Nikon Introduces the D4 and 85mm/f1.8 G AF-S

<p>Suprise? Not. I suppose most of the information has already been leaked.</p>

<p>Nikon announces the D4, their new flag-ship sports/news/action DSLR with a 16MP sensor and similar high-ISO capabilities as the D3S. For still-image capture, there are a lot of minor improvements but nothing really ground breaking. However, the video capability has advanced a lot. The suggested price in the US is $6000.</p>

<p>Additionally, there is a new 85mm/f1.8 G AF-S lens at $500, essentially the "economy" version of the expensive 85mm/f1.4 G AF-S, which is around $1700. There is no VR on both of these lenses.</p>

<p>We have written a preview based on advanced information from Nikon, but the link may take a little while to become active, so please be patient: <a href="../equipment/nikon/D4/preview/">http://www.photo.net/equipment/nikon/D4/preview/</a></p>

<p>This will make many people very happy!</p>

<ul>

<li>Press release from Nikon Japan: <a href="http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0106_flagship_01.htm">http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0106_flagship_01.htm</a></li>

<li>Press release for the 85mm/f1.8 AF-S: <a href="http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0106_af-s_nikkor_85mm_f18g_01.htm">http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0106_af-s_nikkor_85mm_f18g_01.htm</a></li>

</ul>

<p>Shun...... How long have you known?? :)</p>

<p>Rene, I always knew that there would be a D4 before the London Olympics. I guess it was supposed to be announced in the summer/fall of 2011 but was delayed by the Japan earthquake and tsunami. By the same token, you can count on a D5 in 2015/2016 before the Rio De Janerio summer Olympics. I have made those comments many times on this forum in the last year, and I always adviced those who wanted a D3S in the last year to consider the release of a D4 in the near future. But as it turns out, I don't think the D4 is that much more advanced than the D3S in terms of still-image capbility. (Please keep in mind that I have never seen an actual D4.) So if you mainly care about shooting stills, the D3S is perfectly fine.</p>

<p>Video is a different story, but plenty of people don't care about capturing video on DSLRs.</p>

<p>I read your article and I think the same way you do. The D3's seems to be just fine. I was trying the video option on the V1 and I really don't like it. I prefer using a video cam.<br /> I found it strange they didn't announce a D400.....<br /> Here it says that the D4 will be on sale on Feb. the 16th. I think that is really fast compare to Canon.<br>

And the price 648,000 Yen</p>

<p>We received this image from Nikon:</p>

<ul>

<li>The D4 takes one CF memory card and one XQD memory card; the latter is a new standard but is not yet available.</li>

<li>Notice that there is no AE-L/AF-L button</li>

<li>There is also no matrix, center-weighted, and spot meter switch.</li>

<li>Instead, there are two "joy sticks" that are apparently programmable.</li>

</ul>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/14934355-lg.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Again, Nikon owns the image copyright. I am using it here since it is a news photo.</p>

<p><strong>In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range): Can merge two images with 3-stop differential inside the camera.</strong></p>

<p>Could the D3 do that Shun? Have to say I am pretty pumped up about the new 85mm :-)<strong><br /></strong></p>

<p>These cameras make a lot more sense at $6000.00 than a Leica M9 at the same price. The D4 will burn through it life cycle of a million or so shots in a few years and the technology will be totally obsolete by then anyway. The M9 will also be hopelessly obsolete in a few years but the proud Leica owners still see the cameras as lifetime investments that can be kept fine tuned by craftsmen for twenty five years.</p>

<p>Looks like a nice piece of equipment. But for my use, I think a D3S will be more than enough now - and my wallet (and wife) will be happy! ;)</p>

<p>As a digital photographer and Nikon user, I feel happy about this new camera, even more considering the impact that the Sendai plant suffered. I still remember that although Nikon was facing serious problems they donated some good money to the Red Cross. This is the kind of company that I admire and follow. Congratulations to Nikon. and of course I'd like to have a D4 but my budget is not collaborating for now. </p>

<p>Just in time for the D4 announcement, Sony announces the first XQD card: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-unveils-new-high-speed-xqd-memory-cards-136787368.html<br>

