I have a D4s which now has 675,000 shutter count and is still motoring away giving me outstanding performance and image quality. These Nikon bodies are built to last!
@@chocloditelensmanin my impression until a specific model Japanese made really a tank as photocamera after that started with the pixels race and something has lost into the development,if there was a digital back for mine F5😊
I did some work for a wealthy client and noticed a D4 box on his office floor. I asked about it and he said he went Sony and had hardly even used it. Fast forward 4 years later and the camera was still on his floor. He laughed when I asked again and said why do you want it? That camera is over 8 years old. He said make me an offer ... Gave him $800 for it and when he could not find the XQD card reader that came with it, he gave me $100 back. It had only 3300 actuations. I have not used my D850 for over a year now. I absolutely love my D4 regardless of it being a beast. Results are always spectacular. Best $700 I have spent in regards to gear.
Just got a D4 with 30k shutter. I simply love it. Sure it's big and heavy, but it's actually a nice package with a small 50mm (a different story with a 70-200).
Thanks Frederick. Your reviews are one of the most honest, simple and likeable. I’ve just upgraded from a used D3s to a D4. After using a D300, D700, D7200, I can fairly I’m sold on the Nikon pro body image quality and ergonomics. Fantastic reliable cameras. Don’t think I’m ever going back to a DX format again
I understand! Ive been using a D7000 for years and bought a D3S two years ago. I see why the pro body spoils us once we learn how to use it. Those low lit high school football fields are no problem for the full frame body
I had intense G.a.s for around 2 years. Made a crazy mistake of selling my d850 and df alongside 3 zeiss lenses. For a lighter, more travel friendly Fuji kit Xt-4/x-pro-3 and a couple of lenses. And after half a year I gave up and admitted to myself I made a big mistake. Happy to report that I have a practically like new d700 and a d4s on its way to me. It’s been a ride. I’ve wanted a d4/s for a very long time and I will be keeping it even when I use my Nikon film cameras. It’s good to see someone really using their photography kit and helping others. Cheers for the video.
Thank you for sharing! I also tried Fuji, but my hands never liked the buttons and dials / the "feel" of the camera. Great image quality, especially when processed in Capture One, but the ergonomics made me sell my Fuji cameras (YMMV). Now at least I can say "been there, seen it, done it".
After seen your videos about the d700 and D4 I actually bought both of them a year ago. Very happy with these cameras. The D700 has an film like look and the D4 is super smooth and sturdy. I like to have a big camera in my hands and these fits like a glove. Thank you for yhe inspiration.
Going to go from a d200 to a d4 will be a great purchase. Found one used $900 CAD. Mostly shoot sports photography so this will be a beast to shoot with
Great video! I own a D850 and a D4s and also love the rendition and colors the later one offers. There is just something special about pictures from a D4/D4s. If one is not scared by the weight and size, definetly give it a try 🙂
Jeg har altid ønsket mig et d4 og efter at have set dine videoer ,måtte jeg have en.den er bare så lækker og robust.jeg har også et d850 og d500.vil give dig ret i at den producerer nogle dejlige farver.vægten generer mig ikke,synes den har en god ergonomi og god balance i hånden.tak for dine fine videoer
Thank you Frederik! I purchased my d750 a few years ago after watching your review of it, and now I recently purchased a second one because I love it so much!
I have a D4s, I absolutely love it!! It is definitely a beast to carry around though, no doubt! I also own a D850 & Z6. They all have their place in my photography adventures. I thought about trading my D4s in for a Z9 but I just can't give it up. So, if I trade anything in, it will be the Z6. Thanks for sharing!!
Patty, I've also a D850 and a Z6. I'm thinking of getting myself one (either the D4 or D4s) so you recommend it? I mean Image Quality is better than the D850 / Z6??
@@enricomarconi8358 Hi, I don’t think I would say that the image quality is better. The D850 produces some beautiful images. The one thing the D4s has is speed. Cameras are a very personal choice and everyone is different. However, if you don’t need the speed of a D4/4s, I would say the combo you have is great!
@@Trish12303 thank you for your message. The only think is that the 16MP sensor (especially the one found on the D4) is famous for its low light performance and the amazing colours that come out of it... I'm sure that the D850 has a great image quality - no doubt. I shoot with it at every opportunity I get... I don't particularly needs speed, but sensor / image quality yes!
I was lucky and ran across a D4S that had only about 9K shutter clicks and jumped on it. I was in the market for it after haven shot with a D90 and a pair of D700s. I agree, the image quality is superb, and I didn't think image quality could get better than the D700, that camera has some magic to it that I can't explain. As for weight, it just does not bother me, I shoot live events on a weekly basis and I mount the old heavy 80-200 2.8D to it along with the 180 2.8D and don't have any issues with the weight. I guess I'm used of it, I've always had battery grips, dating back to when I first purchased the D90. 16MP is not an issue for me, heck I've printed 30x20 wedding images and absolutely no issues. I love the dynamic range of the D4S, I'm always able to clean up high ISO images and over and under exposed images with no issues. In addition to everything else, I love the file management of the 16 megapixels(although storage is cheap) and it's not taxing on my current workstation and laptop workflow. Overall, the D4S is a great camera and I don't plan on not using it, even with my use of mirrorless....
@@frederikboving No problem, this is a great video, I should have mentioned that in my comments. I’m at a point in photography where the character output from the gear really matters to me and right now the character of the D4S with Nikkor glass is checking all boxes for me…
Thank you for your sharing ❤I have D4s, Df and Z6III. I like D4s because the images quality are really good. Video quality is not a big problem for me because I seldom use D4s to take a video, even if Z6III😂
Thank you for this review ! I just bought one, on Monday I’ll pick it up from the senzor cleaning operation :) hope to capture the best moments with it ! ✌🏻
Love this camera, (D4s) ergonomics are a treat to use despite the weight that is not a problem, it is the reason we purchased, nice chunky well balanced camera. Most info is on the outside to set up. Purchased one with 23,000 in mint condition. 16Mp is more than enough for many and we don't use for video, we have other cameras for that. Beautiful piece of kit and always renders excellent images at high ISO numbers if needed. 12 MP for magazine layouts and 16MP for posters. NB: The D4s has a quiet mode, so you cannot hear anything, there is just a green light that lets you know a photo has been taken along with the preview that will just appear. Excellent review, thanks.
I have now : D4s , D850, D200 and SLR F5 Annyversary 50th. I have bought that all brand new and I keep it now in new top mint condition. I enjoy all of that in the same time and use them for diffirent proposalsals. No chance to stay with only one because colours and pictures are nice but so differ from each other. D4s was the last one with pure NIKON- made matrix. Later models such as D5, D6, D850 are using Toshiba or Sony matrix and develop differ colours.
A technic friend of mine says the D2 is the last one with a Nikon sensor..so it has to be the way to interconnect all such a invisible tech to create an image. Same with the AF area - on paper D750 should be "better" focusing but not always is the case. Congrats
@@borisangeloffsimeonoff1288 Nikon D2 (if you exactly mean D2h) did. It has Nikon made sensor (Nikon LBCAST JFET APS-C). But it wasn't the last Nikon-made sensor. D700, D3 have FF Nikon-made sensor marked as Nikon NC81338L CMOS. Nikon D4 and D4s both have 16 Mpix Sensor Nikon NC81366W CMOS. It was the last sensor produced by Nikon.
Great series. I just ordered a D4S for around 1300 USD w tax and shipping. MPB. Shutter around 20k and body rated excellent. OEM battery but aftermarket charger. Who knows the condition of those items. Going to order a Z9 charger and 18D series factory battery for the D4S. Along w new cards. It should be squared away. I own a D3 also and 14-24 2.8 70-200 and a 60. Night Street photos and some land scape most likely. Thanks again for the content. 👍
I have had my D4 about a year now and love it , the low light capabilities are very pleasing , it's a bit heavy no doubt, however i can still hand hold with my 80-400 on it
I own a Nikon Z-9 that I use for bird photography but when I go to do portraits I grab my D4S. They just look better and the smaller file is easier to process. Great camera. Plus all my old glass fits it.
The XQD card saga is what kept me from purchasing a D500 and the D850 for years. Finally when the price of both bodies came down and the CF Express became available, I bought both bodies.
I like the balance of this camera with the long lenses I use it with. Only two things I miss; no Group area focus mode and can’t assign area modes to buttons. But not enough to keep me from buying a second body so I will ALWAYS HAVE ONE. This feels like shooting a camera, not a computer.
Excellent review! I just got hold of one recently and everything you say is true. The images are worth it all. QXD card is expensive compared to SD Cards however buying it used will get you nearly equivalent prices. I think the card is worth it because the speed the card gives the camera allows for even more buffering speed as it's probably 200-300x faster than SD cards. So if you got a shoot that requires a machine gun speed for recording it's there. I would just hate to be the one that would have to edit all those photos. This is the only camera I would trust 100% of the time to produce straight out of the camera images. You are so right, the colors are so beautiful it makes you want to cry and give the camera a big hug. I think I had to change my drawers when I first brought the images into lightroom. You loose dynamic range as you increase ISO with cameras but the change is so subtle in this camera you can't tell, all you have to deal with is a little noise. Other cameras at low ISO's just can't touch it. The new mirrorless cameras might but I'm staying away because battery life is a big issue to me. These cameras are affordable now. I don't need 4k video and that's the only feature I see in mirrorless that's desirable. Here's the other benefit you didn't mention or even elude too. It's the feeling you get when you have the Flagship camera of all cameras, that costs new $6,000 plus. Those folks in Nat. Geo. use this camera with AWESOME effect. All that is in your hands and I don't want to sound like a snob but you want to hold it up, press that high speed button and say "DO YOU SEE THIS". Of course I'm exaggerating but that's the feeling of absolute confidence that there is no excuse for a bad photograph anymore.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for a great comment - yes, the problem with top end gear is that if you come home with crap images then there is only the photographer to blame 🤗
Great video ! I have never demounted a battery grip to fit the camera in a bag. My D6 fits perfect together with the D850 in both my Peli and Thinktank airport.
