Reasons to choose D3s
Released in 2009, D3s has about 860 mm² of sensor area, 12.1 MP effective resolution, and a 1,240 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D3s
vs Nikon D4
VS
Sensor area
860 mm²
D3s860 mm²
D4- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The D3s and D4 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 3 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D3sMetricD4
12.1 MPEffective pixels16.2 MP
36 × 23.9Sensor36 × 23.9
8.43 µmPixel pitch7.29 µm
71.11 µm²Pixel area53.11 µm²
1.41 MP/cm²Pixel density1.88 MP/cm²
1Crop factor1
—Maximum video—
1,240 gWeight1,340 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, MicrodriveStorageCompact Flash (Type I, XQD) x2
Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion EN-EL18 rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D3s and D4 have the same sensor area. The D3s has the lighter body. The D4 has the higher effective resolution. The D4 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D4
Released in 2012, D4 has about 860 mm² of sensor area, 16.2 MP effective resolution, and a 1,340 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.