Digital Camera World » Nikon D4

Usain Bolt Olympic camera hits eBay

jmeyer — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:29:00 +0000

It was a scene that thrilled photographers worldwide, and now the camera Usain Bolt snatched from an Olympic sports photographer is being auctioned off for charity.

Swedish sports photographer Jimmy Wixtröm is auctioning off the famous Nikon D4 camera that Usain Bolt used during the Olympics, with proceeds from the sale going to the Swedish Cancer Society.

Wixtröm’s Nikon D4 is currently listed on eBay with 21 bids, at $7,200.

Immediately after Usain Bolt finished the 200 meter finals during the London 2012 Olympics, the world’s fastest man borrowed the Sportbladet photographer’s camera and began taking photos of the press pit and fellow runner Yohan Blake.

When he was finished taking photos, Bolt carved his name onto the camera with a screwdriver.

The auction includes this ‘signed’ Nikon D4 camera body and a framed picture of the moment when Usain Bolt used it.

Wixtröm tells us the photographers around him were shocked when Bolt took his camera, and adds that he will be getting another Nikon D4 to replace the auctioned camera.

Usain Bolt grabs photographer’s camera, takes better photos than most of us

jmeyer — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:00:09 +0000

Image copyright Jimmy Wixtrom

Usain Bolt has confirmed what many N-Photo readers have long suspected: the sprinting legend prefers Nikon.

Image Credit: Usain Bolt / Aftonbladet

Moments after his historic win in the men’s 200m at the London Olympics, Bolt strolled past the track-side pit of sports photographers and snatched a Nikon D4 from pro snapper Jimmy Wixtrom (seen grinning in the image above).

Wixtrom, who shoots for Aftonbladet, Scandinavia’s largest newspaper, happily handed over his D4 and watched as Bolt snapped photos of fellow Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake and of the track-side photographers, themselves.

Image Credit: Usain Bolt / Aftonbladet

Bolt, who passed by at least five Canon DSLRs to get to Wixtrom’s Nikon, had previously declined to pose for Wixtrom and instead promised the photographer he would get his picture after the final, Wixtrom said.

Image Credit: Usain Bolt / Aftonbladet

You can watch a video of the amazing moment over on Aftonbladet’s website.

Bolt, who showed surprisingly (and perhaps annoyingly) good prowess with the Nikon D4, has not confirmed whether he plans his own career in sports photography after his final Olympics in Rio in 2016.

Via: PetaPixel, DigitalTrends

Nikon D4: tougher than your average bear

jmeyer — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:35:51 +0000

Image copyright Andrew Kane

In what might be a better testament to its durability than any scientific review, a Nikon D4 has been stamped on by a bear and lived to shoot again.

Lensrentals reports on its blog that photographer Andrew Kane hired a Nikon D4 from the firm to take on a shoot in Yellowstone National Park (want to shoot Yellowstone? Check out this list of 73 photo locations you must shoot before you die).

Kane told Lensrentals: “I recently rented a D4, Wimberly head, and 600VR from you, and the day before yesterday, I had a little bit of an accident. I was photographing a coyote here in Yellowstone and I followed it into the woods about 300yds away from the road.

“As I am taking pictures of the coyote, I heard twigs breaking behind me, and as I turned around I saw it was a grizzly bear. I picked up the tripod with the D4 and 600 on it and slowly started to back away.”

Kane says the bear kept getting closer and was within 20 yards of him when he became trapped by a brush pile and was forced to leave his tripod with the Nikon D4 mounted.

However, rather than flee like any sane person, Kane got some distance between himself and the bear and stopped to photograph the action with his back-up camera.

The curious bear knocked over the camera and tripod (if bears are knocking over your own tripod, check out these 4 tips for sharper shots when using a tripod) and proceeded to jump up and down on the Nikon D4.

Amazingly, the camera survived. “The D4 functions properly, but the lens mount is bent and the images are back focused severely,” Kane said.

Lensrentals reports it sent replacement equipment to Kane.

Nikon D4 review

jmeyer — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:38:55 +0000

The Nikon D4 is the camera that Nikon is hoping will be the camera of choice for professional sports photographers and photo journalists shooting the Olympic Games in London this summer.

Consequently, it is designed as an all-purpose, go anywhere, shoot anything camera with improved low-light shooting capability and enhanced video technology.

While the Nikon D4 replaces the D3S in the Nikon DSLR lineup, the 24MP Nikon D3X continues as the company’s flagship camera – even if its pixel count is now dwarfed by that of the Nikon D800.

