Reasons to choose D4s
Released in 2014, D4s has about 860 mm² of sensor area, 16.2 MP effective resolution, and a 1,350 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D4s
vs Sony Alpha SLT-A57
VS
Sensor area
860 mm²
D4s367 mm²
Alpha SLT-A57- Area ratio
- 2.35:1
- Absolute difference
- 494 mm²
- Relative difference
- 134.7%
The D4s 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 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D4sMetricAlpha SLT-A57
16.2 MPEffective pixels16.1 MP
36 × 23.9Sensor23.5 × 15.6
7.29 µmPixel pitch4.77 µm
53.11 µm²Pixel area22.77 µm²
1.88 MP/cm²Pixel density4.39 MP/cm²
1Crop factor1.53
1,920 × 1,080Maximum video1,920 × 1,080
1,350 gWeight618 g
XQD, Type I CompactFlashStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
EN-EL18a rechargeable Li-ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryRechargeable NP-FM500H 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 D4s has the larger sensor area. The Alpha SLT-A57 has the lighter body. The D4s has the higher effective resolution. The D4s is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha SLT-A57
Released in 2012, Alpha SLT-A57 has about 367 mm² of sensor area, 16.1 MP effective resolution, and a 618 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.