Nikon D4 vs Nikon D600
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonD4 | NikonD600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | March 2012 | September 2012 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | DSLR | DSLR |
| Sensor format | Full frame | Full frame |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor dimensions | 36 × 23.9 mm | 35.9 × 24 mm |
| Effective resolution | 16.2 MP | 24.3 MP |
| Largest image | 4928 × 3280 | 6016 × 4016 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–12800 | 100–6400 |
| Sensor detail | 16.6 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 system | Nikon acknowledged excessive granular dust spots in some D600 images in March 2014 and then offered cleaning, shutter/related-part replacement and, after repeated unsuccessful servicing, replacement cameras; this historical notice does not establish present service eligibility. FX CMOS with 24.3 million effective and 24.7 million total pixels; Japan gives 24.26 million and 24.66 million respectively. Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data; full FX 6016 × 4016 or DX crop 3936 × 2624 |
| Image formats | 12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG | 12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, lossless-compressed or compressed; JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic with size-priority or optimal-quality compression; simultaneous RAW/JPEG; adjustable Picture Controls and in-camera NEF processing; no TIFF capture |
| ISO detail | Expanded equivalents ISO 50–204800; Auto ISO | Standard ISO 100–6400 in one-third or half stops; Lo expansion down to ISO 50 and Hi expansion up to ISO 25600 equivalent; automatic sensitivity control |
| Image processor | EXPEED 3; Advanced Scene Recognition System | EXPEED 3 |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount |
| Stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation |
| Maximum continuous burst | 10 fps | 5.5 fps |
| Lens detail | Compatible 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 area | Nikon F mount with AF coupling and contacts, including body autofocus motor. Compatible G/D AF, other AF and AI-P lenses; non-CPU AI lenses support A/M with restrictions and registered lens data; DX lenses use DX crop. Non-AI, IX and F3AF excluded |
| Autofocus | Advanced 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-selectors | Nikon Multi-CAM4800 phase detection with 39 points, nine cross-type and seven f/8-compatible central points; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF fine-tuning, single-point, dynamic nine/21/39, 3D tracking and auto-area. Live view uses contrast AF with AF-S/AF-F and face/wide/normal/tracking areas |
| Shutter | 1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 400000 cycles | Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/4000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time via optional ML-L3; tested to 150000 cycles. X-sync 1/200 second, up to 1/250 with reduced flash range |
| Burst detail | Approximately 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 XQD | High-speed continuous approximately 5.5 fps; low-speed 1–5 fps; quiet single-frame, mirror-up, self-timer and optional infrared remote modes |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation | Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation |
| Flash | No built-in flash; hot shoe and threaded PC sync terminal; Nikon CLS with compatible external Speedlights | Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C; commander for two remote flash groups, accessory shoe and compatible Auto FP Speedlights |
| Exposure controls | P/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 HDR | P/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes, U1/U2 presets; 2016-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation, exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing; two-exposure HDR, multiple exposure, interval timer and dual-axis virtual horizon |
| Video | ||
| Highest video resolution | 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps | 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps |
| Video detail | H.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-lapse | FX- or DX-based 1920 × 1080 at 30p/25p/24p, 1280 × 720 at 60p/50p/30p/25p; MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and linear PCM audio; high quality up to 20 minutes, standard up to 29 min 59 s. Time-lapse movie creation and uncompressed HDMI output. Photography Blog sample caption says 1920 × 1280; own Nikon specification gives 1920 × 1080 |
| Audio | Built-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output; adjustable sensitivity; linear PCM; voice memos for photographs | Built-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with plug-in power and headphone output; adjustable recording sensitivity |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 3.2″ | 3.2″ |
| Screen dots | 921,000 | 921,000 |
| Touchscreen | – | No |
| Tilting screen | – | No |
| Display detail | Fixed 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 subpixels | Fixed 3.2-inch TFT with approximately 921000 dots in US specification or 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle, 100% coverage and automatic brightness adjustment; BM-14 protective cover, top status LCD and live view |
| Viewfinder detail | Pentaprism; 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 horizon | Pentaprism with approximately 100% FX or 97% DX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; eyepoint 20.6 mm US or 21 mm Japan; grid display and depth-of-field preview |
| Connections and design | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | 2600 photographs | 900 photographs |
| Body weight | 1180 g | 760 g (better) |
| Release detail | Nikon 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 record | Nikon Japan records actual first sale on 27 September 2012; global announcement dated 13 September 2012 |
| Recording media | One XQD slot and one CompactFlash Type I UDMA slot; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. Type II CompactFlash and Microdrive unsupported | Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots, UHS-I supported; overflow, backup or RAW/JPEG split recording and card-to-card copying |
| Ports | Hi-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 connector | Hi-Speed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone connections, accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS |
| Wireless connections | No 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 equipment | Optional WU-1b Wi-Fi mobile adapter or ML-L3 infrared release; no built-in Wi-Fi or GPS |
| Battery life detail | EN-EL18 rechargeable battery; Nikon USA rates approximately 2600 photographs under CIPA conditions | EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery, approximately 900 CIPA shots; optional MB-D14 takes one EN-EL15 or six AA batteries |
| Charging | External MH-26 charger; optional EH-6a adapter with EP-6 power connector in the original Japanese specification, while the surviving US specification lists EH-6b | External MH-25 charger; optional EH-5b mains adapter with EP-5B connector |
| Dimensions | Approximately 160 × 156.5 × 90.5 mm | Approximately 141 × 113 × 82 mm |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1180 g body only; 1340 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body cap and accessory-shoe cover | Approximately 760 g body only; 850 g with battery and SD memory card, excluding body cap |
| Materials | Magnesium-alloy body with dust and moisture resistance; integrated vertical grip and illuminated buttons; not a waterproof rating | Magnesium-alloy top and rear covers with dust/water-drop sealing in Nikon's announcement; Photo Review's description of a resin top conflicts with the maker |
| Colours | – | Black |
| In the box | EN-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-ROM | EN-EL15, MH-25 charger, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-21 eyecup, BM-14 monitor cover, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, AN-DC8 strap, UC-E15 USB cable and ViewNX 2 CD-ROM (Japan body package) |
More comparisons
- Nikon D600 vs Nikon Z5II
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon Z 9
- Nikon D6 vs Nikon D600
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon D6
- Nikon D600 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D600
- Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D4
- Nikon D600 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon D850
- Nikon D600 vs Nikon D7500
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon D7500
- Nikon D5600 vs Nikon D600
- Nikon D4 vs Nikon D5600
- Nikon D3400 vs Nikon D600
- Nikon D3400 vs Nikon D4

