CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony A7S

12 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7S
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Nikon D4

16 MP | Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D4
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Sony A7S, which was introduced in April 2014 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 12.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Nikon D4, which was introduced in January 2012 is a Pro DSLR camera with a 16.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, D4 is 2 years older than A7S. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A7S and Nikon D4 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7S Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-04-06
  • 12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 489g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon D4 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-01-06
  • 16MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800 ( expands to 50-204800)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 11 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1340g. 160 x 157 x 91 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D3S Compare

Sony A7S was replaced by Sony Alpha 7S II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Alpha A7S
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Nikon D4

Nikon D4 was replaced by Nikon D4s. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D4s vs Nikon D4
Nikon D4s vs Sony Alpha A7S

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7S and Nikon D4 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7S over Nikon D4
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Optional Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.71x vs 0.7x Larger Viewfinder
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max ISO
409.600 vs 12.800 3100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 921k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Weight
489 g vs 1340 g 851 g lighter
Dynamic Range
13.2 vs 13.1 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
3702 vs 2965 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
71.24µm2 vs 53.24µm2 33% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone


Reasons to choose Nikon D4 over Sony Alpha A7S
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
51 vs 25 26 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
Continuous Shooting
11.0fps vs 5.0fps 6 fps faster
Battery Life
2600 shots vs 360 shots 2240 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs With optional app creative shooting
Color Depth
24.7 vs 23.9 higher color depth
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Illuminated Buttons
Yes vs No Find the buttons easily in dark
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
11 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7S and Nikon D4
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 3.2" Large display
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7S and Nikon D4
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Sony A7S vs Nikon D4: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A7S and Nikon D4 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7S has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 489 g (1.08 lb / 17.25 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D4 has external dimensions of 160 x 157 x 91 mm (6.3 x 6.18 x 3.58″) and weighs 1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7S and Nikon D4. Sony A7S is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 33mm narrower, 63mm shorter and 43mm thinner than Nikon D4.

Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Nikon D4 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A7S and Nikon D4.

Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Nikon D4 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7S and Nikon D4.
Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony A7S and Nikon D4 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7S is significantly lighter (851g ) than the Nikon D4 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony A7S and Nikon D4 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7S
D4
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7S
D4
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both A7S and D4 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D4's 3.2" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A7S's 3 screen.

On the other hand, Sony A7S LCD screen has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Nikon D4 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7S.
Sony A7S vs Nikon D4: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7S has a 12.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Nikon D4 has a 16.0MP Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 3 processor.

Below you can see the A7S and D4 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7S and Nikon D4 Cameras


Sony A7S and Nikon D4 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Sony A7S and Nikon D4 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that D4 has a better overall score of 89, 2 points higher compared to A7S's score of 87.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony A7S 87 23.9 bits 13.2 Evs 3702 ISO
Nikon D4 89 24.7 bits 13.1 Evs 2965 ISO
Sony A7S vs Nikon D4 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D4 has an advantage over Sony A7S There are 309 lenses for Nikon D4's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 128 lenses for Sony A7S's Sony E lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 31 lenses for Sony E mount and 106 lenses for Nikon F mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Sony A7S Lenses # of Nikon D4 Lenses
Standard Zoom 12 (9 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 18 (9 Full Frame) 21 (18 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 7 (6 Full Frame) 33 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 42 (26 Full Frame) 48 (46 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 9 (7 Full Frame) 53 (43 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 18 (14 Full Frame) 45 (44 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 8 (1 Full Frame) 30 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) 8 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 8 (7 Full Frame) 26 (23 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 11 (11 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a 1 (0 Full Frame)
TOTAL 128 (81 Full Frame) 309 (228 Full Frame)


Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Sony A7S and Nikon D4 to see how these lenses compares:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
24 - 70mm 886gr 1375gr 136mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR Lens Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR
24 - 70mm 1070gr 2410gr 155mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS
70 - 200mm 1480gr 1969gr 200mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR
70 - 200mm 1430gr 2770gr 203mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 50mm F1.4 Lens Sony FE 50mm F1.4
50mm 778gr 1267gr 108mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 50mm f1.4G Lens Nikon 50mm f1.4G
50mm 290gr 1630gr 54mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
16 - 35mm 680gr 1169gr 122mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF Lens Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF
17 - 35mm 745gr 2085gr 106mm Amazon B&H Photo
24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
24 - 105mm 663gr 1152gr 113mm Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR Lens Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR
24 - 120mm 710gr 2050gr 104mm Amazon B&H Photo
Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
100 - 400mm 1395gr 1884gr 205mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C
150 - 600mm 1930gr 3270gr 290mm Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Sony A7S and Nikon D4 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7S and Nikon D4 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7S for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon D4 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7S for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon D4 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Sony A7S for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D4 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 11.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
15 Cross Type Focus sensors
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 2600 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7S for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D4 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
489g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1340g
Body Thickness 91mm
Read the details

Sony A7S for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D4 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details

Sony A7S vs Nikon D4: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7S and Nikon D4, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7S and Nikon D4 scores compare:

Sony A7S
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #39 out of 88 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #71 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Nikon D4
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #123 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony A7S is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D4 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A7S
Sony A7S
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon D4
Nikon D4
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Nikon D4 vs Sony A7S Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7S Nikon D4
Brand Sony Nikon
Announced 2014-04-06 2012-01-06
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 36 x 23.9 mm
Area 855.62mm2 860.40mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4240 x 2832 4928 x 3280
Max Native Light sensitivity 409,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 204800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 25 51
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 128 309
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3 3.2"
Resolution 1,230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 11.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 489g 1340g
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm 160 x 157 x 91mm
Battery Life 360 shots 2600 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 87 89
DxO Color Depth 23.9 24.7
DxO Dynamic Range 13.2 13.1
DxO Low Light ISO 3702 2965
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Mirrorless Cameras
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $500
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $750
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $1000
Top Mirrorless Cameras Under $1500
Top Rated DSLR Cameras
Top DSLR Cameras Under $500
Top DSLR Cameras Under $750
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1000
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1500
Latest Cameras
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Copyright © 2020 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction