Samsung NX30 vs Nikon D4S

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Samsung NX30 vs Nikon D4S

Leave Feedback

APS-C 369.0mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Samsung NX30 Review.
How does it shoot? Samsung NX30 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the NX30.
Compare Samsung NX30 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Samsung NX30 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 Nikon D5
Compare D4S vs D5
Compare Samsung NX30 vs Nikon D5

Buy From

Differences

Samsung NX30 advantages over Nikon D4S

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
41 mm vs 90 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
20.3 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

Nikon D4S advantages over Samsung NX30

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 7.31 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.20 vs 0.8 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 NX30 test data on DxO Mark

3,074 vs 1,014 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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 360 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.64x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.6 fps vs 8.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 21 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.8 fps vs 8.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
78 vs 12 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 25600 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
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX30 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D4S User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX30

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All NX30 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D4S

Body Only

All D4S Deals

Review Excerpt

Very good image quality at low to moderately high ISOs; Blazing fast single-shot autofocus; Fast 9fps burst with RAW and JPEG files; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC; Good build quality; Tilting EVF; Articulating touchscreen monitor; Bundled with Adobe Lightroom 5 software; Excellent value.
Dynamic range not as good as the best APS-C models; Slow buffer clearing even with fast UHS-I cards; Buffer depth with RAW files is underwhelming; Native lens selection is still fairly limited.
Read our Samsung NX30 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 Nikon D4

Samsung NX30

Nikon D4

$899
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$4500
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Samsung NX30 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

Samsung NX30

Canon EOS-1D C

$899
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$6989
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Samsung NX30 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

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Samsung NX30

Fujifilm X-E2

$899
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$899
APS-C

Lens selection
Doesn't require an AA filter

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-E2

Nikon D4S

Fujifilm X-E2

$5399
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$899
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D4S vs Fujifilm X-E2

Compared to Fujifilm X-T1

Samsung NX30

Fujifilm X-T1

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1099
APS-C

Lens selection
More viewfinder magnification

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-T1

Nikon D4S

Fujifilm X-T1

$5399
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D4S vs Fujifilm X-T1

Compared to Fujifilm X-T10

Samsung NX30

Fujifilm X-T10

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1099
APS-C

Lens selection
Doesn't require an AA filter

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-T10

Nikon D4S

Fujifilm X-T10

$5399
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D4S vs Fujifilm X-T10

Compare Other Cameras?