Features
While the Nikon D4 has plenty to get excited about, its pixel count is arguably not one of them. However, with ‘just’ 16.2 million effective pixels on its full-frame (36 x 23.9mm or FX format) CMOS sensor, the Nikon D4 should be capable of producing relatively clean images at high sensitivities.

This is just as well, given that it has a maximum native sensitivity setting of ISO 12800 and extension settings up to the equivalent of ISO 204,800. Nikon D3s owners, however, may be a little more excited about the Nikon D4′s pixel count, since it represents a big jump from 12.1MP to 16.2MP.

Despite the increase in the resolution of the sensor, and thanks to its EXPEED 3 image processing engine, the Nikon D4 is capable of shooting continuously at 10fps with full autofocus function. The D3s can only achieve 9fps at full resolution, or 11fps lower resolution images in DX mode.

If you are prepared to lose AF and exposure control, the Nikon D4′s full resolution continuous shooting rate can also be pushed up to 11fps. The EXPEED 3 engine also enables 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit processing for better colours and smoother tonal gradations.

Another key upgrade from the D3s is the move from a 1,005 pixel metering system to a 91,000 pixel system. As before, this is linked to Nikon’s Advanced Scene Recognition System to help inform the white balance, flash exposure, face detection and AF system.

Although Nikon has stuck with the Multi-CAM3500FX AF system that first emerged in the D3 and was continued into the D3s, it has given it something of a tune-up for the Nikon D4.

There are still 51 AF points, but the central 15 cross-type points are sensitive down to f/8. This means that the Nikon D4′s AF system will continue to work with long telephoto lens and teleconverter arrangements that have an effective maximum aperture of f/8.

This is great news for wildlife photographers, because it enables more affordable and lighter weight optics to be used. It is also something that the Canon EOS-1DX cannot match.

The Nikon D4 Verdict

Our testing team put the Nikon D4 through its paces, which you can read about in full over on our sister site, TechRadar. If you want some of the key points from the full test and the final verdict on the Nikon D4, here is what our head of testing had to say:

On Build & Handling…
To sum up, there are no major surprises in the build of the Nikon D4, and it feels solid and made to withstand some serious use. There are seals around all the joints and controls to ensure that it can cope with the usual rigours of life as a professional photographer’s tool.

On Performance…
Images look good straight from the Nikon D4 – on the whole they are well exposed when the general purpose matrix metering system is used, and the colours and contrast look natural. There is also an impressive amount of detail visible in images taken throughout the native sensitivity range. As we might expect, however, the 16MP Nikon D4 can’t quite match the 24MP Nikon D800 for detail resolution at the lower sensitivity settings.

Nikon’s decision to restrict the Nikon D4′s effective pixel count to 16.2 million appears to be a wise one, since noise is extremely well controlled throughout the native sensitivity range. Even images captured at ISO 6400 and ISO 12800 look great when sized to make A3 prints. The dynamic range is also impressive and shadows can be lightened significantly without fear of revealing noise or missing detail.

On Noise and Dynamic Range..
TIFF images (after conversion from raw) show that the Nikon D4, has better signal to noise ratio than all but the Canon EOS 5D MK II between ISO 1600 and 6400. The Nikon D700 also just betters the D4 in this test at ISO 6400.

Final Verdict
Nikon has succeeded in building upon the D3s to produce a versatile camera that is suitable for use by professional photographers in a wide range of situations.
The Nikon D4 may not have the highest resolution, but it has lightening-quick responses, a fantastically high maximum shooting rate and is capable of capturing an impressive amount of detail across a huge sensitivity range.

The Nikon D4 is the first of the recently announced high-end cameras to go through our testing procedure, and consequently we are so far unable to compare it with its main rival, the Canon EOS-1DX. However, we will do this as soon as we get our hands on a 1DX.

The design changes made since the D3s make a significant and positive impact on the handling of the Nikon D4. Those upgrading may find it takes a while to get used to using the mini-joystick controllers to set the AF point, but they make it quicker and easier in the long run – especially when shooting in portrait format.

Nikon has produced a solid workhorse of a DSLR that professionals can depend upon to deliver good results even in low lighting conditions. Image quality is high and results look great straight from the camera.

We liked
A great AF system, good noise control and huge sensitivity range are contained in an ergonomically arranged body

We disliked
Slight movement in the memory card bay is a little disconcerting. The AF system is complex, and its various options could be made clearer in the menu for the uninitiated. There may be 51 AF points, but they are all clustered around the centre of the frame and within the DX crop.
Read the full Nikon D4 review on TechRadar and see sample photos and more.

