Hi Eric. This is a very useful video for those looking at buying older Nikon flagship cameras like the D4, D4s, etc. I have a Nikon D810 and very pleased with its overall performance and IQ. I am wondering what would be your views when comparing the D810 with D4s/D4 purely on the basis of IQ?
In my opinion the...D3s is still a great camera in 2021! If they don't think it's good enough for weddings, it's not the camera but the newly married couple who needs an upgrade. I've also purchased a D4 and it's a beautiful monster (too). Everything about the D3s and D4 is great. Interesting video, and totally agree, the upgrades are not worth the price, in most cases. It's much better to learn everything about the camera you've already got. And, it sure does fit like a glove, to me as well. Both the D3s and the D4.
The d700, D3, D4 cameras are built so well! With good glass, they are killer!! I wish Nikon made current stuff like them with all button layouts included!!!
Righ ton! I pwn all these cameras and just brought a D200 CCD camera. Built like a tank like the others. I have a D850 but use these older Nikons more frequently. Not interested in the Z system. Great deals now on DSLR gear. The D4 I purchased had only a 914 shutter count and was pristine! It was a great deal.
Jesse Newell that is one hell of a jump. I owned a Nikon D80 back in 2008....since then I have owned a Nikon D700, D3s and now I have a D4. All cameras are amazing. D80 is a cropped sensor, all the others are full frame, so be prepared for more expensive glass.
I just got the D4s a few weeks ago and love the general rendition of the pictures. I also own a D850 and in terms of results the D4s are kind of more natural, better balanced.
I've also been shooting with a D700 for years now and the only possible REAL upgrade I see on the market is the D4/D4s. In my opinion, no other low resolution Nikon digital body is really worth investing some money if you already own a D700.
Use the Nikon D5 and go back with the Nikon D4. Have now two Nikon D4. 16MP is more than enough for me. The Nikon D6 is the worst camera i use. The best are the D3, D3s, D4 and the D4s.
I just traded my Z6 for the D4 tank wow. My D4 has 3,127 actuations and not a single scratch. Traded my z lenses and now have 150-600mm 5-6.3, 17-35mm f2.8-4 and a 70-200mm 2.8 on the way. I can’t be happier with this set up wow. Thank you for your information. Just subscribed. Thank you
The store name is 256-282-5023 Camera Inn in Anniston Alabama. Reach out to him if you need something he is reasonable and will ship to you if you need anything. He can get anything you would need. Hope all is well
@@Stoney-Lawson no I don’t have the D4 anymore. I have Z6ii with S 70-200 2.8; 105 macro 2.8 S lens; 24-70 F4; Nikon 200-500 f5.6 having a blast with it. I do will be looking into the Z9 or D5 or D6 soon
I just bought a D4 days ago with only 9000 actions! 2 bateries, charger, manuals etc all in it's original box. I also have a D810. The thing is i'm really happy because just like you said, it gives an awesome file. I paid only a $1000, i mean this is a new camera from 2012 in 2023 but still kicking asses!
I have to say having both the D4 and D4s the "minor" differences are major from how I've used it. The D4s has the AF mode of Group and the AF is overall noticeably better (a LOT better). Also the low light is noticeably better too. The paper to paper comparison of the two doesn't do the difference justice. That being said I still love my D4 and it is a top performer to this day.
I have been using a d4 professionally for the last 4 years to shoot motocross, last week i purchased a d500 after all the hype and reviews. One week later im about to return the d500 as i have been very disappointed with it, image quality is JUST NOT even nearly as good as the d4 in any situation, yes the d500 is a step up from the d300 (i have one as well) but its a backward step if going from a d4 to a d500. I found in great light the d500 can produce some good images but as soon as the light is less than great the image quality falls off and the keeper rate is low, when i say less than great im talking dull flat light type winters day outdoors, the image quality then dives when shooting fast action sports and im only talking iso1000 1/1250 this is directly compared to what my d4 does in the same conditions when it would sill produce very good quality images. Its possible i have a duff body but ive used it a lot in the last 7 days shooting what i normally shoot with my d4 for a living and im very disappointed with the overall results even after trying just about every setting and adjustment there is on it. Today i will be returning the d500 and buying a second d4. Ill sum up by saying in pretty much any situation i would have to work in, i would be confident a d4 would get the job done for me and produce the images, if i was using the d500 i would be in trouble, but then the a few years ago d4 was a £5000 pro body and the d500 is currently a much cheaper prosumer body that will work great if your happy to shoot when it suits you in great conditions, and not when you just have to shoot no matter what...
This one of my fave videos cos I just love the old Nikon pro bodies. It's late August 2019 and I'm currently in love with the D3X . I've been using one for the last 6 months and it replaced my D700 for studio portraits and events (in good light). The D3X needs slightly more careful processing to control contrast but the output is awesome. I will eventually get a D4 but I imagine it will take another year of mirrorless releases and hype until used D4's hit my price point.
It's time already. I got mine 20 days ago after going through classifieds for a year! I got it for $1150, With 55000 clicks and in mint condition. I feel very lucky to finally get my hands on it. Get it before they're gone forever.
@@wolfgangaigner You did the right thing. It's so good I'm becoming obsessed about this camera! Interestingly I too had a D700, and a D3 before. But I sold them and bought a D3x before I eventually switched to D4 (I can't afford multiple cameras). If you are curious to know, the D3x was mostly disappointing, unless used under controlled lighting.
@@nostalium Luckily for me I mainly shoot studio portraits with Elinchrom strobes so the D3X suits me extremely well. I now have a D810 too and the D3X is NOT shamed by it in the studio. I briefly had a D4s (which was great) but I decided that was too much money tied up in one body.
Great! No mirrorless for me as well. Don't need the banding, heating and inflated prices. It's that hand that rocks the craddle, not the craddle itself. Kind regards.
I have a D4 and I live it. I recently sold my D500 primarily because of I felt the D500 was more difficult to maintain steadiness. I don't miss the D500 and the D4 creates better photos.
Hi I bought my D4 in 2012 and I'm still in love with it :) I'm not a professional so I don't use it as much as one but it's remains in perfect condition and functioning. I totally agree with you. Thanks for this video and have a very good day.
hi, im a "beginning" photographer (i started with a pocket camera at age 11 and now im 20 but i shoot nature for fun) and ive never really understood the point of the d5/4/3, etc when not being used for wildlife or sports. people buy those cameras for portraits, weddings, street, landscapes. why? why not buying a d700/750 that can pretty much do the same in those scenarios? just for the build quality? because i personally dont need 10fps for weddings, street, and landscapes. im not asking this to judge, but honestly to understand if im missing something. anyway, thank you for the video, was very informative.
I had the same thoughts until I started working for a company that shoots events and weddings. Autofocus is crucial there and you need a reliable camera with big battery.
D4 aquired low shutter count for a low price ,a stunning camera in every respect 16mpx is just fine for me ,the weight and bulk is not an issue ,images are great and easy to handle on the PC and storage is not a problem , a D3 is next on my list
I appreciated the overview and your logic. I've been a Canon shooter since the original digital rebel. Recently picked up a nikon D700 and I love shooting it. I will add the D4 to my wish list.
I started my pro by getting a D3x then got a D4 and a week ago got a D5. Love all 3 cameras and look after them like my babies. Must admit the D4 is solid and does hold a special place in my collection.
So I've been shooting with the D4 since slightly after it's release. I've been looking into the D5, D500, and D750 to use with the D4 as a second camera to replace my older bodies (D3, D7000, D2x, D2h, D1x, D100, D70ir, and SLR/n) and be able to do high ISO for concerts. My problem with the D4 is that I can't get the auto-focusing to work well at all. It's fine at f/8+, but at f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8 the focusing is so miss miss miss. I try the af-fine tuning, but the 24-70 at different focal lengths and distances, it sucks. The only lenses that I get to work well (and by well I mean amazing) are the 35mm f/1.8 DX, 14-24 f/2.8 and the 105mm f/2.8 VR. My 85mm f/1.4D, 70-200 f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, sigma 24mm f/1.4 and others focus just terribly. All these lenses on my other cameras (besides the D7000 which seems to focus as badly as the D4) work just awesome. I sent it into get the AF adjusted and it didn't get any better. Anyone else?
