
  • Night portrait
  • Panorama
  • Party
  • Portrait
  • Self-portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Spotlight
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer optionscustomcustom
Speed (JPEG)9.0 fps11.0 fps
Speed (RAW)9.0 fps11.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 1.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Maximum resolution1280 x 720 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 320 x 240
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeNot supportedFull HD
Supported video file formatsAVIMOV
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate24.0 fps50.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoMono
Voice recordingyesyes

Design

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumAluminum-magnesium
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Weight43.74 oz41.69 oz
Width6.28 in6.3 in
Height6.18 in6.16 in
Depth3.44 in3.56 in

Storage

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • CF
  • XQD
Storage types
  • Compact Flash Type I/II
  • UDMA
  • Compact Flash
  • XQD
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)42002600
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
USB version2.02.0
WirelessOptionalOptional
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D4Nikon D4
Timelapse recordingyesyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3S

          Often compared with Nikon D4