Another excellent video . Thank you . I used to have a 2DX but it was stolen. I bought it new and that was a good few years ago. The portrait photos that I got from that camera were superb. Wonderful colours. I replaced it with a D700, which I still have, and also a D850. After watching your video and listening to your comments about the colours on the D4, I think I might try one.
Hey Frederik, another great review, thank you. I have to agree about the image quality, my D4 produces the most amazing (and in focus) images I've ever seen. As much as I love my D700, D810, the D4 is my go to body when I want to get the job done 100%. It has never let me down, the AF is so accurate that it scares me sometimes! Truly one of the last best DSLR's ever made, the D5 and D6 were kind of an anti-climax. I truly believe that Nikon achieved it's greatest level of maturity where DSLR's are concerned from 2008 - 2014 - the golden age. I say this because I've tried the D7500 as a travel camera, and D7200, the color science was horrible on these, especially the D7500. The D700, D300, D4 etc on the other hand all just gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing! Yes, I think you are right that the D4 was probably the peak of the gold age DSLR wise with Nikon. My only consideration is when I should get a second D4 as my backup camera!
You are coming up on 9K SUBscribers, Frederik!!! That is great! 👍 Really enjoyed your review in this Video. If I were strolling along the beach, I would want one of the “Pro” cameras. I’ve heard the Z series of cameras do fairly well with regards to weather sealing. All I know is I’ve had my D700 out in inclement Weather and never a problem. It has been covered in snow before! I noticed your hot shoe didn't have the little plastic slide in cover. I use either a Nikon or ‘Vello’ brand hot shoe cover. I would make a suggestion to anyone out there to do this, and/ or put Gaffers tape over it. In fact, I use Gaffers tape over the battery and card doors as well, if I will be in really tough conditions. “Cheap Insurance!” You bring up very valid points regarding the “Service Life” of these older cameras, Frederik. Nikon can be very “Funny” to deal with, so if a person has a good local shop, I would say buy a clean used model and not give it a second thought. Shutters are generally reliable, and while cameras like the D4/D4s are rated for several Hundred Thousand actuations, they can prematurely fail. Remember that “Live View” adds an extra actuation when used, and this will affect the Shutter Count when checked on a used camera. Regarding Resolution, 16 Megapixels is often more than enough. If anyone has any doubts/ questions about Resolution, please check out Thom Hogan. He illustrates quite effectively really high resolutions are not always needed for average use. It really surprised me. 🤔 Stay safe Frederik, as well as you fellow RUclipsrs! Happy Shooting! 👍🙏✌📷😊
I bought one long ago when first came out. Because I could lol no hope as never fully used it properly but still have it. Life changed and video took over. Maybe one day I'll pick it up again. I used an F5 massively. Love a big body. In cameras 😅 Nice video. Yup the D850 has Bluetooth and connectivity to apps etc. I have that too. Hopefully the batteries are OK. Nice video. After F5 I Got D300 'then D700. The 700 was amazing loved that camera. They dinosaurs now.
I still have several of those pro bodies. D4, D3s and the D3x. And in 2024 still very usable. Ok I got a couple of D850's but there is absolutely nothing wrong with those pro camera's from back then. I saw a comparision between the D3x and Z6 and there was no real difference in IQ.
Thank you for your sincere sharing, I am from Vietnam and am using Nikon D5 for my work. I am also wondering if I should buy a D4 for myself at this time of 2023... and through your sharing, I am no longer wondering.
3:00 nikon in my country will try to service it, they have spare part available even after 10 years, sometimes for some camera models and will tell other nikon authorized service center in another country for spare part avaibility
Hi, the video is really instructive, and the Danish sea is always wild and windy! I use to use a d700 and a canon 5d for fun with prime lenses 20, 35 and 50mm for street photography. It came yesterday to me an offer of a d4 for around 425€ and 14*.*** Shots in the shutter.... I do not know what to do, seems a good price and an awesome sensor.
Also my doubt is if a d610 or a d750 would provide the same quality for the same price or even less at least the d610 is cheap and everybody says that that sensor is awesome too
@@jorgea.a.597 I have both the D750 and the D4 (have sold the D700). Yes, the D610 gets a lot of praise for its image quality - have never tried it though. The D750 has for many years been my workhorse. It is just so easy to work with and it just does what you ask it to do. Some say the image quality is a bit "technical" and it is certainly not the same as the D700 or the D4. I have used the D750 mainly for product shoots, and there it is less of an issue. I have a blog post here about the D700 vs the D4: frederikboving.com/nikon-d700-vs-nikon-d4/ - maybe that can help you now that you know the D700. I also have a compare of the D750 and the D700 frederikboving.com/nikon-d700-versus-d750/ - again, when you know the D700 that article may be useful. The price you mention for the D4 is certainly very fair, and with around say 150t actuations on the clock, I think your D4 will have lots of life left in it. Be aware though that the D4 is probably no longer serviced by Nikon - some say the electronics for the D4 is no longer produced or kept in stock. Hope this helps or confuses you on a higher level.
I have an old D700, came out in 2009 I think.... Nikon still services it fully. I have never had issues with that. The D4 or D4s is a beast. Will probably be Mt next camera unless I fully switch to mirrorless
Dear Frederik. I finally just got a D4 ! In great shape and with 20k clicks ! Wanted to ask a very specific question, if you don't mind: can you disable the focus point illumination? The red coloured illumination I mean. We can do that on smaller bodies, but I can't find the way to do that on the D4... Could you try and let me know, please? So far the rendering is beautiful, you have convinced me, even though I have a d700 and d850... ! Thank you in advance! Have a nice day.
Hi I asked Chat GPT and this is the answer I got: "Yes, you can turn off the focus point illumination on a Nikon D4. To do so, go to the camera's menu, navigate to the Custom Setting Menu (pencil icon), select "Autofocus" options, and then choose "Focus Point Illumination." From there, you can select the desired setting to turn off or adjust the focus point illumination." Notice that you can turn the illumination on and off for manual and AF individually. Hope this helps!
Thx. In the meanwhile I found it. But I think you have two stripes. One oyour shoulder and one extra for the d4, or? With a carabiner system? It looks very comfortable. Thank you for prompt responding. Chris
You're right- thanks for pointing that out. It's a black rapid one. A bit dated. Not sure about the model - their naming convention is a bit convoluted imho. A nightmare to put on but once it's there, it carries the D4 elegantly sitting on your hip. And easy to get hold of the D4 fast.
I have a Nikon D90 and I won't be replacing it anytime soon. It's fine enough for what I do with it. The D90 is only 703 gram and the D4 is 1108 gram. So that's almost half a kilo pack of sugar less in weight, and thus it might be a better camera for those who want a lighter camera that is compatible with old and new lenses (has internal focus motor) so F-fitting lenses from Type D to Type G but not Type E.
As a beach, river, and outdoor photographer this seems like a no brainer. I can get 4K from my cellphone or a goPro. My first real camera was the F5 at the dawn of digital. Still have one I keep around for giggles. D800 is super affordable as well and you can get twice the MP's. Probably will buy both in the long run.
Excellent. Yes it's a beast but I love it. I use it with a 300mm f2.8 and consider it my day in the gym. As you say the weight is a compromise for the fab image quality. Not sure what you mean about not zooming in the viewfinder. Is this for viewing your shots? Thanks.
Hi! Lol 😂 to your comment about the day in the gym! Yes, it feel like lifting weights 🏋️ to use the D4 with a heavy lens! The zoom in the viewfinder is if you're used to a ML where the electronic viewfinder lets you zoom digitally - that's not available in a good old optical viewfinder 🙂
Have use the Nikon D4 since 2013 and use it still. For that time i use the Nikon D3 which still is a great camera. My best camera is always the Nikon F5 than the D4. Use 9 out of 10 the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G on the D4. The Nikon AF 85mm f/1.4D IF is always on my Nikon F5. Have a Nikon Z9 but don’t like the Z lenses such as the Nikon Z 85mm F/1.2 S-line. Have also a F5/D4/Z9 backup camera. The D4 is for portraits a great camera and have now 897.985 clicks and my backup 678.453 clicks. My old Nikon D3 died 999.875 clicks. Do all my photos on my iPad Pro because i’m always on the road. Use on my cameras the black Peak Design Slide strap and use my old Billingham 550 khaki canvas tan leather camera bag.
Thanks for sharing! May I ask why you do not like the Z lenses? I have many of them and my 35mm f/1.8 is my absolute favourite and IMHO levels above any F-mount lens I have ever tried.
XQD is the same size as CF express B uses in the Z9. With firmware older cameras can use the new Cfast cards instead of XQD. I think they did suppose for D5 but I’m not sure if Nikon updated the firmware to allow the D4 to take the newest cards. It is nice that you can use the Z9 battery. Shot count should go up to 32-3300 on a single battery since it’s a bigger capacity battery vs the older C versions.
I have a d4, d7100 and Fuji film xt1. I find myself doing spontaneous family and street photography with the xt1 (using manual focus lenses), the d7100 for wildlife (mainly birding) and the d4 for cave photography. It’s big and heavy, and there are often times when I loathe carrying it into the bush walks, up mountains to caves, but it is so reliable and I get the shots I need. I can’t say it’s as fun to use as the xt1, nor as versatile as the d7100, but it’s the camera I’d choose if I simply need to get the shot.
Agreed! I was out shooting at the beach yesterday and brought my trusty D4. Had I brought any other camera I'd be cleaning the sensor now; not with the D4, it just gets the job done with no complaints or talking back! 🤗
I have small hands, I really like how it feels I still find it much nicer ergonomically than say my fujifilm cameras which are half the size. The weight doesn't bother me at all, conversely I like the weight, it's harder to overcome inertia in heavier objects so it shakes less, useful when you have no stabilisation. It's bulky which means you may have to make room to accommodate it in your bag, but I can live with that.
Thank you for sharing! I have big hands so it is difficult for me to assess how the D4 works for small hands, so great that you provide some insight! All the best!
@@frederikboving no problem, I think for some women with smaller hands than me it might not be the best choice camera, but people shouldn't think they need big hands to handle one.
Excellent summary. I had a D3 and now have a D5, which is almost the same size, weight and usability. The build quality is unbeaten and it feels like a tool not a toy. Do have a recommendation for an L-bracket for the D4?
very unfortunate that Nikon never bothered to make a firmware update to allow the D4 and D4S to use CF-Express Type B cards in the XQD slots as it is all that is required to have access to those very fast and affordable cards :( For now I think I'll keep my sights on a used D3 or D3S, there is something special in that sensor and I have a bunck of CF cards around
Agreed. I asked the ChatGPT if CF express cards can be used in the D4: "No, the Nikon D4 camera does not support CFexpress cards natively. The Nikon D4 uses XQD memory cards as its primary storage media. While XQD cards and CFexpress cards have a similar form factor, they are not compatible with each other as they use different communication protocols. However, there is an optional firmware update available for the Nikon D4 that allows it to support the newer, faster XQD 2.0 cards. This firmware update was released by Nikon in 2016, and it allows the D4 to take advantage of the faster write speeds of XQD 2.0 cards, which can be useful for photographers who shoot in burst mode or capture large RAW files. So, while you cannot use a CFexpress card directly in the Nikon D4, you can still take advantage of faster storage options by using XQD 2.0 cards with the optional firmware update installed." Pretty scary / impressive that ChatGPT knows something as specific as this.
Forgot to mention the ‘ThinkTank’ and ‘Lowepro’ camera/lens single cases, as I believe you made reference to the size and ability to carry the body and lens together, Frederik? These cases will hold a larger size DSLR, with large telephoto lens attached. They are offered in several sizes. I am a fan of ‘ThinkTank,’ and have one of these cases, and they work well. Check it out.
So, I've decided to join the club of Nikon D4 owners. It’ not that everyone needs but wants to have thing. I’ve got D3s and D800, so I can compare the experience. Well, I’ve been thinking that since D800 and D4 are the same generation and have a lot in common, they will be the same color theory and so on, but it’s not really the same. First, D4 menus system is very long. Lots of adjustments. And all knobs are programable. AF system is really great, in a day/ mixed / and low light. And you don’t need any AF adjustments at all (like D3s). Funny AF woks great and fast even with slow AFS 50F1.4G (it’s really not that great with D800, but AFS35F1.8G and AFS85F1.8G woks great with D800). Colors are richest right away. You need adjust gain on D800 to get the same colors. Exposure needs minus 0,3/0,7 adjustment, and I find D800 exposure more consistent. I’ve heard that there is something awkward with auto iso on D4. I liked that D800 AF is linked to Face priority exposure. Seems like D4 is little different. But any way, it’s like D3s - fast response, fast focus, low light performance camera. Will keep shooting further… Good luck to everyone.
@@Brez6645Hi, sorry for late answer. In terms of photography processing, d4 is more convenient , control and button layout is better, Live view is usable, and I would say that colours out of the camera are better. But the difference is minimal. D4 is newer generation camera and controls layout, and Af is really better in low light at very dark… yes it is better, but only personally, and not for big money difference… and if you don’t need Fast FPS - get D800 series…
True Story - my family and I had stopped in a lay-by just outside Beauly nr Inverness [ where I had visited a Camera Store ] after buying some fish & chips - a car pulled up in front of us - an elderly lady knocked on my window asking for help - she'd just bought a brand new car and an alarm was going off continuously - I went with her and had a look - sure enough it was the seat-belt alarm - I picked up her heavy hand bag and Voila ! the noise stopped , I put her bag on the rear seat and a very happy elderly lady drove off . p.s. This is very quickly becoming one of my favourite RUclips sites .
@@frederikboving There's an excellent little camera store in Beauly [ Ffordes ] and I'd visited there to get a feel of a Nikon D4s , D500 and a D750 they had for sale at the time - I'd never handled a D4s before , compared to my D7000 it felt like a rock ! I'm not very tall and have small hands [ Welsh ] - the D7000 seems like a perfect fit for me and as much as I'd love a D4 or D4s sadly they're too big . I keep reading that the D500 is the mini-D5 with a shutter life of 200k so that's of interest to me - I know it's aimed at Wildlife Photographers but surely it can take a good Landscape Photo too ? I'll probably buy a D500 . Probably .....
What a GREAT video! Thank you so much!! I am interested only in image quality and don't mind video or weight. Currently shooting with D810 and D850. I am now thinking of buying one of these old cameras as well. Question: you think that the image quality of the D4 surpasses the D700 since you have that camera as well?
Thank you Enrico! You put me on the spot here, because there as so many that find the D700 has outstanding image quality and I may end up getting a lot of harsh comments! But I do like the images from the D4 better than the D700, especially the colour rendition. Some say that the D700 has warm and saturated colours, but my D700 has always been a bit "pale" in the colour rendition - a bit like water colours if that makes sense. Could be copy variations of course. The only place where I found the D700 to be outstanding was for B&W images. Here it has produced some of the most crisp pictures of any camera I have ever owned. Hope this helps.
Hi Fredrik, the video's thumbnail is what's making me comment. Have you used any older AF-D lenses on the D4 body? If so, what's your take on thw performance of this combo? I'm looking to buy a D3S very soon and the D lenses are really cheap, enabling one to try many lenses without really breaking the bank. Would you recommend using D lenses on a modern(ish) body?
I have no problems recommending using AF-D lenses on the D4. I know there are some that absolutely love their AI or AIS lenses and the more artistic feel they have, but for me the AF-D and AF-S lenses have always been my clear favourites over AI and AIS. It depends a little bit what you are after. If you like the look of older lens constructions and the look the light has when it travels through less layers of glass, then maybe you should take a look at the AI and AIS lenses. And some say that modern glass "hashes up" the light too much in attempt to mitigate issues like CA and distortion. I am not into that line of thought. Be mindfuld that I shoot very little portraits, mainly landscapes and street, and hence my preference is probably biased in the light of what I use the gear for.
@@frederikboving thanks for such a detailed reply. I personally lean towards people photography. While the designs and costings of D lenses may not be as advanced as the AFS ones, I personally think they look beautiful and may impart an interesting look to the images; maybe not as refined as modern lenses, but definitely different and maybe interesting... Any flaws if there, may not be as pronounced on these low megapixel bodies I guess?
@@AbbasBinYounas Yes, the less megapixels the more forgiving the camera is. High megapixels are brutal in revealing any kind of flaws (including out of focus!).
@@frederikbovinghi, just an update: I got myself a d3s from mpb UK through a friend for around 340£, with approx 120k shutter count. Apart from the almost broken flash sync and remote port covers on the front, it's very clean and well kept cosmetically. I didn't get a chance to shoot it a lot but from what little I've used it, it's a pleasure to handle and shoot, except the weight of course 😅 Also got a d300s with 2800 shutter count!! Bundled with all original accessories, af-d 28-105 and 70-210 variable aperture zooms, a Nikon something DX flash and a brand new copy of D300s Digital Field Guide . All for 130$!!! Everything is in pretty much pristine condition too!! Got the camera basically for the lenses but it turned out to be a great deal I think 🎉😊
I'm sitting very happily with a D3, although I would have loved to have got a D4. I know it's mad but I am thinking of taking my D3 travelling with a couple of small MF primes. Ergonomically it's the bet camera I've held. Also, I've read that the Z9 is about the same weight as the D3, which makes the D4 is ever-so-slightly lighter than the Z9.
I have seen one with 9K shutter in good shape for 1200 Euro. Very tempting but the thing is I already have a minty D4 and D3s. And then there is my D850, D810 and so on.... The fact that Nikon does not service this camera is indeed a consideration so that is one off the negatives. But it still one off the nicest cameras ever. I really have to stop looking at those second hand websites and your video uploads😅😅😅
With the software available today you can easily expand the output from this camera to rival todays offerings in quality, sharpness and dynamic range. You can bump it effortlessly to 40 megapixels and increase the sharpness at the same time. So if you are on a budget this does make a lot of sense if you can handle the weight.
