Request a product

Nikon D4S vs Nikon D810A

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD4SNikonD810A
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2014May 2015
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 23.9 mm35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution16.2 MP36.3 MP
Largest image4928 × 32807360 × 4912
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–25600200–12800
Sensor detailJapan states 16.23 million effective and 16.61 million total pixels, rounded to 16.2 million effective globally; sensor-cleaning system. FX, 1.2×, DX and 5:4 areas; maximum cropped sizes 4096 × 2720, 3200 × 2128 and 4096 × 3280 respectivelyFX CMOS with 36.3 million effective pixels USA/global or 36.35 million Japan, 37.09 million total; no optical low-pass filter. Modified IR-cut filter transmits four times more H-alpha light than D810. Nikon warns of red casts under near-infrared-rich lighting or with reflective subjects and does not recommend general photography. Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off; FX 7360 × 4912, 1.2× crop 6144 × 4080, DX 4800 × 3200 and 5:4 crop 6144 × 4912
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG. RAW S uses one-quarter of full-size pixels, with 12-bit uncompressed files; some in-camera RAW editing functions unavailable for RAW S12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, lossless-compressed or compressed; Small RAW fixed at 12-bit uncompressed. TIFF RGB, JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic with size-priority or optimal-quality compression, simultaneous RAW/JPEG; Flat and adjustable/custom Picture Controls
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–409600; Auto ISOStandard ISO 200–12800 in one-third, half or whole stops; Lo expansion to ISO 100 equivalent and Hi expansion to ISO 51200 equivalent; automatic sensitivity control
Image processorEXPEED 4; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst11 fps5 fps
Lens detailCompatible G/E/D AF NIKKOR 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 areaF mount with body AF coupling and contacts; G/E/D, other AF and AI-P lenses with restrictions; non-CPU AI lenses usable in A/M/M* with registered lens data, DX lenses use DX crop. Non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses excluded; USA G/H notation conflicts with Japan A/M/M*
AutofocusAdvanced Multi-CAM 3500FX; 51 points including 15 cross-type; 11 points support f/8, with only the centre point cross-type at f/8. Detection to -2 EV; single-point, dynamic 9/21/51, 3D tracking, five-point Group-area and auto-area; AF fine-tuning; separate landscape/portrait sub-selectorsAdvanced Multi-CAM3500FX phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 f/8-compatible points; -2 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C. AF-S/AF-C, fine-tuning, single-point, dynamic nine/21/51, 3D tracking, group-area and auto-area. Live view uses contrast AF-S/AF-F and face/wide/normal/tracking areas; current USA detection-range -1 EV entry conflicts with its own -2 EV sensitivity entry and Japan, while AF-A listings conflict with Japan modes
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 secondElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode. M* adds 4/5/8/10/15/20/30/60/120/180/240/300/600/900-second presets. X-sync 1/250 second, up to 1/320 with reduced flash range
Burst detailApproximately 11 fps with full AF/AE tracking under Nikon's AF-C, S/M, 1/250-second-or-faster test conditions; low-speed continuous approximately 1–10 fpsApproximately 5 fps full FX or 5:4 and 6 fps DX or 1.2× crop on EN-EL15. DX reaches 7 fps with MB-D12 using batteries other than EN-EL15, or qualifying AC power; 1.2× remains 6 fps. Quiet continuous approximately 3 fps. M* continuous shooting at exposures of 4 seconds or longer removes the 100-shot limit, subject to battery/card capacity
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationVR depends on attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and threaded PC sync terminal; optical Nikon CLS with compatible external SpeedlightsBuilt-in i-TTL pop-up flash, guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C; commander mode, hot shoe, PC sync terminal and compatible Auto FP 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-LightingP/S/A/M and long-exposure M*; 91000-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering; ±5 EV compensation and exposure/flash/white-balance bracketing; HDR, interval timer and virtual horizon. Japan centre-weighted default 12 mm and spot range 2–20 EV differ from USA 8 mm and 0–20 EV
