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.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D4
vs Nikon D5
VS
Sensor area
860 mm²
D4856 mm²
D5- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 5 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0.6%
The D4 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 4 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D4MetricD5
16.2 MPEffective pixels20.8 MP
36 × 23.9Sensor35.8 × 23.9
7.29 µmPixel pitch6.41 µm
53.11 µm²Pixel area41.14 µm²
1.88 MP/cm²Pixel density2.43 MP/cm²
1Crop factor1.01
—Maximum video3,840 × 2,160
1,340 gWeight1,415 g
Compact Flash (Type I, XQD) x2StorageCF1 / XQD
Lithium-Ion EN-EL18 rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryEN-EL18a lithium-ion 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 D4 has the larger sensor area. The D4 has the lighter body. The D5 has the higher effective resolution. The D5 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D5
Released in 2016, D5 has about 856 mm² of sensor area, 20.8 MP effective resolution, and a 1,415 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.