I’m discovering the same of my old pair D3S, D300S & wanting a D810 but then D850 came out. I went for it instead & held off on D500 now. But I’m loving the D4S even compared to D850 in those low light clarity u spoke of. So amazing still & even if u want the soft texture of film it’s beautiful at 12,800 easy indoor w/ gently fill flash
“S” varieties! I always go for the S as it’s often the internally refined specs u lay not see but appreciate way later. Especially w/ iPhone. It was more a mix of physical refinement to hardware as well to stair step into the next gen. I did that since 3s to XS. I learned after the D4S, the D5 didnt make that many leaps and the D6 today barely feels like a 5S if that. And this may be our last single digit D pro sports journalist body
I agree with all your conclusions. I own two D4 bodies. I have made 24" x 36" poster sized prints with this. The prints have zero pixels visible. Its great! I don't know what size of print you need to force the limitations of the sensor to become visible but those were the biggest prints I ever had made and that's as big as I would ever need. In my opinion, if a photographer needs to crop so much out of an image that pixels become evident, I may suggest getting closer to the subject or investing in come more powerful telephoto glass! Otherwise those 16MP are just fine for most applications!
Hi Eric, first off, thank you so much for making that video and for answering all my questions. You did a great job amigo, and I really enjoyed your vid. I gotta say, you've got that D4 camera for a pretty good/excellent deal! (money-wise) good on ya mate!! I'm right there with you when it comes to the Nikon D750. When it came out, I read a lot about it but when I tried it, I felt like something was missing. I didn't buy it and that was a good thing. I bought an used D600 from a friend of mine and I really like it, but in low light situations I don't find it very good. the AF isn't as fast as I wanna it to be. It's really true what you say about not paying too much attention to how cameras look on paper, it's all about how you feel about a camera, why you need that particular camera and/or what you're planning to do with it. I think it's like hiring someone, you really need to see the person in real life before offering her/him the job, because all candidates look like a perfect fit for the job on paper, but they're not in real life. Somehow, as you know, the D500 has been a controversial camera for many people and it's good to know that in low light situations, yes, the D500 could beat the D4 but like you said; by a hair. Also, I don't know if you agree on this but once you've tried a full frame camera, it's kind of hard to go back and start using a crop sensor camera, right? Hahahaha, Thanks for being honest about the D5! I know I have asked you before about the D810 successor, but I'm kind of falling in love with the D4/D4s. I have used nikon/canon flagship cameras a few years ago but I have never tried the Nikon D4, however, I still remember the feeling of holding a flagship camera in my hands. it's just something else. Anyway, Thanks again Eric for the vid and have a nice weekend with the family! Jesús.
It was my pleasure to make the video as always and I am glad it helped you! And yes, I definitely agree about the D750. As for using a full frame sensor and then going to cropped, that is a tough question because each have their own advantages. However, it would be tough on me to go with a cropped sensor as a main camera because all of my pro lenses were purchased with a 35mm sensor focal length in mind. Thanks for watching as always! -Eric
except Canon 1Dx is better , try pressing shutter on that , and more pixels . Somewhat lower DR , but only if you dont know what you are doing will it be a problem .
Nice video, thanks a lot. What do you think about the Nikon D4S? I actually can get one here with just 20k clicks in great condition at roughly 2000 Euro.
I moved from the D3 to the D4 about five months ago, and with limited time with the D4 I am super satisfied with the move. I didn't do it for the extra Mega Pixels. I made the move to get better ergonomics and low light use. I wanted a DSLR vs a sub par AF on the first gen Z mirrorless bodies. And the S lenses are freaking outrageous right now, so hard pass for Nikon Mirrorless on my budget. D500 Colors go wonky at 6400 ISO and get worst from there up. That to me was a vote for Full Frame since I shoot low light indoor events where color in the picture is a bid deal. If I need a good outdoor large field sports DSLR, the D500 would be first in line over the rest. D4s is still super expensive for the marginal bump in specs. I get it if you shoot sports, you want the best and D4s maybe better AF wise, but for the price to me the D4 was a bargain. D5 I have seen a lot of folks moving to it then moving right on to Mirrorless. I think the D5 improves on the D4/D4s. But sacrifices build quality that Pros demand. So for me in the future I may pass on the D5 after seeing it's the least favorite Pro DSLR in Nikons line up. D6 seems like a great DSLR, but the price for it is still very high. With the Z9 now out for over a year, maybe the price comes down here soon, but I don't see a lot of folks jumping into a D6. Great video, and I second your observations. I plan to keep my D4 till it dies. Just flat out a great camera, makes you want to just hold it and admire the way it fits in your hand. Crazy to think a camera would have such a great feel even at the weight that the D4 is. Still cannot believe I own one finally.
It's funny how this type of video gets outdated in some respects, no matter how well articulated. With the exception of sports and photojournalism, the D850 rules the roost... for now. And speaking of exceptions, the D500's autofocus is exceptional. I shot two triathlons with cyclists speeding toward me over the weekend with my D500 and it only missed focus once out of around 5000 exposures.
@@nickreid5939 Funny you ask (and two years after my previous comment!). I am just about to sell my D3S and purchase a D4 or D4S as an upgrade. Do you have experience with the D4? **Sorry it's not clear who's posting here. I'm DJ, logged in on another account.
@@milesian1 i have d810 and D7200....i am thinking about buying a used D4S in great condition but 200,000 clicks..for US $ 1000.00....What do you think ??
@@nickreid5939 I'm mulling over the same issue right now as I look for a D4/D4S. What I've come to learn through experience with the D3S and what others have shared, is that the flagship bodies are built so well that the shutter count is one consideration, but the condition is probably more important. So if the body has scuff marks everywhere, dull or scratched LCD, peeling rubber, buttons that won't function, etc. it's probably been handled too roughly and not worth consideration. On the other hand, a body with a 200K+ shutter count that still looks and feels "minty" has likely been treated well and will last a lot longer. I'm drawn to products that have such a character, like the Honda Element in the auto world. In fact, an Element with 200K miles on it is considered mild usage if it's been well maintained. Very similar to these workhorse Nikon cameras.
thank god! someone that tells his personal reasons between the cameras by experience vs bullshit specs, this is the reason why Ive held on to my D700 all these years, so a true upgrade to me would also be a d4 or d4s..
You got it! The D700 is still a great camera and so many still use it. Others just look at the year it came out and assume it's a crappy camera. Thanks for watching! -Eric
I just bought a brand new well 1,362 images, but not a speck of dust from a baby photographer (a lady by the way ) that camera was her studio and back up body and she decided to sell it she babied that thing ...... I picked it up for $1,000 cash..... and it offers resolution and ergonomics and capabilities that a D500 wished it had..... Man using the banks and programming my custom settings...... shit I would be lost without my D4 and my D3s back up......... D850 or a D5 or D6 my ass...... Now take the insides of a D500 and put it in a D4 or D3 body and we can talk.... but it better have an FX sensor 50mp.......
Just got a D4s with 75’000 clics for 650 chf (650 $) the files are great but the raw files need some work especially with the WB (always to warm) I love the ergonomics !
Hello Finding Middle Earth.. Great video. Always enjoyed @ your videos. If you dont mind me asking.. After looking at your video and others, I'm seriously considering now a used / pre-owned D4 for sports, action, low light photography. Where is a reputable, good place to buy a used D4 ? Thanks again for the help.
I own(ed) a D810 and found it lacked any kind of AF speed using continuous shooting for aircraft and sports shots, so now own an immaculate low shutter D4 after seeing this video, the D4 for sports and action is still light years ahead of the D810
Thanks. This was an awesome video and your facts on the D5 are accurate. I too feel the D5 is not worth the price. I do own a d810. Just got a mint D4 with less than 7000 shutter clicks.
