D4 vs D3s vs D3x

[jdeg]

Below is a comparison of the features between the new D4, D3s & D3x:First the differences:

Feature	D4	D3s	D3x
Price	$5,999	$5,199	$7,999
Effective Pixels	16.2	12.1	24.5
Sensor Size	36.0x23.9mm	36.0x23.9mm	35.9x24.0mm
Storage Media	CF, XQD	CF	CF Type I/II, MicroDrive
Slots	1 CF & 1 XQD	2 CF	2 CF
Continuous Shooting (full resolution)	10fps (11 w/ AF locked)	9fps	5fps
ISO	100-12,800	200-12,800	100-1,600
Expandable ISO	50/204,800	100/102,400	50/6,400
Exposure metering	TTL using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12mm circle in center of frame Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses) Spot: Meters 4mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point	1,005-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering IISpot AF Variable Center-weighted Spot meter centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)	Spot AF Spot meter centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Image processing	EXPEED 3	EXPEED	EXPEED
Illuminated buttons	Yes	no	no
Wi-Fi	WT-5A Wireless Transmitter	WT-4A Wireless Transmitter	WT-4A Wireless Transmitter
Interface	HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector Headphone Connector NTSC Stereo Microphone Input Super Speed USB 2.0	10-pin Terminal HDMI Hi-speed USB NTSC PAL	10-pin Terminal HDMI Hi-speed USB NTSC PAL
Movie	HD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps HD 1,280x720 / 60 fps	VGA 640x424 / 24 fps QVGA 320x216 / 24fps Movie with sound HD 1280x720 / 24 fps	no video
Movie Compression	H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding		n/a
Record video to external device	Yes, via HDMI port	no	n/a
Movie audio	built-in microphone external stereo microphone jack	built-in microphone	n/a
In-camera HDR	Yes	No	No
Live view AF	Face-priority AF Wide-area AF Normal-area AF Subject-tracking AF	Has live view	Has live view
Time lapse shooting	Yes, save to movie file	yes	yes
Monitor Size	3.2"	3.0"	3.0"
Batteries	EN-EL18	EN-EL4, EN-EL4a	EN-EL4, EN-EL4a
Battery shots	2,600	4,200	4,400
Shutter Actuations (rated)	400,000	300,000	300,000
Dimensions	Width 6.3 in. (160mm) Height 6.2 in. (156.5mm) Depth 3.6 in. (90.5mm)	Width 6.3 in. (159.5mm) Height 6.2 in. (157mm) Depth 3.4 in. (87.5mm)	Width 6.3 in. (159.5mm) Height 6.2 in. (157mm) Depth 3.4 in. (87.5mm)
Weight	41.6oz (1180g)	43.7oz (1,240g)	43.0oz (1,220g)

What's the same:

• FX format
• Magnesium alloy body
• 1/8000 fastest shutter speed / 30 sec. slowest
• 51 Focus points w/ 3d tracking (D4 has faster AF sensor)
• CLS Supported
• JPEG, RAW, and TIFF image formats (image processing engine is different)
• 921,000 dot TFT display (D4 has 3.2" screen)
• Exposure bracketing 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV

Pictures -
D4:

D3s:

D3x:

 

[Patrick M]

Not sure if it's an iPad issue, but the table appears to me as a list of text and so not at all easy to use

 

[Patrick M]

Looks fine in safari. So maybe a tapatalk thing rather than an iPad issue

 

[jdeg]

I believe tables are a limitation of Tapatalk. Sorry about that.

 

[Stangman98]

The more I look at this the more I think about getting either a D4 or a used D3 sooner than later

 

[gqtuazon]

D3x is out since D800 can do more. D3s is still one of the best cameras but the D4 appeals more to me especially the face detection, back-lit buttons, virtual horizon, video, etc.

 

[Stangman98]

D3x is out since D800 can do more. D3s is still one of the best cameras but the D4 appeals more to me especially the face detection, back-lit buttons, virtual horizon, video, etc.

The D4 appeals to me with the high ISO capabilities and fps and I shoot a lot of auto racing. I really would like a D4 & D800

 

[pedroj]

If I was in the market for one of these [lotto win] The D3s would fit all my needs...High ISO, 9frames per sec,$800 cheaper...Just my personal preference...

 

[JerryPH]

Looking at this on an iPad now, and it all looks good. This is using Safari, nothing else.

When comparing 2 or more cameras, there are two trains of thought here. One are the people that love numbers and others that actually use the cameras and can speak from real life experience.


If we use the empirical numbers, according to Dx0, which I am really not fond of, according to them, the dynamic range of the D4 is 13.1 stops and 12 stops for the D3s.


In their review of the D4, however, they say that the D4 does have an edge over the D3s in low light performance, but it is close... then go and do something that I think is stupid, by giving the D4 a low light rating of 2965 vs the D3s' rating of 3253... what is up with that???


I have used the D3s in the past and I own the D4, and I must say that with previous cameras like the D700, D3 and D3s, when using high ISO numbers of ISO 6400 and up, the grain was very randomized and difficult to clean.