Used D4s prices have fallen recently. I have just bought one with 90k shutter count, boxed, & warranty for £840 U.K. The 4s has been much pricer than the plain 4, but now that wide gap has narrowed a lot. I was surprised to see good pretty good 4s copies priced that low, so I thought it was time to get one.
After a LOT of umming & arring I eventually settled for a Nikon D7200 [ 1k shutter count ] for a mere £414 . Early days yet and I don't know if I'm imagining it but I think the colours on the D7200 are far deeper compared to my old D7000 . Still deciding on FF but will probably be a D810 .....maybe ?
The D7200 fanbase is VERY dedicated (along with the D7100 fanbase). I have seen grown men cry when they parted with their beloved D7100/D7200, so I think you will be very pleased with the D7200. I seem to remember that there were some oil-on-the-sensor issues reported with the early D810 copies reported, so make sure you get a later copy to stay on the safe side.
Hello! Nice educational videos my friend. I need some help, if you could pls. I found a bargain on a D4, but it has a catch, it has 400k clicks, which I dont care, because it wont be my main camera. The real problem is, the seller is saying the camera after 10 shots, the viewfinder can no longer find focus, but after you take the battery out and put it back, the camera will aquire focus for 10 more shots. Besides that, everything works fine. And from the outside, the camera looks well treated. He is selling the camera with 3 batteries, so I guess the battery isnt the culprit. Do you think its a firmware problem or some known issue? Best regards from Portugal!
Hi Hugo, the reported issue is not one that I have heard about before. Focusing is a co-operation between lens and camera. Have you tried to ask seller if the problem is consistent across different lenses so you are absolutely sure it is the body that has the issue? The fact that the issue goes away when the battery is taken out to me indicates a problem related to the camera getting warm - maybe a circuit that starts acting funny when warm? I would be hesitant to buy that copy of the D4 to be honest. All the best!
@@frederikboving about the lenses I will try to get an answer... but he states that the camera focus all they long if you go manual mode. The issue occurs with AF. Thanks for the reply
@@hugomouteira7015 Tha camera focuses all day long in manual mode? The seller has humor! I think he means that the focus confirmation system works also when shooting in manual focus mode. When you talk to him, ask if the problem is there with AF lenses or also AF-S lenses. If it is NOT there with AF-S lenses (motor in the lens), then it might be the motor in the camera that acts funny after 10 shots. I would still be sceptical about this copy of the D4, but your call of course!
Nikon no longer has main boards for the D4. I speak from personal experience. I finally found a repair shop that could get a main board, but the price was the price of a used D4.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing Sam. I guess the D4S har a slightly different board than the D4? Btw, I saw a D4S on sale that had passed 1.2 million shots- that is just crazy!
Hi, I don't have the full overview of alternatives to the D4/D4S this day and age, i.e. if the camera is up to par with a younger alternative. And I don't really use the D4 for sports, which of course is absolutely crazy as it is a camera built for speed. But I feel in love with the image quality and especially the rending of colours. My only input is (in terms of speed) to consider the D4S over the D4 as the FPS specs is a bit better than the D4.
@@joffemannenIf speedy auto focus systems is important to you, I would wait with th ML option unless you can afford a z8 or z9. ML focus systems for affordable cameras has a lot of development to be done IMHO.
I love being just a strictly “Photographer” and not a hybrid shooter. Seems everyone today is a hybrid shooter, Jack of all trades and a master of none.
I went with the D4s for $700 on mbp only because I wanted group area af. don't care about servicability through Nikon as KEH will service almost anything if the shutter ever fails
@@frederikboving I'm only using one primary 32GB XQD card and a big 128GB SD card for when the XQD card in my D850 is full, never tried CF Express though. Those cards came with my used model and I don't want to spend too much money on cards 😄✌🏽 Also I always transfer files via the USB cable so I cannot tell you about card readers 😆
Jeg har en lidt nyere D810 og bruger den stadig, de ektra megspixels er jeg rigtig glad for til mit macro fotografi. Over 250k klik og den kører stadig.
Ingen grund til at ændre et setup der virker og dom du er glad for. D810 har jeg aldrig prøvet men så vidt jeg kan se på kommentarer og anmeldelser så er det stadig i dag et meget fint kamera.
@@frederikboving det er ihvertfald en god arbejdshest at have i tasken. Jeg havde på et tidspunkt et A7RII og var ude ved Hundige strand for et par år siden, hvor hård vind og -15 grader havde lavet vildt fedt is, A7'erens shutter havde det hårdt i kulden, men jeg tog bare mit d810 uf af tasken og den kørte bare 😅
do you have any issues when using the D4 with both an XQD and CF card installed at the same time? I've heard some people describe getting an error when trying to use both cards. Which brand CF card do you use?
I have a D4s which now has 675,000 shutter count and is still motoring away giving me outstanding performance and image quality. These Nikon bodies are built to last!
Wow! That's really impressive!
amazing!
Mine has about that too and still going strong. Nikon told me some people get over a million shutter clicks.
@@chocloditelensmanin my impression until a specific model Japanese made really a tank as photocamera after that started with the pixels race and something has lost into the development,if there was a digital back for mine F5😊
I did some work for a wealthy client and noticed a D4 box on his office floor. I asked about it and he said he went Sony and had hardly even used it. Fast forward 4 years later and the camera was still on his floor. He laughed when I asked again and said why do you want it? That camera is over 8 years old. He said make me an offer ... Gave him $800 for it and when he could not find the XQD card reader that came with it, he gave me $100 back. It had only 3300 actuations. I have not used my D850 for over a year now. I absolutely love my D4 regardless of it being a beast. Results are always spectacular. Best $700 I have spent in regards to gear.
Amazing story 🤩 - thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing!
That’s awesome ! Gotta love those wealthy friends lol
Love it. Nikon D4 D4s are unique cameras with unique sensors.
Great story of how you got your D4.
You lucky son of a gun
The D4 is still my main camera. I love it. I’m a photographer, no video. It’s a piece of art.
👌
Just got a D4 with 30k shutter. I simply love it. Sure it's big and heavy, but it's actually a nice package with a small 50mm (a different story with a 70-200).
It’s just getting “broken in” as they say, ANDRE!
Agreed - with a small lens the camera becomes much more manageable!
Thanks Frederick. Your reviews are one of the most honest, simple and likeable. I’ve just upgraded from a used D3s to a D4. After using a D300, D700, D7200, I can fairly I’m sold on the Nikon pro body image quality and ergonomics. Fantastic reliable cameras. Don’t think I’m ever going back to a DX format again
Thank you for sharing and thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻 - yes, I agree, FF just looks better than aps-c IMHO although many will disagree.
I understand! Ive been using a D7000 for years and bought a D3S two years ago. I see why the pro body spoils us once we learn how to use it. Those low lit high school football fields are no problem for the full frame body
I really like this channel, and the fact that I can get info about "old" cameras and their use today.
🙏🏻
I had intense G.a.s for around 2 years. Made a crazy mistake of selling my d850 and df alongside 3 zeiss lenses. For a lighter, more travel friendly Fuji kit Xt-4/x-pro-3 and a couple of lenses. And after half a year I gave up and admitted to myself I made a big mistake. Happy to report that I have a practically like new d700 and a d4s on its way to me. It’s been a ride. I’ve wanted a d4/s for a very long time and I will be keeping it even when I use my Nikon film cameras. It’s good to see someone really using their photography kit and helping others. Cheers for the video.
Thank you for sharing! I also tried Fuji, but my hands never liked the buttons and dials / the "feel" of the camera. Great image quality, especially when processed in Capture One, but the ergonomics made me sell my Fuji cameras (YMMV). Now at least I can say "been there, seen it, done it".
After seen your videos about the d700 and D4 I actually bought both of them a year ago. Very happy with these cameras. The D700 has an film like look and the D4 is super smooth and sturdy. I like to have a big camera in my hands and these fits like a glove. Thank you for yhe inspiration.
@@Bartstyler 👍👌🙏🏻
Going to go from a d200 to a d4 will be a great purchase. Found one used $900 CAD. Mostly shoot sports photography so this will be a beast to shoot with
Agreed - I think you'll be blown away by the D4 performance - enjoy 🤗💪👌
Great video!
I own a D850 and a D4s and also love the rendition and colors the later one offers.
There is just something special about pictures from a D4/D4s. If one is not scared by the weight and size, definetly give it a try 🙂
Great comment Bastian.
Agreed, great comment Bastian!
It's no way to chose between D4s and D850, I confirm.
i also own the d850 and d4s and yes its big, heavy but the IQ just makes me want to go and shoot.
You are absolutely right. Mine takes cleaner files than my z9.
I own a Nikon d4 and i love it,so fine image quality
👌
Jeg har altid ønsket mig et d4 og efter at have set dine videoer ,måtte jeg have en.den er bare så lækker og robust.jeg har også et d850 og d500.vil give dig ret i at den producerer nogle dejlige farver.vægten generer mig ikke,synes den har en god ergonomi og god balance i hånden.tak for dine fine videoer
I love mine. It takes better photos than my z9. Clean files with incredible resolution. Feels great and is simple enough.
Wow! 😮 And here I thought the Z9 was the top of the pop 🤗 Thank you very much for sharing 🙏🏻
Shoots better than Z9? Please explain. I own a d4s. Ty.
Thank you Frederik!
I purchased my d750 a few years ago after watching your review of it, and now I recently purchased a second one because I love it so much!