Just purchased D4s today, 2022, terrific camera and waited some time for one to come onto the market that was low shutter and mint condition. Have D3 and a couple D800/ D850. All good tools to have in the box.
The D4 is miles ahead of the D500, why? Because D4 was designed for pros where as the D500 was designed for a consumer market. I had a D500, i liked the body but the image quality was messy, i think D7200 sensor is much better - D500 is better for sports than the 7200 but the 7200 is better for everything else and you get more pixels to play with. Always thought the D500 was a poor performer image quality wise, i also know nikon pros who got sent one for FREE and sent it back. I would buy a d500 if it hits a lower price.
Hello you; I am from the old generation.stumbled on this post as I was lookong at A D4,to be honest I have D3s.. so ..what I did one night was turned the light of at just before night fall let's say .. and I found a shaded spot to shoot ,,something I really could not see well ...and I took a shot .. and yes there ist was//clear ,, Nikon D3s at 12800 Iso ..yes can see better than my eyes.. ,so I decided to make comparism.. you how you now say you ar every happy with the D$,,!!! it gets worse.. I am more happy with my D3s than the D4..,I urge you go do the Math.. you will find the less the Pixels .. the better the Iso QUALITY ye sin Capitol letters.. I urge you to make comparis in that regard...,to me ..after the D3s nothing hAS CHANGED.. IT IS LIKE THE THREE VARIANTS..1-iSO2-mEGAPIXELS 3- PROCESSOR TECHNOLOGY.. i PERSONALLY THINK ..YES BETTER PROCESSOR BETTER TECHNOLOGY .. BUT THE SPEED OF THE PROCESSOR IS RIPPING OF THE iSO..,, go DO THE MATHS.. cHECK TEST ON DXO MARK website ,you will find that the D3s is still the king of the Iso and yes at 12 PPIX.. I do sprots in the past.. at a simple moment took a shot when a soccer player fell and his coach lent him a hand to get up and the referee happened to be there and me ..snap empotional shot.. that thing went viral..so I have to print is 3,5fot but 5 feet.. and the bloody thing is so clear.., I can see the eyelashes and count them ..and it was Jpec ,,no correction staright of the bat as they say...and do you know how big waS THE FILE??? 3.2MB YES.. and I still can believe it .. it is in a frame at my home .like I said ,, I think after the D3s.. rest is only playing with th three variables resolution iso and processor.
D4 vs d850 today? What would you suggest? I shoot sports and travel primarily. I understand the superiorities of 850 but how would it hold up for sports in terms of AF and buffer?
It seems a crop sensor has an advantage for wildlife. You have to carry a lot heavier glass to get the same reach. I have 2- D800s. I know the 810 is a little better but not enough better to upgrade. I just got a D500. I am not so sure at 6400 ISO that the D500 is really better . The D500 goes higher than the D800 goes but at 6400 the D800 seems cleaner to me but I haven't tested it extensively like you guys do
Just came across this as I have gone back to shooting sports photography along with weddings with my D700 (I have used this for weddings for 9 years and it is fantastic.) However it is a little slow and does not have the buffer capacity to shoot action sports like football (soccer to you guys,) rugby, etc. Good to hear that it still gets such good comments in comparison to higher spec cameras. As most of my sport pics will be printed in newspapers I would be shooting at Jpeg medium even for heavy cropping. I shoot sports at these settings on the D700 and up to 5000 iso, I can happily crop into half the frame with very little noise. High ISO performance is important to me as I can't afford to splash out £10,000 on a 400mm f2.8 and instead shoot with the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 zoom so the ability to go up to 12,800 means I can keep high shutter speeds even with low light and f5.6.
D4 is terrific.....have 2 of them with a D850. D4 saves lots of shots that would be junk with other cameras. D850 is pretty wicked tho. Just cannot make mistakes....it's a very tough camera to get spot on. Noise on a D4 is acceptable FOR PRINTING large prints all the way to 6400 as long as it's exposed correctly the first time....make prints to 11 x 14.
Now, 5 years later, the D4 is still my main gun - together with a Z6. I don´t see any reason for an upgrade to a D5 or D6, because i renewed the shutter and the rubbers last year for just € 600,- and hopefully it does her job for the next couple of years . Sometimes, when i´m filming concerts and i film with both bodies, even my D3 cames back of retirement and does the photography-part - up to ISO 3.200 without any problems and up to ISO 6.400 with some tweaks in Lightroom.
I got a d4 with 8,400 shutter actuations, coming from a sony a7rii which has the latest firmware and still locks down the e-shutter curtain and bad battery. I moved to nikon again.
I Have a D4 and D800e, I love bothe and to me the combination for wildlife and nature is perfect. I sold my D810 due to focus issues. Yes the initial lot have focus issues. My D800e is a lot sharper and no problem camera, the D4 shoots anything, The one camera I regret selling is the Df. D4 sensor but just overall better IQ. So 16mp FX is great and my A1 prints of wildlife is just stunning..I slightly disagree on the D500 low light image quality, it does not have the same DR then the D4, But I am not a massive high ISO shooter, to me 6400 is the max. Seldom go beyond that..
I have a D3. It sits on my kitchen table staring at me balefully. So I pick it up now and again and take a picture of my kitchen sink. Then I think "I really should go and take some shots with this". And then I consider its weight, its bulk and its general capability as a weapon of war. And then I put it down, stick my x-pro1 in my bag and head out the door. People. These cameras were not made for dilettantes like us. They were made for search and destroy missions in enemy territory. If you take them out on the street people will visibly shrink from you. Having said that, they're extraordinary cameras and the build quality is off the scale. I recommend you buy one just to feel what a camera weapon feels like. And I'm pretty much a pacifist...
I have both, the D4 and D4s as well as the D3 and D3s and found the focusing switch from on the camera (3 settings) vs internal switching modes are terrible in very low light. I have lost more shots with the D4 and D4s, I have not had this problem with the D3 and D3s. I am experienced documentary photographer. My work around this problem is to shoot 3 frames and am likely to get one. Or, switch cameras, now taking 6 images to get one. I can't figure out which focusing mode to shoot just two people standing side by side to get them both in focus. I have used the 28mm 1.4, 24-70mm 2.8, 14-24mm 2.8. Help!
The D4 is much better at focusing in low light than the D3s, but the noise performance is not that difference between the two. Thanks for watching! -Eric
Buy it even now if it has low shutter count. Flagships are flagships no matter how old. Some of my colleagues still work with d3... if you don't need it for video that much go for it.
4:40 Man, I havent heard a camera make that focus ready sound for at least half a decade. Probably 7 or 8 years. Wow, I now know again why almost nobody uses it ;D
A really stupid comment,the camera is about 10 cm away from the mic, what do you expect. The bleep is controlled, low or high or off. Whats the problem. ?
I do mostly portraits and city photography...I am thinking the D850 might be better for me....am I wrong? I dont do sports at all. I dont think I need the buffer speed this provides. My only other option is a Z6. Someone recommended this D4 but Don't know.
Very informative and engaging presentation. Thanks much for that. Just wondering if you are still using your D4 to this day. I am sure that system will continue to run effortlessly.
At the time of this video the D500 wasn't even 6 months old lol Saying a FF has better high iso than a crop is stating the obvs. Comparing the absolute worst exposures possible and saying X body has better details... I dont think you understand how printing at 20x30 works. This video just comes of as a reason to support the older gen flagship body against an up and coming crop that threatens the FF mentality. How many of these had been viewer questions? Four years later much of this seems out of place.
I was blown away by all the retaining details in my D4 pictures when doing retouching in Capture One 10. And yes, I would not change for a D5 nor an "S" model.