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720p 60p/50p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. FX, DX and native 1920 × 1080 crop modes, the latter limited to 30p/25p/24p; maximum clip 29 minutes 59 seconds, with 20/10-minute limits depending on mode and quality. Contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F, Auto ISO in manual exposure, index marking, time-lapse exposure smoothing and simultaneous memory-card/HDMI recordingFX- or DX-based 1920 × 1080 at 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p and 1280 × 720 at 60p/50p; MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with linear PCM. Full HD 60p/50p limit 10 minutes high quality or 20 normal; other modes 20 minutes high or 29 min 59 s normal. Time-lapse movies; current USA general 20-minute limit omits mode/quality differences
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output; adjustable sensitivity; linear PCM; photograph voice memosBuilt-in stereo microphone; external 3.5 mm stereo input and headphone output, adjustable microphone sensitivity
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots921,0001,229,000
Touchscreen–No
Tilting screen–No
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle, approximately 100% coverage, automatic brightness and custom colour adjustment. Global announcement gives approximately 921000 dots, while Japan rounds approximately 920000; dots count subpixelsFixed 3.2-inch TFT, approximately 1229000 dots, 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; brightness adjustment and top status LCD. Exposure preview simulates 30 seconds for longer exposures, with up to 23× live-view enlargement; viewfinder virtual horizon illuminated red
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% FX, 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 overlay; revised mirror mechanism reduces blackoutPentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% DX/1.2× and 100% vertical/97% horizontal 5:4. Approximately 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 17 mm eyepoint, grid and depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)3020 photographs1200 photographs
Body weight1180 g880 g
Release detailNikon Japan records sale on 6 March 2014. Nikon's global announcement explicitly describes D4S as the next-generation flagship successor to D4May 2015 release month; Nikon Japan records actual sale on 28 May, with global announcement dated 10 February. The regional day does not establish earliest worldwide 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 unsupportedOne Type I CompactFlash slot with UDMA and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-I; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG split and copying between cards
PortsHi-Speed USB, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, RJ-45 Ethernet with 10/100/1000BASE-T support, ten-pin accessory terminal, PC sync and WT-5 expansion connectorUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, PC sync and 10-pin remote/GPS terminal; wired LAN requires optional UT-1
Wireless connectionsNo integrated Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WT-5/WT-4 provides wireless network transfer and browser-based remote operation. Optional GP-1/GP-1A or MC-35 connects GPS equipment; WR-R10 requires WR-A10 adapterNo built-in Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WT-5 with UT-1, GP-1/GP-1A GPS, WR-R10 with WR-A10 or WR-1. Japan marks WR-1 unsupported in M* mode
Battery life detailEN-EL18a rechargeable battery; approximately 3020 CIPA photographsEN-EL15, approximately 1200 CIPA shots. Original global announcement separately claims up to 3860 without built-in flash or immediate playback, and up to 10660 using body EN-EL15 plus grip EN-EL18a under those conditions; these are distinct from CIPA. Optional MB-D12 takes EN-EL15, EN-EL18/EN-EL18a with BL-5 or eight AA cells
ChargingExternal MH-26a charger; optional EH-6b adapter with EP-6 power connectorExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5B connector
DimensionsApproximately 160 × 156.5 × 90.5 mmApproximately 146 × 123 × 81.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 1180 g body only; 1350 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body cap and accessory-shoe coverApproximately 880 g body only; 980 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap
Materials–Dust- and water-resistant sealing; magnesium-alloy body documented on Nikon USA refurbished product overview
Colours–Black
In the boxEN-EL18a battery, MH-26a charger, UC-E15 USB cable, AN-DC11 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-2 shoe cover, DK-17 eyepiece, BL-6 battery cover, USB/HDMI clips, UF-2 stereo cable cover and ViewNX 2 CD-ROMEN-EL15, MH-25a, UC-E22 USB cable, AN-DC16 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-17 eyepiece, USB/HDMI cable clips and BM-12 monitor cover (Japan package)

More comparisons