A summary, as well as a brief explanation of the Nikon D4s specifications and key features with details, are listed in this article. If you read this article till last, you’ll have a total overview of the Nikon D4s, despite not having the camera in your hands.
Replaced: Nikon D4
Specifications
- Sensor: 16.2 MP FX, 7.3µ pixel size
- Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-25,600
- Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 50
- Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 51,200-409,600
- Processor: EXPEED 4
- Dust Reduction: Yes
- Shutter: Up to 1/8000 and 30-sec exposure, self-diagnostic shutter monitor
- Shutter Durability: 400,000 cycles
- Camera Lag: 0.012 seconds
- Storage: 1x Compact Flash slot and 1x XQD slot
- Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
- Speed: 11 FPS
- Exposure Meter: 91,000 pixel RGB sensor
- Autofocus System: Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX with 51 focus points and 15 cross-type sensors
- AF Detection: Up to f/8 with 11 focus points (5 in the center, 3 on the left and right)
- LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 921,000 dots
- LCD Screen Calibration: Yes
- Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 60 fps max
- Movie Exposure Control: Full
- Movie Output: MOV, Compressed and Uncompressed
- Wired LAN: Built-in Gigabit RJ-45 LAN port
- WiFi: Not built-in, requires WT-5a and older wireless transmitters
- GPS: Not built-in, requires GP-1 GPS unit
- Battery Type: EN-EL18a
- Battery Life: 3,020 shots
- Weight: 1,180g
General
| Brand | Nikon |
| Model | D4s |
| Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
| Release Date | 2014-02-24 |
| Body Type | Large DSLR |
| Processor | Expeed 4 |
| Lens Mount | Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) |
Nikon D4s is a 16.0MP Pro DSLR camera featuring a Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS sensor, weather-sealed body, and Nikon F lens mount that was released in February 2014. Nikon replaced the Nikon D4 with this model and the Nikon D4s with the Nikon D5.
Working professionals’ talent and imagination shaped the direction of modern image, but so did the debut of a few cameras that were so brilliant and forward-thinking that they redefined what was possible.
The Nikon D4 is one of these cameras. And now, with astonishing improvements throughout the entire workflow, startling new levels of speed, performance, ISO sensitivity, and, of course, the exceptional image quality of a Nikon camera, the D4S illustrates that a good thing can get much better.
How do you improve a game-changing camera? Improve its speed, precision, and efficiency without abandoning its distinguishing traits. D4S improves on D4’s success with 30 percent faster picture processing and significant energy savings—capture up to 3,020* stills on a single charge—an enlarged standard ISO range (100-25,600) with greater noise reduction, improved tone range, and smoother gradations.
Read Also: Nikon D5 Specifications and Key Features
With AE and AF capabilities, shoot at 11 frames per second for around 200 images at full quality. With the new Group Area AF setting, you may combine five AF sensors as a single focus point for faster initial subject acquisition. With the new 1000 Base-T (Gigabit) cable LAN, you can transfer files faster than the D4, and you can boost that speed even more by shooting in the smaller RAW SIZE S format.
Dimensions and Weight
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 160 x 156.5 x 90.5 mm / 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.6 in. |
| Weight | Approx. 1350 g/ 2.97 lb 47.61 oz with battery and XQD memory card but without body cap and accessory shoe cover; Approx. 1180 g/ 2.60 lb 41.62 oz (camera body only) |
The Nikon D4s weighs 1350 g (2.98 lb / 47.62 oz) and measures 160 x 157 x 91 mm (6.3 x 6.18 x 3.58′′)with battery, XQD memory card but without cap and accessory shoe cover.
Only camera body weighs approximately 1,180 g / 2.60 lb / 41.62 oz.
The Nikon D4s is a much heavier camera for its class when compared to the average weight of DSLR-type cameras, which is 773g. It is of ordinary thickness, with a thickness of 91mm.