+Longlong Tian Thanks! That's the great part about not being sponsored by Nikon: I can give honest advice to my viewers without caring what Nikon thinks :-)
Ok I am looking to invest no I am not a pro photographer I shoot my daughter at the gym and competitions I have been looking at the D500 for indoor sports All-Star Cheer but looking at this video now I am confused ?????? I know that I need the 10fps and I also know I need a good low light and focusing camera the D500 has 153 focusing points however I don't need all that because on the stage the most a team has is 30 cheer leaders now how is the coverage in the view finder? So what is the difference between the D4/D4s? and the buffering?
Dpreview is the bigest LIE in the world...thay say the d500 has 14.0 Dynamic range,and d7200 has even more...why they are writing this bullshit i dont know..this,i have shot with d500,i have shot with d7200,i have shot with d750,i also have shot with 6D,70d, i have used plenty of camera...dpreview is always wrong !
Pixels are pixels, and they scale exactly the same. Photoshop really doesn't care about the camera you made those pixels with. FX vs DX for big prints really doesn't matter for comparable print sizes at comparable ISO. I've printed 13x19 from D3 and from an old D200. They both look great.
20.9 MP on a crop sensor is equal to a 47MP on a full frame sensor - think of it as if you had a 47MP sensor cut into a cropped sensor. This is why the 16MP of you D4 are more 'spread out' on your sensor and as a result of it the sensor is 'less pixels populated' therefore it has a better capability of gathering light than it would on a 47 MP full frame sensor (or 20.9 MP on the crop sensor mounted on the D500). Re ISO and clean images, if you have nearly 3 times the pixel population on the sensor you need to multiply your noise times 3 when you look at your D500 files - hence the noise. The noise 'per se' is almost identical, but having 1/3 of the pixels you have 1/3 of the visible noise that you'd see on the D500 - if that makes sense. You're absolutely right about the D810 - it's an amazing camera even today! The IQ is stunning and these 36MP the 'sweet spot' in my opinion. So you would also recommend the D4s quality-wise if the D4 weren't to be available?
You're not saying a lot about cropping. A person buys a crop body, to crop. All wildlife photographers crop, animals rarely pose or sit still. Some do, but....Plus, some are further away than one would want. I have a D810 and D500 as well as a D3, one is not going to crop the D3, it is already a smaller image, the D810 cropping is going to have more noise than the D500 cropping, or say a D7200. I would want to know if the D4 would be as noisy as the D810 and D3 cropped. I really don't think the D500 is all that great in low light. So the fact you say the D4 is would be a definite plus
The D750 had been good to me over the 7 years that I owned it...that is to say until I dropped it three weeks ago. It's a bit fragile. I replaced it with a d700, and man, is it a monster. Doesn't feel as well in the hands as the D750, IMO.
I'm a D750 user and we're cool I'm not offended with what you said about the D750 ...lol, but I wanted to pickup a used D4 because of its price point (besides it was my dream camera body ever since it was launch) but when I checked the price for a 64gb xqd and cf cards.... Oh my word 🙊🙈
I just bought a D4 again...$750...320,000 actuations..just sent it out to get a brand new shutter installed.. I also have a D3 ..70k actuations for $350...I also have a D500..I bought it new ..less than 12k actuations on it
Good video. Yes, sometimes the newer models are cheaped out to maximize profit and keep a certain price point. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards from a Canon shooter ;) Same stuff, same ideology as you've pointed out, really. I do the same as you camera wise.
Wow D850 nice. That's on my super long wish list. Are you worry that you “might” miss the D4 again and buy it for the 3rd time? Hahaha or maybe you can do a video on why you have decided to let go the D4? Can you give some suggestion on lens to married with the D4 body for its fast focus and high FPS? Shooting mainly - Portrait and some sport and action photography, would also like to have a nice lens for the Low lights environment. Love your videos and Thank you for your time much appreciated
Finally someone who talks about the picture and colors.. that's the way you should look at a picture... I own the d700 has little shutter lag and also like the colors it gives me ...love it
Dpreview also says that Sony a6300 has 0.2 better dynamic range than the Canon Eos r,wich is tottaly wrong,i have tested...and Eos R has e 1 stop advantage in the shadows,and i guess little more headroom the highligts !The ironic thing is that you can download raw files from their site Dpreview studio,and test yourself and see that this specs are just not good.
I am glad that you love your D4 which is what it is all about and it's your choice which camera you get but stop promoting the film emulsion myth of señor size/resolution in print details. resolution is a function of sensor type, & pixel count & pitch not sensor size. My present camera the D800e even though it is a higher resolution camera thus not herald as a low light best like the D4 it has a higher usable dynamic range then the D750 and on par with the D850.
I’m a big fan of my D3 in 2022 … if I’m looking to upgrade, I’m thinking Leica SL. Personally, if I’m leaving F mount … I’m really leaving for a whole new system for very specific advantages
GREAT video of your thoughts, and thank you! Perfect info. I've been thinking recently about adding a D4(s) or D5 to my arsenal for specific uses, and this nails it for me! Cheers!
I come to the Nikon world for Sony a7iii. Started with d700 and moved to d4s. Amazing cameras. The only thing I don’t have is eye-af, but I don’t care.
Hi Eric. This is a very useful video for those looking at buying older Nikon flagship cameras like the D4, D4s, etc. I have a Nikon D810 and very pleased with its overall performance and IQ. I am wondering what would be your views when comparing the D810 with D4s/D4 purely on the basis of IQ?
In my opinion the...D3s is still a great camera in 2021! If they don't think it's good enough for weddings, it's not the camera but the newly married couple who needs an upgrade. I've also purchased a D4 and it's a beautiful monster (too). Everything about the D3s and D4 is great. Interesting video, and totally agree, the upgrades are not worth the price, in most cases. It's much better to learn everything about the camera you've already got. And, it sure does fit like a glove, to me as well. Both the D3s and the D4.
The Nikon D3s is a great camera. Use now the Nikon D4.
The d700, D3, D4 cameras are built so well! With good glass, they are killer!! I wish Nikon made current stuff like them with all button layouts included!!!
Righ ton! I pwn all these cameras and just brought a D200 CCD camera. Built like a tank like the others. I have a D850 but use these older Nikons more frequently. Not interested in the Z system. Great deals now on DSLR gear. The D4 I purchased had only a 914 shutter count and was pristine! It was a great deal.
My new to me D4 is on its way with about 100K actuations. I am so excited. Going from a D80.
Jesse Newell that is one hell of a jump. I owned a Nikon D80 back in 2008....since then I have owned a Nikon D700, D3s and now I have a D4. All cameras are amazing. D80 is a cropped sensor, all the others are full frame, so be prepared for more expensive glass.
We can shake hands.
wow tha is a jump!!!
Nikon D4 is amazing camera. I when from
D1, to D300 then d3 & d3s
That huge jump is the hell. It´s like from analog to digital DSLR and ways bigger, than from a D4 to a D6 ;-)
I just got the D4s a few weeks ago and love the general rendition of the pictures. I also own a D850 and in terms of results the D4s are kind of more natural, better balanced.
Which one you recommend.? thinking to buy D4s, D850 file size issue.
When i read al this stuff aboud the D5 wich has shadownoise at 100 ISO then iam stil very happy with my 4 D700 cameras.,
d700 is one of the best Nikons body every...I really love the colors of the images...I am d4s user.
Yeah i still use my d700 everyday
I've also been shooting with a D700 for years now and the only possible REAL upgrade I see on the market is the D4/D4s. In my opinion, no other low resolution Nikon digital body is really worth investing some money if you already own a D700.
Use the Nikon D5 and go back with the Nikon D4. Have now two Nikon D4. 16MP is more than enough for me. The Nikon D6 is the worst camera i use. The best are the D3, D3s, D4 and the D4s.
I just traded my Z6 for the D4 tank wow. My D4 has 3,127 actuations and not a single scratch. Traded my z lenses and now have 150-600mm 5-6.3, 17-35mm f2.8-4 and a 70-200mm 2.8 on the way. I can’t be happier with this set up wow. Thank you for your information. Just subscribed. Thank you
Where did u get your d4?
