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Nikon D4

 
Nikon D4 front
 
  • 16MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1340g - 160 x 157 x 91mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Older Model is Nikon D3S
  • Successor is Nikon D4s
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
50
Imaging
62
Features
81
Overall
69

Nikon D4 overview

Nikon D4 is Nikon's Pro DSLR digital camera originally released on January of 2012. It features a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4928 x 3280.

Nikon launched this model in order to improve the older Nikon D3S (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards launched the fresher Nikon D4s (Read Full Comparison) to improve this camera.

The D4 ranks at #8 out of 35 in Pro DSLR cameras & all around #179 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to try our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your personal criteria.

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Here is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon D4 history

The Nikon D4 has a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can identify all older and latest models as well as main features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-D6 front thumbnailNikon D6
D4 vs D6
21MPFull frame14.0 fps2020
Nikon-D5 front thumbnailNikon D5
D4 vs D5
21MPFull frame14.0 fps2016
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Nikon-D4s front thumbnailNikon D4s
D4 vs D4s
16MPFull frame11.0 fps2014
Nikon-D4 front thumbnailNikon D416MPFull frame11.0 fps2012
Nikon-D3S front thumbnailNikon D3S
D4 vs D3S
12MPFull frame11.0 fps2010
Nikon-D3X front thumbnailNikon D3X
D4 vs D3X
25MPFull frame5.0 fps2009
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Nikon-D3 front thumbnailNikon D3
D4 vs D3
12MPFull frame11.0 fps2008

Nikon D4 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of positives and negatives of the Nikon D4 based on criterias that are generally viewed as useful in a digital camera.

2 card slots
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with phase detect AF
comes with Top screen
comes with tracking focus
decent MP (16MP)
does have HDMI out
does have headphone support
does have microphone support
environment proofing
good resolution screen (921 thousand dots)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
great min ISO (100)
has manual focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
saves RAW formats
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
fixed screen
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Nikon D4 Sensor details

The Nikon D4 houses the Expeed 3 processor chip. The sensor size in the Nikon D4 is 36mm x 23.9mm (Full frame). The 860 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4928 x 3280 pixels at aspect ratios of 5:4 and 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor has 16MP and includes a standard ISO range of 100 - 12800. This ISO can be extended digitally to 50 - 204800. RAW files are saved therefore you have wider room to maneuver in post.

The image below shows the D4's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The D4 sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is showcased in green.

Nikon D4 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon D4 dimensions

Nikon D4 weighs in at 2.95 lb (1,340g / 47.27 ounces) & has external size of 160mm x 157mm x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6"). The weight of normal Pro DSLR camera is 1,280g so the Nikon D4 is on par as compared to other competitors.

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Listed below is a photo of the Nikon D4 alongside a soft drink to help you get a feel for its scale.

Nikon D4 dimensions scale

The top view below will show you the button arrangement on the D4.

Nikon D4 topview buttons dials

Nikon D4 Lens specs

The D4 works with the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses to pick from. Below is some of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the D4.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-AF-P-DX-NIKKOR-18-55mm-F3.5-5.6G-VR lensNikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR18-55mmf/3.5-5.6 205g
Sigma-30mm-F1.4-DC-HSM-Nikon-F-DX lensSigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM30mmf/1.4 435g
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Sigma-12-24mm-F4.5-5.6-II-DG-HSM-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM12-24mmf/4.5-5.6 670g
Zeiss-Milvus-18mm-F2.8-Nikon-F-FX lensZeiss Milvus 18mm F2.818mmf/2.8721g
Sigma-8-16mm-F4.5-5.6-DC-HSM-Nikon-F-DX lensSigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM8-16mmf/4.5-5.6 555g
Tokina-atx-i-100mm-F2.8-FF-Macro-Nikon-F-Mount lensTokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro100mmf/2.8530g
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Sigma-60-600mm-F4.5-6.3-DG-OS-HSM-S-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM S60-600mmf/4.5-6.3 2700g
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Nikon D4 Connectivity

The D4 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras that have NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to send files and usually adjust settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Some applications even stream a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it can be attached to an external monitor. Almost all cameras will allow you to charge the battery with the USB port.

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Nikon D4 Video specs

The maximum video resolution in the Nikon D4 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance in video quality vs file sizes but FULL HD won't give you any room to downsample. The body does feature both headphone and microphone support making it incredibly valuable whilst capturing sound.