Photography Features
| Min Shutter Speed | 30s |
| Max Mechanical Shutter Speed | 1/8000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 11.0 fps |
| Shutter Priority | YES |
| Aperture Priority | YES |
| Manual Exposure Mode | YES |
| Exposure Compensation | YES |
| Custom White Balance | YES |
| Image Stabilization | NO |
| Built-in Flash | NO |
| Flash Range | No built-in flash |
| Max Flash Sync | 1/250s |
| Flash Modes | Auto FP high-speed sync, front-curtain, rear-curtain, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off |
| External Flash | YES |
| AE Bracketing | YES |
| WB Bracketing | YES |
Video Features
| Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) |
| Max Video Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Video Formats | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone Port | YES |
| Headphone Port | YES |
Image Sensor
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame |
| Sensor Dimension | 36 x 23.9 mm |
| Sensor Area | 860.40 mm2 |
| Sensor Resolution | 16MP |
| Total Pixels | 16.6 Million |
| Effective Pixels | 16.2 Million |
| Dust reduction system | Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
| Maximum Native ISO | 25,600 |
| Maximum Boosted ISO | 409600 |
| Minimum Native ISO | 100 |
| Minimum Boosted ISO | 50 |
| RAW Support | YES |
The Nikon D4s is equipped with a 16.0MP Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS sensor and the Expeed 4 processor. With aspect ratios of 5:4 and 3:2, you can shoot at a maximum resolution of 4928 x 3280 pixels. The D4s feature a base ISO range of 100 to 25600, which can be increased to 50 to 409600, and it can save data in RAW format, allowing for more post-processing options.
The Nikon D4s isn’t the highest-resolution full-frame camera on the market. The Sigma fp L, with its 61.0MP sensor, is the class leader.
Nikon D4s DxOMark Sensor Scores
DxOMark is a benchmark that evaluates the image quality of camera sensors scientifically. The picture quality of the Nikon D4s sensor was assessed by DxO Mark and had an overall score of 89. The details of their Nikon D4s analysis may be found here.
Viewfinder
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Frame coverage | FX (36×24): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical 1.2x (30×20): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical DX (24×16): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical 5:4 (30×24): Approx. 97% horizontal and 100% vertical |
| Magnification | Approx. 0.7x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1) |
| Eyepoint | 18 mm (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens) |
| Diopter adjustment | -3 to +1 m-1 |
| Focusing screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII screen with AF area brackets (framing grid can be displayed) |
| Reflex mirror | Quick return |
| Depth-of-field preview | Pressing Pv button stops the lens aperture down to the value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (P and S modes) |
| Lens aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
The D4s include an optical (pentaprism) viewfinder built-in, making it easier to shoot in bright sunshine and other conditions where using the LCD panel is difficult. The viewfinder has a magnification ratio of 0.7x and a coverage of 100%.
100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder when shooting is exactly what you’ll get later in your image, allowing for more accurate framing and reducing the need for later cropping.
Monitor Screen
| Screen Type | Fixed, 170° viewing angle |
| ScreenTechnology | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 3.20 inch ( 8cm) |
| Screen resolution | 921k dots ( VGA ) |
| Live view | YES |
| Frame coverage | 100% |
| Brightness Adjustment | YES |
| Touch screen | NO |
The Nikon D4s features a 3.20-inch Fixed Type LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. The Nikon D4s has a 3.20″ screen that is larger than typical and meets class standards in terms of resolution.
Unfortunately, the Nikon D4s lack a selfie-friendly display.
Focus
| Autofocus | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points (including 15 cross-type sensors; f/8 supported by 11 sensors) |
| Detection range | -2 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F) |
| Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
| Focus point | Can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points |
| AF-area mode | Single-point AF, 9-, 21- or 51-point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, group-area AF, auto-area AF |
| Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing the shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing the center of the sub-selector |
In most scenarios, the Nikon D4s offer both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems, ensuring speed and precision of focusing. The AF system features 51 focus points, 15 of which are Cross-type sensors. When compared to single-type sensors, cross-type sensors lock focus faster and more accurately.
Face detection AF is also available on the Nikon D4s, which intelligently identifies and locks focus on faces in the frame.
Read Also: Nikon D500 Key Features and Specifications
Autofocus
| AF Touch | NO |
| AF Continuous | YES |
| AF Sigle | YES |
| AF Tracking | YES |
| AF Selective | YES |
| AF Centre | YES |
| AF Multi-view | YES |
| AF Live view | YES |
| AF Face Detection | YES |
| AF Contrast detection | YES |
| AF Phase-detection | YES |
| Number of focus points | 51 |
| Number of cross-focus points | 15 |
Nikon has been gradually improving the 51-point autofocus system in newer cameras since the original D3 was released in 2007. As a result, the Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus module has undergone several improvements (some of which were rather significant), allowing for faster and more precise focus acquisition and tracking.
The Nikon D4s came with an improved “Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX” focusing system, which, for the most part, isn’t that different from the D4’s autofocus system, but for one new feature: Group Area AF.
Group Area AF isn’t a brand-new function. It was known as “Group Dynamic AF” back when the Nikon D200 and D2x were released. The Group mode differs from the Single and Dynamic modes in that it activates many focus points at the same time, rather than prioritizing one focus point and then following its movement with the surrounding focus points.