With the D4, I am seeing regular patterns to the noise, and this makes it much easier to remove it more effectively. An ISO 6400 shot with a D700 looks a lot "dirtier" than the D4 at ISO 25,600 before processing, but after processing with Lightroom, I am getting less loss of detail and cleaner results with the D4 shot than the D700. Throw in that 15% increase in resoluition on top of this which "shrinks" the visible noise, and it is pretty easy to see why you can get an easy 1 stop better low ISO performance over the D3s, irrespective of what DxO mark have as a rating.


Of course there are many more things other than DR and ISO, though these two are improved in the D4, there is the different processing. With the D3s, skin tones all come out the traditional Nikon magenta tinge, which if you want faithful reproduction, does require a good amount of change in post processing.


With the D4, this has been improved on a LOT, but that said, there is still room for improvement, however, they are IMHO about 75% closer to where they should be with the D4 than the D3s.

Ergonomics are way better on the D4. The tilted shutter buttons reduce finger fatigue in real life and in situations where I had a numb shutter finger after 15+ hour weddings, with the D4 my finger is a lot less sore and is no long numb, ever. On a D3s if you want to change focus points in portrait mode, your thumb needs to be stretched way over, so anyone with medium or smaller hands cannot do it without lowering the camera from their eye. The D4 doubles up on the switch in the form of 2 joy-sticks and on top of that, "remembers" the location of where the focus point was in both portrait and landscape modes, meaning if you are shooting people, the top focus point is used. If you used the center top point in landscape mode and again the center top in portrait mode, the camera recalls where you had it last and the focus point changes when you flip the camera, no need to change focus point manually each time.

Video mode on the D4 is way improved over the D3s. Longer times, higher quality, direct uncompressed output, many more video modes, adjustable levels, plugs for external mics and many other features that are not present on the D3s abound.


So, is the D4 a good candidate for an upgrade from a D3s? That reall depends on the purchaser. If the above points are important to you, yes, the D4 is a good upgrade.


I upgraded from a pair of D700's and from that level, it was a no brainer decision to upgrade! Where I was pushing the D700 close to it's limits, the D4 is now pushing me to match what it can do... and so far, it's capabilities still easily are above what I am pushing it to. Where ISO 12,800 were just barely usable on the D700, those same level of quality come on the D4 at ISO 102,400, and even slightly better!

This camera is a lot more than just the numbers on a sheet show. I feel it is a worthy successor to the D3s, and the only downside to the camera for me is reduced battery life. Where I needed one battery a day on a D3s, I need 2 on a D4, no biggie, but still annoying, yet not enough to stop me from choosing the D4 as my choice of camera.

 

[daredevil123]

After using the D4 for a couple of months now, what I feel about the D4:

1. JerryPH is spot on about the noise patterns. It is more uniform and much easier to clean. Even if I opt not to do much NR, I find the noise gives a nice "grain" to the pictures when they are downsized. D700's noise is a little haphazard, with blobs of bigger grains here and there, making it a lot harder to clean up. I also find a lot more details are retained. At 100%, D3s is slightly sharper, but once the D4 output is downsized to D3s size, i find it just as sharp.

2. Metering and WB is so much better with the D4. Matrix metering is significantly improved here and it is able to get the exposure spot on compared to the D700. D700 is a little iffy sometimes when on matrix. Auto WB/skintones are also more accurate now with the D4.

4. AF feels snappier on the D4. When shooting in very low light, I often have problems with the D700. With the D4, AF acquisition is vastly improved. Tracking is also very much improved.

 

[stmv]

all this focus on ultra High ISO fascinates me,, because,, I think of the D3/D4 as more a studio camera, with plenty of lighting options available, How often are people really pushing the upper limits of ISO?

I typically keep my ISO at 2000 or below for D800/D700, above that and the noise just becomes too much of an issue for me.

Sometimes, I'll push the 6400 range,, but for limited low light snapshot mode,, like attending a family concert,, where no flash is allowed, and I still want a snap.

>95% time under 1000 ISO,,, and if possible,, more toward ISO 200,,

so,, kinda curious of how much are you using the ultra high ISO? and under what photo ops?

 

[daredevil123]

all this focus on ultra High ISO fascinates me,, because,, I think of the D3/D4 as more a studio camera, with plenty of lighting options available, How often are people really pushing the upper limits of ISO?

I typically keep my ISO at 2000 or below for D800/D700, above that and the noise just becomes too much of an issue for me.

Sometimes, I'll push the 6400 range,, but for limited low light snapshot mode,, like attending a family concert,, where no flash is allowed, and I still want a snap.

>95% time under 1000 ISO,,, and if possible,, more toward ISO 200,,

so,, kinda curious of how much are you using the ultra high ISO? and under what photo ops?

Actually to me the D3x is a studio camera. The D3/D3s/D4 are more photojournalist/sports kind of camera.

These are a couple of my pictures that required ultra high ISO...

 

[fotojack]

If someone came up to me and said, "Jack....I'm going to give you the money to pick the camera of your choice from these three"...........I'd pick the D3X hands down. Reason?.......no video.

 

[Sambr]

Here is ISO 12,800 with D4 & Nikon 24-120F4 @ f4 92mm - Awesome this of course was with existing lighting. The D4 is the best camera I have ever owned - even more than the D3s I had.

 

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This is taken at 1/800th second, f2.8 @ ISO 10,000 AWBhttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/20/ezuryten.jpg[/IMG
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/20/baja9ubu.jpg


Kelly