By Dominique Schreckling
The internet contains a lot of reviews of the D4. The reason I am writing this article however, is not to publish another tech review. My goal is to compare the many improved features of the Nikon D4 compared to the Nikon D3s. I received my new Nikon D4 three weeks ago and I am pleased to report that is has made my job as an IPA press photographer so much easier, compared to the Nikon D3s I had previously used.
[box_light]Advantages of the Nikon D4 Over the Nikon D3s[/box_light]
Resolution
Upgrading from the 12 MP D3s to the 16MP D4 may not be considered a major improvement to some. Understand that the relatively low resolution of the D4 (compared to the massive 36MP of the D800) allows a faster frame rate, if needed, and the smaller RAW files won’t challenge the workflow and post processing one must deal with that the higher resolution cameras produce. This in itself for a press photographer dealing with tight deadlines could be a deal breaker for many of us in the media.
I recently covered the Zermatt Unplugged Festival and was an accredited photographer at this event. Ten minutes after arriving in Zermatt, I received a phone call from my usual camera store informing me that my Nikon D4 had just arrived. I decided to cover the first two days with the Nikon D3s I own, then return for the last day with the new and better Nikon D4. For my first hands on use of this new camera, I wanted to test it in a demanding concert situation to see how it performs.
Speed of Operation
The first thing I noticed was the speed of operation. The camera seems much more responsive to the user. I found that using my zoom and scrolling while framing a photo was noticeably faster than on the D3s.
Speed of Autofocus
In demanding concert conditions, the autofocus on the D3s performs admirably. The D3s is fast and precise but feels a bit hesitant at times and may miss a perfectly focused image. The D4 however, shows that the autofocus is clearly the next generation. Focusing feels much faster and in the continuous AF mode, it will adjust focus more often.
During the festival in Zermatt, I missed a few photos shooting my D3s when the AF focused would focus on the microphone instead of the eyes of the singer where the AF point was located. The newer D4 did not show the slightest hesitation. It was fast and spot on, not a single miss even with dimmer lights than on the concerts I covered with the D3s.
Modify AF Settings
Changing the AF mode on the D3s (such as switching between 9/21/51 pts) requires going into the menu and selecting the desired mode. The D4 makes this much easier for the photographer. One just needs to press the new button on the AF/MF switch beside the lens mount; one of the adjusting wheels allows switching between AF-S/AF-C, while the second wheel allows switching between the 9/21/51 pts AF. There is no need to leave the eye from the viewfinder; the illuminations of the AF points show the selected mode.
Storing Points of Orientation
When activating this function (custom setting a10), the camera switches to the last used AF point when changing between portrait and landscape orientation. For me this function, especially on concert shooting, saves me valuable time by not having me attempt to move the selected AF point manually each time I change the cameras orientation.
IPTC
My normal workflow on my D3s consist of taking the images at the event and back at my computer, importing those photos into Lightroom. Once there I must now complete all the relevant fields: title, comments and location, before I can even sort and process the images. At the Zermatt festival, I had to perform these tasks in the 10 minutes. I had only a few minutes between the main concert to submit my imaged file to the local papers in order to meet their deadlines. The photos if accepted would be published on the following day.
The D4 allows me to move this arduous task of labeling the photos before I even begin shooting, saving me precious time. The user can download the IPTC Preset Manager from Nikon which consists of a Windows/Mac application allowing filling out a number of IPTC presets and save these settings to the memory card. On the D4, simply import the presets and select the correct IPTC set ahead of shooting a concert and you are done.
[box_light]Advantages of the Nikon D3s Over the Nikon D4[/box_light]
Memory Cards
Like the D3s, the D4 features a dual memory card slot, but unlike the D3s, it takes two different types of memory cards, XQD and CF. I appreciated the dual slot of the D3s, it allowed me to travel with one single type of memory card and a compatible card reader.
I was able to configure the two slots the way I wanted. I could use one card as a backup (writing all photos on both cards). I like the idea of selecting one card to record my jpg images and the second card to record my raw images. When both slots use different types of cards, I now need to carry both types of cards and the corresponding readers as well. In everyday use, I believe, the advantage of a dual slot on the new D4 is lost.
New Battery
The D4 uses a new battery, and a new charger as well, not compatible with the batteries of the D3s. This makes the use of the D3s as backup camera for a D4 difficult as it now requires I carry two chargers and additional back up batteries for each camera. Another disadvantage of the new battery on the D4 is that it has a lower capacity than the D3s. It is possible however, according to Nikon, to get more photos out of a single charge from the D4 due to better power management, but I cannot confirm this yet.
[box_light]Overall impressions[/box_light]
The differences in image quality between both cameras are not major from what I can see. The D4 seems to feature somewhat better color rendition which seems also better maintained when increasing the ISO, but I will let you read more about this from the specialists at DxO.
The D4 brings a welcome series of improvements for events photography, including a faster and more precise AF in low light, improved overall operation and the ability to enter the IPTC ahead of a shooting. I look forward to shooting many events with my new D4 and will let you, my readers be the final judge on the quality of my images.
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