Nikon D4 vs. Canon 1D X

Canon 1D X vs Nikon D4 Specification comparison review, read more details below
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Nikon D4 with More shooting modes: With Canon 1D X you can use Canon EF lenses only, but with  Nikon D4 you can use DX and FX lenses, Nikon D4 offers four image area options: FX format (36.0 x 23.9 mm), 5:4 crop (29.9 x 23.9 mm), 1.2x crop (29.9 x 19.9 mm) and DX format (23.4 x 15.5 mm). The camera also offers three image area options for Full HD video thereby tripling its potential for moviemaking.

About the Sensor: Nikon D4 features 16.2 megapixels Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor  and Canon 1D X 18.1 megapixels Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor , the EOS-1DX’s photodiodes are 21% larger than those in the 1Ds Mark III.

ISO performance:

According to the specification, for low light situation Canon 1D X is better, you get two extra stops of Standard ISO range.

Auto Focus

Auto focus Points: The number of AF points and Cross/Type points canon wins, the Canon 1D X features 41 AF cross type points and 5 of the center points are oriented diagonally for faster AF performance.

Update: With the Latest Firmware Update Canon 1DX Now Support F8 Lenses – see details here

AF Points  compatible with Apertures

• Canon 1D X is disappointing to many extender users. AF is unavailable on the EOS-1D X when lenses with a maximum aperture of f/8 are used.
• In Nikon D4 11 focus points are fully functional when lenses with a maximum aperture of f/8 are used. Five central focus points and three points to the left and right of them in the middle line are compatible with f/8. This enables very precise focus acquisition with sports photography and the like when super-telephoto NIKKOR lenses are used with a teleconverter (2.0x) at a combined aperture value of f/8.

F8 Lens: adding a 1.4x extender to an f/5.6 max aperture lens results in an f/8 max aperture lens or  adding a 2x extender to an f/4 max aperture lens results in an f/8 max aperture lens.

AF Engine: Canon 1D X AF system uses  dedicated Digic 4 processor , EOS-1D X’s comes with 61-point Area AF system that includes 41 cross-type sensors and 5 dual-cross type AF points for extra precision.

Nikon D4 features same (old) AF engine used in D3 DSLR  – Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor handles 51 AF points,  aligns its 15 cross-type sensors in the central viewfinder area to detect contrast in both vertical and horizontal lines for better AF performance.

Predictive tracking: Both features Predictive tracking Canon 1D X Predictive tracking is better, read the details below

Nikon D3 / D4 AF Engine Multi-CAM 3500FX capable of maintaining accurate focus even on a high-speed subject such as an F1 racing car traveling in excess of 300km/h.

However, simple predictive tracking AF does not provide maximum focusing performance for a subject that abruptly changes direction moving at high speed or a subject with low contrast moving randomly. To focus accurately on such a subject, the AF system must accumulate data of the locus of the subject’s movement using multiple focus areas so that appropriate judgment can be made.

Canon 1D X offers six presets for different shooting situations, Each of these presets can be adjusted for ‘Tracking sensitivity’

For faster predictive focus measurements so that the EOS-1D X can begin predictive tracking as soon as a subject begins to move.

Six preset Case studies

There are six AF ‘Case studies’ preset within the EOS-1D X

• Case 1 is for general purpose shooting that provides accurate and fast focus across a wide range of shooting situations.
• Case 2 is designed for situations where the subject may move away from the AF point momentarily.
• Case 3 allows you to instantly focus on subjects that enter the AF point area.
• Case 4 is designed for subjects that change speed or direction rapidly.
• Case 5 is designed for use with automatic AF point selection, Zone AF and AF Point expansion and subjects that move erratically, up and down or left and right.
• Case 6 is for subjects that change speed abruptly and move erratically. Like ‘Case 5’ it is used with Automatic AF point selection, Zone AF and AF Point Expansion.

Continuous shooting

1DX that wins in the shooting speed, you get 3 extra frame per second in canon.

Video Shooting

Both Canon 1DX and Nikon D4 captures Full HD movie @ 30, 25, 24 fps, but with Nikon you get more options such use of expandable ISO range in video shooting and you can record 1,920 x 1,080/30p Full HD and HD movies in three formats that are FX-, DX-based and 1,920 x 1,080 crop movie format.

Storage: 1DX coming with two slots of high-speed UDMA 7 Compact Flash cards,  D4 also comes with two slots one for  UDMA 7 and the other slot for the new XDC card format.

Price:  Nikon D4 cost $800 less than the Canon 1D X.

Conclusion:  Canon 1DX have more advance core specification than the Nikon D4, But Nikon D4 is more versatile and Canon 1D X have some limitations.

Canon 1 DX offers more advance AF system, Canon used dedicated DIGIC IV processor as AF engine and Dual DIGIC5+ image processor for image processing, you also get  two extra stops of Standard ISO range.

But, AF is unavailable on the EOS-1D X when lenses with a maximum aperture of f/8 are used. (ex adding a 1.4x extender to an f/5.6 max aperture lens results in an f/8 max aperture)

Nikon D4 used same AF engine as used D3 and only single core Expeed 3 processor is used for processing images, But Nikon D4 is more versatile, It offers crop mode still and video shooting and you canon use FX and DX lenses in D4. No F8 issue, In Nikon D4 11 focus points are fully functional when lenses with a maximum aperture of f/8 are used. Nikon D4 offers  iPad and iPhone wireless shooting capability, you also get a new slot for new memory card format (XQD).

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