Nikon revises D4, D800 price tags

jmeyer — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:04:00 +0000

Nikon has revised the D4 and D800 price tags up to £5289.99 and £2,599.99, respectively, the manufacturer has announced.

The Nikon announcement states: “Due to a local internal systems error,the incorrect RRPs on the D800, D800E and D4 products were communicated in the UK and Irish markets at the time of the announcement.”

The increase means the Nikon D4 price will be nearly £500 more expensive than the previously reported £4799.99 figure. The Nikon D800 price tag is now £200 higher than previously announced.

Nikon says it apologises for the mistake and that it will honour the original prices on all customer pre-orders placed before 24 March 2012.

Nikon D4 beats Canon DSLRs, D3x, D700 in lab test

jmeyer — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:13:57 +0000

Our testing team has the Nikon D4 in for testing and has found that the D4 beats the Nikon D3x, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Nikon D700 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II in our signal to noise ratio when shooting JPEGS.

Our lab includes a specially designed chart which is shot in carefully controlled conditions, with the resulting images analysed using DXO Analyser software.
Our team tests for both signal to noise ratio – which indicates how clean an image will be, and dynamic range.

Though the Nikon D4 came tops when shooting JPEGs, with raw images the Nikon D4 beats everything aside from the Canon EOS 5D Mark II between ISO 1600 and 6400. Right up at ISO 6400, it is also beaten by the Nikon D700.

Dynamic range results are particularly impressive, with our team’s charts showing that the JPEGs have at least 1 stop higher dynamic range than comparable cameras across the majority of the sensitivity run.

Our testing team also hopes to pit the D4 against the Nikon D800, the company’s other major release this year, and also the newly announced Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 1DX.

Read more about the Nikon D4′s performance in the hands-on Nikon D4 review over on our sister website, TechRadar.

Nikon D4 to be bundled with XQD card, reader

jmeyer — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:38:59 +0000

Nikon has confirmed that the initial shipments of its Nikon D4, the company’s new flagship DSLR will come bundled with an XQD card and reader included in the price.

The Nikon D4 is the first, and so far only, camera in the world to use the new format of memory card, which was announced in the latter part of 2011.

Similar in size to an SD card, XQD is capable of faster read and write speeds than both SD and traditional Compact Flash cards. So far, the only manufacturer producing the cards (and reader) is Sony.

A Nikon UK representative confirmed to our sister site TechRadar that the card and reader would be available as part of the D4 price until May 28th.

The D4 retails for around £4800 (body only), while a 16GB Sony XQD card costs around £145, with the reader coming in at £49, so the free bundle represents a significant saving.

Other manufacturers have yet to come on board with the XQD format, with Nikon itself reserving it solely for the flagship camera, and choosing to include CF and SD card slots on the Nikon D800.

Several memory card manufacturers have also been reluctant to enter the market while it still has a low adoption rate.

Nikon unveils D4 SLR

gharris — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:09:09 +0000

Nikon has announced the launch of the D4, the replacement for the D3s as its flagship high-speed SLR. Improvements include a 16.2-megapixel FX-format sensor, extendible ISO range 9100-1280 (it can go as far as 204,800) and 10 frames per second shooting with autofocus. Another key improvement is a 91,000 pixel metering for more accurate metering, white balance, flash exposure, face detection and Active D Lighting (Nikon’s system for boosting shadows and preventing highlights burning out). The new D4 also supports full HD 1080p video and improved sound recording, underscoring the importance of high-quality video recording in today’s top-end SLRs. The official price of the Nikon D4 is £4,799 and it’s due to go onsale on the 16^th of February. Watch out for a full review in Digital Camera soon!

Nikon D3s hands on review video

dcworld — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:44:34 +0000

What are the main features of Nikon’s full-frame professional level camera and how well does it perform?

Ben Brain, Digital Camera’s Deputy Editor, takes a look at Nikon’s new flagship D-SLR, the D3s, a direct update to the popular D3, released back in 2007. The D3s gives a high response and light sensitivity which is perfectly suited for sports, wildlife and press photographers. Watch the video to find out the main features and advantages of this professional level D-SLR are and see how it performs in different conditions.

Nikon D3S Review

dcworld — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:16:31 +0000

Nikon’s stunning high-speed pro D-SLR gets a refresh with a new D-Movie mode and even higher ISOs.

