The high-end of the light output

One says, the better is the enemy of good. And so it was at the end only a matter of time before my D700 the D4 had to give way. This is profitable purchase for me? For an ambitious amateur photographer, who will not earn a dime with this camera, an idle question. Of course, it does not pay. So the sense of investment over other aspects must define. Primarily fun, the feeling of working with one of the best DSLR cameras in the world, and to know: What this camera does not bring that brings no other camera of this format. True to Nietzsche: Praise what's fun.

I'm not here on a special functions such as bracketing, or voice memos. The do not interest me, and I do not need. What I want to read even in a consumer review of a camera in the first place, there are four things: service, auto-focus, optical power / noise performance and - if available - Video function; to things that have no data sheet and also not in the glossy brochures of the manufacturer. Eben real practice and what really to expect when I grow my part.

The operation is slightly different from the D700. The AF mode is switched to when the D4 between C and S by a button on the AF / M-lever and turning the rear e-dial, and the AF points by pressing a button on the AF / M-lever and turning the command dial. Switching between Metering fields is carried out at the D4 no longer has a knob to the right of the viewfinder, but by pressing a button on the body top left of the viewfinder housing and turning the command dial. For Live View, there is a lever, which you can switch between photo and video live-view, with a center button to activate and deactivate the Live View (video is only in Live View). The buttons for ISO, WB and anguish have migrated from the key triangle on the body top left of the viewfinder housing (in D700) in a row of buttons at the bottom of the body back in the D4. This key triangle, ie, at the D700 ISO, WB and anguish has become in the D4 to the set buttons for bracketing, flash and exposure fields. Changing from AF mode and exposure fields has become more complicated by. With the dedicated controls of the D700 that is much faster. I have therefore the matrix metering as the default, and the center-weighted metering, I have given to the Pv button and spot metering on the Fn key to not always use the combination of button and scroll wheel need.

The D4 has a new feature next to the CF slot faster XQD slot. I've but rather therefore subject to a map, so that it does not settle mice and I have enough spare memory for emergencies. For JPEG smallest in native format (so that I photograph only) probably extends even CF.

Set Picture Control Configure with the D4's Picture Control. For the D4 has now a direct call function that is now triple occupied Löschutz / Question / Picture Control button under the menu button. For switching between Standard, Neutral and so you no longer have to now to the menu, which I find very convenient. It is precisely at the beginning requires the D4 a considerable degree of adjustment work and dozens of test patterns when it comes to colors. Nikon has the colors preloaded factory very strong and unnaturally into the red. In all picture control modes I had to adjust a field to the right of the Red more greenery to (at least according to my sense of color) should get natural colors the hue. In portrait mode, I had the color saturation by one step back to take to the left to rid the gaudy red faces.

Otherwise, the menu items, either the same as the D700 or if new ones have, essentially self-explanatory. You find yourself, if you come from the D700, quite at home. The view of the user is rarely necessary.

The main reason for buying this camera is the extremely bright. The D700 was certainly not a bad camera, and when sufficient light (Ambient or flash) the images were all technically good (ie, the focus and exposure). But who comes from the D700, but experienced a different world here. While the D700 at ISO 3200 start despite good noise behavior blunt the colors and at ISO 6400 are still only dull, bringing the D4 to ISO 6400 unchanged bright colors and to ISO 12800 is still relatively good color without disturbing noise. It was not until the Hi-stages the stage where we can say begins: Yes, now the noise starts. Probably Nikon has therefore given the ISO values ​​to 12800 even numbers and only beyond behind Hi-hidden information (Hi 0.3, Hi 0.7, etc.). Although one must say that the noise in the initial Hi-levels is not so dramatic, and to Hi2 may well be considered acceptable (at least according to my perception). Only from Hi3 to get in the Na-ja-range, and HI4 has only documentary character, to demonstrate that there was anything at all. The photo album belongs no longer something.
Anyway: In light situations where I would have earlier brought out the flash, the D4 continues unmoved. Since this camera was new to me, I wanted to know from when it's over, and I have ever photographed without flash easily. 21 clock, 21 clock 15, 21 clock 30 ..., 22 clock, 23 clock this camera is not on. When the ISO limit is set to Hi 4, it is impossible to catch a night mood. The camera shoveling the ISO values ​​relentlessly higher and brings in a midnight blue sky at the end moderately noisy visual images. On the tower of the Meissen Frauenkirche standing, I wanted to take in the night sky without ISO-limit is not the night during a city tour around 23 clock the splendid panorama of the illuminated Albrechtsburg. Because what the camera delivers there is an image other cameras bring as around 19 clock at still bright sky. Only after the limit of the ISO value to 10,000, I then placed it on the panel to the right mood night postcard-quality. The light output of D4 is simply awesome. (See my example pictures in the gallery)

Something else the autofocus. From where I am now, not disappointed, but somewhat disillusioned. A noticeable advancement over the D700 I do not recognize in practice. He is no better and no worse than the D700. He refused from the same low light conditions as the D700 and then need support from the AF illuminator of the flash attachment. After the advertising drum stirred Nikon (the most advanced autofocus system in the world), I had exaggerated expressed almost night vision capability expected, but I see that's not even with a D4. Without any light AF rowing helpless in the dark back and forth. Also at no contrast between surfaces fails the (contrast) AF of D4 as well as the AF of D700. The autofocus is definitely no reason for switching to the D4.

