Monday, 13 August 2012

REVIEW OF NIKON D4

SPECIFICATIONS


  • Lens Mount
    Nikon F bayonet mount
  • Effective Pixels
    16.2 million
  • Sensor Size
    36.0mm x 23.9mm
  • Image Sensor Format
    FX
  • Image Sensor Type
    CMOS
  • Total Pixels
    16.6 million
  • Dust-reduction system
    Image sensor cleaning 
    Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
  • Dust-Off Reference Photo
    Yes
  • Image Area (pixels)
    FX-format
    (L) 
    4.928 × 3,280

    (M) 
    3,696 × 2,456

    (S) 
    2,464 × 1,640 
    1:2 format (30 x 20)
    (L) 
    4,096 × 2,720 

    (M) 
    3,072 × 2,040

    (S) 
    2,048 × 1,360 
    5:4 format (30 x 24)
    (L) 
    4,096 × 3,280

    (M) 
    3,072 × 2,456

    (S) 
    2,048 × 1,640
    DX-format
    (L) 
    3,200 × 2,128

    (M) 
    2,400 × 1,592

    (S) 
    1,600 × 1,064
  • File Format Still Images
    JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality 
    JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression 
    NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single Photograph Recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG Formats 
    TIFF (RGB)
  • Picture Control
    Landscape 
    Monochrome 
    Neutral 
    Portrait 
    Standard 
    User-customizable Settings 
    Vivid
  • Storage Media
    CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA) 
    XQD Type Memory
  • Card Slot
    1 CompactFlash© (CF) card and 1 XQD memory type card
  • File System
    Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0 
    DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) 
    EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 
    PictBridge
  • Viewfinder
    Eye-level Pentaprism Single-Lens Reflex Viewfinder
  • Viewfinder Frame Coverage
    FX (36x24): 100% Horizontal and 100% Vertical Approx.1.2x (30x20): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.DX (24x16): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.5:4 (30x24): 97% horizontal and 100% vertical Approx.
  • Viewfinder Magnification
    0.70x Approx.
  • Viewfinder Eyepoint
    18mm (-1.0m¯¹)
  • Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment
    Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 m¯¹)
  • Focusing Screen
    Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII with AF Area Brackets (grid lines can be displayed)
  • Reflex Mirror
    Quick-return type
  • Lens Aperture
    Instant-return type
  • Depth-of-field Control
    Yes
  • Lens Compatibility at a Glance***
    AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible 
    Metering with AI lenses
  • Compatible Lenses
    AF NIKKOR, including type G and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC Micro-NIKKOR lenses and DX lenses (using DX 24 x 16 1.5x image area) 
    AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (exposure modes A and M only)
  • Shutter type
    Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
  • Shutter Speed
    1/8000 to 30 sec.
  • Fastest Shutter Speed
    1/8000 sec.
  • Slowest Shutter Speed
    30 sec.
  • Flash Sync Speed
    Up to 1/250 sec. 
    Synchronizes with shutter at 1/250s or slower
  • Bulb Shutter Setting
    Yes
  • Shutter Release Modes
    Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-10 frames per second 
    Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 10 frames per second; 11 with AE/AF locked on first frame 
    Mirror-up [Mup] mode 
    Quiet Shutter Release 
    Self-timer mode 
    Single-frame [S] mode
  • Continuous Shooting Options
    FX-format
    CH: Up to 
    10/11 frames per second
    CL: Up to 10 frames per second5:4 format
    CH: Up to 
    10/11 frames per second
    CL: Up to 10 frames per secondDX-format
    CH: Up to 
    10/11 frames per second
    CL: Up to 10 frames per second1:2 format
    CH: Up to 
    10/11 frames per second
    CL: Up to 10 frames per second
  • Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution
    10 frames per second11 frames per second (AE/AF Locked)
  • Self-timer
    2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
  • Exposure Metering System
    TTL exposure metering using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor
  • Metering Method
    Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12mm circle in center of frame 
    Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses) 
    Spot: Meters 4mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
  • Metering Range
    -1 ± 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering) 
    2 to 20 EV (spot metering)
  • Exposure Meter Coupling
    CPU 
    AI
  • Exposure Modes
    Aperture-Priority (A) 
    Manual (M) 
    Programmed auto with flexible program (P) 
    Shutter-Priority (S)
  • Exposure Compensation
    ±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
  • Exposure Bracketing
    2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
  • Exposure Lock
    Yes
  • Mirror Lock Up
    Yes
  • ISO Sensitivity
    ISO 100 - 12,800
    Lo-1 (ISO 50)
    Hi-4 (ISO 204,800)
  • Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity
    100
  • Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity
    12,800
  • Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
    Lo-1 (ISO 50 equivalent)
  • Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
    HI-4 (ISO 204,800 equivalent)
  • Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options
    Hi-1 (ISO-25,600 equivalent) in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV 
    Hi-2, (ISO-51,200 equivalent), 1 EV 
    Hi-3, (ISO-102,400 equivalent), 1 EV 
    Hi-4 (ISO-204,800 equivalent) in 1 EV
  • Long Exposure Noise Reduction
    Yes
  • High ISO Noise Reduction
    Low 
    Normal 
    High 
    Off
  • Active D-Lighting
    Auto 
    Extra High 
    High 
    Normal 
    Low 
    On
  • D-Lighting Bracketing
    2 frames using selected value for one frame 
    3–5 frames using preset values for all frames
  • Single-point AF Mode
    Yes
  • Dynamic AF Mode
    Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
  • Auto-area AF Mode
    Yes
  • Autofocus System
    Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
  • Detection Range
    -2 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
  • Lens Servo
    Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status 
    Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
  • AF-area mode
    9, 21 or 51 point Dynamic-area AF 
    Auto-area AF 
    Single-point AF 
    3D-tracking (51 points)
  • Focus Lock
    Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button 
    Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF)
  • Focus Modes
    Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A) 
    Continuous-servo (AF-C) 
    Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only 
    Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only 
    Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder 
    Normal area 
    Single-servo AF (AF-S) 
    Wide area
  • Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
    51
  • Autofocus Sensitivity
    -2 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
  • Autofocus Fine Tune
    Yes
  • Flash Bracketing
    2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
  • X-Sync Speed
    1/250
  • Top FP High Speed Sync
    Up to 1/8000
  • Flash Control
    TTL: i-TTL flash control using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor are available with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
  • Flash Sync Modes
    Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported 
    Front-curtain sync (normal) 
    Rear-curtain sync 
    Red-Eye reduction 
    Red-Eye reduction with slow sync 
    Slow rear-curtain sync 
    Slow sync
  • Flash Compensation
    -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
  • Flash-ready indicator
    Lights when optional flash unit such as SB-910, SB-900, SB-700, SB-400, SB-R200 is fully charged
  • Accessory Shoe
    Yes
  • Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
    CLS Supported
  • Flash Sync Terminal
    Yes
  • White Balance
    Auto (2 types) 
    Choose color temperature (2500K–10000K) 
    Cloudy 
    Direct Sunlight 
    Flash 
    Fluorescent (7 types) 
    Incandescent 
    Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored) 
    Shade
  • White Balance Bracketing
    2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV
  • Live View Shooting
    Photography Live View Mode 
    Movie Live View Mode
  • Live View Lens servo
    Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) 
    Manual focus (MF)
  • Live View AF-area mode
    Face-priority AF 
    Wide-area AF 
    Normal-area AF 
    Subject-tracking AF
  • Live View Autofocus
    Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
  • Movie Metering
    TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
  • Movie Maximum recording time
    20 minutes at highest quality 
    29 minutes 59 seconds at normal quality
  • Movie File Format
    MOV
  • Movie Video Compression
    H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
  • Movie Audio recording format
    Linear PCM
  • Movie
    HD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps 
    HD 1,920x1,080 / 24 fps 
    HD 1,280x720 / 30 fps 
    HD 1,280x720 / 60 fps
  • Movie Audio
    Built-in microphone, monaural 
    External stereo microphone (optional)
  • Monitor Size
    3.2 in. diagonal
  • Monitor Resolution
    921,000 Dots
  • Monitor Type
    Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
  • Monitor Angle of View
    170-degree wide-viewing angle
  • Monitor Adjustments
    Brightness, 5 levels
  • Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator
    Yes 
    Also visible in LiveView Modes 
    Also visible in Viewfinder
  • Playback Functions
    Auto Image Rotation 
    Full-Frame and Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) 
    GPS data display 
    Highlights 
    Histogram Display 
    Image Comment 
    IPTC information embedding and display 
    Movie Playback 
    Movie Slideshow 
    Photo information 
    Playback with Zoom 
    Slideshow 
    Voice Memo
  • In-Camera Image Editing
    Color Balance 
    D-Lighting 
    Distortion Control 
    Filter Effects 
    Image Overlay 
    Monochrome 
    NEF (RAW) Processing 
    Perspective Control 
    Red-Eye Correction 
    Resize 
    Side-by-Side Comparison 
    Straighten 
    Trim
  • Image Comment
    Yes
  • Interface
    HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector 
    Headphone Connector 
    Hi-speed USB 
    NTSC 
    Stereo Microphone Input
  • Wi-Fi Functionality
    WT-5A 
    WT-4A
  • GPS
    GP-1 GPS unit
  • Save/Load Camera settings
    Yes
  • Total custom Settings
    58
  • My Menu
    Yes with customization
  • Recent Settings
    Yes
  • Supported Languages
    Arabic 
    Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) 
    Czech 
    Danish 
    Dutch 
    English 
    Finnish 
    French 
    German 
    Indonesian 
    Italian 
    Japanese 
    Korean 
    Norweigan 
    Polish 
    Portuguese 
    Romanian 
    Russian 
    Spanish 
    Swedish 
    Thai 
    Turkish 
    Ukrainian
  • Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings
    Yes
  • World Time Setting
    Yes
  • Battery / Batteries
    EN-EL18 Lithium-ion Battery
  • Battery Life (shots per charge)
    2,600 shots per charge (Battery Life) (CIPA)
  • AC Adapter
    EH-6b AC Adapter 
    Requires EP-6 Power Supply Connector
  • Battery Charger
    MH-26 Quick Charger
  • Tripod Socket
    1/4 in.
  • Approx. Dimensions
    Width: 6.3 in. (160mm)Height: 6.2 in. (156.5mm)Depth: 3.6 in. (90.5mm)
  • Approx. Weight
    41.6 oz. (1180g)