Thank you Jamie! Good that you like the D750 🙂
I have a D4s, I absolutely love it!! It is definitely a beast to carry around though, no doubt! I also own a D850 & Z6. They all have their place in my photography adventures. I thought about trading my D4s in for a Z9 but I just can't give it up. So, if I trade anything in, it will be the Z6. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing!
Patty, I've also a D850 and a Z6. I'm thinking of getting myself one (either the D4 or D4s) so you recommend it? I mean Image Quality is better than the D850 / Z6??
@@enricomarconi8358 Hi, I don’t think I would say that the image quality is better. The D850 produces some beautiful images. The one thing the D4s has is speed. Cameras are a very personal choice and everyone is different. However, if you don’t need the speed of a D4/4s, I would say the combo you have is great!
@@Trish12303 thank you for your message. The only think is that the 16MP sensor (especially the one found on the D4) is famous for its low light performance and the amazing colours that come out of it... I'm sure that the D850 has a great image quality - no doubt. I shoot with it at every opportunity I get... I don't particularly needs speed, but sensor / image quality yes!
Keep the 850. I regret trading mine in for the z9. My D4 takes better images than my z9. Cleaner files and better sharpness.
I was lucky and ran across a D4S that had only about 9K shutter clicks and jumped on it. I was in the market for it after haven shot with a D90 and a pair of D700s. I agree, the image quality is superb, and I didn't think image quality could get better than the D700, that camera has some magic to it that I can't explain. As for weight, it just does not bother me, I shoot live events on a weekly basis and I mount the old heavy 80-200 2.8D to it along with the 180 2.8D and don't have any issues with the weight. I guess I'm used of it, I've always had battery grips, dating back to when I first purchased the D90. 16MP is not an issue for me, heck I've printed 30x20 wedding images and absolutely no issues. I love the dynamic range of the D4S, I'm always able to clean up high ISO images and over and under exposed images with no issues. In addition to everything else, I love the file management of the 16 megapixels(although storage is cheap) and it's not taxing on my current workstation and laptop workflow. Overall, the D4S is a great camera and I don't plan on not using it, even with my use of mirrorless....
Great comment Russell !!!
@@georgedavall9449 Thanks
Thank you for sharing Russell - great to hear that you also hold on to the D4S despite also shooting mirrorless.
@@frederikboving No problem, this is a great video, I should have mentioned that in my comments. I’m at a point in photography where the character output from the gear really matters to me and right now the character of the D4S with Nikkor glass is checking all boxes for me…
Thank you for your sharing ❤I have D4s, Df and Z6III. I like D4s because the images quality are really good. Video quality is not a big problem for me because I seldom use D4s to take a video, even if Z6III😂
Thanks for sharing! With the Z6iii, I guess you have all the video capability needed 😉
Thank you for this review ! I just bought one, on Monday I’ll pick it up from the senzor cleaning operation :) hope to capture the best moments with it ! ✌🏻
All the best with your D4! I'm sure you'll love it 🤗
Absolutely agree. Traded a Nikon f6 for my d4. Absolutely love the d4. It and the fuji xt2 are my best tools for my car show photography.
Thank you for sharing!
A legendary camera!
Indeed!
Picked up a clean D4 850 clicks, camera is in great condition happy days
🤗👌💪
Thanks a lot for this good comprehension and all your personal impressions. Like your videos a lot and do profit of them.
Glad you like them! 👌
I have a D3s and love it. It iS a tank like my D700 but the results are worth carrying it.
Thanks for sharing Ed, yes, I also happily carry the D4 knowing what results it produces 🙂
Great review! Whenever I use a D4s I am always impressed by the speed and image quality. I have a D800e, and I prefer images from a D4s.
Thank you for sharing! Good to hear you prefer the D4S image quality - then I don't feel so alone with that point of view 🙂
I own a d4s, and will never need another camera.
Ive got 3 of them including a D4s. They are build for life..
👌
One Of the best Sensor ever made , same sensor of the Df , withthe bridges pixelpitch size! with an AMAZING! dinamic range !!!!
I really like the color rendering of the D4!
The size and weight is the reason I got a D800. I'm so glad I did too.
💪
Love this camera, (D4s) ergonomics are a treat to use despite the weight that is not a problem, it is the reason we purchased, nice chunky well balanced camera. Most info is on the outside to set up. Purchased one with 23,000 in mint condition. 16Mp is more than enough for many and we don't use for video, we have other cameras for that. Beautiful piece of kit and always renders excellent images at high ISO numbers if needed. 12 MP for magazine layouts and 16MP for posters.
NB: The D4s has a quiet mode, so you cannot hear anything, there is just a green light that lets you know a photo has been taken along with the preview that will just appear. Excellent review, thanks.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing
I have now : D4s , D850, D200 and SLR F5 Annyversary 50th. I have bought that all brand new and I keep it now in new top mint condition. I enjoy all of that in the same time and use them for diffirent proposalsals. No chance to stay with only one because colours and pictures are nice but so differ from each other.
D4s was the last one with pure NIKON- made matrix. Later models such as D5, D6, D850 are using Toshiba or Sony matrix and develop differ colours.
Thank you for sharing this with us 🙏🏻
A technic friend of mine says the D2 is the last one with a Nikon sensor..so it has to be the way to interconnect all such a invisible tech to create an image. Same with the AF area - on paper D750 should be "better" focusing but not always is the case.
Congrats
@@borisangeloffsimeonoff1288 Nikon D2 (if you exactly mean D2h) did. It has
Nikon made sensor (Nikon LBCAST JFET APS-C).
But it wasn't the last Nikon-made sensor.
D700, D3 have FF Nikon-made sensor marked as Nikon NC81338L CMOS.
Nikon D4 and D4s both have 16 Mpix Sensor Nikon NC81366W CMOS.
It was the last sensor produced by Nikon.
excellent review!! I have a D3/D610 and I plan on getting a back up D4 for traveling. My D3 is a tank with 160k so far with plenty of life left.
Thank you Marcel! Hope you'll find a good copy of the D4 or D4S! I think you will just love the colour rendition of the D4!
D610 renders amazing color saturation.
Great series. I just ordered a D4S for around 1300 USD w tax and shipping. MPB. Shutter around 20k and body rated excellent. OEM battery but aftermarket charger. Who knows the condition of those items. Going to order a Z9 charger and 18D series factory battery for the D4S. Along w new cards. It should be squared away. I own a D3 also and 14-24 2.8 70-200 and a 60. Night Street photos and some land scape most likely. Thanks again for the content. 👍
Sounds great! I wasn't aware the z9 changer can be used with the D4! That's what I call backwards compatibility! 🙂
My tote bag sets off the seatbelt sensor, so funny.
That thing is a big beautiful beast!
Great video review.!
Thanks! 👍
I have had my D4 about a year now and love it , the low light capabilities are very pleasing , it's a bit heavy no doubt, however i can still hand hold with my 80-400 on it
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing Matt. Good 👍 to hear that the D4 serves you well 👌
I own a Nikon Z-9 that I use for bird photography but when I go to do portraits I grab my D4S. They just look better and the smaller file is easier to process. Great camera. Plus all my old glass fits it.
Thank you for sharing! yes, the D4/D4S is probably one of the best DSLRs ever made by Nikon!
The XQD card saga is what kept me from purchasing a D500 and the D850 for years. Finally when the price of both bodies came down and the CF Express became available, I bought both bodies.
Is CF express not as expensive as XQD?
@@frederikbovingit’s way cheaper and faster than XQD
Very valuable suggestions and excellent video!
Thank you kindly!
This is a really good review!😊
🙏🏻🤗
I like the balance of this camera with the long lenses I use it with. Only two things I miss; no Group area focus mode and can’t assign area modes to buttons. But not enough to keep me from buying a second body so I will ALWAYS HAVE ONE. This feels like shooting a camera, not a computer.
Thank you for sharing Gary! Yes, it is real camera 🙂
@@frederikboving But maybe I'll move up to a Z9 when they come up used for $1,000 😀
@@garymc8956 😄
Excellent review! I just got hold of one recently and everything you say is true. The images are worth it all. QXD card is expensive compared to SD Cards however buying it used will get you nearly equivalent prices. I think the card is worth it because the speed the card gives the camera allows for even more buffering speed as it's probably 200-300x faster than SD cards. So if you got a shoot that requires a machine gun speed for recording it's there. I would just hate to be the one that would have to edit all those photos.
This is the only camera I would trust 100% of the time to produce straight out of the camera images. You are so right, the colors are so beautiful it makes you want to cry and give the camera a big hug. I think I had to change my drawers when I first brought the images into lightroom. You loose dynamic range as you increase ISO with cameras but the change is so subtle in this camera you can't tell, all you have to deal with is a little noise. Other cameras at low ISO's just can't touch it. The new mirrorless cameras might but I'm staying away because battery life is a big issue to me.
These cameras are affordable now. I don't need 4k video and that's the only feature I see in mirrorless that's desirable.
Here's the other benefit you didn't mention or even elude too. It's the feeling you get when you have the Flagship camera of all cameras, that costs new $6,000 plus. Those folks in Nat. Geo. use this camera with AWESOME effect. All that is in your hands and I don't want to sound like a snob but you want to hold it up, press that high speed button and say "DO YOU SEE THIS". Of course I'm exaggerating but that's the feeling of absolute confidence that there is no excuse for a bad photograph anymore.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for a great comment - yes, the problem with top end gear is that if you come home with crap images then there is only the photographer to blame 🤗
Great video ! I have never demounted a battery grip to fit the camera in a bag. My D6 fits perfect together with the D850 in both my Peli and Thinktank airport.