On the other hand very useful is the frame rate of 11 frames / s. Who wants to photograph fast- moving, has of course a higher chance than 5 or 6 frames / s, picking out from the series, the one image that saves the day, or the pose captures about which one to zerkringelt most.

A nice gimmick is the lapse function. We know the time-lapse photography of rising Seed yes only from TV. But to set up something together with the children and afterwards self produced to look on the screen as a finished film, is quite another matter (which makes the D4 same internally and is a film unlike the interval recording function, which has the D700 indeed) , Take someone working in the garden in fast motion, has the common Family viewing before the screen an extremely high entertainment value. A simple lawn mowing can thus become a loud ridiculed experience that needs to be played under the jeers of five kids.

The video feature ... well. I want to express it diplomatically times: The D4 is a still camera with video function and not vice versa. Nikon speaks of broadcast quality. Broadcast quality for me is what I know as reportage Contributions from the evening news or animal documentaries on television, so shooting with professional cameras shoulder. This not the D4. Broadcast quality clearly NO. Here Nikon leans a little too far out of the window. To get sound enhancement especially to stereo I've bought the Rode stereo microphone, but the video quality of the D4 moves in my opinion but rather to moderate to middle S-VHS level. Especially the lights nerves. If the image is only a total of similar brightness values, it is indeed. But if there are relatively large differences in brightness in the picture - such as on my property a relatively dark woodshed and the bright garage of the neighbors next to it, or a lot of sky - so are bright areas with the correct exposure of the depths to a white, undifferentiated spot, and the Colors are undifferentiated and mushy. With large differences in brightness within the same image, the video function can not handle, because something like the Active D-Lighting feature of the photo she has apparently not. Slightly more differentiation of the lights you get by closing the iris, but by the entire image darker and quickly gets into the vicinity of underexposure. When I consider the perfect comparison photo next to it, I wonder why it should not be technically possible to allow the video image at least approximately like the picture look. Finally, for both are the same sensor. And the image in the Live View preview is indeed perfect - just like the photo quality. Why not the video output? The movie quality is set to High, exposure and focus are right, I can see that on the screen in Live View. Because I would a video to the quality expected, as the Live View preview it promises. That would broadcast quality! A much better overall impression one gets though, if you reduce the recording or playback screen size from 1920 to 1280, but only because the structures are then represented small and you do not perceive the sogginess of colors such a large area. The image works by automatically sharper and better.
I will occasionally use the video function - quite simply because I have them. But: For the D4, which is the me known measure of FX things when it comes to photo quality, there is the video still huge room for improvement, especially Nikon my knowledge does not sell any dedicated camcorder that would be cannibalized by a superb video quality of the cameras. Had I bought the D4 for the video function and mainly based on Nikon's advertising promises of broadcast quality, I'd be quite disappointed and would with a camera of the caliber of Sony NEX-VG30E decided fared better at a fraction of the price. The video function of D4 has more documentary than artistic character. Should I now no hold against the D4 is also no professional shoulder camera. Nikon promises broadcast quality, and is broadcast quality broadcast quality no matter how you titled the recording device. (Precaution, again a reminder: This is a consumer review and no journeyman Nikon advertising department).
A further disadvantage which has but each still camera with video function, have the weight and poor weight distribution of the entire camera. Without circulation blurred each shot and is unsightly. Everyone knows how impossible look shaky videos. That's a No. . This camera needs a stable level Who wants to lug and build a tripod, the camera needs to at least be based on a railing or handle the lens far forward and press your elbows against your belly - and then breathe not possible or only very slowly! Because that but in the end is only an unsatisfactory stop-gap, I have now ordered a light-legged tripod. That should then still be the best compromise.
The video function of D4 is, in my estimation so no reason to buy. A high quality camcorder makes here the better job and is at a fraction of the purchase price with reliability even closer to the transmission quality than the D4.

But I will therefore deduct no star. The D4 is not a video camera, but a camera with superior light output that makes the flash only necessary if you need flash atmosphere or wishes or will truly have zero noise in the image. And only this one should buy it as well.