Nikon D4S vs Sony A7S

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D4S vs Sony A7S

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 847.3mm²
12.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Sony A7S Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7S.
Compare Sony A7S image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7S conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5
Compare D4S vs D5

Succeeded by the Sony A7S II
Compare A7S vs A7S II

Compare NIKON D5 vs SONY A7S II

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Differences

Nikon D4S advantages over Sony A7S

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 2.0 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 380 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More pixels
16.2 vs 12.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 62 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.8 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
78 vs 39 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Sony A7S advantages over Nikon D4S

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$1998 vs $5999
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark D4S test data on DxO Mark

3,702 vs 3,074 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
48 mm vs 90 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
507g vs 1356g
Lighter weight
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
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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

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
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D4S User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7S User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D4S

Body Only

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Buy the Sony A7S

Sony a7S

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

Outstanding high ISO performance; excellent dynamic range; 4K video recording (via uncompressed HDMI); XAVC S option for HD video; Slightly improved battery life over A7/A7R; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC connectivity.
4K video requires expensive external recorder; Sluggish startup time; Loud shutter; Silent Shooting mode hurts image quality; Lacks a built-in, pop-up flash; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7S 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

Sony A7S

Canon 1DX

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$5299
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S 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

Sony A7S

Nikon D4

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$4500
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S 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

Sony A7S

Canon EOS-1D C

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$6989
35mm

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Sony A7S II

Nikon D4S

Sony A7S II

$5999
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D4S vs Sony A7S II

Sony A7S

Sony A7S II

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$2398
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A7S II

Compared to Leica M (Typ 262)

Nikon D4S

Leica M (Typ 262)

$5999
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$4995
35mm

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Nikon D4S vs Leica M (Typ 262)

Sony A7S

Leica M (Typ 262)

$1998
35mm

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$4995
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Sony A7S vs Leica M (Typ 262)

Compare Other Cameras?