Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D4s — Which Is Better?

The Nikon D4s is the lighter of these two large DSLRs, at 1350 g against 1530 g for the Canon EOS 1D X, a 180 g difference. The 1D X arrived in 2011 and the D4s three years later, in 2014. Their bodies measure 158 x 164 x 83 mm and 160 x 157 x 91 mm, so both fill a similar large-grip footprint in the bag.

The Canon EOS 1D X is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and fast action. Its 18.1 megapixel sensor gives more pixels than the D4s at 16.2, leaving more room to crop a distant bird while keeping detail. It also shoots 14 frames per second against 11, and its 61 autofocus points against 51 give more aiming points across the frame for a moving subject.

The D4s reaches further in expanded ISO, topping out at 409600 against 204800, while the Canon's native ceiling of 51200 sits above the Nikon's 25600. Both use full-frame CMOS sensors with a 100 ISO base and 1/8000 second maximum shutters. Their Canon EF and Nikon F FX mounts keep lenses within each maker's own system.

Both cameras record the same top video limit of Full HD at up to 60 frames per second in MOV files, so neither body offers 4K. The difference that matters in the field is interval work. The D4s offers built-in timelapse, capturing a sunrise or fading light frame by frame entirely in camera, while the 1D X has no built-in timelapse mode.

The Canon's rear screen shows finer detail on playback and in Live View, with 1,040,000 dots against 921,000 on the D4s, which helps when checking focus closely after a shoot. Both screens are fixed 3.2-inch panels without touch control. Both bodies are weather sealed, take external flash and support WiFi for wireless transfer. Neither body has GPS, a consideration if you tag shoot locations.

The D4s gives you two card formats, with dual slots that take CompactFlash plus XQD, while the 1D X's dual slots take CompactFlash Type I or II with UDMA. The D4s carries a 3020-shot battery rating. Neither body charges its battery over USB.