Nikon D4S review

It's a great workhorse that can see in the dark, but you won't want to use ISO 409,600 very often

Nikon D4S
The D4S copes a little better in the dark than most cameras

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

We've finally got our hands on the D4S, Nikon's long-awaited upgrade to its most advanced flagship DSLR. As part of our image quality testing for our forthcoming Nikon D4S review, we've shot a resolution chart, and frankly we were too excited to keep the results to ourselves, so here they are.

The D4S features the latest Expeed 4 imaging engine (compared with the D4's Expeed 3 device). This helps to facilitate the expansion to the highest sensitivity setting - an industry-leading ISO 409,600 (equivalent).

For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

ISO50

JPEG

ISO50

ISO 50, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO100

ISO 100, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO200

ISO 200, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO400

ISO 400, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO800

ISO 800, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO1600

ISO 1600, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO3200

ISO 3200, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO6400

ISO 6400, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO12800

ISO 12800, Score: 24 Click here for full resolution image

ISO25600

ISO 25600, Score: 22 Click here for full resolution image

ISO51200

ISO 51200, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO12800

ISO 102400, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO24800

ISO 204800, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO409600

ISO 409600, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

RAW

ISO50

ISO 50, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO100

ISO 100, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 200

ISO 200, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 400

ISO 400, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 800

ISO 800, Score: 28 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 1600

ISO 1600, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 32200

ISO 3200, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 6400

ISO 6400, Score: 26 Click here for full resolution image

ISO12800

ISO 12800, Score: 24 Click here for full resolution image

ISO 25600

ISO 25600, Score: 22 Click here for full resolution image

ISO51200

ISO 51200, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO102400

ISO 102400, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO204800

ISO 204800, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

ISO409600

ISO 409600, Score: 20 Click here for full resolution image

Latest in DSLRs
Nikon Df DSLR camera on a wooden surface by large window, with dusk light
Forget Fujifilm, I've retested 2013's Nikon Df DSLR and it's the ultimate retro camera for these 6 reasons
Monochrome image of a distant wind farm alongside a Canon DSLR camera in the hand with black background
You don't really need a new camera – a $200,000 photo prize was just won with this old Canon DSLR
Photographer holding the Nikon D800 DSLR camera up to their eye while leaning on a tree trunk surrounded by bluebells
I used my DSLR for the first time in years since switching to mirrorless – here are four things I learned
Two cameras sitting next to each other on a wooden table
If DSLR cameras are dead, why are they still so popular? Here are 5 reasons
Prouct photo of the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome with a 16-50mm f/2.8 attached
Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome review: one love
Canon EOS 4000D with 18-55mm lens attached on red background beside a lowest ever price text
This Canon beginner DSLR is so cheap right now it might even tempt you away from mirrorless
Latest in Reviews
The player holding a Shard Card in Fragpunk.
Competitive shooter Fragpunk wowed me with its game-changing Shard Cards, but I can't stand the aggressive monetization
Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
I wouldn't take the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank on extreme adventures, but it's great for my basic traveling needs
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is one of the most stylish batteries I’ve seen, but it’s too slow for the price
Atomfall
I survived Atomfall’s testing countryside and became an ethically murky mercenary
The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro on a bronze table
I tested the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and it's the closest Android fans can get to an iPad Pro alternative
TinEye website
I like this reverse image search service the most