The D4 is Nikon's new flagship full frame DSLR.
Right before the launch of CES 2012, Nikon has announced the D4, their new full-frame DSLR that emphasizes speed and precision. For still photographers, the D4 has some impressive specs, including a new 16.2-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor (36 x 23.9mm) that contains the latest EXPEED 3 image processing engine, a new 91,000-pixel 3D color matrix meter, and an improved 51-point AF System that can keep focus at even at 10-fps. One of the things that Nikon has excelled in over any camera manufacturer is low-light performance. The D4’s native ISO ranges from 100 to 12,800 but is expandable to 204,800 (Hi-4). Wow!
Full HD capture – You can shoot both 1080p 30/24fps and 60 fps at 720p. By using the B-Frame data compression method, you can record H.264 clips for up to 20 minutes per clip. Also, the sensor reads image data at faster rates, which lessens rolling shutter distortion. Although I don’t think this means line skipping is eliminated. Stayed tuned.
Full manual control – Not being able to adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO while recording was one of the biggest problems with previous Nikon DSLRs for video capture. I’m really glad Nikon fixed this.
Full manual control – Not being able to adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO while recording was one of the biggest problems with previous Nikon DSLRs for video capture. I’m really glad Nikon fixed this.
With the D4, you can connect a mic to the stereo microphone jack and adjust up to 20 steps of sensitivity.
Better audio recording and monitoring – The Nikon D4 has a stereo headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording and can be adjusted up to 30 steps. Also offers audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. The microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction. Another great plus!
Multi-area mode full HD video – Whether shooting for depth of field in FX format mode, or looking for an extra 1.5X telephoto from DX mode, the D4′s sensor allows shooters to retain full 1080P HD resolution no matter what mode they choose. With the 2.7x crop, users can experience ultra-telephoto benefits in full HD resolution all at 16:9 aspect ratio.
Simultaneous live view output – This signal can be viewed on the camera’s LCD screen and external monitor simultaneously. Additionally, the image data display can be cleared from the screen, to remove distracting data or when feeding a live signal. I love this new feature. Especially if you have a camera assistant who needs to focus off of an external monitor while standing beside the camera.
Full-time AF – In addition to manual focus, four modes are available, including normal, wide area, face detection and subject tracking, which uses fast contrast detect AF to accurately focus while recording video and in live view. If it’s anywhere near Sony’s Phase Detect AF on their Alpha cameras, this is a game changer for Nikon. But since those are mirrorless systems, I’m not expecting it.
Improved LCD screen – The large high resolution 3.2-inch LCD screen is 921K dots, and includes auto brightness adjustment. Users can also zoom in up to 46x to check critical HD focus.
Time lapse shooting – This new feature combines a selected frame rate and “shooting interval” in a dedicated time lapse photography menu. Playback can be achieved with a wide variety of speeds from 24x to 36,000x while producing a fully finished movie file output for faster multimedia workflows.
Remote shutter operation – Using dedicated Movie Custom Settings, recording can be set to be engaged by the shutter release button -users can now use a variety of remote accessories to trigger video recording.
The Nikon D4 will be available in late February 2012 for the suggested retail price of $5999.95, which puts it in the same category with Canon’s new 1D X model. I can’t wait for the DSLRs wars to heat up since Canon has pretty much controlled the DSLR filmmaker market since the release of the 5D Mark II. We definitely need more democracy in this space.
Better audio recording and monitoring – The Nikon D4 has a stereo headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording and can be adjusted up to 30 steps. Also offers audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. The microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction. Another great plus!
Multi-area mode full HD video – Whether shooting for depth of field in FX format mode, or looking for an extra 1.5X telephoto from DX mode, the D4′s sensor allows shooters to retain full 1080P HD resolution no matter what mode they choose. With the 2.7x crop, users can experience ultra-telephoto benefits in full HD resolution all at 16:9 aspect ratio.
Simultaneous live view output – This signal can be viewed on the camera’s LCD screen and external monitor simultaneously. Additionally, the image data display can be cleared from the screen, to remove distracting data or when feeding a live signal. I love this new feature. Especially if you have a camera assistant who needs to focus off of an external monitor while standing beside the camera.
Full-time AF – In addition to manual focus, four modes are available, including normal, wide area, face detection and subject tracking, which uses fast contrast detect AF to accurately focus while recording video and in live view. If it’s anywhere near Sony’s Phase Detect AF on their Alpha cameras, this is a game changer for Nikon. But since those are mirrorless systems, I’m not expecting it.
Improved LCD screen – The large high resolution 3.2-inch LCD screen is 921K dots, and includes auto brightness adjustment. Users can also zoom in up to 46x to check critical HD focus.
Time lapse shooting – This new feature combines a selected frame rate and “shooting interval” in a dedicated time lapse photography menu. Playback can be achieved with a wide variety of speeds from 24x to 36,000x while producing a fully finished movie file output for faster multimedia workflows.
Remote shutter operation – Using dedicated Movie Custom Settings, recording can be set to be engaged by the shutter release button -users can now use a variety of remote accessories to trigger video recording.
The Nikon D4 will be available in late February 2012 for the suggested retail price of $5999.95, which puts it in the same category with Canon’s new 1D X model. I can’t wait for the DSLRs wars to heat up since Canon has pretty much controlled the DSLR filmmaker market since the release of the 5D Mark II. We definitely need more democracy in this space.