@@nachohernandez9491 I bought it at a local shop in my town. I paid $2,000.00 on a trade but traded back for a Nikon Z series.
The store name is 256-282-5023 Camera Inn in Anniston Alabama. Reach out to him if you need something he is reasonable and will ship to you if you need anything. He can get anything you would need. Hope all is well
so you didn't keep the D4?
@@Stoney-Lawson no I don’t have the D4 anymore. I have Z6ii with S 70-200 2.8; 105 macro 2.8 S lens; 24-70 F4; Nikon 200-500 f5.6 having a blast with it. I do will be looking into the Z9 or D5 or D6 soon
I just bought a D4 days ago with only 9000 actions! 2 bateries, charger, manuals etc all in it's original box. I also have a D810. The thing is i'm really happy because just like you said, it gives an awesome file. I paid only a $1000, i mean this is a new camera from 2012 in 2023 but still kicking asses!
Pro body is the way to go. I still use D3 :D
Love the D3 as well! That camera could survive a world war! Thanks for watching! -Eric
3 years later - im still on my lovely d2x.
Gonna switch to d4s/d5 now though :D
@@ITimo182 2020 and I still have my D3
Bought a d3s saturday... Gonna sell my d2x, d1x and d200 now to get another one. Im in love :)
@@ITimo182 Fantastic camera. You're going to love it!
I have to say having both the D4 and D4s the "minor" differences are major from how I've used it. The D4s has the AF mode of Group and the AF is overall noticeably better (a LOT better). Also the low light is noticeably better too. The paper to paper comparison of the two doesn't do the difference justice. That being said I still love my D4 and it is a top performer to this day.
I have been using a d4 professionally for the last 4 years to shoot motocross, last week i purchased a d500 after all the hype and reviews. One week later im about to return the d500 as i have been very disappointed with it, image quality is JUST NOT even nearly as good as the d4 in any situation, yes the d500 is a step up from the d300 (i have one as well) but its a backward step if going from a d4 to a d500. I found in great light the d500 can produce some good images but as soon as the light is less than great the image quality falls off and the keeper rate is low, when i say less than great im talking dull flat light type winters day outdoors, the image quality then dives when shooting fast action sports and im only talking iso1000 1/1250 this is directly compared to what my d4 does in the same conditions when it would sill produce very good quality images. Its possible i have a duff body but ive used it a lot in the last 7 days shooting what i normally shoot with my d4 for a living and im very disappointed with the overall results even after trying just about every setting and adjustment there is on it. Today i will be returning the d500 and buying a second d4. Ill sum up by saying in pretty much any situation i would have to work in, i would be confident a d4 would get the job done for me and produce the images, if i was using the d500 i would be in trouble, but then the a few years ago d4 was a £5000 pro body and the d500 is currently a much cheaper prosumer body that will work great if your happy to shoot when it suits you in great conditions, and not when you just have to shoot no matter what...
This one of my fave videos cos I just love the old Nikon pro bodies. It's late August 2019 and I'm currently in love with the D3X . I've been using one for the last 6 months and it replaced my D700 for studio portraits and events (in good light). The D3X needs slightly more careful processing to control contrast but the output is awesome. I will eventually get a D4 but I imagine it will take another year of mirrorless releases and hype until used D4's hit my price point.
It's time already. I got mine 20 days ago after going through classifieds for a year! I got it for $1150, With 55000 clicks and in mint condition. I feel very lucky to finally get my hands on it. Get it before they're gone forever.
@@wolfgangaigner You did the right thing. It's so good I'm becoming obsessed about this camera! Interestingly I too had a D700, and a D3 before. But I sold them and bought a D3x before I eventually switched to D4 (I can't afford multiple cameras). If you are curious to know, the D3x was mostly disappointing, unless used under controlled lighting.
@@nostalium Luckily for me I mainly shoot studio portraits with Elinchrom strobes so the D3X suits me extremely well. I now have a D810 too and the D3X is NOT shamed by it in the studio. I briefly had a D4s (which was great) but I decided that was too much money tied up in one body.
Great! No mirrorless for me as well. Don't need the banding, heating and inflated prices. It's that hand that rocks the craddle, not the craddle itself.
Kind regards.
I have a D4 and I live it. I recently sold my D500 primarily because of I felt the D500 was more difficult to maintain steadiness. I don't miss the D500 and the D4 creates better photos.
Hi
I bought my D4 in 2012 and I'm still in love with it :)
I'm not a professional so I don't use it as much as one but it's remains in perfect condition and functioning.
I totally agree with you.
Thanks for this video and have a very good day.
hi, im a "beginning" photographer (i started with a pocket camera at age 11 and now im 20 but i shoot nature for fun) and ive never really understood the point of the d5/4/3, etc when not being used for wildlife or sports. people buy those cameras for portraits, weddings, street, landscapes. why? why not buying a d700/750 that can pretty much do the same in those scenarios? just for the build quality? because i personally dont need 10fps for weddings, street, and landscapes. im not asking this to judge, but honestly to understand if im missing something. anyway, thank you for the video, was very informative.
I had the same thoughts until I started working for a company that shoots events and weddings. Autofocus is crucial there and you need a reliable camera with big battery.
No new videos?
What do you think of the NIKON D6..???
D4 aquired low shutter count for a low price ,a stunning camera in every respect 16mpx is just fine for me ,the weight and bulk is not an issue ,images are great and easy to handle on the PC and storage is not a problem , a D3 is next on my list
I appreciated the overview and your logic. I've been a Canon shooter since the original digital rebel. Recently picked up a nikon D700 and I love shooting it. I will add the D4 to my wish list.
Awesome! The D700 is still a very solid camera. Thanks so much for watching! -Eric
for every day camera, sure D4 is fine, but if youre doing fast focus and sports, D500 is far superior especially the buffer you cant beat
I started my pro by getting a D3x then got a D4 and a week ago got a D5. Love all 3 cameras and look after them like my babies. Must admit the D4 is solid and does hold a special place in my collection.
So I've been shooting with the D4 since slightly after it's release. I've been looking into the D5, D500, and D750 to use with the D4 as a second camera to replace my older bodies (D3, D7000, D2x, D2h, D1x, D100, D70ir, and SLR/n) and be able to do high ISO for concerts. My problem with the D4 is that I can't get the auto-focusing to work well at all. It's fine at f/8+, but at f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8 the focusing is so miss miss miss. I try the af-fine tuning, but the 24-70 at different focal lengths and distances, it sucks. The only lenses that I get to work well (and by well I mean amazing) are the 35mm f/1.8 DX, 14-24 f/2.8 and the 105mm f/2.8 VR. My 85mm f/1.4D, 70-200 f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, sigma 24mm f/1.4 and others focus just terribly. All these lenses on my other cameras (besides the D7000 which seems to focus as badly as the D4) work just awesome. I sent it into get the AF adjusted and it didn't get any better. Anyone else?
I’m discovering the same of my old pair D3S, D300S & wanting a D810 but then D850 came out. I went for it instead & held off on D500 now. But I’m loving the D4S even compared to D850 in those low light clarity u spoke of. So amazing still & even if u want the soft texture of film it’s beautiful at 12,800 easy indoor w/ gently fill flash
“S” varieties! I always go for the S as it’s often the internally refined specs u lay not see but appreciate way later. Especially w/ iPhone. It was more a mix of physical refinement to hardware as well to stair step into the next gen. I did that since 3s to XS.
I learned after the D4S, the D5 didnt make that many leaps and the D6 today barely feels like a 5S if that. And this may be our last single digit D pro sports journalist body
I agree with all your conclusions. I own two D4 bodies. I have made 24" x 36" poster sized prints with this. The prints have zero pixels visible. Its great! I don't know what size of print you need to force the limitations of the sensor to become visible but those were the biggest prints I ever had made and that's as big as I would ever need. In my opinion, if a photographer needs to crop so much out of an image that pixels become evident, I may suggest getting closer to the subject or investing in come more powerful telephoto glass! Otherwise those 16MP are just fine for most applications!
