ISO and White Balance performance
Does the D4 take the crown for high-ISO
noise handling?
It will come as no surprise that the
all-new sensor belonging to the D4 performs excellently, and handles noise
extremely well. The native ISO range on this new model ranges from ISO 100 to
ISO 12800; however, this is then extendable all the way up to ISO 204800 using
Hi4 mode. Noise only starts to make a significant appearance from ISO 3200, and
the camera delivers perfectly useable photographs right up to ISO 12800. Beyond
this, noise is presented as more of an obvious issue. Colour rendition drops
off somewhat by the time ISO 12800 is reached, but the images nevertheless retain
a surprising amount of intricate detail. Auto white balance does a very good
job on the whole, only being fooled now and then by large blocks of colour in
awkward lighting conditions. On test, around 95 per cent of all the photographs
taken were accurate.
A typical test shot: One of the test
shots gets scrutinised
Detail
The increase to 16MO is evident when images
are examined in close detail
Autofocus
AF tracking fast subjects works well, with
various movement options
Exposure
The 91,000 pixel metering system provides
accurate exposures in most cases
Colours
Colour rendition is accurate and pleasing
to the eye, even multi-coloured cars against bright grass were captured well
Noise
With high-ISO noise handling capabilities,
a fast shutter speed and narrow aperture can be selected with the camera left
to select the ISO
Test shots
Portrait
A combination of brilliant low-light
capability with a face detection AF system and 11fps shooting make the D4 an
incredible tool for capturing those special moments.
Into the sun
The 13.1EV dynamic-range sensor captures
extreme-contrast scenes well. Even when shooting into the sun, lens flare is
minimal and the metering system works well.
Rich colours
The full-frame CMOS sensor produces crisp,
clean images full of rich detail and accurate colour rendition (24.7bit colour
depth), even with long exposures.
Macro ISO
The high-ISO noise up well and allow
smaller apertures to be used in low light. This shot at ISO 8000 shows only
minimal signs of noise.
White Balance
Auto white balance provides accurate images
the vast majority of the time, only being fooled by extreme colour variation in
a scene. Good news for JPEG-only shooters.
Fast action
Sports photography is the D4’s bread and
butter. With an 11fps frame rate and super-fast and accurate AF continuous
tracking, capturing action is easy.
Features
Focus point selector
The D4 introduces two focus point selectors
to allow quick and easy autofocus point selection in both vertical and
horizontal shooting.
Autofocus tracking
The improved 51-point focus system works
incredibly well. Along with the 11fps frame rate this ensures that every moment
is captured
Live View
Still and video Live View modes have been
improved, with a silent shutter option for stills and advanced exposure
controls for movie mode.
XQD card
For a limited time, the new-format XQD
cards will come with the D4, allowing read and write speeds faster than any SD
or Compact Flash Card.
Connections
Tethered shooters will love the new
Ethernet and Wi-Fi connection options. Once connected, the camera can be fully
controlled in both still and movie mode from an iPad or computer.
HDR
There is an HDR mode for capturing
high-contrast scenes, exposures are taken up to 3EV apart and combined
in-camera with various options for smoothing.
Contenders
Canon EOS 1D-X
Price:
£5,300/$6,799
Website: www.canon.co.uk
Tel: 01737
220000
Canon’s new flagship camera is the most
relevant competition to the D4, with an 18MP sensor, three processors and a
14fps shooting rate. Canon has always had the edge on video, so time will tell
how they compare
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Price: £3,500/$4,999
Website: www.canon.co.uk
Tel: 01737
220000
With Sony’s A900 discontinued, the Canon
EOS 1D Mark IV is also a close competitor. It fares well on spec and a lower
price tag means it is well worth a look.
Technical
data
Model: Nikon D4
Price: $6,000 body only
Website: www.nikon.com
Megapixels (effective): 16.2MP
Max resolution: 4,928 x 3,280
Sensor Information: full-frame CMOS
Movie mode: 1080p (30, 25, 24p) HD video (MOV with H.264/MPEG-4
compression)
AF points: 51 selectable points
ISO sensitivity: 100-12800 (expandable to 50-204800)
Exposure modes: P, A, S, M
Metering options: RGB sensor with approximately 91,000 pixels
Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB, HDMI, Stereo mini-pin jack (in + out),
RJ-45 connector (Ethernet), ten-pin remote terminal
Weight: 1,340g
Dimensions: 160 x 156.5 x 90.5mm
Batteries: Rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL18
Storage: Compact Flash and XQD slots
LCD: 3.2” wide, 921k-dot (VGA) TFT LCD
Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism SLR
Verdict
Features: Full-HD video, an improved
autofocus system, ISO up to 204800, Ethernet and wireless output, the D4 is
packed with features
Build quality: As good as it gets, a
magnesium-alloy body sealed to protect against moisture, dust and
electromagnetic interference – a true workhorse
Handling: Improved ergonomics and
button positioning allow intuitive shooting on the fly
Quality of results: The D4 produces
outstanding quality photographs in a variety of extremely challenging
conditions
Value for money: At over $6,500 it
isn’t cheap, but compared to the competition the D4 price point is about
right
Score: If you are a sports pro,
journalist or wedding photographer then the D4 is a perfect choice
|
