photo via Gizmodo
Here’s some highlighted specs:
_16.2 effective megapixel, full-frame sensor (16.6MP total)
_10fps shooting with AF and AE, 11fps with focus and exposure locked, 24fps 2.5MP grabs
_1080p30 HD video at up to 24Mbps with uncompressed video output
_91,000 pixel sensor for metering, white balance, flash exposure, face detection and active d-lighting
_ISO Range 100-12,800 (extendable from 50 – 204,800)
_MultiCAM 3500FX Autofocus sensor works in lower light and with smaller apertures
_Two sub-selector joystick/buttons for shooting orientation
_New EN-EL18 battery (21.6Wh capacity, CIPA-rated at 2600 shots)
_Twin card slots – one Compact Flash and one XQD
Please note I HAVE NOT touched one of these cameras, and NO I didn’t shoot the campaign. and I haven’t yet spent the appropriate time with the camera to tell you any gory details. I’m assuming I’ll be able to chat more soon.
So.. I (we) knew this was coming, but rather than me spouting off about having played with the system (I can’t), or telling you what your feelings about this system should be (I won’t), I’m turning the tables on you.
What’s your take? Love, hate, indifferent? Insights?
[Reminder that Nikon plays close attention to this blog, so your comments on this post – glowing or otherwise – might help inform Nikon about what your thinking.]Link to all the Nikon D4 details and/or purchase here via B&H.
Still wishing for a D700x with 16 to 20 MP sensor, expeed 3, 1080p video at 60fps.
I think the D4 is in an interesting spot, mostly because of the new CF card format. While it makes sense why they decided to have two different formats I think it could be both good and bad.
I also like most of the new buttons and joysticks and stuff especially the placement of the vertical AF button. I’m still not too sure about the departure from the CSM AF switch for the D7000 AF switch, but I haven’t used the D7000 that much to really adapt to the system. I also noticed they moved the metering mode switch.
Personally I can see Nikon releasing a D4s in two years that will have a higher base ISO, similar to the Canon 1D-X but I think the biggest thing they could do in the next revision of the flagship camera would be the inclusion of two XQD card slots once XQD has matured a little.
But in the end I think Nikon did a really good job with the advancement on the video in this camera, as well as making some good decisions to improve the ergonomics such as back-lighting of the buttons and more ergonomical vertical shooting. However, I believe that whatever “problems” people have with this camera verses the D3s (mainly the 1 CF and 1 XQD) will be addressed in the minor revision of the D4 (D4s I am assuming)
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work this year and you are truly an inspiration, giving so much back to the community with CreativeLIVE! Thank you Chase and happy new years!
Although this is really awesome news, I find it bothersome that NIkon and others are still pushing this technology when this technology is a dying breed. Check out this article on Trey Ratcliff’s site, http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuckincustoms.com%2F2012%2F01%2F04%2Fdslrs-are-a-dying-breed-3rd-gen-cameras-are-the-future%2F&h=6AQGf63XHAQGoGYAC9vuxpTX0mBeXqsYBE8PZ7aukX3bB8Q&enc=AZO6IMkOirmJVZub3en8zKicRT7aON9nmTKeAtjxL_CknqqTm0xnQOe9QfWGRSZBQJi5LB4Y0XpM-_tst87h4bbL
It’s not a dying breed. It is impossible to make proper optical viewfinders for mirrorless cameras that works for all lenses since they would have to adapt to all possible focal lengths, even exotic adapted lenses. That’s completely impractical when someone mounts a 600mm lens to a Micro 4/3 camera which would effectively give you a 1200mm equivalent. And an OVF is something only few people would be willing to work without. I shoot a lot of dance, and I certainly couldn’t imagine working without one at all.
The optical viewfinders of pseudo-rangefinders like the soon-to-be-announced Fuji X-Pro 1 (the first of Fuji’s series of “Lookaleicas” that supports interchangeable lenses and has a genius hybrid viewfinder) will fail as soon as you mount a telephoto lens. DSLR technology is still the best solution for these situations. Don’t get me wrong, I love the concept and I’ll probably get one of those Fujis at some point and I certainly will use the EVF in certain situations, but it is not going to replace my Nikon system anytime soon.
EVFs have become better, but that doesn’t mean they will be able to replace OVFs. With an EVF you see what the camera sees. I want to see what is actually there so I can adjust the camera so it sees what I want it to see and how I want it to see. I don’t need WYSIWYG-information about what I’m going to have shot, I need information about what I am shooting. Inevitable slight lag and blocked view when an image is being written to card are additional problems. And when shooting long exposures in extremely low light, you get nothing but noisy garbage in your EVF. It’s not just an irrational fear of a new and different system. It’s a solution to a different problem.
Focusing is another issue. Mirrorless cameras are nowhere near where DSLRs are and won’t be for a few years (you can’t do 3D tracking with contrast AF for example). There will always be a place for DSLRs, mirrorless cameras are great and will replace DSLRs for some tasks, especially for hobbyists, but not for the thing that DSLRs are great at and certainly not the market the D4 is aimed at. Sometimes cameras don’t have to be small and light as much as they have to be flexible, fast, robust, adaptable, professional, and reliable.
My take on Trey’s opine is that for “what he does” he is correct. It applies to him and to those who do what he does, but, to claim that instamatic camera size digital files will give the artist/creator/photographer the resouces needed to produce top notch work in other venue of image media creation is just plain silly.
Agree. EVF turned on all the time will just suck up battery, get dead pixels and will need to be replaced versus OVF.
Being a bright screen it wlll be a headache to use after awhile.
Mirrorless is the advantage for superior framerate and quiet operation in certain situations.
[Models use the sound of the click to change pose though-but the already make this fake click sound in compacts-haha.]
I’ve done my best to ignore most of Nikon’s product launches mostly because I don’t have the budget to contemplate upgrades, but this camera…I WANT this camera. My most favorite aspects are the dual orientation shutter releases (I shoot a lot in portrait aspect and my writs are about to give after 10 hours of shooting like that) and the wide ISO range. I had wanted a D3, but wasn’t craving one. I’m craving this camera. I can’t wait to hear/read some product reviews on it. My poor D300 is gonna be jealous.
I love it! To be able to monitor Audio from the camera, and adjust levels is great! I am currently using a d7000 and a sony nx5u for video, and I would love to have one camera that i can do it all with. The video camera will never be my first choice when I grab 1 camera so seeing better video added in is great. But personally I dont need more pixels than a D700. But i would have loved more dynamic range, 5k recording, 1080 60p. But like many, I dont like the idea of having to buy new memory cards right now. The reason i chose the sony was because it and the d7000 both used sd cards.
For those waiting for a d800, im sure it has its place. Portrait shooters and studio photogs will love it. For me it has very little purpose, for now. Maybe in the future 36mp will be useful, but im still getting amazing 24×36 images out of my d700. I would like to know if it is a self cleaning sensor though… that would be big