D4s for life!
Hi Eric, first off, thank you so much for making that video and for answering all my questions. You did a great job amigo, and I really enjoyed your vid. I gotta say, you've got that D4 camera for a pretty good/excellent deal! (money-wise) good on ya mate!!
I'm right there with you when it comes to the Nikon D750. When it came out, I read a lot about it but when I tried it, I felt like something was missing. I didn't buy it and that was a good thing. I bought an used D600 from a friend of mine and I really like it, but in low light situations I don't find it very good. the AF isn't as fast as I wanna it to be.
It's really true what you say about not paying too much attention to how cameras look on paper, it's all about how you feel about a camera, why you need that particular camera and/or what you're planning to do with it. I think it's like hiring someone, you really need to see the person in real life before offering her/him the job, because all candidates look like a perfect fit for the job on paper, but they're not in real life.
Somehow, as you know, the D500 has been a controversial camera for many people and it's good to know that in low light situations, yes, the D500 could beat the D4 but like you said; by a hair. Also, I don't know if you agree on this but once you've tried a full frame camera, it's kind of hard to go back and start using a crop sensor camera, right?
Hahahaha, Thanks for being honest about the D5! I know I have asked you before about the D810 successor, but I'm kind of falling in love with the D4/D4s. I have used nikon/canon flagship cameras a few years ago but I have never tried the Nikon D4, however, I still remember the feeling of holding a flagship camera in my hands. it's just something else.
Anyway, Thanks again Eric for the vid and have a nice weekend with the family!
Jesús.
It was my pleasure to make the video as always and I am glad it helped you! And yes, I definitely agree about the D750. As for using a full frame sensor and then going to cropped, that is a tough question because each have their own advantages. However, it would be tough on me to go with a cropped sensor as a main camera because all of my pro lenses were purchased with a 35mm sensor focal length in mind. Thanks for watching as always! -Eric
except Canon 1Dx is better , try pressing shutter on that , and more pixels . Somewhat lower DR , but only if you dont know what you are doing will it be a problem .
I use a D3 :) use it all the time, had a chance to go modern but I bought some new glass instead :)
very good thinking , top quality glass is more important than new technology, just saying
Nice video, thanks a lot. What do you think about the Nikon D4S? I actually can get one here with just 20k clicks in great condition at roughly 2000 Euro.
I moved from the D3 to the D4 about five months ago, and with limited time with the D4 I am super satisfied with the move. I didn't do it for the extra Mega Pixels. I made the move to get better ergonomics and low light use. I wanted a DSLR vs a sub par AF on the first gen Z mirrorless bodies. And the S lenses are freaking outrageous right now, so hard pass for Nikon Mirrorless on my budget.
D500 Colors go wonky at 6400 ISO and get worst from there up. That to me was a vote for Full Frame since I shoot low light indoor events where color in the picture is a bid deal. If I need a good outdoor large field sports DSLR, the D500 would be first in line over the rest.
D4s is still super expensive for the marginal bump in specs. I get it if you shoot sports, you want the best and D4s maybe better AF wise, but for the price to me the D4 was a bargain.
D5 I have seen a lot of folks moving to it then moving right on to Mirrorless. I think the D5 improves on the D4/D4s. But sacrifices build quality that Pros demand. So for me in the future I may pass on the D5 after seeing it's the least favorite Pro DSLR in Nikons line up.
D6 seems like a great DSLR, but the price for it is still very high. With the Z9 now out for over a year, maybe the price comes down here soon, but I don't see a lot of folks jumping into a D6.
Great video, and I second your observations. I plan to keep my D4 till it dies. Just flat out a great camera, makes you want to just hold it and admire the way it fits in your hand. Crazy to think a camera would have such a great feel even at the weight that the D4 is. Still cannot believe I own one finally.
It's funny how this type of video gets outdated in some respects, no matter how well articulated. With the exception of sports and photojournalism, the D850 rules the roost... for now.
And speaking of exceptions, the D500's autofocus is exceptional. I shot two triathlons with cyclists speeding toward me over the weekend with my D500 and it only missed focus once out of around 5000 exposures.
Have you tried the D4 ??
@@nickreid5939 Funny you ask (and two years after my previous comment!). I am just about to sell my D3S and purchase a D4 or D4S as an upgrade. Do you have experience with the D4?
**Sorry it's not clear who's posting here. I'm DJ, logged in on another account.
@@milesian1 i have d810 and D7200....i am thinking about buying a used D4S in great condition but 200,000 clicks..for US $ 1000.00....What do you think ??
@@nickreid5939 I'm mulling over the same issue right now as I look for a D4/D4S. What I've come to learn through experience with the D3S and what others have shared, is that the flagship bodies are built so well that the shutter count is one consideration, but the condition is probably more important. So if the body has scuff marks everywhere, dull or scratched LCD, peeling rubber, buttons that won't function, etc. it's probably been handled too roughly and not worth consideration. On the other hand, a body with a 200K+ shutter count that still looks and feels "minty" has likely been treated well and will last a lot longer.
I'm drawn to products that have such a character, like the Honda Element in the auto world. In fact, an Element with 200K miles on it is considered mild usage if it's been well maintained. Very similar to these workhorse Nikon cameras.
@@nickreid5939 To answer directly: yes, a D4S in great condition is well worth US$1000. Go for it!
thank god! someone that tells his personal reasons between the cameras by experience vs bullshit specs, this is the reason why Ive held on to my D700 all these years, so a true upgrade to me would also be a d4 or d4s..
You got it! The D700 is still a great camera and so many still use it. Others just look at the year it came out and assume it's a crappy camera. Thanks for watching! -Eric
I just bought a brand new well 1,362 images, but not a speck of dust from a baby photographer (a lady by the way ) that camera was her studio and back up body and she decided to sell it she babied that thing ...... I picked it up for $1,000 cash..... and it offers resolution and ergonomics and capabilities that a D500 wished it had..... Man using the banks and programming my custom settings...... shit I would be lost without my D4 and my D3s back up......... D850 or a D5 or D6 my ass...... Now take the insides of a D500 and put it in a D4 or D3 body and we can talk.... but it better have an FX sensor 50mp.......
Just got a D4s with 75’000 clics for 650 chf (650 $) the files are great but the raw files need some work especially with the WB (always to warm) I love the ergonomics !
Hello Finding Middle Earth.. Great video. Always enjoyed @ your videos. If you dont mind me asking.. After looking at your video and others, I'm seriously considering now a used / pre-owned D4 for sports, action, low light photography.
Where is a reputable, good place to buy a used D4 ?
Thanks again for the help.
Japanese sellers on eBay with good ratings are usually excellent.
I own(ed) a D810 and found it lacked any kind of AF speed using continuous shooting for aircraft and sports shots, so now own an immaculate low shutter D4 after seeing this video, the D4 for sports and action is still light years ahead of the D810
Have you used the D810 in crop mode??
November 2020 & still use my Nikon D4, shutter count of 261,387. Just sent it to Nikon NY for repairs & cleaning.
March 2021 and still use my D2x
Thanks. This was an awesome video and your facts on the D5 are accurate. I too feel the D5 is not worth the price. I do own a d810. Just got a mint D4 with less than 7000 shutter clicks.
Just purchased D4s today, 2022, terrific camera and waited some time for one to come onto the market that was low shutter and mint condition. Have D3 and a couple D800/ D850. All good tools to have in the box.
How do you tell your getting a USA model D4 from the serial number? I’m buying one off eBay. Thanks
It will actually say US or USA on the bottom of the grip where the serial number is
Still got mine with only 26K shutter. I’m using my D850 a bit more now, still new. I shoot wildlife and sports. D4, the king of low light and buffer!