Video Recording
| Metering | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor |
| Frame size (pixels)and frame rate | 1920 x 1080; 60p (progressive), 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 1920 x 1080 crop; 30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720; 60p, 50p 640 x 424; 30p, 25p Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps respectively; all options support both ★high and normal image quality |
| File format | MOV |
| Video compression | H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding |
| Audio recording format | Linear PCM |
| Audio recording device | Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable |
| ISO sensitivity | Exposure modes P, S, and A: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 200 to Hi 4) with a selectable upper limit Exposure mode M: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 200 to Hi 4) available with selectable upper limit; manual selection (ISO 200 to 25600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV) with additional options available equivalent to approximately 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, or 4 EV (ISO 409600 equivalent) above ISO 25600 |
| Maximum length | 29 min. 59 s (10 or 20 min. depending on frame size/rate and movie quality settings) |
| Other movie options | Index marking, time-lapse photography |
For videographers, the Nikon D4s is also a very appealing camera. The D4s can shoot high-quality 1920×1080 videos at up to 60 frames per second because of the substantially faster EXPEED 4 processor. While many recent digital cameras can now shoot HD at 60 frames per second, the Nikon D4s can do a few things that most other cameras can’t: it can simultaneously broadcast uncompressed video over its HDMI connector and write footage to a memory card.
Furthermore, different crop settings for capturing video (FX, DX, 2.7x Crop) are now available, with the 2.7x crop providing pixel-level quality from the sensor. Auto ISO is now available for video as well, and it works in the same way as it does for stills, automatically adjusting the camera’s sensitivity based on the brightness of the scene.
Unfortunately, the Nikon D4s does not support 4K video, therefore Sony and Panasonic are ahead of the curve.
Compatible Lenses
Compatible lenses | Compatible with AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G, E, and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses), DX lenses (using DX 24×16 1.5x image area) AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (exposure modes A and M only); IX-NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses cannot be used: The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster (the electronic rangefinder supports the 11 focus points with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/8 or faster) |
The Nikon D4s utilizes a Nikon F lens mount, which presently has 316 native lenses available. Nikon F mount not only boasts one of the largest lens selections, but it also has backward compatibility, which means you can use F mount lenses from the 1960s. It is also widely supported by third-party manufacturer lenses.
Read Also: FX lenses vs DX lenses
Although the Nikon D4s lack a sensor-based image stabilization system, many of these lenses include optical image stabilization.
Best Lenses for Nikon D4s
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
- Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR
- Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
- Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR
Shutter
| Type | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Speed | 1/8000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb, time, X250 |
| Flash sync speed | X=1/250 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/250 s or slower |
The Nikon D4s features a maximum continuous shooting speed of 11 frames per second and a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 second.
Exposure
| Metering | TTL exposure metering using RGB sensor with approx. 91K (91000) pixels |
| Metering method | Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G, E, and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12-mm circle in center of frame; diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15 or 20 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 12-mm circle) Spot: Meters 4-mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when the non-CPU lens is used) |
| Range(ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) | Matrix or center-weighted metering: -1 to 20 EV Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV |
| Exposure meter coupling | Combined CPU and AI |
| Mode | Programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M) |
| Exposure compensation | -5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV |
| Exposure bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV; 2 to 5 frames in steps of 2 or 3 EV |
| Exposure lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with the center of the sub-selector |
| ISO sensitivity(Recommended Exposure Index) | ISO 100 to 25600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3 or 4 EV (ISO 409600 equivalent) above ISO 25600; auto ISO sensitivity control available |
| Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from auto, extra high +2/+1, high, normal, low or off |
| ADL bracketing | 2 frames using selected value for one frame or 3 to 5 frames using preset values for all frames |
What about exposure precision and metering? With a 91,000-pixel RGB sensor, the Nikon D4s’ metering performance is exceptional, whether shooting landscapes, portraits, sports, or wildlife. Even in the most challenging environments, the camera’s sophisticated metering sensor allows it to appropriately expose scenes and subjects.
Aside from the powerful scene recognition technology, which includes the new Group-area AF capability, the D4s also has a face recognition system, which prioritizes faces and skin tones when determining optimum exposure. As I previously mentioned, there is a new setting called “Matrix metering” in the CUSTOM SETTINGS menu that allows you to switch Face recognition on and off.
If the camera identifies faces in a scene after it has been turned on, it will expose the subjects rather than the brighter or darker background. This function came in handy a lot when I was photographing weddings.
I photographed newlyweds walking from a sun-lit ceremony location to a relatively dark shade with face detection turned on, and I didn’t have to modify my exposure settings since the camera performed a fantastic job of keeping the pair appropriately illuminated in both environments.
