Nikon’s new flagship full-frame DSLR includes a redesigned 16-megapixel full-frame sensor, a top shooting speed of 11 frames per second and a 'shoot in the dark ISO range that stretches from 100 to 25,600, extendable to a staggering 409,600.
Nikon has announced the D4S, its new flagship FX-format digital SLR camera. Based on the D4, and featuring some technical but significant upgrades, Nikon’s D4S has improved AF performance, image quality, workflow and operation, and movie recording.
Nikon says its revisions were adopted after running a variety of simulations of the functions required by professional photographers, who often work under severe conditions. Algorithms used by the AF system have been refined for the greater accuracy and versatility required by pro shooters.
Autofocus is initiated faster and is better able to acquire and track a subject, whether it enters the frame suddenly or takes up the whole frame. As well as the standard focus modes available in the D4 (Single-point AF, Dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, and Auto-area AF), the D4S offers a fifth AF-area mode known as Group-area AF (which uses five focus points: one specified by the user, as well as one each above, below, to the left, and to the right of the selected focus point).
The D4S has a new EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, a new Nikon FX-format CMOS image sensor, and an effective pixel count of 16.2-million pixels. There's also a new top ISO speed of 25,600, extendable to a staggering 409,600 (up from 12,800 and 204,800 respectively on the D4).
Other improvements include a more stable viewfinder image during continuous shooting and a shorter viewfinder blackout time, as well as smoother operation with a redesigned grip and new layout of operational buttons and controls. Communication speed has also been increased with 1000BASE-T support for wired LAN communication, for fast image transfer. A smaller raw file option (12-bit uncompressed RAW) has also been added for faster post-capture editing on a computer. Movie resolution of 1080 is the same as the D4, though the D4s can shoot at frame rates of 60p and 50p, a step up from the D4's 30p maximum.
The D4S will be available in Australia from March 6.
Nikon has also released Capture NX-D (beta version) software for processing and adjusting RAW images captured with Nikon digital cameras. Capture NX-D is a free software application which will replace the current Capture NX 2 application. RAW images (with the NEF or NRW file extension) captured with Nikon digital SLR cameras, Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lenses, and Nikon COOLPIX compact digital cameras can be loaded into the application for high-quality photo-finishing through the processing and adjustment of images. As well as RAW images, the application can also be used to adjust JPEG and TIFF files.
