Nikon's flagship D4 digital-SLR camera is equipped with a new Nikon FX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED 3, the latest image-processing engine specifically optimized for digital-SLR cameras, making it the ultimate DSLR in versatility and functionality that offers superior image quality rich in detail along with excellent high-speed performance. The D4 also offers Full-HD video, faster workflow speed with XQD memory card support, 10/11 fps continuous shooting, low-noise performance at ISO 12800, 91K-pixel RGB sensor, 51 AF Points, and much more.
16.2 FX-format CMOS Sensor
Engineered to achieve image integrity in the most diverse and difficult lighting conditions, thanks to the D4's optimized balance between the FX-format sensor size (36.0 x 23.9 mm) and 16.2 effective megapixels. Each pixel on the sensor is as large as 7.3 ìm, and painstakingly engineered to collect the maximum amount of light and render the highest possible image quality in both bright and dark conditions. Incredibly clean images with smooth gradations even at high ISO sensitivities can be realized thanks to the optimized noise-reduction design and 14-bit A/D conversion built into the sensor. Unique to Nikon, the D4 expands your still image shooting possibilities with four image area options: FX format (36.0 x 23.9mm), 5:4 crop (29.9 x 23.9 mm), 1.2x crop (29.9 x 19.9 mm) and DX format (23.4 x 15.5 mm).
EXPEED 3 Image-Processing Engine
Complimenting the FX-format CMOS sensor is Nikon's EXPEED 3 processor that performs multiple tasks at blindingly fast speeds The imaging engine is optimized for D-SLRs and delivers faithful, well-saturated color, natural depth and an exceptionally wide dynamic range, giving subtle and nuanced tones. Even when shooting in dim lighting at high ISO sensitivities, the camera's intelligent noise reduction lowers noise without degrading image sharpness. Its massive, high-speed 16-bit image processing delivers smooth gradation and abundant tone and detail that can be applied to image integrity for a diverse range of usages.
ISO 12800 Low-Noise Performance
The D4 provides low-noise performance at ISO 12800 and extends the range one EV further, compared with that of the D3S, making ISO 100 standard; a welcome addition when using slow shutter speeds in bright sunlight. For more challenging conditions, equivalent ISO 50 and ISO 204800 sensitivities are available. The D4 can shoot still images and video* confidently and clearly in nearly any light. From the harsh glare of high noon to the pale gray of dusk; from a dimly lit interior to a moonlit forest at midnight; the camera's superb ISO sensitivity controls enable photographers to take a bolder approach to their subject matter.
10/11 Fps Shooting in FX-Format
The D4 is built for speed, but not for speed alone. The D4's readiness and agility go hand in hand with incomparably accurate control of shutter speed, aperture value, autofocus detection and tracking, auto exposure, auto white balance and other control options that get photographers closer to capturing the decisive moment than ever before. Expect 10-fps shutter bursts with full AF and AE performance in FX format. The frame rate can also be boosted to up to 11 fps in FX format. The camera's large buffer memory allows shooting up to approx. 100 frames2 in RAW and up to 200 frames in JPEG (when using SONY XQD Memory Card H series QD-H32 with 32 GB capacity), saving critical moments that were once spent waiting for the buffer memory to empty &emdash; a real advantage that cannot be measured by fps rates alone.
Faster Total Workflow Speed
The D4's speed runs across its entire workflow. The camera is ready to shoot in approx. 0.12 s1, and release time lag is minimized to a mere approx. 0.042 s. The camera's precise sequential mechanism has been redesigned to reach 10/11 fps even more accurately, and optimum card recording speed is ensured with the CF card compatible with UDMA 7, and the next-generation recording media, the XQD memory card, that can be set simultaneously with dual card slots. The XQD memory card's data transfer speed is 125 MB/s — the industry-leading speed. High-speed data transfer to a PC is achieved with the memory card reader*4 that supports USB 3.0, delivering outstandingly faster workflow. The D4's powerful data communication and control system makes both wired and wireless LAN file transfer speeds both faster and easier than ever.
Advanced Scene Recognition System
With Nikon's original Advanced Scene Recognition System, the D4 achieves new standards of accurate autofocus, auto exposure, i-TTL flash, Active D-Lighting and auto white balance results. At the heart of the system is a precise RGB sensor that meticulously reads each scene via 91K-pixels. With unprecedented precision, the data that has been collected pixel-by-pixel is then used to meter and analyze the scene's color information and brightness levels. The system also recognizes human faces when shooting with the optical viewfinder. This rigorously analyzed pixel data then automatically triggers a variety of in-camera controls that help the image files appear more natural and appealing. Advanced Scene Recognition System delivers incredibly high accuracy for various auto controls by flawlessly calculating vast amounts of scene information . even at up to 10 frames per second.
