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.
Looks great based on the specs, but I’m not a big fan of dual-system memory card slots. I don’t want to be running around with two different card systems all the time, and if one fails, I want to be able to use the other as a backup.
The improvements to the video function are fantastic, that should definitely give the folks a Canon some major headaches. Great to have Nikon back in the game. I hope the video function has an option to output in 10-bit in something similar to cinestyle or S-log via HDMI so we can make the most of the improved picture quality. For the future, arbitrary frame rates (eg. something like, say, 49 fps) and speedramps would be really great for more controlled slow motion, as well as the option to shoot in full 1080p even at higher frame rates like 60p.
Another problem, although this is not really D4-related, is the fact that many of the new lenses don’t have distance/DOF markings on them anymore, and no aperture rings. Setting a lens to hyperfocal distance now requires a DOF calculator iPhone app, that’s just ridiculous, clumsy and time consuming. Hard stops would be very useful for filming without a specialized DSLR follow focus. And options to switch between different focus ring resistances for AF and MF so that they react like the old MF lenses when switched to MF mode would make life much easier and precise.
MF in general is a major problem with DSLRs, I often wish the new cameras still came with split screen viewfinder. I shoot a lot in extremely low light situations where at times the AF is bound to fail or get unreliable/slow at some point (no matter how good and improved it is), and in those situations manual focus is the only viable way to go, but the newer lenses/cameras make precise focusing extremely challenging. That dot indicator in the viewfinder is just not good enough and only works in situation where the AF would work fine anyway. And some lenses, like the older Nikon ones or even the current Zeiss ones don’t even have AF in the first place.
Built-in support for DNG would also be very much appreciated. Not only are the files smaller, thus reducing storage price, DNG conversion also slows down my ingest process quite a bit. DNG is a great, open, vendor-independent standard for RAW files, I’d love Nikon to respect and support that. Pentax does for example.
Other than that, the D4 looks like a fantastic product, Nikon definitely still knows how to make great cameras.
Chase you are one terrible liar. I think this is one funny post. Hey guys tell me what you think of the camera while i just finish up the commercial that I shot with NEW D4 in chicago with the DP from Avatar. Can’t wait to see the commercial that you shot with D4 next week. By the sounds of the commercial it’s going to blow all are minds as long as it wasn’t edited by your assistants. Even Vincent Laforet knows not to edit his own stuff.
Peace Out
P.S. Can’t wait to see the high speed motorbike footage!!!!!!!!
The link to B&H doesn’t work. All hail Chase Jarvis. You’re pretty freaking awesome in my book.
Well, I have never seen nor used one yet, but it’s new, it’s Nikon, and it’s a real pro camera. Not prosumer, or god-forbid, consumer level. Not sure if it has enough megapix, but it has some other cool stuff which will finally allow my innate talent, which has so far be held back by my camera, to surface and shine. This alone nearly blows me out of the water. The D4x, which is sure to follow, will for sure allow me to become a photographic legend known world-wide, and not just among photography fans. Fine Art Footsie Fotos—the next HCB.
And look at the size of that beauty. Slap a 500mm on that and imagine the looks I’ll get.
I was a Nikon guy before I discovered the Mark II. Hopefully this camera brings Nikon into the game!
Ha! You need to increase your mediaction my friend!
Interesting comment – I’m currently using Nikon, but am considering switching to the Mark II. I’d be interested to hear what Nikon you were using and what you’re liking better about the mark II.