After I posted the article comparing the Nikon D6 to D5, a number of our readers emailed me with a request to make a comparison table with the last four generations of flagship Nikon DSLRs. I thought it was a great idea to put something like this together so that our readers can fully understand all the key differences between these cameras, which will hopefully help them to decide whether it is worth upgrading or not. While at it, I also decided to include the other three full-frame flagship cameras.
First, we will start off by comparing the specifications of the last four generations of Nikon flagship cameras – Nikon D6, D5, D4s and D4:
Nikon D6 vs D5 vs D4s vs D4 Specification Comparison
Camera Feature | Nikon D6 | Nikon D5 | Nikon D4s | Nikon D4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Announcement Date | 02/11/2020 | 01/06/2016 | 02/25/2014 | 01/06/2012 |
Sensor Resolution | 20.8 MP | 20.8 MP | 16.2 MP | 16.2 MP |
Sensor Coating | Anti-reflection coating | Anti-reflection coating | Standard | Standard |
Sensor Size | 35.9×23.9mm | 35.9×23.9mm | 36.0×23.9mm | 36.0×23.9mm |
Sensor Pixel Size | 6.45µ | 6.45µ | 7.30µ | 7.30µ |
Sensor Dust Reduction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Image Size | 5,568 x 3,712 | 5,568 x 3,712 | 4,928 x 3,280 | 4,928 x 3,280 |
Image Crop Options | FX, 1.2x, DX, 5:4, 1:1, 16:9 | FX, 1.2x, DX, 5:4 | FX, 1.2x, DX, 5:4 | FX, 1.2x, DX, 5:4 |
RAW Size S | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Native ISO | ISO 100-102,400 | ISO 100-102,400 | ISO 100-25,600 | ISO 100-12,800 |
Boosted ISO | ISO 50 ISO 204,800-3,280,000 | ISO 50 ISO 204,800-3,280,000 | ISO 50 ISO 51,200-409,600 | ISO 100 ISO 25,600-204,800 |
Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 5 | EXPEED 4 | EXPEED 3 |
Viewfinder Type | Pentaprism | Pentaprism | Pentaprism | Pentaprism |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.72x | 0.72x | 0.70x | 0.70x |
Detachable Eyepiece | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Focusing Screen | Type B BriteView CM Mark X | Type B BriteView CM Mark IX | Type B BriteView CM Mark VIII | Type B BriteView CM Mark VIII |
Built-in Flash | No | No | No | No |
Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 | 1/250 | 1/250 |
Storage Media | 2x CFexpress, XQD | 2x XQD / 2x CF | 1x XQD, 1x CF | 1x XQD, 1x CF |
EXIF Version | EXIF 2.31 | EXIF 2.3 | EXIF 2.3 | EXIF 2.3 |
Continuous Shooting Speed | 14 fps with AF/AE | 12 fps with AF/AE | 11 fps with AF/AE | 10 fps with AF/AE |
Buffer Size (Lossless 14-bit) | 200 | 200 | 78 | 75 |
Continuous Shooting | 14.3 seconds | 16.7 seconds | 7.1 seconds | 7.5 seconds |
Max Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 900 sec | 1/8000 to 30 sec | 1/8000 to 30 sec | 1/8000 to 30 sec |
Shutter Type | Mechanical Shutter, EFCS in MUP, Electronic Shutter | Mechanical Shutter, EFCS in MUP | Mechanical Shutter | Mechanical Shutter |
Shutter Durability | 400,000 cycles | 400,000 cycles | 400,000 cycles | 400,000 cycles |
Exposure Metering RGB Sensor | 180K-pixel | 180K-pixel | 91K-pixel | 91K-pixel |
Highlight-Weighted Metering | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Autofocus System | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 37K | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 20K | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX |
Autofocus Points | 105-point, 105 cross-type | 153-point, 99 cross-type | 51-point, 15 cross-type | 51-point, 15 cross-type |
Dedicated AF Processor | Yes | Yes | No | No |
AF Detection Points | 15 AF Points (f/8) | 15 AF Points (f/8) | 11 AF Points (f/8) | 11 AF Points (f/8) |
