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Nikon D4 vs Nikon D5600

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD4NikonD5600
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2012November 2016
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 23.9 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP24.2 MP
Largest image4928 × 32806000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–12800100–25600
Sensor detail16.6 million total pixels; FX, 1.2×, DX and 5:4 image areas; maximum cropped sizes 4096 × 2720, 3200 × 2128 and 4096 × 3280 respectively; sensor-cleaning systemNikon DX CMOS without an optical low-pass filter; 24.2 million effective pixels globally, 24.16 million in Japanese specifications, and 24.78 million total; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEGCompressed 12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–204800; Auto ISOISO 100–25600 in one-third stops; the full range is standard sensitivity rather than an expanded setting; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED 3; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst10 fps5 fps
Lens detailCompatible AF NIKKOR G/D lenses, subject to PC lens restrictions; body autofocus motor for compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU AI lenses support aperture-priority/manual; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; DX lenses use the DX image areaNo body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Japanese specifications list autofocus with AF-S, AF-P and AF-I lenses; the US page lists AF-P and type E/G AF-S lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusAdvanced Multi-CAM 3500FX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, with 11 points supporting f/8; detection to -2 EV. Single-point, dynamic 9/21/51, 3D tracking and auto-area; AF fine-tuning; separate landscape/portrait AF-point sub-selectorsMulti-CAM 4800DX; 39 phase-detection points including nine cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; selectable 39-point or 11-point layouts, dynamic 9/21/39-point areas and 3D tracking. Contrast-detection autofocus in live view
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 400000 cycles1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detailApproximately 10 fps with AF/AE tracking; 11 fps with focus and exposure fixed. Nikon's table lists 75 losslessly compressed 14-bit RAW images in FX under its specified 32GB XQD test conditions; the launch announcement's approximately 100 RAW claim uses compressed 12-bit files and Sony H-series XQDUp to approximately 5 fps for JPEG or 12-bit RAW, 4 fps for 14-bit RAW and 3 fps in continuous low; specified with AF-C, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and default settings; quiet release and interval-timer shooting
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and threaded PC sync terminal; Nikon CLS with compatible external SpeedlightsBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, including manual full output; accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 91000-pixel RGB metering with 3D Colour Matrix Metering III, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting and JPEG-only two-exposure HDRP/S/A/M, Auto, scene and special-effects modes; 2016-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; exposure, white-balance and Active D-Lighting bracketing
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 30p/25p/24p, 720p 60p/50p/30p/25p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976/59.94. FX, DX and approximately 2.7× native 1920 × 1080 crop modes; maximum clip 29 minutes 59 seconds or 20 minutes depending on quality/frame rate. Contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F; HDMI output, index marking and time-lapseH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p or 720p 60p/50p; actual rates 59.94/29.97/23.976 for nominal 60p/30p/24p. Up to 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or 10 minutes depending on resolution, frame rate and quality, or three minutes in Miniature Effect. In-camera time-lapse movies. Photography Blog's Motion JPEG AVI passage differs from Nikon's technical sheet
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output; adjustable sensitivity; linear PCM; voice memos for photographsBuilt-in stereo microphones with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots921,0001,037,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; automatic brightness control. Nikon's global announcement gives approximately 921000 dots, while Japan rounds approximately 920000; dots count subpixelsSide-hinged 3.2-inch 3:2 vari-angle touchscreen, approximately 1037000 dots globally, rounded to 1040000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; Touch AF, touch shutter and assignable Touch Fn including Auto ISO control; playback frame-advance bar and cropping during playback zoom; eye sensor switches display off; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% 1.2×/DX, and 100% vertical/97% horizontal for 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; grid and dual-axis virtual horizonPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.82× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)2600 photographs970 photographs
Body weight1180 g415 g
Release detailNikon Japan's surviving product page records sale on 15 March 2012; its original announcement explicitly revised the planned 16 February date on 7 February. Nikon's later global D4S announcement describes D4 as released in February 2012, so the date here uses the exact Japanese retail recordNikon Japan records first sale on 25 November 2016; global announcement on 10 November 2016
Recording mediaOne XQD slot and one CompactFlash Type I UDMA slot; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. Type II CompactFlash and Microdrive unsupportedOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with UHS-I support; MMC unsupported
PortsHi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, RJ-45 Ethernet, ten-pin accessory terminal, PC sync and WT-5 expansion connectorHi-Speed Micro-USB, HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input and accessory terminal for optional WR-1/WR-R10 wireless remote, MC-DC2 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS
Wireless connectionsNo integrated Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WT-5/WT-4 provides wireless network transfer. HTTP-server mode supports browser-based remote operation; GP-1 or MC-35 connects optional GPS equipmentBluetooth 4.1 with low-energy SnapBridge pairing; automatic transfer of 2-megapixel JPEGs, including while the camera is off. Wi-Fi IEEE802.11b/g supports selected still-image and movie transfer and remote still capture after Bluetooth pairing; RAW/TIFF transfer unsupported in Nikon's launch description. Smartphone time/location synchronisation; NFC Type3Tag. Photography Blog's D3400-derived Wi-Fi limitation passage does not describe this model
Battery life detailEN-EL18 rechargeable battery; Nikon USA rates approximately 2600 photographs under CIPA conditionsEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 970 CIPA photographs per charge. Photography Blog's 600-shot passage differs from Nikon's specifications
ChargingExternal MH-26 charger; optional EH-6a adapter with EP-6 power connector in the original Japanese specification, while the surviving US specification lists EH-6bExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector
DimensionsApproximately 160 × 156.5 × 90.5 mmApproximately 124 × 97 × 70 mm
Weight detailApproximately 1180 g body only; 1340 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body cap and accessory-shoe coverApproximately 415 g body only or 465 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
Colours–Black
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with dust and moisture resistance; integrated vertical grip and illuminated buttons; not a waterproof rating–
In the boxEN-EL18 battery, MH-26 charger, UC-E15 USB cable, AN-DC7 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-2 shoe cover, DK-17 eyepiece, BL-6 battery cover, USB clip, UF-2 stereo cable cover and ViewNX 2 CD-ROMEN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 BK strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecup

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