• 35mm 860.4mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 42.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

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Differences

Nikon D4S advantages over Sony A7R III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 7.31 vs 4.51 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.20 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 3020 vs 650 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    200 vs 82 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    10.8 fps vs 9.2 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    78 vs 30 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    409600 vs 102400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A7R III advantages over Nikon D4S

  • Less expensive
    $1805 vs $4800*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,523 vs 3,074 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.7 vs 13.3 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    7 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    657g vs 1356g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.70x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    42.4 vs 16.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • 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
  • 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Buy the Sony A7R III
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens
  • Kit with 24-70mm f/4 lens
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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

  • Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.

  • Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.

  • Read our Sony A7R III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 1DX

Nikon D4S
Canon 1DX
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $5299
  • 35mm
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D4S vs Canon 1DX

Sony A7R III
Canon 1DX
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $5299
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon 1DX

Compared to 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

Sony A7R III
Nikon D4
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon D4

Compared to 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

Sony A7R III
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Sony A7R II

Nikon D4S
Sony A7R II
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive

Compare Nikon D4S vs Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R II
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Touchscreen
  • High resolution composite
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Nikon D4S
Nikon Z7 II
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive

Compare Nikon D4S vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A7R III
Nikon Z7 II
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • Newer

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon Z7 II

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