NIKON D4 announced

24 hour first impressions are good... it feels surprisingly unfamiliar in the hands after the the 3 series, I wasn't sure about the ergonomics to start with but the more I play with it the more comfortable it starts to feel.

The multi selector is smaller (presumably to make room for the sub-selector joystick) and initially feels a little fiddly, you do get used to that quite quickly though. The joystick is very nice for selecting focus points and I have set it so the center press is AE Lock. So for the way I work (back button focus) it's fast and intuitive with everything just a twitch of the thumb away. A big bonus is that in portrait orientation it is pretty much exactly the same layout with the second joystick and AF-ON buttons falling just where you would expect them.

Quite a few more changes... for example the focus mode and exposure mode dials have gone and have been replaced by a button press with the selector wheels, which actually works pretty well. A handful of menu changes such as 'Extended Menu Banks' in the shooting menu which allows you to save things like exposure mode in the bank, that should be handy.

The XQD card is a nice design, spring loads in and out like a giant SD card without the fear of bent pins you get with CF. The included USB3 XQD card reader is a nice bonus too... all I need now is a USB3 Mac!

The menu display is noticeably more vivid than the D3S, hopefully it will translate into accurately displayed images. A quick focus test was very encouraging, I tried it side by side with the D3S in a dark room and it easily locked onto targets that left the D3S hunting.

So what about the images... well I haven't actually got to that yet :lol:, I've spent all my spare time getting familiar with the menus and ergonomics! I'm hoping to use it in anger for the first time on a commercial job on Tuesday though so need to get some serious testing done fast!

So my first impressions are good... The next few days of REAL testing should be very interesting.
 
Excellent report back Keith.
 
Anyone any idea how much IQ difference there would be between a 70-200 VR1 and VR2 on a D4? I'm not sure I can afford a D4 and 70-200 VR2 but a used VR1 might be doable.
 
EMA747 said:
Anyone any idea how much IQ difference there would be between a 70-200 VR1 and VR2 on a D4? I'm not sure I can afford a D4 and 70-200 VR2 but a used VR1 might be doable.
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Can't speak for D4. I've used both the lenses on D700. In the real world I can't see any improvement in sharpness with VR2.
I can tell which lens is which though, VR1 exhibits very slight vignetting when wide open. Very happy with either.
 
trevorbray said:
Can't speak for D4. I've used both the lenses on D700. In the real world I can't see any improvement in sharpness with VR2.
I can tell which lens is which though, VR1 exhibits very slight vignetting when wide open. Very happy with either.
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That's the impression I get from reading up on it. I assume the worst of the vignetting can be sorted in LR anyway. ;)
 
EMA747 said:
That's the impression I get from reading up on it. I assume the worst of the vignetting can be sorted in LR anyway. ;)
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Don't know anything about LR. I don't bother to sort it. I shoot equestrian with it, never been any problem really. VR1 that is.
It is still a fabulous lens. You won't be disappointed.
 
Trevor is right, the VR1 is still a very nice lens. The vignetting is negligible (and I often end up adding a subtle vignette anyway!) and it's still very sharp. I think the more discernible difference between the two is that the VRII has at least a stop better vibration reduction... if handholding at lowish shutter speeds is important to you.
 
The extra stop of VR is probably not going to be an issue 90% of the time. For the difference in price I doubt it's worth it for me at this stage.
 
Still got that itch then Andy?

I'm getting restless now. I should have hung onto the D3s until the D4 arrived. :bang:

Kev.
 
Sure have Kev. Been research what my camcorder is worth and it seems one sold on fleabay recently for £4K. It will have to wait until after I'm back next weekend but I will give it more thought for sure.
 
Cant wait to get my hands on mine. Just spoke to Jessops and they still dont have then in yet. Come on:bang:
 
Nothing there that would make want to rush out and dump my S... I have to say I always thought the D4 was going to be another game changer like the D3 was when introduced.... seems they put most of their time into the D800 variants which I have to say looks quite tasty...would sit nicely with a D3s
 
From conversations with Warehouse Express I think they got 5 or less bodies in their first batch. Unfortunately whilst I was in the top three on the pre-order list I got bumped by NPS members......

Now just waiting for second batch to arrive....... :(
 
Three days with the D4 now and I'm loving it! I'm still discovering more incremental improvements that make it a joy to use and a seriously useful work tool. From the display to the AF system to the ergonomics to the menu's, there feels like so much attention to detail... heck, even the shutter sounds sharper and more satisfying! I really think Nikon have got it right by going for evolution rather than revolution here, to take a great camera like the D3S and improve on nearly every aspect rather than completely reinvent it looks like a very canny approach and, to my mind, they have done a superb job.
 
Flashman said:
Three days with the D4 now and I'm loving it! I'm still discovering more incremental improvements that make it a joy to use and a seriously useful work tool. From the display to the AF system to the ergonomics to the menu's, there feels like so much attention to detail... heck, even the shutter sounds sharper and more satisfying! I really think Nikon have got it right by going for evolution rather than revolution here, to take a great camera like the D3S and improve on nearly every aspect rather than completely reinvent it looks like a very canny approach and, to my mind, they have done a superb job.
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Yep, fine but where are the pic's :shrug:
 
k4mmd said:
Cant wait to get my hands on mine. Just spoke to Jessops and they still dont have then in yet. Come on:bang:
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I spoke to them the end of last week, they said they would have them today and ship by tomorrow on all preorders. They said they would receive enough to supply all their preorder book.