The D4 is miles ahead of the D500, why? Because D4 was designed for pros where as the D500 was designed for a consumer market. I had a D500, i liked the body but the image quality was messy, i think D7200 sensor is much better - D500 is better for sports than the 7200 but the 7200 is better for everything else and you get more pixels to play with. Always thought the D500 was a poor performer image quality wise, i also know nikon pros who got sent one for FREE and sent it back. I would buy a d500 if it hits a lower price.
Just bought a D4 with 12000 clicks for $1700 (Aus). Beautiful camera.
After a D70, only the D3s felt right
Hello you; I am from the old generation.stumbled on this post as I was lookong at A D4,to be honest I have D3s.. so ..what I did one night was turned the light of at just before night fall let's say .. and I found a shaded spot to shoot ,,something I really could not see well ...and I took a shot .. and yes there ist was//clear ,, Nikon D3s at 12800 Iso ..yes can see better than my eyes.. ,so I decided to make comparism.. you how you now say you ar every happy with the D$,,!!! it gets worse.. I am more happy with my D3s than the D4..,I urge you go do the Math.. you will find the less the Pixels .. the better the Iso QUALITY ye sin Capitol letters.. I urge you to make comparis in that regard...,to me ..after the D3s nothing hAS CHANGED.. IT IS LIKE THE THREE VARIANTS..1-iSO2-mEGAPIXELS 3- PROCESSOR TECHNOLOGY.. i PERSONALLY THINK ..YES BETTER PROCESSOR BETTER TECHNOLOGY .. BUT THE SPEED OF THE PROCESSOR IS RIPPING OF THE iSO..,, go DO THE MATHS.. cHECK TEST ON DXO MARK website ,you will find that the D3s is still the king of the Iso and yes at 12 PPIX.. I do sprots in the past.. at a simple moment took a shot when a soccer player fell and his coach lent him a hand to get up and the referee happened to be there and me ..snap empotional shot.. that thing went viral..so I have to print is 3,5fot but 5 feet.. and the bloody thing is so clear.., I can see the eyelashes and count them ..and it was Jpec ,,no correction staright of the bat as they say...and do you know how big waS THE FILE??? 3.2MB YES.. and I still can believe it .. it is in a frame at my home .like I said ,, I think after the D3s.. rest is only playing with th three variables resolution iso and processor.
What about the D4??....An improvement on the D3s
IQ??
I just bought a D4 yesterday.Its the end of revolution.FANTASTIC.
153 focus points but you can only use 53 points at once I read.
D4 vs d850 today? What would you suggest? I shoot sports and travel primarily. I understand the superiorities of 850 but how would it hold up for sports in terms of AF and buffer?
It seems a crop sensor has an advantage for wildlife. You have to carry a lot heavier glass to get the same reach. I have 2- D800s. I know the 810 is a little better but not enough better to upgrade. I just got a D500. I am not so sure at 6400 ISO that the D500 is really better . The D500 goes higher than the D800 goes but at 6400 the D800 seems cleaner to me but I haven't tested it extensively like you guys do
No question, nor real comparison between the D4 and the D500. Excellent camera.
Just came across this as I have gone back to shooting sports photography along with weddings with my D700 (I have used this for weddings for 9 years and it is fantastic.) However it is a little slow and does not have the buffer capacity to shoot action sports like football (soccer to you guys,) rugby, etc. Good to hear that it still gets such good comments in comparison to higher spec cameras. As most of my sport pics will be printed in newspapers I would be shooting at Jpeg medium even for heavy cropping. I shoot sports at these settings on the D700 and up to 5000 iso, I can happily crop into half the frame with very little noise. High ISO performance is important to me as I can't afford to splash out £10,000 on a 400mm f2.8 and instead shoot with the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 zoom so the ability to go up to 12,800 means I can keep high shutter speeds even with low light and f5.6.
D4 is terrific.....have 2 of them with a D850. D4 saves lots of shots that would be junk with other cameras. D850 is pretty wicked tho. Just cannot make mistakes....it's a very tough camera to get spot on. Noise on a D4 is acceptable FOR PRINTING large prints all the way to 6400 as long as it's exposed correctly the first time....make prints to 11 x 14.
Now, 5 years later, the D4 is still my main gun - together with a Z6. I don´t see any reason for an upgrade to a D5 or D6, because i renewed the shutter and the rubbers last year for just € 600,- and hopefully it does her job for the next couple of years . Sometimes, when i´m filming concerts and i film with both bodies, even my D3 cames back of retirement and does the photography-part - up to ISO 3.200 without any problems and up to ISO 6.400 with some tweaks in Lightroom.
Interesting take ! I'm looking at the d500 and you really have thrown a spanner into the mix to think about . I'm subscribed !
Glad you enjoyed! In the end, just get the gear that makes you happy and fits your workflow. Thanks for watching! -Eric
I got a d4 with 8,400 shutter actuations, coming from a sony a7rii which has the latest firmware and still locks down the e-shutter curtain and bad battery. I moved to nikon again.
I also have r2 and think to come back to nikon maybe d4s
I Have a D4 and D800e, I love bothe and to me the combination for wildlife and nature is perfect. I sold my D810 due to focus issues. Yes the initial lot have focus issues. My D800e is a lot sharper and no problem camera, the D4 shoots anything, The one camera I regret selling is the Df. D4 sensor but just overall better IQ. So 16mp FX is great and my A1 prints of wildlife is just stunning..I slightly disagree on the D500 low light image quality, it does not have the same DR then the D4, But I am not a massive high ISO shooter, to me 6400 is the max. Seldom go beyond that..
Yes thanks. I got one and still wasn't sure if I made a wise decision.
What do you think of the D 810 vs the D 850?
I just follow your advice and got a d4 with 140k clicks for 1800 instead of a d750. Cant wait to have it deliver
The D5 is a full metal frame with carbon fiber parts. It has almost the same amount of metal in the frame that the D4 has.
Actually D5 is built tougher and heavier than D4.
@@riversky33 like 100 grams, and most of that is internal parts. Like larger processor with a bigger heat sink.
Wayyyy to much BS. I gave up at 4:14. How many times can you repeat the same points?
I have a D3. It sits on my kitchen table staring at me balefully. So I pick it up now and again and take a picture of my kitchen sink. Then I think "I really should go and take some shots with this". And then I consider its weight, its bulk and its general capability as a weapon of war. And then I put it down, stick my x-pro1 in my bag and head out the door.
People. These cameras were not made for dilettantes like us. They were made for search and destroy missions in enemy territory. If you take them out on the street people will visibly shrink from you. Having said that, they're extraordinary cameras and the build quality is off the scale. I recommend you buy one just to feel what a camera weapon feels like. And I'm pretty much a pacifist...
Richard Smith are you willing to sell it?
I have both, the D4 and D4s as well as the D3 and D3s and found the focusing switch from on the camera (3 settings) vs internal switching modes are terrible in very low light. I have lost more shots with the D4 and D4s, I have not had this problem with the D3 and D3s. I am experienced documentary photographer. My work around this problem is to shoot 3 frames and am likely to get one. Or, switch cameras, now taking 6 images to get one. I can't figure out which focusing mode to shoot just two people standing side by side to get them both in focus. I have used the 28mm 1.4, 24-70mm 2.8, 14-24mm 2.8. Help!
Backfocus problem?
Initially I fell in love with the D3, but the D4 is sounding better and better
Hi, A question please: what are your consideration about focus speed between D3s and D4 in low light situation? is D4 a big improvment? thanks
The D4 is much better at focusing in low light than the D3s, but the noise performance is not that difference between the two. Thanks for watching! -Eric
Would you still buy a D4 in 2018? I have already a D850 and sold my D700 and D800e and would like to have a second body
Buy it even now if it has low shutter count. Flagships are flagships no matter how old. Some of my colleagues still work with d3... if you don't need it for video that much go for it.
Depends on what you shoot.
Why is the D500 in your list... the other cameras are double or triple the cost...
No, the D4 is only 100 or 200 more than the D500. Thanks for watching. -Eric
Have you ever seen an actual print from a D500?
