The new ‘HD-SLR’ – Nikon’s new flagship professional model – is due to go on sale on 6 March, priced £5199.99 (body only).
In the US, the D4S will cost $6499.95.
Boasting ‘a formidable fusion of speed and accuracy’, the D4S will carry a new 16.2MP FX-format imaging sensor and an Expeed 4 processor designed to deliver a 30% faster processing time.
Firepower will also include an ‘industry-leading’ top ISO of 409,600, plus an 11 frames-per-second burst rate (with continuous AF), making it the ‘fastest autofocus DSLR in Nikon’s history’.
The D4S also features ‘improved lock-on’, and a new Group AF mode that uses five AF points in a bid to provide better stability when tracking subjects – and ‘enhanced accuracy by reducing instances of background focus’.
The ‘broadcast-quality’ Full HD video offers variable frame rates.
Built to be weather-sealed, the D4S is aimed primarily at sports, press and nature photographers.
Specification, as per Nikon Europe’s website:
Type Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount Nikon F mount
Effective pixels 16.2 million
Image sensor 36.0 mm x 23.9 mm CMOS (FX format)
Total pixels 16.6 million (approx.)
Dust-reduction system Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Image size (pixels) (L) 4928 x 3280, (M) 3696 x 2456, (S) 2464 x 1640, DX, (L) 3200 x 2128, (M) 2400 x 1592, (S) 1600 x 1064, 5 : 4, (L) 4096 x 3280, (M) 3072 x 2456, (S) 2048 x 1640, 1.2x, (L) 4096 x 2720, (M) 3072 x 2040, (S) 2048 x 1360
Storage – File format NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed; small size available (12-bit uncompressed only), TIFF (RGB), JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression (Size priority); Optimal quality compression available, NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
Picture Control System Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, ;selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Storage Media CompactFlash (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA 7), XQD Type Memory
Dual card slot Dual card slots
File system DCF 2.0, DPOF, Exif 2.3, PictBridge
Viewfinder Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage FX (36X24): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical, 1.2X (30X20): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical, DX (24X16): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical, 5:4 (30X24): Approx. 97% horizontal and 100% vertical
Magnification Approx.0.70x, (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint 18 mm, (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)
Diopter adjustment -3 to +1 m⁻¹
Focusing screen Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII screen with AF area brackets (framing grid can be displayed)
Depth-of-field preview Yes, Pressing Pv button stops lens aperture down to value selected by user (A an d M modes) or by camera (P and S modes)
Lens aperture Instant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lenses AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G, E, and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses (using DX 24 X 16 1.5X image area), AI-P NIKK OR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (exposure modes A and M only). IX NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses can not be used.
Shutter type Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed 1/8,000 to 30 s. in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb, time, X250
Flash sync speed X=1/250sec., synchronizes with shutter at 1/250 s or slower
Release modes S (single frame), CL (continuous low speed), CH (continuous high speed), Q (quiet shutter-release), Self-timer, MUP (mirror up)
Frame advance rate Up to 10 fps (CL) or 10-11 fps (CH)
Self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
Exposure Metering TTL exposure metering using RGB sensor with approximately 91K (91,000) pixels
Metering method Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G, E, and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data. Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12 mm circle in center of frame. Diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15, or 20 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 12-mm circle). Spot: Meters 4 mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F) Matrix or center-weighted metering: -1 to 20 EV – Spot metering: 2-20 EV
Exposure meter coupling CPU, AI
Mode Programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
Exposure compensation -5 to +5 EV in steps 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 (2 to 5 frames in steps of 2 or 3 EV)
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) 100 to 25600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, or 4 EV (ISO 409600 equivalent) above ISO 25600; auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-Lighting Can be selected from Auto, Extra high +2/+1, High, Normal, Low, or Off
ADL bracketing 2 frames using selected value for one frame or 3-5 frames using preset values for all frames
Autofocus Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phas e detection, fine-tuning, and 51 focus points (including 15 cross-type senso rs; f/8 supported by 11 sensors)
Detection range -2 – +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
Lens servo Autofocus (AF), Single-servo AF (AF-S), Continuous-servo AF (AF-C), Manual focus (MF)
Focus point Can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points
AF-area mode Single-point AF, 9-, 21-, or 51- point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, group area AF, auto-area AF
Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing the center of the sub-selector
Flash control TTL: i-TTL flash control using RGB sensor with approximately 91K (91,000) pixels is available with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighting metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash mode Front curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rearcurtain sync, off, Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Flash compensation -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Flash bracketing 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV, 2 to 5 frames in steps of 2 or 3 EV
Flash-ready indicator Lights when optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash, and SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes, or SU-800 as commander; Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400 and SB-300; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal ISO 519 sync terminal with locking thread
White balance Auto (2 types), incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, clo udy, shade, preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored, spot white balance measurement available during live view), choose color temperature (2500 K- 10000 K), all with fine-tuning.
