Nikon D4S vs Canon 1DX Mark II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D4S vs Canon 1DX Mark II

35mm 860.4mm²
16.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D4S Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D4S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D4S.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D4S conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 1DX Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX Mark II.
Compare Canon 1DX Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 1DX Mark II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5
Compare D4S vs D5

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark III
Compare 1DX Mark II vs 1DX Mark III

Compare NIKON D5 vs CANON 1DX MARK III

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Differences

Nikon D4S advantages over Canon 1DX Mark II

Fast startup
~0.20 vs 0.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

3020 vs 1210 shots
Capture more photos

Canon 1DX Mark II advantages over Nikon D4S

Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
More cross-type AF points
41 vs 15
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More dots on screen
1620k vs 922k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.2 vs 16.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
14.0 fps vs 10.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 200 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
14.1 fps vs 10.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 78 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Read D4S User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Excellent, tank-like build quality; First-rate ergonomics a pro would expect; Superb performance with confident autofocus; Great image quality; Big, bright viewfinder with 100% coverage; Excellent battery life; Doubles as a powerful video capture tool
Fairly minor upgrade over the D4; Image quality improvements apply only to JPEG; XQD card format isn't broadly accepted; Consumer-friendly default JPEG processing may turn off some pros; Body is large and hefty (but that's normal for pro gear)
Read our Nikon D4S Review

Excellent image quality, especially from RAWs; Fantastic high ISO performance; Fast autofocus with great tracking performance; 14fps burst rate; Amazing buffer capacity; 4K 60p video; Robust build quality.
Very heavy, bulky and expensive; Dual memory card slots use different formats; 29:59 continuous video recording limit; Touchscreen feels underutilized.
Read our Canon 1DX Mark II Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 1DX

Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$5299
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon 1DX

Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon 1DX

$2999
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$5299
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Canon 1DX

Compared to Nikon D4

Nikon D4S

Nikon D4

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher extended ISO

$4500
35mm

Bigger JPEG buffer
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D4S vs Nikon D4

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D4

$2999
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$4500
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Nikon D4S

Canon EOS-1D C

$5999
35mm

Higher extended ISO

$6989
35mm

Shoot 4K video
More cross-type AF points

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon EOS-1D C

$2999
35mm

Touchscreen
Built-in GPS

$6989
35mm

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Nikon D5

Nikon D4S

Nikon D5

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$5243
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D4S vs Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

$2999
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Built-in GPS

$5243
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5

Compared to Nikon D6

Nikon D4S

Nikon D6

$5999
35mm

$6500
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D4S vs Nikon D6

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D6

$2999
35mm

On-sensor phase detect
Slow-motion videos

$6500
35mm

Built-in Bluetooth
More cross-type AF points

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D6

Compare Other Cameras?