When people's faces are priority subjects, the Advanced Scene Recognition System delivers particularly outstanding performance. The camera's autoarea AF mode accurately recognizes human faces and achieves sharp focus immediately and automatically . useful when there's no time to manually choose focus point. It focuses on a subject's body when the face is out of the AF area. Better auto exposures can be anticipated with Nikon's 3D color matrix metering III, even in situations where exposure compensation is required, such as a dark face against a bright background or conversely, a bright face against a dark background. With the D4's enhanced i-TTL balanced fill-flash paired with Nikon Speedlight(s), human faces can be illuminated in relation to their surroundings with outstanding precision. Moreover, face detection, when paired with Active D-Lighting, delivers images that retain highlights and shadows in high-contrast scenarios, making faces look as they are seen, whether in sunlight or shade.
Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX Autofocus Sensor Module
Experience the speed needed to capture fast-moving subjects in sharp focus. The Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module utilizes 51 strategically placed AF points that are designed to capture your subject as chosen. Like a net, they work individually and together to capture moving subjects. For absolute accuracy, a single AF point allows the precise placement of the focus point on the subject. All 51 AF points of the D4 are usable with every AF NIKKOR lens of f/5.6 or faster. The D4 delivers high performance even in extremely low-lit situations. AF detection is fast and accurate down to an impressive -2 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F), which is approximately the physical limit of human visibility through an optical viewfinder. Consistent, reliable performance can be expected at night stadium assignments, in poorly lit indoor arenas, theaters and any other low-lit venue.
The D4's AF is designed to work as fast as a professional's reflexes. Its faster initial AF detection nails decisive moments like never before and is especially capable in sports photography. Volleyball, soccer, track and field and swimming . whatever the sport, the D4 is ready. A new "Focus+release" is provided as an AF-C priority selection option, enabling high-speed continuous shots that are sharply focused from the initial frame. Even when the subject unexpectedly changes position or distance from the camera, such as in soccer games, AF servo is constantly active during continuous shutter bursts, and quickly detects the subject again.
The D4 aligns its 15 cross-type sensors in the central viewfinder area to detect contrast in both vertical and horizontal lines for better AF performance. Each cross-type sensor is responsive with f/5.6 and provides its full performance with all AF-NIKKOR lenses. Moreover, the five central focus points and three points to the left and right of them in the middle line are compatible with f/8. Highly accurate focusing is realized even with the effective aperture value of f/8 by combining a 2.0x teleconverter with super-telephoto NIKKOR lenses, that are frequently used for sports shooting. This delivers a new level of potential when shooting distant subjects, such as sports or wildlife.
Broadcase Quality Video
The D4 can record 1080p Full HD video at 30/25 or 24p in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format with broadcast quality full of fine tones and natural colors. Located next to the shutter-release button, the dedicated recording start button makes operation intuitive and easy to access. Maximum recording time for a single clip is 29 min. 59 s. Thanks to Nikon's latest image-processing algorithms, the D4's video ensures a smooth look with fewer "jaggies" and less moiré while maintaining sharp edges, even in dark conditions, by using noise-reduction technology designed specifically for video. With the D4, Full HD video is at your disposal in three formats: FX-based, DX-based or 1,920 x 1,080 crop movie format. The FX-based format renders exquisitely shallow depth of field (DOF) as well as wide-angle shooting. It ensures beautiful movies even at high ISO sensitivity with minimal noise. When a DX lens is attached, DX-based format is automatically selected. This format is useful for creating an extension to the focal length of an existing lens. For an even stronger telephoto effect, the 1,920 x 1,080 crop format brings an approx. 2.7x crop of the picture angle while delivering outstanding video quality and detail, obtaining 1080p Full HD. Versatility like this lets you explore different moods with the large and comprehensive selection of NIKKOR lenses.
The D4 is designed for crisp stereo recording with a built-in external stereo microphone connector. Attach the compact Stereo Microphone ME-1(sold separately) to record clear sound while significantly reducing mechanical noise. An external headphone connector enables use of headphones to effectively monitor and control audio in isolation. The indicators offer visual confirmation of audio level and the microphone sensitivity can be precisely controlled in 20 incremental steps.
Professional Reliability
The D4 is designed to make operation in both horizontal and vertical orientations as intuitive as possible. Each orientation has identically laid-out controls, consisting of a main command dial, a sub-command dial, an AF-ON button and a multi selector. The vertical hold is also now more secure with a newly added thumb grip and an extended grip area for the fingers. For frequent use in the vertical orientation, the function button can be customized to quickly access certain functions, such as exposure compensation. When shooting in the dark, the illuminated buttons allow quick and confident identification of function.