ADL bracketing 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV
Live View – Modes Live View Photography, Movie Live View Mode
Live view – Lens servo – Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time servo AF (AF-F) – Manual focus (M)
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 automat ically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Movie – Metering TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Movie – Frame size (pixels) and frame rate – 1920 x 1080; 60 p (progressive), 50 p, 30 p, 25 p, 24 p – 1920 x 1080 crop; 30 p, 25 p, 24 p – 1280 x 720; 60 p, 50 p – 640 x 424; 30 p, 25 p Actual frame rates for 60 p, 50 p, 30 p, 25 p, and 24 p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps respectively; all options support both high and normal image quality
Movie – File format MOV
Movie – Video compression H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie – Audio recording format Linear PCM
Movie – Audio recording device Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable
Movie – ISO sensitivity In exposure modes P, S, and A, auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 200 to Hi 4) with selectable upper limit. In exposure mode M, auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 200 to Hi 4) available with selectable upper limit; manual selection (ISO 200 to 25600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV) with additional options available equivalent to approximately 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, or 4 EV (ISO 409600 equivalent) above ISO 25600.
Other options Index marking, time-lapse photography
Monitor 8-cm (3.2-in.) diagonal. 921k-Dots. TFT LCD with 170 ° viewing angle, approximately 100% frame coverage, manual monitor brightness control, and automatic monitor brightness control usi ng ambient brightness sensor
Playback Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, auto image rotation, voice memo input and playback, and IPTC information embedding and display
USB Hi-Speed USB
HDMI output Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Audio input Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter; plug-in power supported)
Audio output Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter)
Accessory terminal (s) Can be used to connect optional remote control, optional WR-R10 (requires WR-A10 adapter) or WR-1 wireless remote controller, GP-1/GP-1A GPS unit, or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional MC-35 GPS adapter cord and cable with D-sub 9-pin connector)
Ethernet RJ-45 connector. Standards: IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T)/IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX)/IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T). Data rates: 10/100/1000 Mbps with auto detect (maximum logical data rates according to IEEE standard; actual rates may differ). Port: 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T (AUTO-MDIX)
Peripheral connector For WT-5
Supported languages Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian
Battery One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL18a battery
AC adapter EH-6b AC adapter; requires EP-6 power connector (available separately)
Tripod socket 1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions (WxHxD) Approx. 160 x 156.5 x 90.5 mm ( 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.6 in.)
Weight Approx. 1350 g (2 lb. 15.6 oz.) with battery and XQD memory card but without body cap and accessory shoe cover; approx. 1180 g / 2 lb. 9.6 oz. (camera body only)
Operating environment – Temperature 0 °C-40 °C (+32 °F-104 °F)
Operating environment – Humidity 85% or less (no condensation)
Supplied accessories BF-1B body cap, BS-2 accessory shoe cover, EN-EL18a rechargeable Li-ion battery with terminal cover, MH-26a battery charger with power cable and two contact protectors (shape of power cable depends on country of sale), USB cable clip, HDMI cable clip, UF-2 connector cover for stereo mini plug cable, UC-E15 USB cable, ViewNX 2 installer CD, AN-DC11 strap
