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Nikon D4s

 
Nikon D4s front
 
  • 16MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 409600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1350g - 160 x 157 x 91mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Replaced the Nikon D4
  • Successor is Nikon D5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
50
Imaging
64
Features
84
Overall
72

Nikon D4s overview

Nikon D4s is Nikon's Pro DSLR camera first revealed on February of 2014. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a peak resolution of 4928 x 3280.

Nikon released this camera to upgrade the previous Nikon D4 (Read Full Comparison) and then introduced the newer Nikon D5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to upgrade this model.

The D4s is placed #6 out of 35 in Pro DSLR cameras and all round #146 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can try out our Smart camera finder to get camera rankings based on your custom factors.

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The following is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon D4s family

The Nikon D4s comes with a history of related cameras. Here, you can view all past and current models along with main specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-D6 front thumbnailNikon D6
D4s vs D6
21MPFull frame14.0 fps2020
Nikon-D5 front thumbnailNikon D5
D4s vs D5
21MPFull frame14.0 fps2016
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Nikon-D4s front thumbnailNikon D4s16MPFull frame11.0 fps2014
Nikon-D4 front thumbnailNikon D4
D4s vs D4
16MPFull frame11.0 fps2012
Nikon-D3S front thumbnailNikon D3S
D4s vs D3S
12MPFull frame11.0 fps2010
Nikon-D3X front thumbnailNikon D3X
D4s vs D3X
25MPFull frame5.0 fps2009
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Nikon-D3 front thumbnailNikon D3
D4s vs D3
12MPFull frame11.0 fps2008

Nikon D4s Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of advantages and disadvantages of the Nikon D4s based on factors which are typically seen as crucial in a camera.

big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with HDMI support
comes with headphone jack
comes with microphone jack
comes with Top display
exports RAW files
features face detect autofocus
features tracking focus
focusing manually
good battery power (3,020 CIPA)
good high ISO (25,600)
good min ISO (100)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has dual storage slots
high resolution screen (921 thousand dot)
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
supports phase detect autofocus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
weather sealing
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
fixed screen
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Nikon D4s Sensor information

The Nikon D4s is powered by the Expeed 4 chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Nikon D4s is 36mm x 23.9mm (Full frame). The 860 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4928 x 3280 pixels with aspect ratios of 5:4 and 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and supports a native ISO range of 100 to 25600. The ISO can also be widened digitally to 50 to 409600. RAW files are saved therefore you have more room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the D4s's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The D4s sensor comes with a crop factor of 1 and is displayed in green.

Nikon D4s sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon D4s dimensions

Nikon D4s is 2.98 pounds (1,350 gr / 47.62 oz) and features exterior size of 160mm x 157mm x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6"). The weight of general Pro DSLR camera is 1,280 gr and the Nikon D4s is very similar compared with other rivals.

Photography Glossary

Down below is a shot of the Nikon D4s with a softdrink to help you have a feel for its size.

Nikon D4s dimensions scale

The top view just below will highlight the button design on the D4s.

Nikon D4s topview buttons dials

Nikon D4s Lens information

The D4s fits the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses to choose from. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the D4s.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Tamron-SP-90mm-F2.8-Di-VC-USD-Macro-Nikon-F-FX lensTamron SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD Macro90mmf/2.8 609g
Nikon-AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-300mm-F3.5-6.3G-ED-VR lensNikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR18-300mmf/3.5-6.3 550g
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Sigma-20mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A20mmf/1.4 950g
Sigma-14-24mm-F2.8-DG-HSM-Art-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art14-24mmf/2.81150g
Nikon-AF-Nikkor-80-400mm-f4.5-5.6D-ED-VR lensNikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR80-400mmf/4.5-5.6 1340g
Samyang-14mm-F2.8-IF-ED-MC-Aspherical-Nikon-F-FX lensSamyang 14mm F2.8 IF ED MC Aspherical14mmf/2.8 552g
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Tamron-AF-70-300mm-F4-5.6-Di-LD-Macro-Nikon-F-FX lensTamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD Macro70-300mmf/4.0-5.6 435g
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Nikon D4s Connectivity

The D4s has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to transfer photos and sometimes change camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Many apps also give a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external monitor. A lot of cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB socket.

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Nikon D4s Video information

The highest video resolution on the Nikon D4s is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 1080p resolution provides a good balance in quality vs file size but FULL HD will not give you much room to downsample. The camera does feature both headphone and microphone jack making it pretty useful while capturing audio.

