What is good about the D4 chip

[JR1]

Someone here said that the D4 sensor was one of the best made, I was wondering why as it is also in the new high price Nikon.

Thank you

[Manfred M]

This statement is certainly something that should be taken with a very large grain of salt. If you are looking for a sensor with the highest colour range, ability to resolve small detail and be able to record the highest dynamic range, then this statement would not be true.

The sensor is only one component that goes into a camera, and price and cost are rarely linked. Part of the reason for high price in a top-of-the-line camera is that development and tooling costs must be recovered over a much smaller production run than ones that have higher production costs, hence this tends to show up in the price.

[JR1]

This statement is certainly something that should be taken with a very large grain of salt. If you are looking for a sensor with the highest colour range, ability to resolve small detail and be able to record the highest dynamic range, then this statement would not be true.

The sensor is only one component that goes into a camera, and price and cost are rarely linked. Part of the reason for high price in a top-of-the-line camera is that development and tooling costs must be recovered over a much smaller production run than ones that have higher production costs, hence this tends to show up in the price.

So are you saying the D4 sensor is of medium quality.

I do know that one part does not make a whole but many good parts are better than many medeocre

[Glenn NK]

So are you saying the D4 sensor is of medium quality.

[PhotomanJohn]

I think Manfred's point is that what do you mean by "Best". Best for what? My understanding that the chip in the D4 has good low light/high ISO performance. The relatively low pixel count by today's standards allows for relatively small file size which reduces the processing and file write times in the camera providing a high, nearly continuous burst speed. If those features are the most important to you then it is the "best" sensor/camera. If the characteristics Manfred mentioned are more important to you, then it is not the "best".

John

[RustBeltRaw]

"Best" can only be determined within very specific requirements. If you need 80MP, the D4 sensor sucks. If you need low-light performance more than anything else, then it may well be the best sensor currently made. But saying that a camera is good only because of its sensor is like saying that good flour guarantees an excellent cake. Only true if many other things, including the user, are also very good.

[NorthernFocus]

The best thing about the D4 sensor is that it is inside an AWESOME camera

[Glenn NK]

The best thing about the D4 sensor is that it is inside an AWESOME camera

I'm a Canon shooter and I wouldn't disagree with that at all.

[Colin Southern]

I was just having a read of the D4's specs. Interesting world.

With Canon's 1Ds3 they had 2 media slots - one CF and the other SD. People moaned. Along comes it's replacement, the 1D X - with 2 CF slots!

With the Nikon D3s they had 2 CF slots, and now with the D4 they've gone for obsolete XQD cards.

Sigh.

[NorthernFocus]

...With the Nikon D3s they had 2 CF slots, and now with the D4 they've gone for obsolete XQD cards.

Sigh.

Colin, you missed a very important step. The D3s had dual CF slots and everyone loved it. The D4 came out with one CF and one XQD and there was pretty much a universal uproar of disapproval from the user community. And NOW, with the D4s, Nikon, in their infinite marketing wisdom, is sticking with the CF/XQD configuration.

But you do have to give the credit for consistency. They never pay attention to user feedback....

[Colin Southern]

Colin, you missed a very important step. The D3s had dual CF slots and everyone loved it. The D4 came out with one CF and one XQD and there was pretty much a universal uproar of disapproval from the user community. And NOW, with the D4s, Nikon, in their infinite marketing wisdom, is sticking with the CF/XQD configuration.

But you do have to give the credit for consistency. They never pay attention to user feedback....

Yeah, but Nikon "s" upgrades typically aren't anything radical; just a higher MP count sensor and a few other minor things.

I just found it interesting that Canon and Nikon have completely changed positions on this one.

[Manfred M]

Jeremy - Both John and Lex have hit the nail on the head in terms of what I was saying. "Best" is a very fuzzy and none-technical term and is really driven by what the end requirements are. While the sensor is a very important component in a camera, the final product is the sum of the parts, and one has to look at a camera as a system in which many parts work together in putting together the final product.

I bought my new camera almost two years ago; the D4 and the D800 / D800E were in the running. The D4 has fantastic low light performance and has a great burst mode. Both are relatively minor considerations for someone who tends to do a lot of landscape and people photography. On the other hand, if I were a sports photographer, I would have made a different call. As it was, I ended up going with the D800, and it was the right choice for my needs.

The term "best" needs context around it. What is the best car, airline, computer, etc? Depends on your specific needs. The best car for a family may be different than the best car to drive through back-country roads...

No, the D4 does not have a mediocre sensor, but one cannot determine if it is the best unless we understand the end-user's requirements.

[JR1]

Yeah, but Nikon "s" upgrades typically aren't anything radical; just a higher MP count sensor and a few other minor things.

I just found it interesting that Canon and Nikon have completely changed positions on this one.

I thought it was the same 16mp sensor in the D4s

[JR1]

Thank you all much appreciated

[NorthernFocus]

I thought it was the same 16mp sensor in the D4s

I may be wrong but I don't believe Nikon has officially announced details about the sensor. They made general statements about improved AF and image processing but provided little detail. Everything beyond that has been the rumor mill.

[JR1]

I may be wrong but I don't believe Nikon has officially announced details about the sensor. They made general statements about improved AF and image processing but provided little detail. Everything beyond that has been the rumor mill.

This is what annoys me about the companies, all *(&^*(^ secrets.

However on Nikon rumours and others they state a retail price.

I am assuming that it will be available (God, fingers crossed) at

http://www.photographyshow.com/Content/What-s-On/6/

[NorthernFocus]

I think they hold back details to the last minute because they are always trying to make a bigger splash than the competition.

If you are decided on getting the pro body and are waiting to see what the D4s is going to offer above and beyond the D4, IMO I wouldn't pay a premium for the D4s unless the differences are significant (like more MP). I own a D4 and it is hard to imagine what they can add to it that is meaningful for my particular needs as a wildlife photographer. It will focus when it's so dark that I can barely see, shoot indoors with good results w/out flash, and shoots 10fps w/full AF function. And it's nearly impossible to fill the buffer. I don't use the video so can't speak to that. The only thing that would entice me into upgrading would be a 36MP sensor.

[JR1]

I think they hold back details to the last minute because they are always trying to make a bigger splash than the competition.

If you are decided on getting the pro body and are waiting to see what the D4s is going to offer above and beyond the D4, IMO I wouldn't pay a premium for the D4s unless the differences are significant (like more MP). I own a D4 and it is hard to imagine what they can add to it that is meaningful for my particular needs as a wildlife photographer. It will focus when it's so dark that I can barely see, shoot indoors with good results w/out flash, and shoots 10fps w/full AF function. And it's nearly impossible to fill the buffer. I don't use the video so can't speak to that. The only thing that would entice me into upgrading would be a 36MP sensor.

According to the rumors though its supposed (yeh duh) to be available this Jan

Expeed 4 processor and 24MP sensor from the D600 ?

[Colin Southern]

I thought it was the same 16mp sensor in the D4s

I'd be surprised - if they kept the sensor he same then they'd get even less upgrading.