The D4 appears to be a nice evolutionary step from the D3S - maybe it should be called D3Ss instead?</p>

<p>Did anyone else notice that 11 AF points can autofocus with f/8 lenses?</p>

 

<p>While this may seem like a marginal upgrade to the D3S, there are some substantial improvements that I didn't see listed in Shun's Preview (If I missed them, sorry)</p>

<p>In particular, for sports shooters:</p>

<ul>

<li>11 FPS at full resolution - Marginal Increase from 9 FPS, but hella fast.</li>

<li>Buffer capable of handling 100 RAW Images or 200 JPEGs when using the new XQD Card - WOW!</li>

</ul>

<p>For everyone else, I know it's only one stop more low light, but the marginal increase will, hopefully, trickle down giving us very clean ISO 3200 and maybe even 6400 images. Additionally, the AF system has a sensitivity of -2 EV, which translated to (hopefully) accurate AF under moonlight.</p>

<p>I'm more interested in the new Processor and Metering system. I really can't comment until I get to hold one and play with it - which won't be until it's released in February.</p>

<p>Huge Leap? No. Better all around sports camera - Definitely.</p>

<p>All I have to say is that it's got a lot of what I was hoping for in the D3S replacement and it will likely be my next camera.</p>

<p>RS</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Based on Amazon's pricing, it's cheaper than the D3X. The only thing the D3X has over the D4 is pixel count, and not by very much, either. Just an observation.</p>

<p>I like the 85/1.8. The 85/1.4 is quite unnecessary. What, an extra $1,000 for half a stop? Really? But hey, your money, your choice.</p>

<p>Personally I'm more excited by the alleged specifications of the D800. For me, resolution is more important than shutter speed.</p>

<p>The video is nice, for sure, and TV productions will use it (as well as the 1DX). I don't doubt it (and they'll look at the horrible H.264 output of the 5D2 and wonder why the heck they used that thing). However, for cinema, 4K is the future and it started last year. Different tools for different industries. But for an HD camera, the D4 could be best-of-class.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.joemcnally.com/blog/2012/01/06/shooting-the-d4/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+joemcnally+%28Joe+McNally%27s+Blog%29">Here</a> is Joe McNally's real world test. He was even the first to drop one and it kept working :-)</p>

<p>In Norway, the price of the D4 is set to 49,000 NOK, which is approx 8,200 USD. This is about one third over the D3S price and approx 10% lower than the D3X price. You US guys do not know how lucky you are with the Nikon pricing......</p>

<p>I've been following the rumour sites on the D4 (although I do find them very annoying since they get over-run by brand/flame wars and infantile squabbling) so the specs are pretty much as expected.</p>

<p>For my particular situation (catwalk fashion - see <a href="00ZhIg">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00ZhIg</a> for example) the D4 is ideal mainly due to the increased pixel count - for most situations my D3s is superb, but for long catwalks it will just give me more cropping options and means I don't have to use a 200-400mm lens but can stick to my trusty 70-200 which I get on with much better. I happened to have a good trading year for my fledgling picture library/agency last year, so while I could carry on with my D3s's I have decided to go for the D4 mainly to make my shooting situation more convenient (I'm old OK, comfort is important to me these days). And of course I don't mind taking the other cited improvements in AF, exposure, buffer and slight speed increase as a bonus ;). </p>

<p>So I will be trying to pre-order today in the UK - and if I happen to get one before Feb 16th its first assignment will be London Fashion Week where I will push it to about 30,000 images over 6 days (with my 2 D3s's as backup just in case!). </p>

<p>Yes it is more evolutionary than revolutionary, but still compares very well to the competition that are just catching up to some of the D3-series features (leading it in my opionion at least for my purposes). Of course it is aimed at sports shooters, London 2012 and photo-journalists. In a funny way there are parallels between catwalk and sports photography, so I think sports shooters will be very happy with the improvements, so hopefully another triumph for Nikon. </p>

<p>I'd be interested to see how the improved AF works, little bit disappointed that the 15 cross-type sensors are still clustered in the middle of the frame, I'd like a couple at the top of the vertical frame but that's just me.</p>

