Nikon announces D4S

[De_Corday]

http://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2014/...-2mp-d4s-flagship-full-frame-digital-slr.html

Among the highlights, a maximum ISO of 409,600. So now I can finally use that 50mm f/512 prime.

 

[Keith]

Quite a camera for those who use a top level pro DSLR ... the specs are impressive!

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

The most interesting thing to me is that the sensor is quoted at 16.2MP. Given that the D5300 has 24MP on APS-C, that tells us a lot about the market this is aimed at.

I was just looking at some shots from my elderly 5D, yesterday and it's just amazing, to me, how much better the images look than from my smaller sensor cameras, despite them all having, supposedly, higher resolution sensors.

A good big 'un, etc. 😉

 

[truefriendship]

Lol! How many times do they have to "improve" the handgrip? I mean, can't they get it right once and for all time? It's not like human hands have changed much since the F4, right? Or are they scraping the bottom of the marketing barrel?

~Rif

 

[mfogiel]

So this max iso, is about 11 stops faster, than where I shoot 99% of my photographs. I have already seen, that with average digital cameras, when you shoot a portrait, you can see what the model had for lunch, but now, you might be able to see directly the DNA.

 

[Vics]

So this max iso, is about 11 stops faster, than where I shoot 99% of my photographs. I have already seen, that with average digital cameras, when you shoot a portrait, you can see what the model had for lunch, but now, you might be able to see directly the DNA.

Nice! It's hard for me to see how a pro could justify that price against his/her revenue, considering the options...

 

[AlTheKiller]

Does anyone really ever use the video ability in these DSLRs?

Seems like they could cut the price some by offering a non video capable body.

 

[x-ray]

Does anyone really ever use the video ability in these DSLRs?

Seems like they could cut the price some by offering a non video capable body.

If you want the image quality and low noise high ISO then the Df is essentially a stripped down D4s. It has slower frame rate and less robust but it produces the same high quality low noise at high ISO.

Newspapers now use video clips on their websites. It's mostly a software function rather than a hardware upgrade.

I don't personally care about video but it's there if you want it.

 

[gavinlg]

So pretty much nothing is different from the d4. Cool, nikon.

 

[Vics]

Does anyone really ever use the video ability in these DSLRs?

Seems like they could cut the price some by offering a non video capable body.

My son works in television and sometimes shoots B-roll footage on his Canon7D. He tells me that, with the advent of really small and inexpensive DV cams, the bloom is off the DSLR video rose. Nice for family videos, though.

 

[David_Manning]

It's one solid hunk of metal, I'll tell you that. It's a specialized instrument for hardened PJ and sports work, though I'm sure there will be someone, somewhere, who carries this on their family vacation (I've been on vacation with a D2X and a bag of glass...that's why I embrace compacts and Leicas now). Good for them, so what. The news here to me is full auto-focus and exposure metering for each frame at eleven per second. That's pretty incredible. Make it water-resistant like the Olympus models, and you've got a world-beater for expeditions in the jungles, the poles, shrimp boats, and space. Nikons are cool if you are an explorer...I wish I was.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Those closely sequenced skiing photos from the Olympics that the NY Times ran require a camera of this caliber, not only for speed but for focus tracking. Pretty amazing, would have been nearly impossible a few models ago.

 

[De_Corday]

The AF is blowing my mind as well.

But my real hope of hopes is that this'll contribute to a D3 price-drop...

 

[NY_Dan]

The worst feature with Nikon's full frame cameras is the focus point locations. I just shot an assignment in Chicago, and the point locations were a constant irritation. You have three people at different subject planes in a corporate shot. And if you want to go single focus point then because the points are in a dx sized rectangle - you very often cannot put a point on your subject. Whereas when I shot with a D2x years ago, the dx points covered the whole area. I don't know why Nikon can't have the points more spread out. Otherwise I like Nikon products and am a loyal customer. Nikon's s model strategy is very annoying -- put down about 6.5K and then a few years later then come out with an s model. Do they hold back on each new model so they can get more money with an s model? 🙂

 

[jordanatkins]

The worst feature with Nikon's full frame cameras is the focus point locations. I just shot an assignment in Chicago, and the point locations were a constant irritation. You have three people at different subject planes in a corporate shot. And if you want to go single focus point then because the points are in a dx sized rectangle - you very often cannot put a point on your subject. Whereas when I shot with a D2x years ago, the dx points covered the whole area. I don't know why Nikon can't have the points more spread out. Otherwise I like Nikon products and am a loyal customer. Nikon's s model strategy is very annoying -- put down about 6.5K and then a few years later then come out with an s model. Do they hold back on each new model so they can get more money with an s model? 🙂

The answer is yes.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Do they hold back on each new model so they can get more money with an s model? 🙂

No, they have a cycle they have stuck to for several generations. Full new Pro model every 4 years (the D4 was late due to earthquake) with an update every 2 years. Hire shops and pro agencies expect that and budget for it.
D5 due Aug 15 or Jan 16 following D3 delay.

 

[Turtle]

It may seem a bit boring to some, but considering the market and real world use, it seems like just what was needed. Better AF, small RAW file options etc.

Super high MP options got smaller and cheaper with the shift from the D3X to the D800 and now the A7R. Pixels are not expensive and they don't require big, so I can completely see why the D4S is what it is. I suspect the next super high MP Nikon will also not be in one of the giant pro bodies with commensurate price. What's the need?

 

[Ezzie]

Talked to a Nikon sales rep a few days ago. I think that sports may be a target area for the camera. Not that he said so, in as many words. But the fact you can shoot 97 frames RAW (demo'd) before the buffer fills up (in JPG is just doesn't happen), and the AF improvements are quite considerable, especially when tracking. For those that live off such things, it may be a winner.

 

[thegman]

Does anyone really ever use the video ability in these DSLRs?

Seems like they could cut the price some by offering a non video capable body.

I understand that the video features are mostly software, which has to be developed anyway. Spreading the cost over all sales is better than spreading the cost over sales of only the 'video' model of a camera, and excluding the 'non-video' model. Might not make sense for the buyers of the camera, but it sure makes sense for the makers.

 

[L. M. Tu]

Rugged, superfast, technologically advanced, insanely capable in low-light environments. I'm sure this camera will be useful to photographers in sports, war and surveillance. All of which are businesses with good prospects for long-term growth 🙂.