The D4's body is comprised of strong-yet-lightweight magnesium alloy. This assures the camera's superb reliability even in the most demanding environmental conditions. The D4's shutter has been tested for 400,000 cycles on fully assembled cameras at demanding continuous burst rates and over extended time periods. Thorough measures have been taken to seal and protect against invasive moisture, dust and even electromagnetic interference. Its comprehensive sealing, combined with additional Nikon-engineered measures keeps the camera operational in a wide range of severe conditions. What's more, thanks to meticulous re-engineering at a detailed level, the D4 is actually lighter than a D3S yet maintains the same exceptional durability.
The D4 offers approx. 100% frame coverage for FX format, with a viewfinder that is designed to minimize visual fatigue over long periods of use. The approx. 0.7x magnification enhances the confirmation of every visual element in the frame. The large, bright viewfinder image and focusing screen are carefully designed to aid precise focusing in both manual and autofocus modes. In addition, grid lines can optionally be placed across the viewfinder for accurate vertical and horizontal orientation.
Lens Mount
Nikon F bayonet mount
Effective Pixels
16.2 million
Sensor Size
36.0 x 23.9mm
Image Sensor Format
FX
Image Sensor Type
CMOS
Total Pixels
16.6 million
Dust-reduction system
Image sensor cleaning
Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Dust-Off Reference Photo
Yes
Image Area (pixels)
FX-format
(L) 4.928 × 3,280
(M) 3,696 × 2,456
(S) 2,464 × 1,640
1:2 format (30 x 20)
(L) 4,096 × 2,720
(M) 3,072 × 2,040
(S) 2,048 × 1,360
5:4 format (30 x 24)
(L) 4,096 × 3,280
(M) 3,072 × 2,456
(S) 2,048 × 1,640
DX-format
(L) 3,200 × 2,128
(M) 2,400 × 1,592
(S) 1,600 × 1,064
File Format Still Images
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression
NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single Photograph Recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG Formats
TIFF (RGB)
Picture Control
Landscape
Monochrome
Neutral
Portrait
Standard
User-customizable Settings
Vivid
Storage Media
CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA)
XQD Type Memory
Card Slot
1 CompactFlash© (CF) card and 1 XQD memory type card
File System
Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras)
PictBridge
Viewfinder
Eye-level Pentamirror Single-Lens Reflex viewfinder
Viewfinder Frame Coverage
FX (36x24): 100% Horizontal and 100% Vertical Approx.
1.2x (30x20): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
DX (24x16): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
5:4 (30x24): 97% horizontal and 100% vertical Approx.
Viewfinder Magnification
0.70x Approx.
Viewfinder Eyepoint
18mm (-1.0m¯¹)
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment
Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 m¯¹)
Focusing Screen
Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII with AF Area Brackets (grid lines can be displayed)
Reflex Mirror
Quick-return type
Lens Aperture
Instant-return type
Depth-of-field Control
Yes
Lens Compatibility at a Glance***
AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible
Metering with AI lenses
Compatible Lenses
AF NIKKOR, including type G and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC Micro-NIKKOR lenses and DX lenses (using DX 24 x 16 1.5x image area)
AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (exposure modes A and M only)
Shutter type
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Shutter Speed
1/8000 to 30 sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Fastest Shutter Speed
1/8000 sec.
Slowest Shutter Speed
30 sec.
Flash Sync Speed
Up to 1/250 sec.
Synchronizes with shutter at 1/250s or slower
Bulb Shutter Setting
Yes
Shutter Release Modes
Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-10 frames per second
Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 10 frames per second; 11 with AE/AF locked on first frame
Mirror-up [Mup] mode
Quiet Shutter Release
Self-timer mode
Single-frame [S] mode
Continuous Shooting Options
FX-format
CH: Up to 10/11 frames per second
CL: Up to 10 frames per second
5:4 format
CH: Up to 10/11 frames per second
CL: Up to 10 frames per second
DX-format
CH: Up to 10/11 frames per second
CL: Up to 10 frames per second
1:2 format
CH: Up to 10/11 frames per second
CL: Up to 10 frames per second
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution
10 frames per second
11 frames per second (AE/AF Locked)
Self-timer
2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
Exposure Metering System
TTL exposure metering using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor
Metering Method
Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12mm circle in center of frame
Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses)
Spot: Meters 4mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Metering Range
-1 ± 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
2 to 20 EV (spot metering)
Exposure Meter Coupling
CPU
AI
Exposure Modes
Aperture-Priority (A)
Manual (M)
Programmed auto with flexible program (P)
Shutter-Priority (S)
Exposure Compensation
±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Exposure Bracketing
2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
Exposure Lock
Yes
Mirror Lock Up
Yes
ISO Sensitivity
ISO 100 - 12,800
Lo-1 (ISO 50)
Hi-4 (ISO 204,800)
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity
100
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity
12,800
Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
Lo-1 (ISO 50 equivalent)
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
HI-4 (ISO 204,800 equivalent)
Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options