Thank you for sharing Marcus! Now I know I got the wrong camera bag 😉
Thank you very much for this interesting and detailed review!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for another wonderful and helpful video
Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻
Another excellent video . Thank you . I used to have a 2DX but it was stolen. I bought it new and that was a good few years ago. The portrait photos that I got from that camera were superb. Wonderful colours. I replaced it with a D700, which I still have, and also a D850. After watching your video and listening to your comments about the colours on the D4, I think I might try one.
Thank you for sharing Richard! I'm sure a D4 will not disappoint you!
Worth it. Such a powerful beast. Get a good harness and a sturdy tripod.
👌
I really want this camera now.
I hope you will get a good copy 👌
Hey Frederik, another great review, thank you. I have to agree about the image quality, my D4 produces the most amazing (and in focus) images I've ever seen. As much as I love my D700, D810, the D4 is my go to body when I want to get the job done 100%. It has never let me down, the AF is so accurate that it scares me sometimes! Truly one of the last best DSLR's ever made, the D5 and D6 were kind of an anti-climax. I truly believe that Nikon achieved it's greatest level of maturity where DSLR's are concerned from 2008 - 2014 - the golden age. I say this because I've tried the D7500 as a travel camera, and D7200, the color science was horrible on these, especially the D7500. The D700, D300, D4 etc on the other hand all just gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing! Yes, I think you are right that the D4 was probably the peak of the gold age DSLR wise with Nikon. My only consideration is when I should get a second D4 as my backup camera!
You are coming up on 9K SUBscribers, Frederik!!! That is great! 👍
Really enjoyed your review in this Video. If I were strolling along the beach, I would want one of the “Pro” cameras. I’ve heard the Z series of cameras do fairly well with regards to weather sealing. All I know is I’ve had my D700 out in inclement Weather and never a problem. It has been covered in snow before!
I noticed your hot shoe didn't have the little plastic slide in cover. I use either a Nikon or ‘Vello’ brand hot shoe cover. I would make a suggestion to anyone out there to do this, and/ or put Gaffers tape over it. In fact, I use Gaffers tape over the battery and card doors as well, if I will be in really tough conditions. “Cheap Insurance!”
You bring up very valid points regarding the “Service Life” of these older cameras, Frederik. Nikon can be very “Funny” to deal with, so if a person has a good local shop, I would say buy a clean used model and not give it a second thought. Shutters are generally reliable, and while cameras like the D4/D4s are rated for several Hundred Thousand actuations, they can prematurely fail. Remember that “Live View” adds an extra actuation when used, and this will affect the Shutter Count when checked on a used camera.
Regarding Resolution, 16 Megapixels is often more than enough. If anyone has any doubts/ questions about Resolution, please check out Thom Hogan. He illustrates quite effectively really high resolutions are not always needed for average use. It really surprised me. 🤔
Stay safe Frederik, as well as you fellow RUclipsrs! Happy Shooting! 👍🙏✌📷😊
Stay safe George and thank you 🙏🏻 for your always positive and constructive feedback 👌
Update: Hi Frederik. I just found an excellent D4 for $900 on MPB with only 1416 shutter count! Grabbed it immediately.
Amazing!
thank you for this wonderful video!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙂
I bought one long ago when first came out. Because I could lol no hope as never fully used it properly but still have it. Life changed and video took over. Maybe one day I'll pick it up again. I used an F5 massively. Love a big body. In cameras 😅
Nice video.
Yup the D850 has Bluetooth and connectivity to apps etc. I have that too. Hopefully the batteries are OK. Nice video.
After F5 I Got D300 'then D700. The 700 was amazing loved that camera. They dinosaurs now.
Try the D4 and study it's colour rendition. I think you will be pleasantly surprised!
I still have several of those pro bodies. D4, D3s and the D3x. And in 2024 still very usable. Ok I got a couple of D850's but there is absolutely nothing wrong with those pro camera's from back then. I saw a comparision between the D3x and Z6 and there was no real difference in IQ.
💪👇
Thank you for your sincere sharing, I am from Vietnam and am using Nikon D5 for my work. I am also wondering if I should buy a D4 for myself at this time of 2023... and through your sharing, I am no longer wondering.
🙏🏻👍🤗
3:00 nikon in my country will try to service it, they have spare part available even after 10 years, sometimes for some camera models and will tell other nikon authorized service center in another country for spare part avaibility
Thank you for sharing although I think it is the exception to the rule. But great service from Nikon once again 👍
Hi, the video is really instructive, and the Danish sea is always wild and windy!
I use to use a d700 and a canon 5d for fun with prime lenses 20, 35 and 50mm for street photography. It came yesterday to me an offer of a d4 for around 425€ and 14*.*** Shots in the shutter.... I do not know what to do, seems a good price and an awesome sensor.
Also my doubt is if a d610 or a d750 would provide the same quality for the same price or even less at least the d610 is cheap and everybody says that that sensor is awesome too
@@jorgea.a.597 I have both the D750 and the D4 (have sold the D700). Yes, the D610 gets a lot of praise for its image quality - have never tried it though. The D750 has for many years been my workhorse. It is just so easy to work with and it just does what you ask it to do. Some say the image quality is a bit "technical" and it is certainly not the same as the D700 or the D4. I have used the D750 mainly for product shoots, and there it is less of an issue. I have a blog post here about the D700 vs the D4: frederikboving.com/nikon-d700-vs-nikon-d4/ - maybe that can help you now that you know the D700. I also have a compare of the D750 and the D700 frederikboving.com/nikon-d700-versus-d750/ - again, when you know the D700 that article may be useful. The price you mention for the D4 is certainly very fair, and with around say 150t actuations on the clock, I think your D4 will have lots of life left in it. Be aware though that the D4 is probably no longer serviced by Nikon - some say the electronics for the D4 is no longer produced or kept in stock. Hope this helps or confuses you on a higher level.
I have an old D700, came out in 2009 I think.... Nikon still services it fully. I have never had issues with that. The D4 or D4s is a beast. Will probably be Mt next camera unless I fully switch to mirrorless
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing !
hi the Nikon d700 came out in 2008, which I bought new, and I still use it today and with battery grip weights more,but the pictures are great.
i am using a D3X. Nice pro camera Nikon.
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Dear Frederik.
I finally just got a D4 ! In great shape and with 20k clicks ! Wanted to ask a very specific question, if you don't mind: can you disable the focus point illumination? The red coloured illumination I mean. We can do that on smaller bodies, but I can't find the way to do that on the D4... Could you try and let me know, please?
So far the rendering is beautiful, you have convinced me, even though I have a d700 and d850... !
Thank you in advance!
Have a nice day.
Hi I asked Chat GPT and this is the answer I got: "Yes, you can turn off the focus point illumination on a Nikon D4. To do so, go to the camera's menu, navigate to the Custom Setting Menu (pencil icon), select "Autofocus" options, and then choose "Focus Point Illumination." From there, you can select the desired setting to turn off or adjust the focus point illumination." Notice that you can turn the illumination on and off for manual and AF individually. Hope this helps!
@@frederikboving thank you Frédéric.
Thx. In the meanwhile I found it. But I think you have two stripes. One oyour shoulder and one extra for the d4, or? With a carabiner system? It looks very comfortable. Thank you for prompt responding. Chris
You're right- thanks for pointing that out. It's a black rapid one. A bit dated. Not sure about the model - their naming convention is a bit convoluted imho. A nightmare to put on but once it's there, it carries the D4 elegantly sitting on your hip. And easy to get hold of the D4 fast.
I have a Nikon D90 and I won't be replacing it anytime soon. It's fine enough for what I do with it. The D90 is only 703 gram and the D4 is 1108 gram. So that's almost half a kilo pack of sugar less in weight, and thus it might be a better camera for those who want a lighter camera that is compatible with old and new lenses (has internal focus motor) so F-fitting lenses from Type D to Type G but not Type E.
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As a beach, river, and outdoor photographer this seems like a no brainer. I can get 4K from my cellphone or a goPro. My first real camera was the F5 at the dawn of digital. Still have one I keep around for giggles. D800 is super affordable as well and you can get twice the MP's. Probably will buy both in the long run.
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Excellent. Yes it's a beast but I love it. I use it with a 300mm f2.8 and consider it my day in the gym. As you say the weight is a compromise for the fab image quality. Not sure what you mean about not zooming in the viewfinder. Is this for viewing your shots? Thanks.
Hi! Lol 😂 to your comment about the day in the gym! Yes, it feel like lifting weights 🏋️ to use the D4 with a heavy lens! The zoom in the viewfinder is if you're used to a ML where the electronic viewfinder lets you zoom digitally - that's not available in a good old optical viewfinder 🙂
I bought a D4 last year. I am still getting used to how stunning the IQ is. Awesome camera
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Have use the Nikon D4 since 2013 and use it still. For that time i use the Nikon D3 which still is a great camera. My best camera is always the Nikon F5 than the D4. Use 9 out of 10 the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G on the D4. The Nikon AF 85mm f/1.4D IF is always on my Nikon F5. Have a Nikon Z9 but don’t like the Z lenses such as the Nikon Z 85mm F/1.2 S-line. Have also a F5/D4/Z9 backup camera. The D4 is for portraits a great camera and have now 897.985 clicks and my backup 678.453 clicks. My old Nikon D3 died 999.875 clicks. Do all my photos on my iPad Pro because i’m always on the road. Use on my cameras the black Peak Design Slide strap and use my old Billingham 550 khaki canvas tan leather camera bag.
Thanks for sharing! May I ask why you do not like the Z lenses? I have many of them and my 35mm f/1.8 is my absolute favourite and IMHO levels above any F-mount lens I have ever tried.
Thx Frederik, very likeable. Tell me, what kind of strap do your wear? Best wishes, Chris
Thanks Chris! It is Peak Design - I like their system a lot! Best Frederik
XQD is the same size as CF express B uses in the Z9. With firmware older cameras can use the new Cfast cards instead of XQD. I think they did suppose for D5 but I’m not sure if Nikon updated the firmware to allow the D4 to take the newest cards. It is nice that you can use the Z9 battery. Shot count should go up to 32-3300 on a single battery since it’s a bigger capacity battery vs the older C versions.
@@LKN4WAR Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing- much appreciated 👌
I have a d4, d7100 and Fuji film xt1. I find myself doing spontaneous family and street photography with the xt1 (using manual focus lenses), the d7100 for wildlife (mainly birding) and the d4 for cave photography. It’s big and heavy, and there are often times when I loathe carrying it into the bush walks, up mountains to caves, but it is so reliable and I get the shots I need. I can’t say it’s as fun to use as the xt1, nor as versatile as the d7100, but it’s the camera I’d choose if I simply need to get the shot.
Agreed! I was out shooting at the beach yesterday and brought my trusty D4. Had I brought any other camera I'd be cleaning the sensor now; not with the D4, it just gets the job done with no complaints or talking back! 🤗
I have small hands, I really like how it feels I still find it much nicer ergonomically than say my fujifilm cameras which are half the size. The weight doesn't bother me at all, conversely I like the weight, it's harder to overcome inertia in heavier objects so it shakes less, useful when you have no stabilisation. It's bulky which means you may have to make room to accommodate it in your bag, but I can live with that.
Thank you for sharing! I have big hands so it is difficult for me to assess how the D4 works for small hands, so great that you provide some insight! All the best!
@@frederikboving no problem, I think for some women with smaller hands than me it might not be the best choice camera, but people shouldn't think they need big hands to handle one.
Excellent summary. I had a D3 and now have a D5, which is almost the same size, weight and usability. The build quality is unbeaten and it feels like a tool not a toy.
Do have a recommendation for an L-bracket for the D4?
RRS or Kirk or ProMediaGear.
Thanks for sharing! Uh L-brackets; they tend to block the doors of the camera connectors so no I haven't found a good solution yet!
@@frederikboving The very good ones don‘t 😉
Got the Nikon 16-35mm f4 vr based on your video
👌 Hope you enjoy it as much as I do
Nikons with Expeed 4 - onwards, are worth buying.
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very unfortunate that Nikon never bothered to make a firmware update to allow the D4 and D4S to use CF-Express Type B cards in the XQD slots as it is all that is required to have access to those very fast and affordable cards :(
For now I think I'll keep my sights on a used D3 or D3S, there is something special in that sensor and I have a bunck of CF cards around
Agreed. I asked the ChatGPT if CF express cards can be used in the D4:
"No, the Nikon D4 camera does not support CFexpress cards natively. The Nikon D4 uses XQD memory cards as its primary storage media. While XQD cards and CFexpress cards have a similar form factor, they are not compatible with each other as they use different communication protocols.
However, there is an optional firmware update available for the Nikon D4 that allows it to support the newer, faster XQD 2.0 cards. This firmware update was released by Nikon in 2016, and it allows the D4 to take advantage of the faster write speeds of XQD 2.0 cards, which can be useful for photographers who shoot in burst mode or capture large RAW files.
So, while you cannot use a CFexpress card directly in the Nikon D4, you can still take advantage of faster storage options by using XQD 2.0 cards with the optional firmware update installed."
Pretty scary / impressive that ChatGPT knows something as specific as this.
Forgot to mention the ‘ThinkTank’ and ‘Lowepro’ camera/lens single cases, as I believe you made reference to the size and ability to carry the body and lens together, Frederik? These cases will hold a larger size DSLR, with large telephoto lens attached. They are offered in several sizes. I am a fan of ‘ThinkTank,’ and have one of these cases, and they work well. Check it out.
Thank you George - will do!
So, I've decided to join the club of Nikon D4 owners. It’ not that everyone needs but wants to have thing. I’ve got D3s and D800, so I can compare the experience. Well, I’ve been thinking that since D800 and D4 are the same generation and have a lot in common, they will be the same color theory and so on, but it’s not really the same. First, D4 menus system is very long. Lots of adjustments. And all knobs are programable. AF system is really great, in a day/ mixed / and low light. And you don’t need any AF adjustments at all (like D3s). Funny AF woks great and fast even with slow AFS 50F1.4G (it’s really not that great with D800, but AFS35F1.8G and AFS85F1.8G woks great with D800). Colors are richest right away. You need adjust gain on D800 to get the same colors. Exposure needs minus 0,3/0,7 adjustment, and I find D800 exposure more consistent. I’ve heard that there is something awkward with auto iso on D4. I liked that D800 AF is linked to Face priority exposure. Seems like D4 is little different. But any way, it’s like D3s - fast response, fast focus, low light performance camera. Will keep shooting further… Good luck to everyone.
Thank you for sharing and best of luck with your D4!
Do you like it more than the D3s? I'm debating which of the two to go for.
@@Brez6645Hi, sorry for late answer. In terms of photography processing, d4 is more convenient , control and button layout is better, Live view is usable, and I would say that colours out of the camera are better. But the difference is minimal. D4 is newer generation camera and controls layout, and Af is really better in low light at very dark… yes it is better, but only personally, and not for big money difference… and if you don’t need Fast FPS - get D800 series…
@@Oleg_Dem_ Thanks very much for your reply and the information.
True Story - my family and I had stopped in a lay-by just outside Beauly nr Inverness [ where I had visited a Camera Store ] after buying some fish & chips - a car pulled up in front of us - an elderly lady knocked on my window asking for help - she'd just bought a brand new car and an alarm was going off continuously - I went with her and had a look - sure enough it was the seat-belt alarm - I picked up her heavy hand bag and Voila ! the noise stopped , I put her bag on the rear seat and a very happy elderly lady drove off .
p.s. This is very quickly becoming one of my favourite RUclips sites .
Ha-ha! I get a large variety of comments on this channel but I must say that reading yours was the best in a long time! 🙂 Take care Peter!
@@frederikboving There's an excellent little camera store in Beauly [ Ffordes ] and I'd visited there to get a feel of a Nikon D4s , D500 and a D750 they had for sale at the time - I'd never handled a D4s before , compared to my D7000 it felt like a rock !
I'm not very tall and have small hands [ Welsh ] - the D7000 seems like a perfect fit for me and as much as I'd love a D4 or D4s sadly they're too big .
I keep reading that the D500 is the mini-D5 with a shutter life of 200k so that's of interest to me - I know it's aimed at Wildlife Photographers but surely it can take a good Landscape Photo too ?
I'll probably buy a D500 .
Probably .....
What a GREAT video! Thank you so much!! I am interested only in image quality and don't mind video or weight. Currently shooting with D810 and D850. I am now thinking of buying one of these old cameras as well. Question: you think that the image quality of the D4 surpasses the D700 since you have that camera as well?
Thank you Enrico! You put me on the spot here, because there as so many that find the D700 has outstanding image quality and I may end up getting a lot of harsh comments! But I do like the images from the D4 better than the D700, especially the colour rendition. Some say that the D700 has warm and saturated colours, but my D700 has always been a bit "pale" in the colour rendition - a bit like water colours if that makes sense. Could be copy variations of course. The only place where I found the D700 to be outstanding was for B&W images. Here it has produced some of the most crisp pictures of any camera I have ever owned. Hope this helps.
@@frederikboving Thank you for your reply. One last quick question: do you think that the D4 and the D4s share the same sensor? i.e. the same quality?
Yes. Be mindful that the D4S may still be serviced, the D4 not.
@@frederikboving if the quality is the same then the D4s should be the viable option imo...
Hi Fredrik, the video's thumbnail is what's making me comment.
Have you used any older AF-D lenses on the D4 body? If so, what's your take on thw performance of this combo?
I'm looking to buy a D3S very soon and the D lenses are really cheap, enabling one to try many lenses without really breaking the bank.
Would you recommend using D lenses on a modern(ish) body?
I have no problems recommending using AF-D lenses on the D4. I know there are some that absolutely love their AI or AIS lenses and the more artistic feel they have, but for me the AF-D and AF-S lenses have always been my clear favourites over AI and AIS. It depends a little bit what you are after. If you like the look of older lens constructions and the look the light has when it travels through less layers of glass, then maybe you should take a look at the AI and AIS lenses. And some say that modern glass "hashes up" the light too much in attempt to mitigate issues like CA and distortion. I am not into that line of thought. Be mindfuld that I shoot very little portraits, mainly landscapes and street, and hence my preference is probably biased in the light of what I use the gear for.
@@frederikboving thanks for such a detailed reply. I personally lean towards people photography. While the designs and costings of D lenses may not be as advanced as the AFS ones, I personally think they look beautiful and may impart an interesting look to the images; maybe not as refined as modern lenses, but definitely different and maybe interesting... Any flaws if there, may not be as pronounced on these low megapixel bodies I guess?
@@AbbasBinYounas Yes, the less megapixels the more forgiving the camera is. High megapixels are brutal in revealing any kind of flaws (including out of focus!).
@@frederikbovinghi, just an update: I got myself a d3s from mpb UK through a friend for around 340£, with approx 120k shutter count. Apart from the almost broken flash sync and remote port covers on the front, it's very clean and well kept cosmetically. I didn't get a chance to shoot it a lot but from what little I've used it, it's a pleasure to handle and shoot, except the weight of course 😅
Also got a d300s with 2800 shutter count!! Bundled with all original accessories, af-d 28-105 and 70-210 variable aperture zooms, a Nikon something DX flash and a brand new copy of D300s Digital Field Guide . All for 130$!!! Everything is in pretty much pristine condition too!! Got the camera basically for the lenses but it turned out to be a great deal I think 🎉😊
@@AbbasBinYounas sounds like you have made some good deals there - curious to hear what you think of the d3s once you get to know it better 👌
Would love to know your favourite lens combinations with the d4
This one: ruclips.net/video/0qVYbTXGv2s/видео.htmlsi=puCX3-JReIm9Aq79
Ooh gonna swap my nikon 70-200mm 2.8 vr2 on this D4 tom 🤣
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I'm sitting very happily with a D3, although I would have loved to have got a D4. I know it's mad but I am thinking of taking my D3 travelling with a couple of small MF primes. Ergonomically it's the bet camera I've held. Also, I've read that the Z9 is about the same weight as the D3, which makes the D4 is ever-so-slightly lighter than the Z9.
Thank you for sharing- yes, traveling with a heavy dslr is rather seldom this day and age 🤗
Thx a lot . I will find it out
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I have seen one with 9K shutter in good shape for 1200 Euro. Very tempting but the thing is I already have a minty D4 and D3s. And then there is my D850, D810 and so on.... The fact that Nikon does not service this camera is indeed a consideration so that is one off the negatives. But it still one off the nicest cameras ever.
I really have to stop looking at those second hand websites and your video uploads😅😅😅
Thank you Audiman, I think your GAS is in full bloom! 🙂
@@frederikboving yep that is 100% affirmative. Must alleviate my anxiety time to time😆
@@Audimann 🤣
How do you clean your sensors? That always bothered me a lot.
ruclips.net/video/Jsgz_zBe27Y/видео.html
I recently purchased a used D4 in great condition. As far as I can tell there is no way to use a CF Express card in the XQD slot. Am I wrong?
I have not found a way to do so, so no, I think you are right!
With the software available today you can easily expand the output from this camera to rival todays offerings in quality, sharpness and dynamic range. You can bump it effortlessly to 40 megapixels and increase the sharpness at the same time. So if you are on a budget this does make a lot of sense if you can handle the weight.
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Used D4s prices have fallen recently. I have just bought one with 90k shutter count, boxed, & warranty for £840 U.K. The 4s has been much pricer than the plain 4, but now that wide gap has narrowed a lot. I was surprised to see good pretty good 4s copies priced that low, so I thought it was time to get one.
Thanks for sharing Timmy - and good job regarding the images on Instagram; I enjoy following you over there! 🤗
@@frederikboving Likewise your Instagram. I shall do one of my low quality RUclips reviews when it arrives and I've done some shooting with it.
After a LOT of umming & arring I eventually settled for a Nikon D7200 [ 1k shutter count ] for a mere £414 .
Early days yet and I don't know if I'm imagining it but I think the colours on the D7200 are far deeper compared to my old D7000 .
Still deciding on FF but will probably be a D810 .....maybe ?
The D7200 fanbase is VERY dedicated (along with the D7100 fanbase). I have seen grown men cry when they parted with their beloved D7100/D7200, so I think you will be very pleased with the D7200. I seem to remember that there were some oil-on-the-sensor issues reported with the early D810 copies reported, so make sure you get a later copy to stay on the safe side.
What is the difference btw the Nikon D4 and D4S ???
cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D4-vs-Nikon-D4s
Might be a problem updating the software
Yep, Nikon does not provide new versions of the firmware anymore
Got my D4 last year,love it..and I don't shoot video
Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻
Hello!
Nice educational videos my friend. I need some help, if you could pls.
I found a bargain on a D4, but it has a catch, it has 400k clicks, which I dont care, because it wont be my main camera. The real problem is, the seller is saying the camera after 10 shots, the viewfinder can no longer find focus, but after you take the battery out and put it back, the camera will aquire focus for 10 more shots. Besides that, everything works fine. And from the outside, the camera looks well treated. He is selling the camera with 3 batteries, so I guess the battery isnt the culprit. Do you think its a firmware problem or some known issue?
Best regards from Portugal!
Hi Hugo, the reported issue is not one that I have heard about before. Focusing is a co-operation between lens and camera. Have you tried to ask seller if the problem is consistent across different lenses so you are absolutely sure it is the body that has the issue? The fact that the issue goes away when the battery is taken out to me indicates a problem related to the camera getting warm - maybe a circuit that starts acting funny when warm? I would be hesitant to buy that copy of the D4 to be honest. All the best!
@@frederikboving about the lenses I will try to get an answer... but he states that the camera focus all they long if you go manual mode. The issue occurs with AF.
Thanks for the reply
@@hugomouteira7015 Tha camera focuses all day long in manual mode? The seller has humor! I think he means that the focus confirmation system works also when shooting in manual focus mode. When you talk to him, ask if the problem is there with AF lenses or also AF-S lenses. If it is NOT there with AF-S lenses (motor in the lens), then it might be the motor in the camera that acts funny after 10 shots. I would still be sceptical about this copy of the D4, but your call of course!
@@frederikboving Thanks for the input. I will try to scout it well. Thanks again!
Nikon no longer has main boards for the D4. I speak from personal experience. I finally found a repair shop that could get a main board, but the price was the price of a used D4.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing Sam. I guess the D4S har a slightly different board than the D4? Btw, I saw a D4S on sale that had passed 1.2 million shots- that is just crazy!
I've had that problem with my passenger seat.. Took me over a year to figure out why it kept beeping!
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Can't find that many other new youtubes reviewing the D4 or D4s. Looking for a 2nd camera when taking sports photos and am paying out of my own pocket
Hi, I don't have the full overview of alternatives to the D4/D4S this day and age, i.e. if the camera is up to par with a younger alternative. And I don't really use the D4 for sports, which of course is absolutely crazy as it is a camera built for speed. But I feel in love with the image quality and especially the rending of colours. My only input is (in terms of speed) to consider the D4S over the D4 as the FPS specs is a bit better than the D4.
@frederikboving Thx. Yes my options would be a cheap D750 or a future proof Z6II, I have a D780 today
@@joffemannenIf speedy auto focus systems is important to you, I would wait with th ML option unless you can afford a z8 or z9. ML focus systems for affordable cameras has a lot of development to be done IMHO.
I love being just a strictly “Photographer” and not a hybrid shooter. Seems everyone today is a hybrid shooter, Jack of all trades and a master of none.
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if you only shoot for stills and no video the "old" pro cameras are a bargin! :D
Agreed!
So funny about the seat belt sensor 😂
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I went with the D4s for $700 on mbp only because I wanted group area af. don't care about servicability through Nikon as KEH will service almost anything if the shutter ever fails
Right. Think even KEH will run out of spare parts eventually.
13:49
Aren't XQD and CF Express cards compatible with each other??
I know that I could use CF Expr. cards in my D850 🤔
They are.
@@frederikboving 😂 I also looked it up again. Yes, they are indeed compatible, given that there was also a firmware update for compatibility. 😉
@@TheTS1205 But equally expensive I trust? And did you find a good CF express card reader? I understand this may be a challenge?
@@frederikboving I'm only using one primary 32GB XQD card and a big 128GB SD card for when the XQD card in my D850 is full, never tried CF Express though. Those cards came with my used model and I don't want to spend too much money on cards 😄✌🏽
Also I always transfer files via the USB cable so I cannot tell you about card readers 😆
@@TheTS1205 Got it, thanks 👍
Jeg har en lidt nyere D810 og bruger den stadig, de ektra megspixels er jeg rigtig glad for til mit macro fotografi.
Over 250k klik og den kører stadig.
Ingen grund til at ændre et setup der virker og dom du er glad for. D810 har jeg aldrig prøvet men så vidt jeg kan se på kommentarer og anmeldelser så er det stadig i dag et meget fint kamera.
@@frederikboving det er ihvertfald en god arbejdshest at have i tasken.
Jeg havde på et tidspunkt et A7RII og var ude ved Hundige strand for et par år siden, hvor hård vind og -15 grader havde lavet vildt fedt is, A7'erens shutter havde det hårdt i kulden, men jeg tog bare mit d810 uf af tasken og den kørte bare 😅
do you have any issues when using the D4 with both an XQD and CF card installed at the same time? I've heard some people describe getting an error when trying to use both cards. Which brand CF card do you use?
Sorry, no, never had that issue. My CF card is a SanDisk 32gb Extreme Pro. It came with the camera when I bought it used.
@@frederikboving Ok, that is good to hear. Your videos have been helpful, thanks!
@@Muldoonite 🙏🏻
d4s buffer is very huge!
Indeed it is - the D4's are built for speed!