The new Nikon D4

My deepest and most sincere congratulations go to Nikon for ***FINALLY*** playing the card that was theirs to play:

Uncompressed out, on a DSLR. No more hiding folks. The game is up. Let's hope that it trickles down to the cheaper models and that the other companies follow soon there after. Let's also hope that it's 444....and 10 bit while we're at it. :) None the less....someone finally did it! Congrats to us all!
 
Read all this in detail. Really really amazing stuff in here:

Full HD video recording - Users have the choice of various resolutions and frame rates, including 1080p 30/24fps and 60 fps at 720p. By utilizing the B-Frame data compression method, users can record H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC format video with unmatched integrity for up to 20 minutes per clip. This format also allows for more accurate video data to be transferred requiring less memory capacity. The sensor reads image data at astoundingly fast rates, which results in less instances of rolling shutter distortion. So better compression and 30p at 1080. good.

Full manual control of exposure - Shutter speed, aperture and ISO can be changed while recording to adapt to lighting and alter depth of field for professional cinematic results that help realize a creative vision. I hope this means finally we can change aperture while in live mode.

Uncompressed output: simultaneous Live View - By using the camera’s HDMI port instead of the CF or XQD card, users can stream an uncompressed full HD signal directly out of the camera. This footage can be ported into an LCD display or appropriate external recording device or routed through a monitor and then to the recording device, eliminating the need for multiple connections. Obviously good for external recorders, I don´t use them that much anyway...

Audio recording for professionals - The Nikon D4 features a stereo headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording. Output can be adjusted in up to 30 steps for precise audio adjustment. The D4 offers high-fidelity audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. The microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction. I guess this is good, I don´t think I would use this anyway. Separate audio recorder is the way to go.

Multi-area Mode Full HD Video: FX/DX, and 2.7x crop mode at 1080p video modes - Whether shooting for depth of field in FX format mode, or looking for the extra 1.5X telephoto benefits of DX mode, the high resolution sensor of the D4 allows videographers to retain full 1080P HD resolution no matter what mode they choose. With the 2.7x crop, users can experience ultra-telephoto benefits in full HD resolution all at 16:9 aspect ratio. Very very interesting. 3 modes of cropping the sensor while still having 1080p sounds awesome. We can use now DX and FX lenses. Good good good.


Simultaneous live view output without display / simultaneous monitor - Shooters have the option to send the display signal directly to an attached monitor via the HDMI port. This signal can be viewed on the camera’s LCD screen and external monitor simultaneously. Additionally, the image data display can be cleared from the screen, to remove distracting data or when feeding a live signal. This is soooo good.

Full-time AF - In addition to manual focus, four modes are available, including normal, wide area, face detection and subject tracking, which uses fast contrast detect AF to accurately focus while recording video and in live view.
New LCD screen - The large high resolution 3.2-inch LCD screen is 921K dots, and includes auto brightness adjustment. User’s can also zoom in up to 46x to check critical HD focus. We'll see about this. I have my doubts about full time AF while recording actually being usefull...

Time lapse shooting - This new feature combines a selected frame rate and “shooting interval” in a dedicated time lapse photography menu. Playback can be achieved with a wide variety of speeds from 24x to 36,000x while producing a fully finished movie file output for faster multimedia workflows.

Remote shutter operation - Using dedicated Movie Custom Settings, recording can be set to be engaged by the shutter release button -users can now use a variety of remote accessories to trigger video recording. This was so simple to implent and yet no one had done it until now. Now I can use a remote trigger for video!!!
 
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And first bad news, according to Dpreview, the video in FX mode is slightly cropped, not as wide as it should:

"Movies can also be shot at three different crops from the sensor, which Nikon is describing as FX, DX and 2.7X (native 1920x1080). This makes it easy to vary the field-of-view for grabbing footage, even if you’ve got a prime lens mounted. However, the ‘FX’ size is a significantly cropped version of the full sensor (it’s 91% of the sensor’s width), so the field-of-view will be a little narrower than you’d expect for any given focal length. "

However by looking at the nikon site, the graphic does not show such a big difference:
img_11.png
 
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Found it.

They do need to take a hint from Canon and deliver better compressed footage, man.
 
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This says it's the Nikon D4. Too early to tell, but it looks full frame anyway. (Very shallow DOF)

 
This says it's the Nikon D4. Too early to tell, but it looks full frame anyway. (Very shallow DOF)


0:46 no moire in the shirt.

1:10 no apparent rolling shutter artifacts there. Impressive.

1:28 no moire on those tricky rocks.
 
From nikon site: "Built-in HDMI lets you view footage on an external monitor or record uncompressed 8-bit 4.2.2 footage directly to an external recording device."

8-bit, 422...no whining...we got the uncompressed output regardless!
 
Nice commentary, Macgregor!

Yep, the video looks good... skintones look good... ironically I prefer the ones in the wide shots where they haven't put some kind of stupid grade on them...

Have to say, that's a pretty good Twixtor at 5:05...

All in all, very nice camera! OK - so what's the bet on uncompressed HDMI coming to the cheaper Nikons down the line in the future?

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com
 
From nikon site: "Built-in HDMI lets you view footage on an external monitor or record uncompressed 8-bit 4.2.2 footage directly to an external recording device."

8-bit, 422...no whining...we got the uncompressed output regardless!

Yep. Better than nothing. I can't help but hope that this feature ends up in the D800 and D8000 (or whatever comes after the D7000). DSLR with uncompressed 4:2:2. It's a start.
 
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