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Nikon D4 vs Nikon Z 9

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD4NikonZ 9
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2012December 2021
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSStacked backside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 23.9 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP45.7 MP
Largest image4928 × 32808256 × 5504
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–1280064–25600
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 system52.37 million total pixels; sensor cleaning, dust-off reference data, protective sensor shield and electro-conductive/fluorine coatings
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–204800; Auto ISOExpandable to equivalent ISO 32–102400; auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED 3; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 7
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon Z mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst10 fps20 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 areaNIKKOR Z lenses; NIKKOR F lenses require a mount adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions
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-selectorsHybrid phase/contrast detection with 493 single-point FX still positions; 3D tracking and subject detection for people, animals and vehicles. Maker sensitivity −6.5 EV or −8.5 EV with Starlight View, measured in AF-S at ISO 100, 20°C and f/1.2.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 400000 cyclesElectronic shutter only, with selectable sound and protective sensor shield; 1/32000 to 30 seconds, Bulb/Time and manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 or 1/250 second with reduced guide number at higher speeds; compatible Auto FP up to 1/8000 may produce horizontal lines.
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 XQDContinuous high-speed RAW/JPEG up to 20 fps. High-speed C30 provides large full-resolution FX or DX JPEGs and C120 small FX JPEGs (4128 × 2752), with approximately four-second bursts in the linked manual. Firmware 3.00 adds C60 large DX JPEGs, also approximately four seconds; current Japan specs additionally list C15. Pre-release capture supported. These restricted high-speed modes are qualified separately from the main continuous-shooting figure.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationFive-axis sensor shift; Synchro VR up to 6 stops with supported VR lenses under Nikon CIPA conditions, including NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S with required lens firmware; electronic movie VR available
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and threaded PC sync terminal; Nikon CLS with compatible external SpeedlightsNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe, ISO 519 threaded sync terminal and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights
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; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 30 fps8256 × 4644 at 59.94 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-lapseWith firmware 2.0 or later, internal N-RAW 12-bit 8256 × 4644 up to 59.94p, 5392 × 3032 up to 59.94p and 4128 × 2322 up to 119.88p. Conventional UHD 7680 × 4320 up to 29.97p; UHD 4K and Full HD up to 119.88p. ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265 8/10-bit and H.264 have format-dependent limits. N-Log/HLG, waveform, timecode and RAW proxies. Nikon's UHD 8K/30p recording-time claim is 125 minutes under specified conditions; launch firmware and the early reviews predate internal RAW video support.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output; adjustable sensitivity; linear PCM; voice memos for photographsBuilt-in stereo microphones; 24-bit PCM recording, external microphone with attenuator and headphone monitoring; AAC used for MP4
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalElectronic
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots921,0002,100,000
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 subpixelsFour-axis horizontal/vertical tilt, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; 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 horizon0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, approximately 3.69 million dots, 100% coverage, 0.8× magnification and 23 mm eyepoint; blackout-free display with high-frame-rate option
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)2600 photographs770 photographs
Body weight1180 g1160 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 explicitly records first sale on 24 December 2021; US announcement on 28 October specified availability within 2021. TechRadar's later regional delivery-delay wording does not override the confirmed Japanese first sale.
Recording mediaOne XQD slot and one CompactFlash Type I UDMA slot; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. Type II CompactFlash and Microdrive unsupportedTwo CFexpress Type B/XQD slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation, duplicate JPEG recording and card copying
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 connectorUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, full-size HDMI Type A, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, ten-pin remote terminal and threaded flash-sync socket; RJ-45 Ethernet 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T
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 equipmentWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; built-in GNSS supports GPS, GLONASS and QZSS with location/time recording and track logs
Battery life detailEN-EL18 rechargeable battery; Nikon USA rates approximately 2600 photographs under CIPA conditionsEN-EL18d; CIPA monitor approximately 770 shots with power saving or 740 without; EVF 740 with power saving or 700 without. Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test gives approximately 5310 shots; movie battery claim approximately 170 minutes. Earlier EN-EL18-series batteries give fewer shots.
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-6bUSB charging/power delivery and MH-33 external charger; optional EH-7P charging supports EN-EL18d/18c/18b, while earlier battery revisions retain restrictions; optional EH-6d with EP-6a power connector
DimensionsApproximately 160 × 156.5 × 90.5 mmApproximately 149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 1180 g body only; 1340 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body cap and accessory-shoe coverApproximately 1160 g body only or 1340 g with battery/card, excluding body cap and shoe cover
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with dust and moisture resistance; integrated vertical grip and illuminated buttons; not a waterproof ratingWeather-sealed magnesium-alloy body with integrated vertical grip; maker operating range −10°C to 40°C
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-EL18d, MH-33 charger, AN-DC24 strap, UC-E24 USB cable, HDMI/USB cable clip, BS-1 shoe cover and BF-N1 body cap; current UK included-accessory tiles also list EH-7P UK adapter

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