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Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s

Portability
52
Imaging
74
Features
43
Overall
61
Leica S2 front
 
Nikon D4s front
Portability
50
Imaging
64
Features
84
Overall
72

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Key Specs

Leica S2
(Full Review)
  • 38MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1250
  • No Video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1410g - 160 x 120 x 81mm
  • Released September 2008
Nikon D4s
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 409600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1350g - 160 x 157 x 91mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Succeeded the Nikon D4
  • Successor is Nikon D5
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Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Leica S2 and Nikon D4s, both Pro DSLR digital cameras by competitors Leica and Nikon. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the S2 (38MP) and D4s (16MP) and the S2 (Medium format) and D4s (Full frame) feature different sensor size.

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The S2 was released 6 years prior to the D4s and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Large SLR).

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the S2 grades vs the D4s for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica S2 over the Nikon D4s

 S2 D4s 

Reasons to pick Nikon D4s over the Leica S2

 D4s S2 
LaunchedFebruary 2014September 2008More recent by 66 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Leica S2 and Nikon D4s

 S2 D4s 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica S2 offers exterior measurements of 160mm x 120mm x 81mm (6.3" x 4.7" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 1410 grams (3.11 lbs) and the Nikon D4s has proportions of 160mm x 157mm x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 1350 grams (2.98 lbs).

Check out the Leica S2 and Nikon D4s in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S2 versus the D4s.

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the S2 and D4s is 52 and 50 respectively.

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s top view buttons comparison

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S2 and D4s.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S2 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Leica S2 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 22 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older S2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s sensor size comparison

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Screen and ViewFinder

Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica S2 Portrait photography information
Nikon D4s Portrait photography information
76
you can focus manually
great megapixels (38 megapixels)
great sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
78
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica S2 Street photography features
Nikon D4s Street photography features
51
great sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (1,250)
58
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica S2
Sports photography with Nikon D4s
58
great megapixels (38MP)
great sensor size (Medium format)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (1,000 CIPA)
75
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery life (3,020 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Leica S2 Travel photography information
Nikon D4s Travel photography information
45
great megapixels (38 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (1,000 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
62
great battery life (3,020 shots)
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica S2 Landscape photography advice
Nikon D4s Landscape photography advice
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
great megapixels (38 megapixels)
great sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (1,250)
not so great battery pack (1,000 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery life (3,020 shots)
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica S2
Vlogging with Nikon D4s
9
lack of video recording
28
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Leica S2 vs Nikon D4s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica S2 and Nikon D4s
 Leica S2Nikon D4s
General Information
Make Leica Nikon
Model type Leica S2 Nikon D4s
Type Pro DSLR Pro DSLR
Released 2008-09-23 2014-02-24
Physical type Large SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Expeed 4
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Medium format Full frame
Sensor measurements 45 x 30mm 36 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 1,350.0mm² 860.4mm²
Sensor resolution 38 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 5:4 and 3:2
Max resolution 7500 x 5000 4928 x 3280
Max native ISO 1250 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 409600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens support Leica L Nikon F
Number of lenses 30 309
Crop factor 0.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD with brightness and color adjustment
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.86x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 32 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto FP high-speed sync, front-curtain, rear-curtain, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1410 gr (3.11 lb) 1350 gr (2.98 lb)
Dimensions 160 x 120 x 81mm (6.3" x 4.7" x 3.2") 160 x 157 x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 76 89
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 24.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.3
DXO Low light rating 824 3074
Other
Battery life 1000 shots 3020 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - EN-EL18a
Self timer - Yes (2-20 seconds, 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - CompactFlash, XQD
Card slots Single 2
Cost at release $0 $6,498