4:40 Man, I havent heard a camera make that focus ready sound for at least half a decade. Probably 7 or 8 years. Wow, I now know again why almost nobody uses it ;D
A really stupid comment,the camera is about 10 cm away from the mic, what do you expect. The bleep is controlled, low or high or off. Whats the problem. ?
I do mostly portraits and city photography...I am thinking the D850 might be better for me....am I wrong? I dont do sports at all. I dont think I need the buffer speed this provides. My only other option is a Z6. Someone recommended this D4 but Don't know.
I use to have a D500 but sold it! I prefer using the D700 and D3
Get a D4 it´s nearly on par with the actual pro-bodies!
@@wolfgangaigner I do look out for a D4 :)
@@wolfgangaigner just read this :) I actually ended up getting a Nikon D4S :)
Very informative and engaging presentation. Thanks much for that.
Just wondering if you are still using your D4 to this day. I am sure that system will continue to run effortlessly.
It does. It´s my main gun for professional use even in 2021 according to my Z6.
At the time of this video the D500 wasn't even 6 months old lol
Saying a FF has better high iso than a crop is stating the obvs.
Comparing the absolute worst exposures possible and saying X body has better details...
I dont think you understand how printing at 20x30 works.
This video just comes of as a reason to support the older gen flagship body against an up and coming crop that threatens the FF mentality.
How many of these had been viewer questions?
Four years later much of this seems out of place.
I was blown away by all the retaining details in my D4 pictures when doing retouching in Capture One 10. And yes, I would not change for a D5 nor an "S" model.
Using D850, D4 and D750. The color output from D4 and D850 look similar to me. D750 looks far off. Love D4 for everyday shooting.
D750 is awsome with insane dynamic range . Pair it with a nikon 70-200 , color is great
Good video, but Nikon won't like this.
+Longlong Tian Thanks! That's the great part about not being sponsored by Nikon: I can give honest advice to my viewers without caring what Nikon thinks :-)
Ok I am looking to invest no I am not a pro photographer I shoot my daughter at the gym and competitions I have been looking at the D500 for indoor sports All-Star Cheer but looking at this video now I am confused ?????? I know that I need the 10fps and I also know I need a good low light and focusing camera the D500 has 153 focusing points however I don't need all that because on the stage the most a team has is 30 cheer leaders now how is the coverage in the view finder? So what is the difference between the D4/D4s? and the buffering?
Dpreview is the bigest LIE in the world...thay say the d500 has 14.0 Dynamic range,and d7200 has even more...why they are writing this bullshit i dont know..this,i have shot with d500,i have shot with d7200,i have shot with d750,i also have shot with 6D,70d, i have used plenty of camera...dpreview is always wrong !
Pixels are pixels, and they scale exactly the same. Photoshop really doesn't care about the camera you made those pixels with. FX vs DX for big prints really doesn't matter for comparable print sizes at comparable ISO. I've printed 13x19 from D3 and from an old D200. They both look great.
20.9 MP on a crop sensor is equal to a 47MP on a full frame sensor - think of it as if you had a 47MP sensor cut into a cropped sensor.
This is why the 16MP of you D4 are more 'spread out' on your sensor and as a result of it the sensor is 'less pixels populated' therefore it has a better capability of gathering light than it would on a 47 MP full frame sensor (or 20.9 MP on the crop sensor mounted on the D500).
Re ISO and clean images, if you have nearly 3 times the pixel population on the sensor you need to multiply your noise times 3 when you look at your D500 files - hence the noise. The noise 'per se' is almost identical, but having 1/3 of the pixels you have 1/3 of the visible noise that you'd see on the D500 - if that makes sense.
You're absolutely right about the D810 - it's an amazing camera even today! The IQ is stunning and these 36MP the 'sweet spot' in my opinion.
So you would also recommend the D4s quality-wise if the D4 weren't to be available?
I want to move to nikon from sony should I buy the d4 or d4s ? I love to shoot sport like basketball and soccer and surfing... ?
You're not saying a lot about cropping. A person buys a crop body, to crop. All wildlife photographers crop, animals rarely pose or sit still. Some do, but....Plus, some are further away than one would want.
I have a D810 and D500 as well as a D3, one is not going to crop the D3, it is already a smaller image, the D810 cropping is going to have more noise than the D500 cropping, or say a D7200. I would want to know if the D4 would be as noisy as the D810 and D3 cropped.
I really don't think the D500 is all that great in low light. So the fact you say the D4 is would be a definite plus
👏👏👏👏👏👍 good vid!!!!! it's not only the number of pix that matters, it's the quality of them. D4 is better than a D500 DX, with smaller sensor, etc.
Nice review, I've had my D4 for 3 years and still love it, but for sports and action D5 is far far superior camera in every way.
What camera are you using now in 2023??
A small Fujifilm XT3 kit. It’s beautiful and all I need
The D750 had been good to me over the 7 years that I owned it...that is to say until I dropped it three weeks ago.
It's a bit fragile.
I replaced it with a d700, and man, is it a monster. Doesn't feel as well in the hands as the D750, IMO.
I'm a D750 user and we're cool I'm not offended with what you said about the D750 ...lol, but I wanted to pickup a used D4 because of its price point (besides it was my dream camera body ever since it was launch) but when I checked the price for a 64gb xqd and cf cards.... Oh my word 🙊🙈
I just bought a D4 again...$750...320,000 actuations..just sent it out to get a brand new shutter installed.. I also have a D3 ..70k actuations for $350...I also have a D500..I bought it new ..less than 12k actuations on it
Good video. Yes, sometimes the newer models are cheaped out to maximize profit and keep a certain price point. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards from a Canon shooter ;) Same stuff, same ideology as you've pointed out, really. I do the same as you camera wise.
2018 Aug. Do you still have your D4 or have you updated to something better?
I have the D850 now :-)
Wow D850 nice. That's on my super long wish list.
Are you worry that you “might” miss the D4 again and buy it for the 3rd time? Hahaha or maybe you can do a video on why you have decided to let go the D4?
Can you give some suggestion on lens to married with the D4 body for its fast focus and high FPS?
Shooting mainly - Portrait and some sport and action photography, would also like to have a nice lens for the Low lights environment.
Love your videos and Thank you for your time much appreciated
Finally someone who talks about the picture and colors.. that's the way you should look at a picture... I own the d700 has little shutter lag and also like the colors it gives me ...love it
One the thing I don’t really like is the back button AF-ON button feels mushy ,compared to the D3x and D500 that has a nice tactile click to them .
Dpreview also says that Sony a6300 has 0.2 better dynamic range than the Canon Eos r,wich is tottaly wrong,i have tested...and Eos R has e 1 stop advantage in the shadows,and i guess little more headroom the highligts !The ironic thing is that you can download raw files from their site Dpreview studio,and test yourself and see that this specs are just not good.
I am glad that you love your D4 which is what it is all about and it's your choice which camera you get but stop promoting the film emulsion myth of señor size/resolution in print details. resolution is a function of sensor type, & pixel count & pitch not sensor size.
My present camera the D800e even though it is a higher resolution camera thus not herald as a low light best like the D4 it has a higher usable dynamic range then the D750 and on par with the D850.
Amen I know Exactly what you mean D4 D3 stand on their own both incredible cameras New cameras seem to lack soul
I’m a big fan of my D3 in 2022 … if I’m looking to upgrade, I’m thinking Leica SL. Personally, if I’m leaving F mount … I’m really leaving for a whole new system for very specific advantages
GREAT video of your thoughts, and thank you! Perfect info. I've been thinking recently about adding a D4(s) or D5 to my arsenal for specific uses, and this nails it for me! Cheers!
Do you still have the D4? I'm looking to add one to my kit or the d4s.
Did you go with either the D4/D4s? I'm looking to pick one up this year.
@@Being_Joe D4. Love it!
I come to the Nikon world for Sony a7iii. Started with d700 and moved to d4s. Amazing cameras. The only thing I don’t have is eye-af, but I don’t care.