Upgrade Guide
Nikon D800→Nikon D4
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D800. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D4
-
Burst rate11fps vs 4fps
-
Battery life~2600 shots (CIPA) vs ~900 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution16MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D800 | D4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.4 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | -1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.3 | ||
| Documentary | -0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.7 | ||
| Landscape | -1.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.4 | ||
| Food | -0.7 | ||
| Macro | -0.6 | ||
| Architecture | -1.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D800 | D4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £121 used | £283 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2012 | |
| Sensor | 36.3MP full-frame CMOS | 16.2MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type, 11 at f/8) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ~2600 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 1000g (with battery) | 1340g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.2" fixed LCD, 921k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Dual slots: XQD + CompactFlash |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D800 and D4 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D4 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the D800
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Camera family history