AF Detection Range | -4.5 to +20 EV | -4 to +20 EV | -2 to +19 EV | -2 to +19 EV |
Group Area AF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Interval Timer | Up to 9999 shots | Up to 9999 shots | Up to 9999 shots | Up to 999 shots |
Interval Timer Exp Smoothening | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Picture Controls | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
WB Presets | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Video File Format | MOV / MP4 | MOV | MOV | MOV |
Video Compression | MPEG-4 / H.264 | MPEG-4 / H.264 | MPEG-4 / H.264 | MPEG-4 / H.264 |
Video Maximum Resolution | 3,840×2,160 @ 30p | 3,840×2,160 @ 30p | 1,920×1,080 @ 60p | 1,920×1,080 @ 30p |
Video Max Recording Time | 105 min | 29.59 min | 29.59 min | 29.59 min |
Audio Recording Format | Linear PCM, AAC | Linear PCM | Linear PCM | Linear PCM |
LCD Size | 3.2″ TFT-LCD | 3.2″ TFT-LCD | 3.2″ TFT-LCD | 3.2″ TFT-LCD |
LCD Resolution | 2.36m dots | 2.36m dots | 921k dots | 921k dots |
LCD Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Fine Tune LCD Color | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Built-in GPS | Yes | No | No | No |
Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes | No | No | No |
Wired LAN | 1000 Base-T | 1000 Base-T | 1000 Base T | 100 Base T |
Battery | EN-EL18c | EN-EL18a | EN-EL18a | EN-EL18 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 3,580 | 3,780 | 3,020 | 2,600 |
USB Type | USB 3.1, Type C | USB 3.0, Micro-B | USB 2.0, Mini-B | USB 2.0, Mini-B |
Weight | 1,270g (Body Only) | 1,240g (Body Only) | 1,240g (Body Only) | 1,180g (Body Only) |
Dimensions | 160.0 x 163.0 x 92.0mm | 160.0 x 158.5 x 92.0mm | 160.0 x 156.5 x 90.5mm | 160.0 x 156.5 x 90.5mm |
MSRP Price | $6,499 | $6,499 | $6,499 | $5,999 |
Without a doubt, a lot has changed in 8 years since the release of the D4. These cameras gained more resolution, autofocus has gotten a lot better, continuous shooting speed increased from 10 fps to 14 fps, native ISO range has expanded from 100-12,800 to 100-102,400, processors got a lot faster, viewfinders clearer, buffer size increased dramatically, and many more in-camera features have been introduced. Nikon has been refining the top-of-the-line product with each iteration, making it better and better. The last two generations specifically have been very refined, as the above table shows.
Below are some of the incredible images from these flagship cameras, by our team member Robert Andersen, the author of the amazing Wildlife Photography Tutorial:
And a couple of my portrait shots:
What about the D3-generation cameras? Let’s take a look:
Nikon D3s vs D3x vs D3 Specification Comparison
Camera Feature | Nikon D3s | Nikon D3x | Nikon D3 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Announcement Date | 10/14/2009 | 12/01/2008 | 08/23/2007 | |
Sensor Resolution | 12.1 MP | 24.5 MP | 12.1 MP | |
Sensor Coating | Standard | Standard | Standard | |
Sensor Size | 36.0×23.9mm | 35.9×24.0mm | 36.0×23.9mm | |
Sensor Pixel Size | 8.46µ | 5.94µ | 8.46µ | |
Sensor Dust Reduction | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Image Size | 4,256 x 2,832 | 6,048 x 4,032 | 4,256 x 2,832 | |
Image Crop Options | FX, 1.2x, DX, 5:4 | FX, DX, 5:4 | FX, DX, 5:4 | |
RAW Size S | No | No | No | |
Native ISO | ISO 200-6,400 | ISO 100-1,600 | ISO 200-6,400 | |
Boosted ISO | ISO 100 ISO 12,800-102,400 | ISO 50 ISO 3,200-6,400 | ISO 100 ISO 12,800-25,600 | |
Image Processor | EXPEED | EXPEED | EXPEED | |
Viewfinder Type | Pentaprism | Pentaprism | Pentaprism | |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | 0.70x | 0.70x | |
Detachable Eyepiece | No | No | No | |
