Nikon D4S such a let down: There was so much hype that Nikon was about to release it's D4S as a 24 mpix camera. In fact BH and Adoramma posted such and quickly withdrew. With its...

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

There was so much hype that Nikon was about to release it's D4S as a 24 mpix camera. In fact BH and Adoramma posted such and quickly withdrew. With its official release today it is the same 16.2 mpix as the now discontinued D4. Yes, there is improvement in other areas including a 30% processing speed and the 60/f per sec movie mode but after that it is just a D4 with a higher price tag. How many of you would buy a top of the line still camera for it's movie functions?

Nic42 Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Mark7829 wrote:

There was so much hype that Nikon was about to release it's D4S as a 24 mpix camera. In fact BH and Adoramma posted such and quickly withdrew. With its official release today it is the same 16.2 mpix as the now discontinued D4. Yes, there is improvement in other areas including a 30% processing speed and the 60/f per sec movie mode but after that it is just a D4 with a higher price tag. How many of you would buy a top of the line still camera for it's movie functions?

30% is substantial; this camera is aimed primarily at professional photographers who would have had an input into what they wanted in the upgrade. If you read the specs you will see that there are a number of refinements; all targeted at professionals.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

I agree there are refinements but I find that they are not compelling. That's my opinion.

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Mark7829 wrote:

There was so much hype that Nikon was about to release it's D4S as a 24 mpix camera. In fact BH and Adoramma posted such and quickly withdrew. With its official release today it is the same 16.2 mpix as the now discontinued D4. Yes, there is improvement in other areas including a 30% processing speed and the 60/f per sec movie mode but after that it is just a D4 with a higher price tag. How many of you would buy a top of the line still camera for it's movie functions?

Well then, look at it this way. Now you can get the
D-4 at a reduced price. Thats a very good thing. Right?
Thanks for sharing. I am looking for a better camera.
Currently I'm using a 3100 and want to go up.

amehta Loc: Boston

Mark7829 wrote:

There was so much hype that Nikon was about to release it's D4S as a 24 mpix camera. In fact BH and Adoramma posted such and quickly withdrew. With its official release today it is the same 16.2 mpix as the now discontinued D4. Yes, there is improvement in other areas including a 30% processing speed and the 60/f per sec movie mode but after that it is just a D4 with a higher price tag. How many of you would buy a top of the line still camera for it's movie functions?

If I was shooting indoor volleyball full-time, and had the choice between the D4 at $6000, its recent price or the D4s at $6500, I would take the D4s for two reasons: slightly better high ISO performance and slightly better AF, especially full-time AF-C if I was shooting a burst. If I already had a D4, or even a D3s, I doubt I'd replace it. But a 10% price increase isn't a lot for the ways the D4s is better. When shooting indoor sports, every stop matters, and very bit of AF speed matters.

For the rest of us, we will happily continue using our D800/D610/D7100, etc, and not worry too much about the $6k cameras. :-)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mark, unfortunately, it's one of Nikons MO's. They tend to overhaul a previous model to a lot of hype, but very little substance.
The 300/300s, 800/800e, d4/d4s, and I'm sure there are others. Surely it's a way to squeeze another year or two out of a model, and a couple more dollars out of their customers.
It was billed by some here as the 1DX killer, and I'm sure that to many Nikon fans the 1DX is indeed dead, but you won't see too many pros switching from the 1dx to the D4s, and likely it will continue the other way around. And there is still the matter of the lenses. ;-)
SS

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

SharpShooter wrote:

Mark, unfortunately, it's one of Nikons MO's. They... (show quote)

That's how I see it. But I will not take the bait. Unfortunately, I have a lot of Canon friends and likely going to take a lot of grief over this.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

amehta wrote:

If I was shooting indoor volleyball full-time, and... (show quote)

I agree. If I was shopping for a D4 the extra 10% for the improvements would be well worth it.

amehta Loc: Boston

If Nikon thought it was dramatically new, they would have called it the D5. They know it's an incremental improvement, for people who need it, that is why it's just an added "s". It wasn't designed to be a "1DX killer", just to update to the best technology.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

amehta wrote:

If Nikon thought it was dramatically new, they would have called it the D5. They know it's an incremental improvement, for people who need it, that is why it's just an added "s". It wasn't designed to be a "1DX killer", just to update to the best technology.

The D4 has been out a long time. There was an expectation of either a killer or some thing equivalent to the 1DX. Even the two big on-line retailers (BH and Adorama) published information that it was to be a 24 mpix camera and then quickly withdrew. I would have thought that the D4 at 24 mpix would have been great but it did not even equal the 18 mpix of 1DX. If I am disappointed, Nikon should not have allowed the rumors to persist and could have avoided the unrealistic expectation and letdown.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mark7829 wrote:

That's how I see it. But I will not take the bait. Unfortunately, I have a lot of Canon friends and likely going to take a lot of grief over this.

Mark, it wasn't bait. I think the D4 is a great camera, and the s is a better camera. It's shooters will get their jobs done. It will do everything better. It's just the expectation that it was carrying on its shoulders, and mostly by those that were expecting more. And many of us, as Anand has said, already knew it was not a D5. If you have a 4, you won't likely upgrade. If you're moving up, it's a better camera, or wait for the used d4's to hit the streets, after those that must have one.
As for your Canon friends, you'll just have to either put up with'em. Or join'em! :lol:
SS

amehta Loc: Boston

Mark7829 wrote:

The D4 has been out a long time. There was an exp... (show quote)

First, 16mp == 18mp.

And while 24mp is more than 16mp, it's only a 22% increase in linear resolution, so a 20x30 print becomes close to a 24x36 print. Not really that significant. But keeping the pixel size the same gives 50% better light gathering per pixel, which is big for the high ISO performance.

The D4 came out just over 2 years ago. The D800 was announced exactly 2 years ago. Nikon releases major pro upgrades every 4-5 years.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

I'm in neither camp at the moment, but am very familiar with one and reasonably familiar with the other. The point here is that the D4S is similar in the Nikon line as the 1DX is to Canon. If you recall, Canon also marched you right up the ladder with the 1D, s, mk2, 3, 4, and now X. So, in my eyes, they're tied except for one thing. Canon's autofocus in the 1DX was better than in the D4, but maybe the D4S now tied it up. And the sensor in the D4 is really a low-light, low-noise wonder, truth be told. The 1DX isn't shabby, by any means, and definitely of sleeker build (better looking), but I'd take either if given to me, and buy neither if left up to me.
A 6d or D610 would serve me very well, and spend the diff on great fast glass that auto focuses on the body I end up with.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

lukan wrote:

I'm in neither camp at the moment, but am very fam... (show quote)

Well said. The low light capabilities of the D4S is exceptional but for many of us, how often will we shoot in such conditions? I can see the application but it would have to be extraordinary. How can that be attractive and/or practical to many if not most of us?

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Mark7829 wrote:

Well said. The low light capabilities of the D4S is exceptional but for many of us, how often will we shoot in such conditions? I can see the application but it would have to be extraordinary. How can that be attractive and/or practical to many if not most of us?

It can alleviate the use (or misuse) of flash, and for most of us a D610 would be just superb. Take the savings and buy 1or2 great lenses to shoot with!

I personally would want the D4S (or 1DX). Why not? Greed is good! :thumbup: