Nikon D4

Lately there have been a lot of speculations about the imminent appearance of the Nikon D800. However, it is the professional series of the brand that was launched first.
Its characteristics and performance has left no one indifferent. The Nikon D4 has a robust and professional body, something that Nikon knows how to do. It was now also introduced with a variety of connections, some very innovative like the WLan or headphone output.
The sensor maintains its Full Frame size 24x36mm and increases its resolution to 16.2 million pixels. I’m pleased that this increase was minor – it will ensure a fantastic performance at high ISO. Just as a reminder – the Nikon D4 reaches 204.800 ISO.

This are the video highlights of the new Nikon D4.

-1080p, 24, 25, 30p. What is very good news is that the new Nikon D4 counts from the first day and not through firmware update, with multi system recording (24, 25, 30p). Unfortunately what happens with this particular model and with some other cameras, when shooting at 50p, the resolution goes down to 720p. This is definitely the biggest disappointment about this camera. I still hope that Nikon can improve this aspect via firmware, even though with Canon it never happened. So I guess we’ll have to wait for the Nikon D5.

-Clean HDMI output. This is the most important feature that Nikon D4 offers to filmmakers and is one of the most requested ones by advanced users. Finally we can connect digital recorders like the Atomos Ninja to cameras HDMI output, recording directly to professionals codecs such as Apple ProRes and skipping the H264 internal compression of the camera.
And as if this was not enough, Nikon D4 will continue showing the image on its screen while using a display that’s connected to the HDMI output. Just as a reminder – until now HDSLR cameras turned off the screen when any device was connected to the HDMI plug.

-Crop mode. A feature that was incorporated to Nikon DSLR a long time ago – Nikon D2x sensor crop that allows greater focal length, even though at the same time loosing resolution. More recently Canon 600D added this feature to the video mode. While filming it’s not necessary to use resolution above 1920×1080 so the 18mpx sensor can crop the image widely and still offer FullHD.
In this way you can get the Nikon D4 X2.7 crops up allowing super tele-photo effect in video mode. That’s ideal for safaris.

-Finally good audio. The Nikon D4 promises not only a good audio signal management with specific controls on it, but it also includes headphones output with a standard connection. Something that many users were excitedly waiting for. With the ability to monitor the audio directly from the camera the Nikon D4 turns into a real video camera, therefore avoiding the use of external audio recorders which would mean extra work in post to sync the audio.

-Time-lapse. Yet another advantage of this new Nikon D4 is the option of time-lapses directly from the menu of the camera without using external triggers as it is the case with other brands. It also offers the option of viewing shots and edited material in a video sequence. Very handy.

-Wireless. Something that has fascinated me is the possibility to control the Nikon D4 via wireless with an iPhone, iPad, etc. That’s also enabling real time live-view with our device. Of course you had dreamed of being able to use your iPad as a display for your HDSLR. Well, Nikon makes it easy with the new Nikon D4. To have this amazing feature you need to buy the additional wireless module WT-5. It is very compact and is able to control up to 10 cameras.

Some other features that attract my attention are the 400,000 cycle shutter life, the 921,000 dots resolution of the 3.2 ” LCD screen or the button meant precisely for recording just next to the trigger.

The Nikon D4 will go on sale at the price of $ 6.000.

Enrique Pacheco.