<p>I'm also very interested to see IQ at the higher ISO levels. This is where Nikon excels so I have high expectations. Am I reading it correctly in that the base ISO is now 100?</p>

<p>I don't really care about video, but I understand why Nikon had to include it ;o. I've only turned on the video once on my D3s by accident and had no idea what I was doing (yeah yeah I never read manuals ;). Maybe the D4 will convince/convert me? I doubt it, but is it correct that the D4 can autofocus in video mode?</p>

<p>Now, where can I get an XQD card from...;)</p>

<p><em>The D4 will burn through it life cycle of a million or so shots in a few years and the technology will be totally obsolete by then anyway. </em></p>

<p>The D3 is now four years old and it's hardly obsolete; lots of photographers use it every day.</p>

<p><em>The 85/1.4 is quite unnecessary. </em></p>

<p>I had the 85/1.8 AF from 1995 to 2007 and almost never used it. The 85/1.4 AF-S gets more time on the camera than any other. At first when it came out I felt it was overpriced but I no longer think that. Anyway, hopefully the 85/1.8 AF-S will be a nice lens that will help make the Nikon system more affordable.</p>

<p>Just what we need, yet ANOTHER card format. The camera looks to be wonderful for pros who use FF.</p>

<p>Hear, hear Ronald! You took the words right off my keyboard. Nobody, but nobody benefits from a proliferation of "standards", but at least there's a good ol' CF card slot. Maybe the QXP (or whatever) slot can be used for storing paper notes or a lens cleaning tissue.</p>

<p>Wow! I'm not a customer for this camera, but Nikon seems to have hit a home run. Compared with the most recent Canon offering especially...</p>

<p>Well I did it. Order placed 10 mins ago. I went through the premier pro dealer in UK, they are expecting the very first batch of 15 units in Feb, ahead of other UK dealers (if you believe the sales guy), with further (weekly IIRC?) batches following. Nikon are apparently very confident of making the shipping dates, second or third week of Feb in UK, but no definite date yet. By paying in full up front I got allocated number 5 on the list of the first batch and will be invited to a Nikon-run demo day sometime before shipping (and I can cancel if I don't like what I see!). Sales guy told me Reuters are taking 20, presumably from a different batch. I notice the pre-order option on Amazon US is sold out.</p>

<p>This is the first time I've bought a camera within 1 year of launch. Wonder if I should have got around to joining the NPS?</p>

<p>Anyway, Nikon seem to be causing a buzz and making up for a bad 2011. </p>

<p>Is the D4 going to be Nikon's only flagship? The D4 seems geared to sports and video shooters, having only 16.2 Megapixel resolution- a replacement for the D3s. Will there be a D4x with the 24.5 Megapixel resolution of the D3x?</p>

<p>Nikon USA just sent me their press release URLs (man, those URLs are long):</p>

<ul>

<li>D4: <a href="http://press.nikonusa.com/post/2012/01/05/when-there-is-no-second-chance-the-new-nikon-fx-format-d4-multi-media-digital-slr-is-the-definitive-unification-of-speed-and-precision/">http://press.nikonusa.com/post/2012/01/05/when-there-is-no-second-chance-the-new-nikon-fx-format-d4-multi-media-digital-slr-is-the-definitive-unification-of-speed-and-precision/</a></li>

<li>85mm/f1.8 AF-S G: <a href="http://press.nikonusa.com/post/2012/01/05/the-new-nikon-af-s-nikkor-85mm-f1-8g-prime-lens-combines-practicality-with-portability-resulting-in-a-versatile-portrait-lens/">http://press.nikonusa.com/post/2012/01/05/the-new-nikon-af-s-nikkor-85mm-f1-8g-prime-lens-combines-practicality-with-portability-resulting-in-a-versatile-portrait-lens/</a></li>

<li>Various images showing different angles of the D4 camera itself: <a href="http://press.nikonusa.com/photogallery/?gid=180">http://press.nikonusa.com/photogallery/?gid=180</a></li>

</ul>