Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D4S

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Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D4S

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35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

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.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Nikon D5
Compare D4S vs D5

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs NIKON D5

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Nikon D4S

Less expensive
$2299 vs $4800*
Save money for lenses or accessories
More cross-type AF points
41 vs 15
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Lighter weight
950g vs 1356g
Lighter weight
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
22.3 vs 16.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Nikon D4S advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Bigger pixels
~ 7.31 vs 6.25 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 0.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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.
D4S test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

3,074 vs 2,293 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D4S test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

13.3 vs 11.7 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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 950 shots
Capture more photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 63 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.8 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
78 vs 18 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

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
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D4S User Reviews

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Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Buy the Nikon D4S

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Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2079
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Nikon D4S

Canon 6D

$5399
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D4S

Canon 5D Mark IV

$5399
35mm

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

$2249
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Nikon D4S

Sony A850

$5399
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Lighter weight

Compare Nikon D4S vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D4

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D4

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$4500
35mm

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D4

Nikon D4S

Nikon D4

$5399
35mm

Fast startup
Higher extended ISO

$4500
35mm

Bigger JPEG buffer
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D4S vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon EOS-1D C

$2079
35mm

Lighter weight
More pixels

$6989
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon EOS-1D C

Nikon D4S

Canon EOS-1D C

$5399
35mm

Higher extended ISO

$6989
35mm

Shoot 4K video
More cross-type AF points

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon EOS-1D C

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