Updated - All present and correct according to them and they will be released Thursday for delivery FRiday.
 
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dannyrich said:
I spoke to them the end of last week, they said they would have them today and ship by tomorrow on all preorders. They said they would receive enough to supply all their preorder book.

Updated - All present and correct according to them and they will be released Thursday for delivery FRiday.
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Good, perhaps then we will see some images...lol
 
Yep just got off the phone with jessops. Apparently they will be shipping them on Thursday:)
 
Now they have informed me that Nikon state the bodies have have firmware problems and the date has been pushed back to early April. What a joke
 
I think you'll find this is Jessops getting their facts wrong. The original release date was mid Feb and due to a firmware issue it was delayed to March 15th, and stocks at non-Pro dealers like Jessops, have not caught up yet.
 
lol I spoke to them about an hour ago, they said they had them all and they were ready to be released Thursday because thats when they were officially releasing.

That said, I called a fortnight and they told me end of April...
 
Seeing as some people have already taken delivery of their D4's, and I haven't seen anything lately about any Firmware problems, especially from users, one would assume that it is just a supply problem at the moment. The Nikon Pro's got them first, and then what's left gets shared around the lesser mortals. ;) :lol:
 
redhed17 said:
Seeing as some people have already taken delivery of their D4's, and I haven't seen anything lately about any Firmware problems, especially from users, one would assume that it is just a supply problem at the moment. The Nikon Pro's got them first, and then what's left gets shared around the lesser mortals. ;) :lol:
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Its annoying, I have enough kit to be Nikon Pro I just never registered. Didnt see the point! Do now.

Still got an extra battery for going with them.
 
dannyrich said:
Its annoying, I have enough kit to be Nikon Pro I just never registered. Didnt see the point! Do now.

Still got an extra battery for going with them.
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It's not just about having the amount of gear. You will qualify for NPU but not NPS.
It's NPS that gets benefits such as quicker repairs and preorders etc.
I got my email from NPS to preorder, but stupidly delayed ordering because I wanted to do more research. Left it too late in the end. My own fault.

I spoke to Jessops yesterday and they told me that it is still end of March to early April.. :shrug:

Kev.
 
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kevshore said:
It's not just about having the amount of gear. You will qualify for NPU but not NPS.
It's NPS that gets benefits such as quicker repairs and preorders etc.
I got my email from NPS to preorder, but stupidly delayed ordering because I wanted to do more research. Left it too late in the end. My own fault.

I spoke to Jessops yesterday and they told me that it is still end of March to early April.. :shrug:

Kev.
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They just said now that they dont have any and expect them Friday/Monday. No good for me I will be away. Without my new camera. Great!

I ordered in January so should be reasonably near the front.
 
Danny I just spoke with Jessops. They will be receiving their delivery from NIKON by the end of this week however they have not been advised on how much stock they will receive and they do not know when the next batch will be delivered.

If you have ordered in January im certain you should have yours by early next week.

I am in the middle on the list so its a 50/50 for me.
 
Thanks K4mmd, with all due respect though, they told me allsorts this week and I goes tuesday. Cant see it myself.

The tweeted this after my rant
@Daniel_serenity @grimeandglamour Hi, Nikon are experiencing issues and we have been quoted early April for deliveries.
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I can just about take not getting it, but they could at least get their story sorted boo-f***ing-hoo!

and Leeds got stuffed last night too, im a bit RAW. [Topical joke :naughty:]
 
Is that 7 bit RAW???
 
I was told mine would be instore Friday for me too pick up.
 
Jessops Brimingham have just stated that it's the D800 that is expected in on Friday. The D4 is still beginning of April.
They have an area manager on site at the moment. This came from him.

Kev.
 
dannyrich said:
I love the way no one truly has a clue!
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The problem probably starts in Japan, and Nikon UK won't know for sure how many they've got, or how to divvy them up, until they've actually arrived in the warehouse. When they'll then go straight out to stores.

Basically, nobody will know for sure until it's in their hands.
 
HoppyUK said:
The problem probably starts in Japan, and Nikon UK won't know for sure how many they've got, or how to divvy them up, until they've actually arrived in the warehouse. When they'll then go straight out to stores.

Basically, nobody will know for sure until it's in their hands.
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Hmph :thinking:
 
HoppyUK said:
The problem probably starts in Japan, and Nikon UK won't know for sure how many they've got, or how to divvy them up, until they've actually arrived in the warehouse. When they'll then go straight out to stores.

Basically, nobody will know for sure until it's in their hands.
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I just don't believe that. Nikon UK will definitely know how many cameras Nikon Japan have sent them....that's just not how companies that size work!

I am sure everyone is fighting to get their order prioritised both the retailers with Nikon and then the different shops within each retailer.

Nobody is willing to commit because they just don't know if someone will pull rank I suppose!
 
I'm going to France on 3rd April for 10 days. What's the betting it arrives whilst I'm there. :lol:
Anybody want to look after it for me until I get back. :D


Kev.
 
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