Flash( Built-in and External)
| Flash control | TTL: i-TTL flash control using RGB sensor with approx. 91K (91000) pixels are available with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering |
| Flash mode | Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off; Auto FP high-speed sync supported |
| Flash compensation | -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV |
| Flash bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV; 2 to 5 frames in steps of 2 or 3 EV |
| Flash-ready indicator | Lights when the optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output |
| Accessory shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
| Nikon Creative LightingSystem (CLS) | Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash, and SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes, or SU-800 as commander; auto FP high-speed sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400 and SB-300; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units |
| Sync terminal | ISO 519 sync terminal with locking thread |
Although the D4s lack a built-in flash, it does include a flash shoe for adding external flashes.
Power Source
| Battery | One EN-EL18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery |
| AC adapter | EH-6b AC Adapter; requires EP-6 Power Connector (available separately) |
| Battery Life | 3020 Shots (CIPA) |
When many D3 and D3s users learned that Nikon changed the battery type on the D4 and reduced the capacity, they were dissatisfied. The Nikon D3s’ battery could shoot over 4000 photographs, whereas the D4’s battery could only manage roughly 2600. (CIPA).
This was because the previous EN-EL4a battery had a capacity of 2500mAh, whilst the EN-EL18 battery on the D4 had a capacity of 2000mAh. Nikon returned to using 2500mAh batteries with the D4s, therefore the new EN-EL18a battery for the D4s can now provide nearly 3000 shots of battery life.
Keep in mind that the CIPA rating is based on camera usage with and without Image Playback and Live View, so if you disable those features, you should be able to squeeze over 4,000 images out of the D4s with ease.
Release
| Release mode | S (single frame), CL (continuous low speed), CH (continuous high speed), Q (quiet shutter-release), Self-timer, MUP (mirror up) |
| Frame advance rate | Up to 10 fps (CL) or 10 to 11 fps (CH) |
| Self-timer | 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 s |
Live View
| Live view mode | Live view photography (quiet or silent), movie live view |
| Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time servo AF (AF-F)Manual focus (M) |
| AF-area mode | Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected) |
Interface
| USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| HDMI output | Type C HDMI connector |
| Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter; plug-in power supported) |
| Audio output | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter) |
| 10-pin remote terminal | Can be used to connect optional remote control, optional WR-R10 (requires WR-A10 adapter) or WR-1 Wireless Remote Controller, GP-1/GP-1A GPS Unit, or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional MC-35 GPS Adapter Cord and cable with D-sub 9-pin connector) |
| Ethernet | RJ-45 connectorStandards: IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T)/IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX)/IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T)Data rates: 10/100/1000 Mbps with auto detect (maximum logical data rates according to IEEE standard; actual rates may differ)Port: 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T (AUTO-MDIX) |
| Peripheral connector | For WT-5A/B/C/D Wireless Transmitter |
The Nikon D4s has an HDMI connector that enables uncompressed video streaming to an external recorder or monitor, as well as headphone and microphone jacks.
White Balance
| White balance | Auto (2 types), incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored, Spot White Balance measurement available during live view), choose color temperature (2500 K to 10000 K); all with fine-tuning |
| White balance bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1, 2 or 3 |
Playback
| Playback | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, auto image rotation, voice memo input, and playback, and IPTC information embedding and display |
Tripod Socket
| Tripod socket | 1/4 in. (ISO 1222) |
Operating Environment
| Operating environment | Temperature: 0 to 40°C/32 to 104°Fhumidity: 85% or less (no condensation) |
Accessories
| Supplied accessories(may differ by country or area) | EN-EL18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-26a Battery Charger, UC-E15 USB Cable, AN-DC11 Camera Strap, BF-1B Body Cap, BS-2 Accessory Shoe Cover, DK-17 Eyepiece, BL-6 Battery Chamber Cover, UF-2 Connector Cover for Stereo Mini Plug Cable, USB Cable Clip, HDMI Cable Clip, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM |
Supported Languages
| Supported languages | Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian |
Conclusion
Nikon D4s specifications and key features have made it clear that this camera is best for professional use. D4 is a highly recommended FX sensor camera for professionals due to its features. The features are very close to an expensive professional camera. You should choose the lens for appropriate use in order to get the best results.
FAQs
Is the D4S still a good camera?
YES absolutely. The D4 was and still is a fantastic camera, especially in low-light settings such as those encountered in concert photography.
Does the Nikon D4S have an AA filter?
NO. Nikon D4 and Nikon D4s do not feature an anti-aliasing(AA) filter.
