The Nikon D4 DSLR: Is ISO 200,000 in your future?

Four years after the introduction of the revolutionary D3, Nikon has announced its much anticipated replacement. The Nikon D4 SLR is groundbreaking for its combination of performance features. The 16.2MP full-frame sensor is middle of the road for resolution, but the resulting large pixel si e helps the D4 support ISO settings up to 12,800 — with additional amplification up to ISO 204,800 available for extreme situations. Just as important to anyone working to capture action or the perfect moment, the D4 has only a few milliseconds of shutter lag and can fire away at 10 frames per second (11 fps with the focus and exposure locked).

Nikon has also souped-up the autofocus system on the D4, with a faster version of its Multi-Cam 3500 AF module and a re-designed set of sensors. The new AF system allows it to focus effectively with lens combinations up to f/8, which was always hit or miss before. f/8 focusing is important to anyone using an f/4 lens like a 500mm or 600mm f/4 with a 2x teleconverter — combinations which add up to an effective f/8. Metering has also been enhanced, with a 91,000-pixel RGB 3D sensor used for Nikon’s intelligent “Matrix” mode (similar to Canon’s Evaluative metering mode).

The Nikon D4 will also be good news for memory card makers. Its second slot holds XQD format cards. Smaller, faster, and more rugged than CompactFlash cards, and much faster and higher capacity than SD cards, its supporters hope XQD will become the new standard for pro cameras. It’ll certainly generate a new round of memory card sales.

Nikon D4 and the Canon 1D X

The obvious competitor to the Nikon D4 is the Canon 1D X. Since neither camera is actually in production, a real head-to-head evaluation will have to wait, but in the meantime their specs seem to line up nicely with their prices. On paper, the D4 is just a touch behind in several of the typical headline specs. It features 10 fps versus 12 fps for the Canon, 16.2MP versus 18MP, and top ISOs (without expansion) of up to 12,800 versus 51,200 — but the D4 is also nearly a thousand dollars less expensive than the Canon 1D X, setting both cameras up for a fierce competition in the market.

Video

Nikon’s initial efforts to add video recording to its pro DSLRs came across as somewhat half-hearted, lacking full HD quality and suffering from limitations in autofocus and usability — giving Canon the jump in the growing category of “convergence” cameras. The D4 aims to change that, with full-on 1080p HD recording modes (up to 30 fps), as well as important pro features including live HDMI output and a headset jack for listening and editing.

A decade of digital

It was twelve years ago when Nikon revolutioni ed photography with the Nikon D1 — a 2.7MP camera with noticeable shutter lag and quality images only up to about ISO 200. At the time most of my fellow pros thought that digital would never replace film for them. Now, most of them haven’t shot a roll of film in years. The D4 is basically an order of magnitude better in every respect than the D1, showing how far the industry has come in a relatively short time.

One disappointing trend continuing with the D4 is the increasing price of pro photography equipment. New, top of the line, cameras and lenses are being introduced at a price point higher than the models they are replacing. The D4, for example, at a price of $5,999.95 — yes, the price really ends in .95 — is priced nearly 20% above where the D3 and D3S were priced at their introduction.

The Nikon D4 is expected to hit the market in February. Canon originally said that the 1D X would be due in March — but we suspect it’ll probably be rushed out the doors to meet Nikon head on.

The Nikon D4 DSLR: Is ISO 200,000 in your future?