Nikon D4 Review: Feature-Packed Flagship

Overview

As the successor to the Nikon D3s, the D4 is built around a new 16 megapixel sensor, a welcome step up for those who complained about the D3s having "only" a 12 megapixel sensor. At the same time, the jump in megapixels isn't so radical that it seriously impacts the camera's high ISO performance.

Some of the more notable improvements include increased ISO sensitivity, which is expandable to 204,800, a direct movie button and full HD 1080p video. A stereo headphone jack has been added and, like the Nikon D800, uncompressed video can be output via the HDMI port. A slightly larger LCD and an unimpressive 2-shot HDR feature, which shoots and combines a duet of exposures at up to +/- 3EV bracketing, an XQD slot and a wired LAN port are among some of the main changes. Other improvements range from a slightly re-designed control layout, illuminated controls and under-the-hood performance updates.

The Nikon D4 is available for around $6000 (body only).

Build and Design

Built for hard core use, the Nikon D4's magnesium alloy body is not only physically strong but is weather-sealed for protection against the elements as well as electromagnetic interference. At 41.6 ounces (body only), the D4 is a little lighter than the D3s but not by much. It's pretty hefty in weight and size (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.6 inches) but is well balanced, especially when paired with a longer piece of glass like Nikon's 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

The handgrip has been improved and is now even more substantial, providing a more solid hold. For those of us whose hands are slightly smaller, there's an extra bit of stretch involved when reaching for certain controls but the D4 is still comfortable to operate. In portrait (vertical) orientation, a thumb rest is a welcome addition for a better grip.

Like the D3s, the D4 is equipped with dual card slots. Users can determine what function the second card plays, e.g., overflow, back-up, etc. Unlike the D3s, however, the D4 has one CompactFlash slot and one XQD slot. The latter is a new type of flash memory with faster read and write speeds and an estimated transfer rate of up to 168MB/s. I tested the D4 with an XQD card, transferring images with an XQD card reader and, yes, the transfer rate was incredibly fast. Nikon may be ahead of the curve by using the XQD and, in the future, this format may become more widely accepted. However, so far the D4 is the only camera using this type of card and only Sony brand XQD cards are available, with a maximum capacity of 64GB and a heart-stopping price tag of almost $500. Earlier in 2012, Lexar announced support for the XQD and said it would be releasing its version in Q3 of 2012. So far, there's been no sign of a Lexar-branded XQD card. ** (And don't expect one from SanDisk unless something radical happens since they said, early on, that they would not be adding XQD to their line of flash memory.)

Last we checked, B&H offered a bundle with a free XQD card, among other accessories, so you'll be better off with this type of deal. Frankly, I wish the D4 had dual CompactFlash slots. Although that's not necessarily a deal breaker, the availability and price of XQD cards should be taken into consideration.

**Lexar premiered its 32GB and 64GB XQD cards along with a USB 3.0 XQD reader at CES this January with MSRPs of $300 (32GB), $580 (64GB) and $45 (dedicated card reader).  The cards and reader should be available this month at Lexar.com and various retailers.

Ergonomics and Controls

Overall, the D4 is well-designed for quick operation but because of its size, smaller-handed photographers may have to make slight adjustments to reach some of the controls. And D3s users should make note of some of the changed positions of some of the buttons.

One of the most notable additions is the direct movie button atop the D4's grip. While some cameras position the button on the rear panel, I happen to like having the movie button under my forefinger since it's easier to hold the camera steady when pressing the control.

As someone who shoots New York Fashion Week, where it's almost pitch black in the photographer's pit, having the rear panel controls illuminated is a welcome addition. The second AF-On button has been repositioned so that it's more readily accessible when shooting vertically -- another welcome change, especially for those of use with smaller hands. Two new programmable joysticks (or subselectors) are available, each positioned to be within reach when shooting horizontally or vertically. These subselectors can be used to move manually selectable AF points, while the center button can be programmed as well. Essentially, all controls are positioned for easy access to pretty much everything you need.

Menus and Modes

As expected, the D4 offers Program, Manual, Aperture-priority and Shutter-priority exposure modes. Rather than a mode dial, the D4 has a mode button that, in combination with the rear thumbwheel, cycles through each option. A separate dial on the left shoulder provides access to single, continuous, Quiet, self-timer and mirror up options, with access to bracketing, flash and metering modes.

The menu system may look intimidating at first, but it's well organized into playback, shooting, custom, setup, retouching, and a custom user setting section entitled My Menu. There are several pages to some of the menu tabs, so be sure to scroll through to find all the options.

The Custom Setting menu is potentially the most confusing of all because of the many different ways the camera can be fine-tuned. But this is one of the D4's strong points, so why not make use of everything this camera offers. The Custom Setting menu is broken down into 7 sections: Autofocus, Metering/exposure, Timers/AE lock, Bracketing/flash, Controls, and Movie. Autofocus, for example, has ten sub-sections but is well worth exploring, as are all the custom menus.

Display/Viewfinder

The large and bright eye-level pentaprism viewfinder is a pleasure to use. When shooting in full frame, it provides 100% coverage, both vertically and horizontally. You'll lose a little when shooting in other formats -- the DX cropped format, for example, cuts coverage to 97%. A diopter allows you to adjust the viewfinder for individual eyesight although it's a little difficult to pull out the dial to make the adjustments. The focusing screen, however, is not interchangeable.

At 3.2 inches, the LCD is slightly larger than the D3s' monitor but it retains its predecessor's 921,000 dot high resolution. The LCD works well under almost all conditions and automatically adjusts brightness depending on lighting. A small switch on the lower right ratchets between still and video for Live View, but you have to press the center button to fully activate LV.

The camera's dual-axis virtual horizon level is visible in both the viewfinder and on the LCD in Live View, making it easy to help align straight edges.