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Nikon D4s Weather Sealing

Nikon D4s has got weather sealing making it a good candidate to use in tricky conditions. This can be particularly valuable in case you are unsure about the elements you might face in outdoor photography.

Nikon D4s Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon D4s houses a 3.2 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please note that the display offers no touch support. The D4s also comes with a Top display so it’s possible to quickly view your settings.

Nikon D4s screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The View Finder specs regarding Nikon D4s are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.7x

Viewfinders are very useful in sunny outdoor situations which might make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Nikon D4s Shutter information

Nikon D4s continuous shooting rate is 11.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

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Nikon D4s Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon D4s has got external flash ability but is lacking integrated flash. The maximum flash sync is 1/250 seconds.

Nikon D4s Autofocus information

Nikon D4s has got both Phase Detect Autofocus along with Contrast Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & accurate compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detect which makes it useful for people photography.

It boasts 51 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for things on the move. Nikon D4s includes manual focus in case it is required in low light conditions or you require more accurate focus control.

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Nikon D4s Battery life

The battery power (EN-EL18a) on the Nikon D4s is designed to last for 3020 images according to the CIPA specifications which is higher than standard when compared to its class. The typical Pro DSLR camera battery life is 2438. Nikon D3X features the highest (4400) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Underneath is a collection of Pro DSLR cameras which have the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D3X front thumbnailNikon D3X
D4s vs D3X
4400 yesnono
Nikon-D3 front thumbnailNikon D3
D4s vs D3
4300 yesnono
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Nikon-D3S front thumbnailNikon D3S
D4s vs D3S
4200 yesnono
Nikon-D5 front thumbnailNikon D5
D4s vs D5
3780 yesnono
Nikon-D6 front thumbnailNikon D6
D4s vs D6
3580 yesnoyes

Nikon D4s for specific types of photography

The following graph gives a summation of the Nikon D4s for specific types of photography. To find out more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Nikon D4s Portrait photography factors

The Nikon D4s has a points tally of 78 which is exceptional, meaning that it is a tremendous choice to use for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, support for RAW files & flexibility to utilize external flash.

Photography Glossary
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats

Nikon D4s Street photography info

Having a moderate rating of 58, the Nikon D4s is reasonably suited to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization

Nikon D4s Sports photography advice

A very good sports photography score of 75 indicates the Nikon D4s is a fine pick for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have great focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery pack (3,020 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization

Nikon D4s Travel photography details

Portability is pretty crucial in selecting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Nikon D4s gets a nice 62 for a travel camera which makes it a fine choice to buy for your trips.

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good battery power (3,020 CIPA)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
screen is not selfie friendly

Nikon D4s Landscape photography advice

If you find yourself planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon D4s with it's brilliant score of 76 as a landscape camera is a excellent choice compared to it's competitors.

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focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery power (3,020 CIPA)
2 card slots
no image stabilization

Nikon D4s as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging preferably should posses a articulating display, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Nikon D4s is not really acceptable as a vlog camera as it delivers a horrible score of 28.

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offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization

Nikon D4s Alternatives

If you want replacements to the D4s, below is a selection of the top rated cameras which fall within the category of Pro DSLR.

The chart here will give you an overview of the D4s versus it's top scored competitors shown earlier.

Following are additional cameras you might check out as alternatives. To read through a complete comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model
Nikon D4s
Category
Pro DSLR
Revealed
2014-02-24
Body design
Large SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Expeed 4
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
36 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area
860.4mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
5:4 and 3:2
Full resolution
4928 x 3280
RAW photos
Max native ISO
25600
Max boosted ISO
409600
Minimum native ISO
100
Minimum boosted ISO
50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points
51
Cross focus points
15
Lens
Lens mount
Nikon F
Total lenses
309
Crop factor
1
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
3.2 inches
Resolution of display
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech
TFT LCD with brightness and color adjustment
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.7x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
89
DXO Color Depth score
24.4
DXO Dynamic range score
13.3
DXO Low light score
3074
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30s
Highest shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed
11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
Auto FP high-speed sync, front-curtain, rear-curtain, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync
1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
1350 grams (2.98 lb)
Physical dimensions
160 x 157 x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6")
Other
Battery life
3020 images
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL18a
Self timer
Yes (2-20 seconds, 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
CompactFlash, XQD
Storage slots
Dual
Price at launch
$6,498