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Nikon D4 Weather Sealing

Nikon D4 has got environment sealing which makes it a fantastic selection for use in challenging environments. This is particularly useful whenever you are not sure about the elements you may face in outdoor photography.

Nikon D4 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon D4 features a 3.2 inch fixed display boasting a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the display screen has no touch support. The D4 also includes a Top screen allowing you to quickly see the camera's settings.

Nikon D4 screen and viewfinder Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The View Finder details for Nikon D4 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.7x

Viewfinders can be quite helpful in bright outdoor situations which can make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Nikon D4 Shutter specs

Nikon D4 continuous shooting speed is 11.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

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Nikon D4 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Nikon D4 comes with external flash ability but does not include built in flash. The max flash sync speed is 1/250 seconds.

Nikon D4 Autofocus specs

Nikon D4 comes with both Phase Detect AF plus Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & accurate when compared with Contrast Based autofocusing.

It features 51 focus points to choose from. It also includes Tracking AF for objects that move. Nikon D4 has manual focusing if needed in low light conditions or you require more accurate focusing control.

Photography Glossary

Nikon D4 Battery life

The battery (EN-EL18) in the Nikon D4 is fashioned to last for 2600 pictures based on the CIPA measurements which is about average when compared to it's rivals. The general Pro DSLR camera battery life is 2438. Nikon D3X features the highest possible (4400) battery life in this group of cameras.

Listed below is a number of Pro DSLR cameras having the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D3X front thumbnailNikon D3X
D4 vs D3X
4400 yesnono
Nikon-D3 front thumbnailNikon D3
D4 vs D3
4300 yesnono
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Nikon-D3S front thumbnailNikon D3S
D4 vs D3S
4200 yesnono
Nikon-D5 front thumbnailNikon D5
D4 vs D5
3780 yesnono
Nikon-D6 front thumbnailNikon D6
D4 vs D6
3580 yesnoyes

Nikon D4 for specific styles of photography

The following graph shows a analysis of the Nikon D4 for specific styles of photography. To check out more, check out the specific section below.

Nikon D4 Portrait photography information

The Nikon D4 receives a points total of 77 which is outstanding, meaning that it is a wonderful fit to use for portraits. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor resolution, RAW support & flexibility to utilize external flash.

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focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files

Nikon D4 as a Street photography camera

With a average points tally of 56, the Nikon D4 is somewhat suited to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization

Nikon D4 Sports photography factors

A nice sports photography points tally of 73 means the Nikon D4 is a good choice for photographing sports. A camera needs to have fantastic autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization

Travel photography with Nikon D4

Size is super important when getting a camera for travel. All round, the Nikon D4 gets a moderate 59 as a travel camera which is somewhat suited to take on your vacations.

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environment proof
good MP (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly

Nikon D4 Landscape photography features

When you're looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon D4 at it's nice score of 74 as a landscape camera is a fine choice within the current marketplace.

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you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
MP count decent (16MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
2 card slots
no image stabilization

Vlogging with Nikon D4

A vlogging camera should really posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Considering everything, the Nikon D4 is simply not appropriate as a vlog camera as it delivers a really bad score of 26.

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video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization

Nikon D4 Alternatives

If you are looking for replacements to the D4, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall within the category of Pro DSLR.

The chart down below shows you an overview of the D4 versus it's top scored rivals suggested above.

Following are additional cameras you may view as alternative options. To read through a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Nikon
Model type
Nikon D4
Category
Pro DSLR
Introduced
2012-01-06
Physical type
Large SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Expeed 3
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
36 x 23.9mm
Sensor area
860.4mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
5:4 and 3:2
Highest resolution
4928 x 3280
RAW support
Highest native ISO
12800
Highest boosted ISO
204800
Lowest native ISO
100
Lowest boosted ISO
50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
51
Cross type focus points
15
Lens
Lens support
Nikon F
Total lenses
309
Focal length multiplier
1
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3.2 inches
Screen resolution
921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech
TFT color LCD with brightness control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.7x
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
89
DXO Color Depth rating
24.7
DXO Dynamic range rating
13.1
DXO Low light rating
2965
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize
1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
1340g (2.95 pounds)
Physical dimensions
160 x 157 x 91mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.6")
Other
Battery life
2600 photographs
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery ID
EN-EL18
Self timer
Yes (2-20 seconds, 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
CompactFlash, XQD
Card slots
2
Launch cost
$4,500