Hi-1 (ISO-25,600 equivalent) in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Hi-2, (ISO-51,200 equivalent), 1 EV
Hi-3, (ISO-102,400 equivalent), 1 EV
Hi-4 (ISO-204,800 equivalent) in 1 EV
Long Exposure Noise Reduction
Yes
High ISO Noise Reduction
Low
Normal
High
Off
Active D-Lighting
Auto
Extra High
High
Normal
Low
On
D-Lighting Bracketing
2 frames using selected value for one frame
3–5 frames using preset values for all frames
Single-point AF Mode
Yes
Dynamic AF Mode
Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
Auto-area AF Mode
Yes
Autofocus System
Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
Detection Range
-2 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
Lens Servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status
Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
AF-area mode
9, 21 or 51 point Dynamic-area AF
Auto-area AF
Single-point AF
3D-tracking (51 points)
Focus Lock
Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF)
Focus Modes
Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A)
Continuous-servo (AF-C)
Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only
Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only
Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder
Normal area
Single-servo AF (AF-S)
Wide area
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
51
Autofocus Sensitivity
-2 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
Autofocus Fine Tune
Yes
Flash Bracketing
2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
X-Sync Speed
1/250
Top FP High Speed Sync
Up to 1/8000
Flash Control
TTL: i-TTL flash control using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor are available with SB-910,SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash Sync Modes
Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Front-curtain sync (normal)
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Slow rear-curtain sync
Slow sync
Flash Compensation
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Flash-ready indicator
Lights when optional flash unit such as SB-910, SB-900, SB-700, SB-400, SB-R200 is fully charged
Accessory Shoe
Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
CLS Supported
Flash Sync Terminal
Yes
White Balance
Auto (2 types)
Choose color temperature (2500K–10000K)
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored)
Shade
White Balance Bracketing
2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV
Live View Shooting
Photography Live View Mode
Movie Live View Mode
Live View Lens servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F)
Manual focus (MF)
Live View AF-area mode
Face-priority AF
Wide-area AF
Normal-area AF
Subject-tracking AF
Live View Autofocus
Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Movie Metering
TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Movie Maximum recording time
20 minutes at 24p
29 minutes 59 seconds at 30p
Movie File Format
MOV
Movie Video Compression
H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie Audio recording format
Linear PCM
Movie
HD 1,920x1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280x720 / 60 fps
Movie Audio
Built-in microphone, monaural
External stereo microphone (optional)
Monitor Size
3.2 in. diagonal
Monitor Resolution
921,000 Dots
Monitor Type
Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
Monitor Angle of View
170-degree wide-viewing angle
Monitor Adjustments
Brightness, 5 levels
Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator
Yes
Also visible in LiveView Modes
Also visible in Viewfinder
Playback Functions
Auto Image Rotation
Full-Frame and Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar)
GPS data display
Highlights
Histogram Display
Image Comment
IPTC information embedding and display
Movie Playback
Movie Slideshow
Photo information
Playback with Zoom
Slideshow
Voice Memo
In-Camera Image Editing
Color Balance
Color Outline
Color Sketch
D-Lighting
Distortion Control
Edit Movie
Filter Effects
Fisheye
Image Overlay
Miniature Effect
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Perspective Control
Quick Retouch
Red-eye Correction
Resize
Selective Color
Side-by-Side Comparison
Straighten
Trim
Image Comment
Yes
Interface
HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Headphone Connector
NTSC
Stereo Microphone Input
Super Speed USB 2.0
Wi-Fi Functionality
Eye-Fi Compatible
WT-5A
WT-4A
GPS
GP-1 GPS unit
Save/Load Camera settings
Yes
Total custom Settings
58
My Menu
Yes with customization
Recent Settings
Yes
Supported Languages
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Finnish
French
German
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norweigan
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings
Yes
World Time Setting
Yes
Battery / Batteries
EN-EL18 Lithium-ion Battery
Battery Life (shots per charge)
2,600 Battery Life (shots per charge) (CIPA)
AC Adapter
EH-6b AC Adapter
Requires EP-6 Power Supply Connector
Battery Charger
MH-26 Quick Charger
Tripod Socket
1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Approx. Dimensions
Width 6.3 in. (160mm)
Height 6.2 in. (156.5mm)
Depth 3.6 in. (90.5mm)
Approx. Weight
41.6 oz. (1180g)
camera body only
Operating Environment
0–40 °C (+32–104 °F)
Supplied Software
ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
Supplied Accessories
AN-DC7 strap
EN-EL18 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
MH-26 Battery Charger
UC-E15 USB Cable
USB Cable Clip
BF-1B Body Cap
BS-2 Accessory Shoe Cover
UF-2 Connector cover for stereo mini plug cable
UF-1 Connector cover for USB cable
Nikon View NX2 CD ROM
Transmitter Utility CD
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
**Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
***Refer to the product manual or the Compatible Lenses Specification for additional details.
