The Nikon D5 replaces the D4S as the flagship camera in the Nikon DSLR range. You’ve already seen all the official Nikon D5 specs, and you’ve read our Nikon D5 hands-on review. Now we’re bringing you further analysis of Nikon’s first 4K DSLR, with a comparison of the D5 vs the D4S. Here’s how the two professional cameras stack up…
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Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 01 sensor and processor
The Nikon D5 has a resolution advantage of approximately 4 megapixels over the D4S, hitting the heights of 20.8MP compared with the D4S’s 16.2MP.
Unlike the D4S, the new Nikon-developed FX-format CMOS sensor includes an anti-reflection coating in a number of components ‘to minimise ghosting and flare’.
To take advantage of the D5’s new Nikon-developed FX-format CMOS sensor, image processing is taken of by a new Expeed 5 engine – something the D5 shares in common with the Nikon D500.
Building on the features offered by Expeed 4 – such as improved video quality at higher ISOs along with high-speed 50/60fps video recording – Expeed 5 introduces a new noise reduction system and enables 25% more shots on a single battery charge, as well as 4K/UHD video.
SEE MORE: Nikon D4s vs D4: 14 things you need to know about Nikon’s flagship DSLR
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 02 ISO
Now this is getting ridiculous. While the Nikon D5’s native sensitivity range is a ‘sensible’ (depending on your point of view) ISO 100 to 102,400, its highest extended sensitivity is equivalent to ISO 3,280,000.
Yes, the D5 stretches to ISO 3 million. On paper, that might sound perfect for shooting under starlight, but image quality at that extreme sensitivity is unlikely to be stellar.
Nikon originally pitched the D4S as ‘the low-light digital camera’, with an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, extendable to ISO 409,600. But compared with the D5, the D4S is two stops less sensitive in the native ISO range and around 3 stops less sensitive at the maximum extended ISO.
The D5 is the ‘see-in-the-dark’ DSLR – especially when you factor in the more sensitive AF system. Nocturnal photographers rejoice!
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The Nikon D5’s new 153-point AF array.
Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 03 autofocus
The big talking point with the Nikon D5 is, literally, its points: the new camera boasts 153 AF points, compared with the D4S’s 51 total of 51.
The D5’s AF point array includes 99 cross-type sensors and 15 central points that will work with lenses where the equivalent maximum aperture is f/8 – perfect for wildlife and sports photography where telephoto lenses are frequently twinned with teleconverters. By comparison, the D4S has 15 cross-type sensors and 11 that work down to f/8.
That headline figure is impressive, but you can only select 55 of the AF points (including 35 cross-type and 9 f/8 sensors) on the D5; on the D4S you can select any of the 51 AF points.
Bolstering its reputation as the new go-to DSLR for low-light photography, the Nikon D5’s AF system can detect from -4 to +20 EV at ISO 100, which is a two-stop improvement at the low end over the D4S’s -2 to +19 EV.
The D5 features cross-type sensors around the edge of the area covered by the AF sensor, bringing the potential for more accurate focus tracking with off-centre subjects.
The D5 also introduces a new Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor in addition to a dedicated AF processor, unlike the D4S. Nikon says that the D5’s focusing time, from half-pressing the shutter release to the end of focusing, with Live View’s Contrast Detect AF is up to around 50% faster than on the D4S.
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Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 04 drive mode
The Nikon D4S has a breathless top shooting speed of up to 11 frames per second in Continuous High drive mode. While this is identical to its predecessor, the D4, the D4S does offer metering and autofocus for each frame.
On the D4, you might be have been able to hit the highs of 11fps, but the focus and exposure were locked on the first frame in the burst.
As might be expected, the D5 takes the continuous shooting speed up a notch, offering a continuous shooting speed of up to 12fps with autoexposure and autofocus tracking. It can even reach 14fps with the mirror locked up and focus and AE fixed.
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Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 05 raw files and buffer capacity
Despite the Nikon D5 recording higher-resolution images at a faster rate, its buffer capacity is larger than the D4S. Nikon rates the D5’s capacity as up to 200 shots when using an XQD memory card and either Lossless 12-bit full-frame raw files or large, fine JPEGs, or 14-bit lossless compressed large, fine JPEGs.
The D4S buffer capacity, based on a 32GB Sony S-series QD-S32E XQD card, is up to 133 full-frame lossless 12-bit raw files and 200 large, fine JPEGs.
In addition to recording large and small raw files like the D4S, the D5 adds a medium raw setting. The D5’s small and medium NEF files are recorded in 12-bit using lossless compression. The D4S’s small NEFs are saved in uncompressed 12-bit format only.
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