Nikon D4

Nikon D4 Digital SLR Camera
With its newest professional digital SLR camera - the highly anticipated $6,000 D4 - Nikon takes aim at slick video-shooting for sports, action and news photographers. Since Nikon released the radical video-capturing D90 back in 2008, digital SLRs have infiltrated nearly every level of professional video production.

The new Nikon D4 is an attempt to recapture the momentum of the video-shooting DSLR craze from competitor Canon while adding significant upgrades to Nikon's D3 line. In the process, the D4 will become Nikon's new flagship and its go-to model for sports, action, and news photographers. Picking up the D4, it is immediately obvious that Nikon hasn't taken the D-series completely back to the drawing board, instead favoring minor tweaks to an established design. The D4 is lighter than the D3s, but it manages to offer an increased measure of control with the addition of programmable joysticks. One of those is placed for exclusive use when holding the camera by its secondary grip, and the result is menu navigation that is streets ahead of the D3s.

The Nikon D4 offers an impressive array of high-end features for the professional user. Spending time with the camera, it's also refreshing to see some of the basic features of video cameras that have eluded DSLRs in the past. It seems silly that even something as simple as a headphone jack to monitor incoming sound has yet to find its way into a DSLR. That is just one of the small touches Nikon has added to appeal to a growing base of professional DSLR videographers. That isn't to say the still photographers have gone unnoticed; indeed, they're still the D4's main audience, with subtle changes to the control scheme improving the shooting experience dramatically. It's a camera that, from the moment you pick it up, begs you to get out and shoot.

It's also important to note the technical improvements as well: speedy 10 frames per second capture at the full, 16.2-megapixel resolution, a maximum ISO speed of 204,800, and full control of exposure while recording full HD video. There are some setbacks - a 40% decrease in battery life compared to the D3s chief among them - but overall the D4 is an impressive specimen to shoot with.

We're not stretching when we say that the Nikon D4 has the potential to be the best video-capable DSLR on the market. Can Nikon offer the video quality to match that ambition? Can Nikon recapture the large share of the sports and action photography/videography world that they've ceded to Canon? We'll have to get the D4 into our labs to make a final judgement, but Nikon's latest looks like a sign that the company is finally willing to throw its weight around. At the very least it's clear Nikon is ready to take the kind of risks that kicked off the video-capable DSLR era in the first place.

Body type
Body type Large SLR"
Body material Magnesium alloy

Sensor
Max resolution 4928 x 3280
Other resolutions 4096 x 2720, 4096 x 3280, 3696 x 2456, 3200 x 2128, 3072 x 2456, 3072 x 2040, 2464 x 1640, 2400 x 1592, 2048 x 1360, 2048 x 1640, 1600 x 1064
Image ratio w:h 5:4, 3:2
Effective pixels 16.2 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 16.6 megapixels
Sensor size Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor Expeed 3
Color space sRGB, Adobe RGB
Color filter array RGB Color Filter Array

Image
ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (204800 with boost)
White balance presets 12
Custom white balance Yes (4)
Image stabilization No
Uncompressed format RAW
File format
* NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)
* NEF + JPEG
* TIFF
* JPEG

Optics & Focus
Autofocus
* Phase Detect
* Multi-area
* Selective single-point
* Tracking
* Single
* Continuous
* Live View
Digital zoom No
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 51
Lens mount Nikon F mount
Focal length multiplier 1×

Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Fixed
Screen size 3.2"
Screen dots 921,000
Touch screen No
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 %
Viewfinder magnification 0.7×

Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 sec
Exposure modes
* Programmed auto with flexible program (P)
* Shutter-priority (S)
* Aperture-priority (A)
* Manual (M)
Built-in flash No
External flash Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus sync connector)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Flash X sync speed 1/250 sec
Drive modes
* Single frame
* Continuous low speed
* Continuous high speed
* Quiet shutter-release
* Self-timer
* Mirror up
Continuous drive Yes (9 - 11 fps)
Self-timer Yes (2-20 seconds, 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds)
Metering modes
* Multi
* Center-weighted
* Spot
Exposure compensation ±5 EV (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV steps)
WB Bracketing Yes (2-9 frames in steps of 1, 2, or 3)

Videography features
Format
* MPEG-4
* H.264
Microphone Mono
Speaker Mono
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)

Storage
Storage types Compact Flash (Type I, XQD) x2
Storage included None

Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (Type C )
Wireless Optional
Remote control Yes (via ten-pin remote terminal)

Physical
Environmentally sealed Yes (Water and dust resistant)
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description Lithium-Ion EN-EL18 rechargeable battery & charger
Weight (inc. batteries) 1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 91 mm (6.3 x 6.18 x 3.58")

Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
Timelapse recording Yes (Playback speed 24x to 36000x )
GPS Optional
GPS notes GP-1 or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional MC-35 GPS adapter cord and cable with D-sub 9-pin connector)

Nikon announces Nikon D4 yesterday which is the new Nikon flagship full frame DSLR camera aiming for sports and wildlife photographers. D4 will replaces Nikon D3 & D3S. Nikon D4 are improved in many ways compared to Nikon D3S. Let checks on its advantages:

1. New 16 MP full frame sensor
It has 4 MP more than Nikon D3s, which means it is slightly bigger. It also has expanded ISO (50-204800). However, I predict the best images will be produced between ISO 100 to 6400, the same as what Nikon D3s can offer.

2. New EXPEED 3 sensor and fast continuous burst
EXPEED 3 sensor aids in overall performance such as camera responsiveness, AF speed, in camera processing, etc. It also allows for faster continuous burst (up to 10 fps and 11 fps (with exposure and focus locked).

3. Two joysticks
Nikon replace traditional AEL-AFL button and gives way to two joysticks that appears similar to Canon EOS cameras system. With the joysticks, changing setting like AF points will be a lot faster because it allows diagonal moves.

4. Compact Flash & XQD memory card slots
D4 will have the new XQD memory card slot which is a new memory card standard that has faster transfer rate & capacity compare to CF&SD. XQD card is relatively new. It is smaller in size than CF card but bigger than SD card. Sony launches first XQD card with 32 GB capacity and 125mb/s write speed.

5. Enchanced durability
Shutter durability has been tested for 400,000 counts, an 100,000 improvement over Nikon D3S, and 250 better than D700. Like its predecessors, D4 will be a tough camera, completely weather-sealed.

There are some minor improvements/feature that you might like, for example built-in auto HDR, backlit illuminated buttons, compatibility with Many Nikon legacy lenses and DX lenses, 2.7x Crop in video recording, improve 51 AF points auto focus with face recognition capability. Nikon D4 is a great camera for people who is looking for the best camera for sports, photojournalism, wildlife who wants fast cameras that do well in high ISO setting and harsh environmental condition. For existing D3s & D700 users, you will get a slightly higher image resolution and a faster camera. For D300 or D300s users, it will be a great upgrade.