It’s hard to believe the Nikon D3 is already over two years old. It prompted so much excitement at launch, mainly because it was Nikon’s first full-frame digital SLR and offered unprecedented quality at high ISOs. The 12MP sensor was always going to place the D3 at a disadvantage next to Canon’s 21MP EOS 1Ds Mark III, but Nikon addressed that this time last year with the 24Mp D3X, producing two distinct models: the D3 for high-ISO high-speed shooting, and the D3X for top-quality high-resolution photography.

Nikon’s taken the opportunity to refresh the D3 with the D3S, in much the same way as its created the D300S, incorporating Nikon’s D-Movie mode and sundry other enhancements at the same time. And that’s fair enough – it might be two years old, but there’s nothing at all wrong with the D3’s basic design.

Standard HD D-Movie mode

The inclusion of standard HD movies (1,280×720 pixels) brings the D3S in line with Nikon’s other D-SLRs, but it still lags behind the full HD (1,920×1,080 pixels) and full manual controls you get with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, say. You can use the exposure lock on the D3S to fix the exposure while shooting, and in ‘tripod’ Live View mode you can select the lens aperture manually to control depth of field. The camera still sets the shutter speed and ISO automatically, though – and don’t be fooled by the manual controls available in this mode, because they can Only be used to shoot stills.

When you press the button to start shooting movies, these (mostly) don’t apply. The D3s does shoot high-quality movies and can produce stunning results in near-darkness, thanks to its high ISOs. For stills photographers who also need to grab movie clips it should be more than good enough, and you can also save standard HD stills from movie clips.

Is it good enough (or controllable enough) for professional movie-makers? That’s more doubtful. There’s a 2Gb/five-minute limit on clip sizes, and while the D3S can capture stereo sound, you’ll need to plug in an external mic to do it. The D-Movie mode is only one aspect of this camera’s performance, though, and for many it’s not the most important. Where the D3S really scores is its high-speed shooting and high ISOs.

ISO 25600 and beyond

The continuous shooting speed is unchanged over the D3’s – 9fps (frames per second) full-frame and 11fps when using DX lenses in Crop mode. Canon’s EOS 1D Mark IV will beat this, but only by 1fps and with a drop in sensor size. For high-speed shooting, the D3s is right there at the top. And then there’s the high ISO. Nikon’s new sensor has greater light-gathering power, and as a result the standard ISO range has been increased by one stop from ISO 6400 to ISO 12800.

Plus, there are three new Hi modes, which take it to ISO 25600, ISO 51200 and ISO 102400 respectively. As a result, you can go out into any suburban street at night and shoot handheld – amazing. Even more astonishing is the quality it achieves at these sensitivities. There are limits, though. The quality at ISO 12800 is excellent, but drops noticeably at the Hi 1 setting. At Hi 2 you can expect to see a lot more noise detail loss and a good deal of streaking and blotching.

The image quality at the Hi 3 setting is so noisy, streaked and spotty that it would have to be a pretty spectacular event for it to be worth using. Nikon may have pushed the sensor just a little bit too far. The D3S has other improvements, too. An integrated dust-removal system vibrates at four different frequencies to shake dust off the sensor, there are now five Active D-Lighting settings for coping with extreme brightness and an additional 1.2x Crop mode offers a compromise between magnification and file size.

The shutter has an optional Quiet mode, damping the mirror return action, and new RAW processing options enable you to adjust compression, white balance, image size, EV compensation, the Picture Control, noise reduction, colour space and Vignette Control – all in-camera. You can shoot RAW on location and squeeze out the perfect JPEGs back in the hotel ready to wire back to your client – without needing a laptop or Nikon Capture NX2.

Nikon D3S design

There’s not much to say about this camera’s design, build and handling that hasn’t already been said about the D3. The D3S is a brute of a camera with a feeling of immense solidity. Controls are marked in high-contrast white lettering, and key functions use external switches rather than menus. It makes the exterior look busy, but the point is that controls such as drive, focus and metering modes stay exactly where you left them and you can see what they’re set to.

It’s a pity that Nikon couldn’t do the same with the (equally important) white balance, ISO and shooting modes, but there’s a limit to the space available even on a body this size. And if you’ve used any Nikon from the D300 to the D3X, you’ll know your way around the D3S too.

In summary, the D3S offers a series of worthwhile improvements over a camera that was already at the top of its game. So it’s all good, right? Almost. All except for a nagging feeling about the price. Two years ago the D3 launched with a list price of £3,400. Since then it’s crept up to £4,000, and now Nikon wants £4,200 for the D3S.

The price was one of the things that made the original D3 so appealing, but this advantage has slipped away. The camera is better than it ever was, but you’ll need deep pockets.

Test shots below (click to view full size):