Nikon D4 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D4 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
  ~0.30 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.

  D4 test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark
  2,965 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.

  D4 test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark
  13.1 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

  2600 vs 950 shots
  Capture more photos
• Faster JPEG shooting
  11.1 fps vs 6.0 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Bigger JPEG buffer
  Unlimited vs 63 shots
  Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
• Faster RAW shooting
  11.1 fps vs 6.0 fps
  Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
• Bigger RAW buffer
  Unlimited vs 18 shots
  Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
• Higher extended ISO
  204800 vs 102400 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility