Pixiq

London, 6^th January 2012: More than four years after the introduction of the original Nikon D3, a camera that redefined many photographers thinking in terms of low light photography and, a little more than two years after the introduction of its highly acclaimed successor, the D3s, the Nikon Corporation has today announced its latest ‘flagship’ D-SLR, the Nikon D4 that replaces the D3s, but not the D3x, which remains in production.

The new camera, which is manufactured exclusively at Nikon (Sendai), Japan, boasts no less than forty-five new, or improved features compared with the D3s, and is the culmination of in-depth analysis of extensive customer feedback on the D3-series cameras that has resulted in significant changes both externally and internally.

In the D4 Nikon has addressed three key design criteria with the professional photographer in mind: image quality, speed of operation, and workflow integration, and left no stone unturned to embrace the very latest technologies in creating a photographic tool that appears to have immense potential.

Prior to today’s official announcement I had the opportunity to take a close look at the camera and discuss its finer points with Nikon (UK) staff. The following is a summary of the key features and functions of the D4, together with my first impressions of the camera; the full technical specifications are available from the Nikon Corporation here, along with the official press announcement here. 

Sensor

The D4 features a new FX-format (23.9 x 36 mm) CMOS sensor developed by Nikon, with 16.2 million effective pixels. The increased readout speed of the sensor enables the camera to cycle its shutter at up to 11 frames per second (fps), while delivering very low-noise performance. Nikon claim the noise performance is so good that even at the highest ISO setting there is no impact on the buffer memory writing time. The camera offers a normal ISO range of 100 to 12,800, which is extendable to Lo 1 (ISO 50 equivalent) to Hi 4 (ISO 204,800 equivalent).

Supporting the new sensor is Nikon’s third-generation image processing regime, EXPEED 3 that handles 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion, followed by 16-bit image processing. Data processing is claimed to be significantly faster than the D3s, with enhanced noise reduction algorithms that produce cleaner stills and video files, even at very high ISO settings.

Metering

The D4 incorporates an all-new 91,000-pixel RGB sensor for its 3D Color Matrix metering III system, a far cry from the 1,005-pixel sensor used by all other professional Nikon SLR and D-SLR cameras from the F5 to the D3-series! The metering system is fully integrated with the AF and auto-exposure systems, in what Nikon called their Advanced Scene Recognition System.

Unlike metering sensors used by other manufacturers that group pixels into segments, the metering sensor of the D4 uses each pixel as an individual sampling point, which not only improves scene analysis for increased exposure accuracy but also improves the abilities of the AF system, in particular it subject tracking capabilities, even with subjects that are small within the frame area. This increased sampling of the scene also enables the D4 to recognise human faces within the frame and optimise exposure accordingly, even in difficult lighting conditions.

Autofocus

The Multi-CAM 3500 FX AF module used in the D3-series cameras has been enhanced to provide better low-light AF performance down to -2EV (effectively moonlight) making it about 20% more light-sensitive and, in conjunction with the enhanced Scene Recognition System, offers improved AF response speed and subject tracking capabilities. The AF system has a total of 51 AF points, with the central cluster of 15 being cross-type sensors sensitive to detail in horizontal and vertical orientations (same as the D3s). The user can select a single AF point or configure 9-, 21-, or all 51 AF points, with full AF operation possible with any AF Nikkor lens that has a maximum aperture of f/5.6, or wider. The enhanced sensitivity of the AF system, enables it to support AF operation down to a maximum lens aperture of f/8; however, the number of useable AF points is reduced, for example, an AF-Nikkor 600mm f/4 lens combined with a TC-20E III teleconverter, which has a maximum effective aperture of f/8, restricts AF to the central eleven AF points, of which only the central AF point acts as a cross-type sensor. If the maximum aperture is between f/5.6 and f/8, for example, an AF-Nikkor 500mm f/4 lens combined with the TC-17E II teleconverter (maximum effective aperture f/6.7) only the central fifteen AF points support AF operation, with nine AF points acting as cross-type sensors.

AF mode and AF-area mode selection has been simplified by re-designing the AF switch on the front of the camera, so it operates in a similar way to the AF switch of the D7000. This enables the user to keep their eye to the viewfinder and change AF configuration at will; at default settings pressing the central button of the AF switch and rotating the rear command dial will select the AF mode, which is displayed in the viewfinder, while turning the front command dial will select the AF-area mode. In a new innovation in the D4 the AF-area mode is indicated by a display of illuminated AF points on the camera’s focusing screen.

Video

Video is now a accepted feature of any D-SLR and the convergence of technologies in the capture of stills and moving images has become increasingly important in professional D-SLR cameras. In the D4 Nikon have taken several large steps to move their implementation of video forward to a point where it will be able to match and probably surpass its competition. The camera offers full HD (1920 x 1080p) resolution with selectable frame rates of 30/25/24, plus HD (1280 x 720p) at 30 and 25 fps, and slow motion at 60, or 50 fps at 720p. The D4 employs H.264 compression with B-frame compression, which can use both previous and forward frames for data reference to get the highest amount of data compression. It supports full manual exposure control with the ISO setting selectable anywhere between 200 and 204,800. The maximum duration of a video clip has been extended to almost 30-minutes (approx 29.59 mins). 

Other improvements include the ability to index mark specific frames in the timeline during a recording to assist in subsequent editing, remote control of video start/stop via the 10-pin remote accessory terminal (it is possible to use any of the appropriate Nikon remote release accessories, such as the MC-30, or third party options, such as the Pocket Wizard radio control releases), or via a computer connection, and a live frame grab of a 2MP still image without interrupting a recording. Video recording can be performed in one of three frame sizes; full HD (1080p) in both FX and DX based formats, plus a new native full HD format, which is cropped to a pixel-matched 1920 x 1080 size. The video capabilities of the D4 offer further flexibility, since it is possible to output an uncompressed video feed to an external recorder, or monitor via the HDMI port; data is output at 1080i at the selected frame size and frame rate. Dual output is possible when recording in 1280 x 720p via both the video out and HDMI ports. Finally, in addition to the intervalometer feature of the D4 for recording time-lapse photography, it will also encode the individual images to produce a time-lapse video direct from the camera.

Audio has not been over looked, as there is an external microphone port, with the camera providing 20 distinct recording levels, plus an auto option, and it has a visual monitoring of the audio recording level, which is supplemented by a headphone out port, with 30 selectable volume levels.

Ergonomics

A professional D-SLR camera can expect to be used frequently, often for protracted periods, so its ergonomics are crucially important. In this respect the D4 has undergone some significant changes to its exterior control layout compared with the D3-series cameras, as well as improvements to its rear monitor screen, although the overall size and profile of the D4 and D3s are very similar, as is their weight, at 1,180 g (2 lb 9.6 oz) and 1,240 g (2 lb 12 oz) respectively, body only without battery, or memory cards.   

The first obvious and very welcome change is, the re-positioning of the AF-ON button for vertical shooting, which for several generations of professional Nikon D-SLR cameras has been located close to the bottom edge of the camera, where it is all too easy to depress it inadvertently with the heel of the right palm when using the camera in the horizontal orientation. This handling foible has finally been addressed, as the button has been moved much higher up the rear panel, but to improve AF operation even further the D4 has a separate AF control switch (Nikon refer to these as sub-selector buttons) paired with each of the two AF-ON buttons that allow rapid and precise selection of the AF point, regardless of whether the camera is used for horizontal, or vertical format shooting. In handling the camera you very quickly abandon the main multi-selector button for AF control, which feels rather sloppy in comparison with the sub-selector buttons, relegating it to navigation of the menu system. Furthermore, the AF point follows automatically if the camera orientation is changed, so for example, if the top, centre AF point is selected when the camera is held horizontally and it is then swung round to the vertical orientation, the AF point moves, so it remains at the to centre position.

The front edge of the top plate has been reshaped around the shutter release button, which together with its surrounding On/Off switch collar has a flatter profile, so it slopes forward more compared with the D3s. Set just behind the shutter release is a dedicated record button for video, while nestling just behind the vertical shutter release is a duplicate function button. In Live View, when the D4 is set to either A (aperture-priority), or M (manual) exposure modes, it is possible to assign powered control of the lens aperture to the Function (Fn) and Preview (Pv) buttons located on the front of the camera for smooth, step-less adjustment of the aperture (Note this feature only works in Live View, it does not work when the camera is recording video, unless the raw video signal is output direct from the camera via the HDMI port). 

The 921,000-dot rear LCD monitor screen has increased in size to 8 cm (3.2 in) across the diagonal, plus it has an improved colour gamut that takes is very close to the sRGB colour space. New in the D4 is an ambient light sensor adjacent to the right edge of the screen that adjusts the screen brightness, contrast, saturation and gamma automatically according to the ambient light conditions. Still images can be magnified up to 46x during playback for critical assessment of focus accuracy. Another change in the D4 is the use of a resin bonding between the monitor screen surface and the inner surface of the hardened glass screen cover. This helps to improve the viewing angle of the screen, enhance screen clarity by decreasing light loss and, prevent the ingress of dust and moisture between the two, which is a potential weak point of the D3-series cameras.

The viewfinder has a solid glass prism that offers approximately 100% frame coverage and a 0.7x magnification (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity), while the high eye-point design provides a clear unobstructed view of the frame area and all the information displays within the viewfinder.

Other small but no less important tweaks include direct access to the Nikon Picture Controls via a dedicated button (the Protect button is used), rather than the menu system, separate zoom in and zoom out buttons for image review, and a thumb grip below the vertical shooting rear command dial to aid camera support in the hand.

Workflow

Many branches of contemporary professional photography depend not only on the speed of initial acquisition of an image, or video file but the ability to disseminate them quickly and efficiently. Regardless of whether you are a press photographer covering a breaking news story, a sports shooter working to tight publication deadlines, or an event photographer needing to supply pictures in real time, the D4 has clearly been designed to facilitate a photographer’s workflow. It is the first Nikon D-SLR to support standard IPTC metadata, offering 14 separate fields for the user to assign key information to the image file, including the nature of the subject, the shooting location, authorship/ownership of the image, copyright information, and so on.

Since tens, if not hundreds of photographers cover many high profile events, the reliability and sustainability of wireless networks is often questionable, so the D4 has a built-in wired Ethernet LAN port (supports 10 Base T/100 Base TX). On those occasions where a wireless connection is feasible the D4 has a new dedicated wireless transmitter, the Nikon WT-5, which supports the 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, to work with both infrastructure and ad-hoc networks; the WT-5 can also be used for linked release of up to 10 remote cameras simultaneously. There is retrospective support for the earlier WT-4 wireless transmitter. The WT-5 is a much smaller unit than its predecessors, and connects directly to the dedicated port on the left side of the camera, from where it draws power directly from the main camera battery. In addition to the established FTP and PC control modes for use of the D4 across a wireless network, the camera also features a new, built-in HTTP connection mode, which is not only support by the WT-5 but also offers direct compatibility with a web browser on a computer, or mobile device such as an Apple iPhone, or iPad for remote control of the camera, remote viewing of Live View and, remote image review and download functions. The D4 is also fully compatible with the Nikon GP-1 GPS unit, including the ability to set the internal camera clock from the UTC time code in the GPS signal.

Other features of the D4 that can help to save time and reduce steps in a the workflow include, four image area options for stills pictures, the traditional 3:2 36 x 24 mm) aspect ratio, plus a 5:4 (30 x 24 mm), 1.2x (30 x 20 mm) and DX-format 23.4 x 15.5 mm) options. A broad range of in-camera editing tools, a High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature that records one overexposed and one underexposed frame in a single shutter release, with a difference in exposure level of up to 3EV, and refined white balance control offering colour temperature adjustment in steps of 10-Kelvin. Finally, to assist camera operation in low light conditions the major control buttons can be backlit (this feature can be switched off if preferred).

Additional Features:

Shutter

The D4 features a newly designed shutter mechanism, with Kevlar/carbon fibre composite blades, which has been tested to 400,000 cycles. The unit has a shutter speed range of 1/8000 to 30-seconds, with flash sync at 1/250-second; shutter release lag is 42-milliseconds. It has a reduced power drain during Live View and video recording, when the reflex mirror is held in its raised position, plus a faster cycling operation to allow a more rapid return to Live View after taking a stills picture. The shutter can cycle at up to 10 frames per second (fps) in the FX-format and all crop modes with full AF and auto-exposure operation, or up to 11 fps with focus and exposure locked as per the first frame in a sequence.

Virtual Horizon

The new twin-axis virtual horizon feature operates in both Live View and in the viewfinder, to provide an indication of whether the camera is tilted up or down (pitch), in addition to whether it is tilted either to the left, or right; in Live View a horizon line is superimposed over the image shown on the monitor screen, while in the viewfinder display the analogue exposure scale indicates tilting up, or down, while a line of highlighted AF points indicates tilt to the left or right.

Card slots

The D4 is the first camera to support the new XQD specification and format CompactFlash (CF) memory card that was announced during early December 2011 by the CompactFlash Association, and which is set to replace the venerable CompactFlash (CF) memory card. This is hardly surprising, since Nikon has been instrumental in the development of XQD cards. Unlike CF cards, which are based on the aging PCMCIA standard, XQD cards are based on PCI Express, with the first generation cards expected to offer write speeds of 125MB/s, thus offering a distinct speed advantage over virtually all CF and Secure Digital (SD) cards, including the latest SDHC and SDXC variants, available currently, with the potential for significantly faster transfer rates to come as the technology matures. Although about the same thickness the XQD cards measure 38.5 x 29.8 x 3.8mm, making them about three-quarters the size of a CF card; the primary card slot of the D4 is designed to accept a single XQD CF card.

The second card slot in the camera accepts a single CF card, with support for the latest standard (UDMA mode 7) that is designed for a maximum 167MB/s data transfer rate; co-incidentally Lexar has just announced (5^th January 2012) its latest Professional 1000x CF cards with a claimed sustained read speed of 150MB/s. 

Nikon claim that when recording NEF Raw (compressed) the D4 with UDMA 7 CF card has a buffer capacity of 79 frames, while using an XQD CF card the buffer capacity increases to 98 frames; by comparison the D3s with a compatible CF card has a buffer capacity of 43 frames. Shooting Large/Fine JPEGs the numbers are even larger, with the D4/UDMA 7 CF card combination providing a buffer capacity of 130 frames, and 170 frames with a XQD CF card; by comparison the D3s offers a buffer capacity of just 82 frames.

As in the D3-series cameras the second card slot can be assigned to perform a umber of functions, such as acting as overflow storage from the card in slot 1, backup of image recorded to the card in slot 1, separate storage of NEF Raw and JPEG files when recording in both formats simultaneously, or recording stills to one card and video to the other.

Battery

The D4 features a new battery, the EN-EL18 (10.8 V, 2000 mAh), and new twin-battery charger, the MH-26; the EN-EL18 requires the BL-6 battery chamber cover. The EN-EL18 has a lower capacity compared with the EN-EL4a battery for the D3-series cameras, yet the energy efficient design of the D4 enables the camera to record up to 2,600 exposures in single-frame mode and up to 5,500 exposures in continuous frame mode. One disappointment is the fact that the D4 is not compatible with the EN-EL4, or EN-EL4a batteries for the D3-series cameras; however, this is due to a change in Japanese legislation, which now imposes a lower limit on the capacity of Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which precipitated the development of the EN-EL18 battery. 

Summary

It is very early days yet but it is quite clear that Nikon have pulled out all the stops in developing the D4, and what I find most encouraging is the level to which the company has obviously embraced feedback from real world photographers. This has not only guided them in the enhancement of existing features but also influenced the development of innovative new ones.

You would expect any manufacturer to incorporate the latest technologies in a state of the art camera but unless the camera in which they are implemented can be used effectively and efficiently it will probably never realise its full potential. In this respect the close attention that has been paid to the details of ergonomic design in the D4 will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the success of the camera.

I look forward to testing a full production sample of the D4 as soon as they become available, which should be soon. For now, as part of their “I am” advertising campaign, Nikon has adopted the slogan “Pushing the limits” for the D4; if my first impressions of the camera prove to be right it certainly seems very apt!

Price & availability:

D4 body only:

RRP: £4,800.00 / €5,660.00 / $6,000.00

Sales start date: 16^th February 2012

© Simon Stafford