Focusing Screen | Type B BriteView CM Mark VI | Type B BriteView CM Mark VI | Type B BriteView CM Mark VI | |
Built-in Flash | No | No | No | |
Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 | 1/250 | |
Storage Media | 2x CF | 2x CF | 2x CF | |
EXIF Version | EXIF 2.21 | EXIF 2.21 | EXIF 2.21 | |
Continuous Shooting Speed | 9 fps with AF/AE | 5 fps with AF/AE | 9 fps with AF/AE | |
Buffer Size (Lossless 14-bit) | 36 | 24 | 16 | |
Continuous Shooting | 4.0 seconds | 4.8 seconds | 1.8 seconds | |
Max Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 30 sec | 1/8000 to 30 sec | 1/8000 to 30 sec | |
Shutter Type | Mechanical Shutter | Mechanical Shutter | Mechanical Shutter | |
Shutter Durability | 300,000 cycles | 300,000 cycles | 300,000 cycles | |
Exposure Metering RGB Sensor | 1,005-pixel | 1,005-pixel | 1,005-pixel | |
Highlight-Weighted Metering | No | No | No | |
Autofocus System | Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX | Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX | Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX | |
Autofocus Points | 51-point, 15 cross-type | 51-point, 15 cross-type | 51-point, 15 cross-type | |
Dedicated AF Processor | No | No | No | |
AF Detection Points | 51 AF Point (f/5.6) | 51 AF Point (f/5.6) | 51 AF Point (f/5.6) | |
AF Detection Range | -1 to +19 EV | -1 to +19 EV | -1 to +19 EV | |
Group Area AF | No | No | No | |
Interval Timer | Up to 999 shots | Up to 999 shots | Up to 999 shots | |
Interval Timer Exp Smoothening | No | No | No | |
Picture Controls | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
WB Presets | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
Video File Format | MOV | N/A | N/A | |
Video Compression | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Video Maximum Resolution | 640×424 @ 24p | N/A | N/A | |
Video Max Recording Time | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Audio Recording Format | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
LCD Size | 3.0″ TFT-LCD | 3.0″ TFT-LCD | 3.0″ TFT-LCD | |
LCD Resolution | 921k dots | 921k dots | 921k dots | |
LCD Touchscreen | No | No | No | |
Fine Tune LCD Color | No | No | No | |
Built-in GPS | No | No | No | |
Built-in Wi-Fi | No | No | No | |
Wired LAN | No | No | No | |
Battery | EN-EL4 / EN-EL4a | EN-EL4 / EN-EL4a | EN-EL4 / EN-EL4a | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 4,200 | 4,400 | 4,300 | |
USB Type | USB 2.0, Mini-B | USB 2.0, Mini-B | USB 2.0, Mini-B | |
Weight | 1,240g (Body Only) | 1,220g (Body Only) | 1,240g (Body Only) | |
Dimensions | 159.5 x 157.0 x 87.5mm | 159.5 x 157.0 x 87.5mm | 159.5 x 157.0 x 87.5mm | |
MSRP Price | $5,199 | $7,999 | $4,999 |
I did not bother highlighting any of the cells, because there is no point – these cameras are all great, but they have certainly aged with time. Still, it is interesting to see how the specifications of 10+ year-old cameras compare to those of the modern generations. For example, the older generation DSLRs had no video shooting capabilities, their autofocus systems were not nearly as good, especially when shooting in low-light situations. With the modern D6 able to focus down to -4.5 EV with so many cross-type focus points is a huge achievement, something we could only dream of back in the day.
I remember my excitement when I first purchased the Nikon D3s. At the time, it was the best camera on the market for action photography. Some of my most favorite images have been shot with this camera:
I even used the D3s to shoot portraits and weddings for many years:
Have you previously owned any of the Nikon flagship cameras? Please share your experience in the comments section below!