  • Operating Environment
    0–40 °C (+32–104 °F)
  • Supplied Software
    ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
  •  Supplied Accessories

    • AN-DC7 strap
    • EN-EL18 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
    • MH-26 Battery Charger
    • UC-E15 USB Cable
    • USB Cable Clip
    • BF-1B Body Cap
    • BS-2 Accessory Shoe Cover
    • UF-2 Connector cover for stereo mini plug cable
    • UF-1 Connector cover for USB cable
    • Nikon View NX2 CD ROM
    • Transmitter Utility CD
    • PRICE $5,999.95

    REVIEW

    The Nikon D4 is Nikon's fastest, tightest professional camera ever made for sports and action photography. it is designed as an all-purpose, go anywhere, shoot anything camera with improved low-light shooting capability and enhanced video technology. The camera features a 16.2Mp 36 x 23.9mm CMOS sensor with Nikon's FX-format and the EXPEED3 image processor. ISO sensitivity can now be extended as low as ISO 50 or as high as 204,800 with a standard range of 100-12,800 ISO. Additionally, 10 frames per second continuous shooting in FX-format for up to 200 shots ensures the decisive moment will not be missed.The D4's speed is much more than just its 10 frames-per-second specification; it's all the other things like its metering and auto white balance and face-recognition autofocus and focal-length tracking auto-ISO systems that all work twice as hard and fast as other cameras to keep those ten frames per second all looking great.if you are prepared to lose AF and exposure control, the Nikon D4's full resolution continuous shooting rate can also be pushed up to 11fps.There are still 51 AF points, but the central 15 cross-type points are sensitive down to f/8. This means that the Nikon D4's AF system will continue to work with long telephoto lens and teleconverter arrangements that have an effective maximum aperture of f/8., The D4 wouldn't be a professional level DSLR if it didn't include full HD video capture. The D4 does so, making it equally a pro videographer's tool as much as a pro photographer's. From 1080p broadcast quality video at 30 or 24 fps to full manual control to the option to add an external mic for stereo audio capture, the D4 isn't just a digital camera that also captures video.It is also possible to have an uncompressed, full resolution HDMI feed to external devices.
    When the  Nikon WT-5 Wi-Fi transmitter is connected to the Nikon D4, the Live View image can be seen on an iPad. The iPad can also be used to control the shooting mode, select the AF point and trigger the shutter.
    Like the D3s, the Nikon D4 has an array of AF point selection modes, including Single-point AF, auto-area AF and 9-, 21- or 51-point Dynamic-area AF as well as 3D-tracking AF.Nikon has filled the gap between the glass and the crystal section of the LCD screen with an optical gel to reduce reflections, improve the viewing angle and boost brightness and it provides clear view in most shooting conditions, and reflections aren't a major issue even in bright sunlight.
    Images look good straight from the Nikon D4 - on the whole they are well exposed when the general purpose matrix metering system is used, and the colours and contrast look natural.Nikon's decision to restrict the Nikon D4's effective pixel count to 16.2 million appears to be a wise one.The 3D-tracking AF system can be extremely useful, but it relies on a clear difference in colour between the subject and its background.The camera struggles to differentiate between the subject and the background colours, or there are other objects in the frame that are of the same colour as the subject, the system fails to track the main target and the active AF point jumps from one point to another.Like the still images from the Nikon D4, its videos have good colour and exposure. The footage is also smooth and detailed.
    Like the D5100, the Nikon D4 has an HDR mode that combines two images taken at different exposures into one with a greater tonal range. Also like the D5100, this mode can only be selected when the camera is set to shoot JPEGs.

    FINAL VERDICT

    The Nikon D4 may not have the highest resolution, but it has lightening-quick responses, a fantastically high maximum shooting rate and is capable of capturing an impressive amount of detail across a huge sensitivity range.Nikon has produced a excellent DSLR that professionals can depend upon to deliver good results even in low lighting conditions and the image quality is high.


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