• 35mm 860.4mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D4 advantages over Sony A7

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 7.31 vs 5.97 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 2.1 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,965 vs 2,248 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 2600 vs 340 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 50 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    Unlimited vs 28 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 51200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A7 advantages over Nikon D4

  • Less expensive
    $819 vs $4500*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 90 mm
    Thinner
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 16.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos

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
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Nikon D4
Sony A7R
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Sony A7
Sony A7R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels

Compared to Canon 1DX

Nikon D4
Canon 1DX
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More dynamic range
  • $5299
  • 35mm
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
Sony A7
Canon 1DX
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $5299
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Nikon D4
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • More cross-type AF points
Sony A7
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Nikon D4S

Nikon D4
Nikon D4S
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Bigger RAW buffer
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher extended ISO
Sony A7
Nikon D4S
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Sony A7 II

Nikon D4
Sony A7 II
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Sony A7
Sony A7 II
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Compare Other Cameras?