![[Pics] Real World High ISO Images From The Nikon D4](https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/large-16-9/s3/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/isotest_jpg.webp)
Yesterday I shot a full wedding with the new Nikon D4 that LensProToGo was kind enough to send me since mine isn't here yet. I was extremely pleased with the way that the camera performed and although I haven't gone through the images yet, I picked out 6 random shots that were taken at high ISO so that you guys can see the noise in real world situations.
Both of my shots taken at 12,800 ISO are still under-lit and they have motion blur meaning that these are very poor examples of the cameras quality at this setting. In my opinion ISO 12,800 is totally usable and I will go even higher the next chance that I get.
We should have a full review of this camera compared to the rest of Nikon's fleet in the next few days.
![The Nikon D4 vs D3S, D3, and D7000... D3S Wins??? [Updated]](https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/small-16-9/s3/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/d3sbest1.jpg)
If the D800 can take quality shots at 6400 then I'll be happy to sell my D4
Lee, wouldn't the best combination be the following for you?
1 x D700 for Hi ISO pictures,
2 x D7000 for video and your assistants
1 x D800 for Studio work? D4 seems overkill for Wedding but that's just me... :)
I doesnt, not at 36MP. But if you scale down to M or S size it does 'bring' the noise down too.
Gotta do a (semi)scientific and share it with you guys.
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looks like a fair amount of CA 12800, although that could just be the situation. I personally still have a phobia of anything over 400, but I've been forced to shoot up in the 3000s on my D700. I keep the ISO in third stops just so I can go up in smaller increments.
Shot this today with the D4. The 3D Tracking is pretty fantastic.
I've had the chance to play around with one over the weekend. Going to be hard giving it back on Tuesday though. My thoughts:-
Hate:-
* little joystick/nipple things are really annoying to use, I find I'm constantly clicking in on it rather than say up
* AF at the outside edges a little dodgy, but that could be the old 24-120 I was using on it. 70-200 and 50 1.4G were brilliant.
* price - I'll never be able to actually afford one.
Love:-
* Everything else.
I never used anything apart from my D5000, so other Nikons may have this, but love the soft shutter button. I'm able to slowly press it rather than clicking it reducing any blur.
At ISO 6400, to me it looks cleaner than my D5000 at ISO 400.
Skin tones seem a little pinky to me - or maybe they're all just getting drunk.
But seriously, it does have that almost signature nikon pasty-pink skin tone.
WooT! 12,800 looks so crazy clean WOW. I was shooting at 1600 with my 5100 (diffused direct flash), maybe i should have let it climb a little further. You know when you let me test drive the D4 last night i was so giddy about it that i just started snapping and didn't pay any attention to any settings whatsoever. For all i know it could have been on single point focus and every shot was out. The previews seemed ok so i just kept snapping... what a blast that was. The samples look great and I know Jason and Katie will be thrilled!
Thanks so much for this review! it is SUPER helpful! =) I'm anxiously waiting for my D4 to arrive and I'll be shooting my very first wedding with it. So your article and comment below were very informative! Love FStoppers! I always get such great inspiration from your videos/articles/tutorials! Thanks for making the behind the scenes of photography so tangible and attainable!
wow!!
I appreciate your mini-test but it doesn't really look like you pushed the new camera very far...I would have a hard time telling the samples from images produced with the D3s...
give us a few days :)
A comment from Marc Pagani above stated: "the D4 and D800 (I have the D4 now and the D800 is on order) are really different beasts."
Apart from the D800 having 36mp w/4fps and the D4 having 16mp/11fps, these two cameras are pretty much identical as far as picture quality/auto focus/video is concerned, no ? The guts/sensors are the same, autofocus/tracking ...etc. the same, video the same. How are these really different beasts ? I realize the D4 has the new XQD card, ethernet, WT-5 ...etc., but when it comes to actual picture quality (ignoring upsampling or downsampling commentary), please explain the differences between the two, apart from the obvious 36mp vs 16mp. If I were not interested in the XQD, ethernet, I'd have a hard time justifying an extra $3000.00 just for the added fps.
I'm not picking a fight or trying to be facetious, just trying to figure out why one would spend an extra $3000.00.
Only time will tell (no, I'm not quoting Asia tunes now), but from what I've seen, the D800's high ISO performance is comparable to the D3. Much of the photography that I do requires better high ISO performance than the D3, so I need the performance of the D3s and D4. I think you also answered your own question in a way, by quoting the specs. 4fps vs 11fps is a big deal when you shoot action. Also, I don't think the sensors can really be called "the same" when one is 16mp and the other is 36mp. Believe me, if I could get away with using a d700 or d3, or d800 alone, I would. I think the D4 is great so far, my D3s has been fantastic, and combined with the D800 for portraiture, landscape, and studio work, I will be set for a few years
D3S is the sweetspot camera for weddings, in my opinion.
Not as over-priced as D4 and head-to-head high ISO quality. If you are not doing any serious videography, D3S hands-down.
I dont have a D4 to compare, but I think my D3 is a bit quicker to focus than the D800, but I reserve the right to change this opinion, as I only have had the D800 for 4 days.
According to Nikon.com - the 91K-pixel RGB sensor is the same on both cameras, the Expeed 3 processor is the same, the sensor photo detectors (36mp vs 16mp) may be different, but from what I can see, both cameras will produce the same image quality regardless of ISO (disregarding any upsample/downsample commentary) ? With regard to high ISO, the general consensus seems to be that the D3/D700 is 1.5 stops worse than the D3s. The D3s is equal to the D4. The D800 is supposed to be 1.5 stops better than the D3/D700. With that said, the D800 looks to be equal to the D3s and therefore the D4. Essentially, if one were not interested in the XQD/ethernet/WT-5 and only wanted the added fps, they would be paying an extra $3000.00 for the fps alone. For those of us who aren't working professionals, it's a hard pill to swallow when the lower fps was the only thing holding them back from the D800 (I'm used to the D700 at 8fps). I hope you see what I mean ?
P.S. I really liked the image you uploaded today/above of the biker.
Having also used my newest tool for a couple of assignments the past few days I would agree there are a few minors annoyances with the D4 when coming from a D700. The images are amazing off this camera and the images taken at 12,800 iso are indeed deliverable to a client with minor noise reduction. The thing that has impressed me the most so far is the autofocus. It is FAST! Way faster than the D700, D300s, or D7000. The annoyances really are related to video ergonomics. I don't like the placement of the record button as it moves the Mode button over a bit too much (and I have large hands) and a few key features are buried into different menu systems (simpler fix with My Custom Menu). The weight was expected but it really is a beast for an entire wedding day and I had to start using my R-strap again. I have to reiterate how fast this thing is at focusing in all lighting situations. I look forward to your full review latter on!
Great review Lee! Thanks for sharing you insights...
My biggest complain about D4/D800 ergonomics is the damned video record. It pushed the Mode button to a position where my finger struggles to get without taking the eye of the viewfinder.
It should be the other way around, as shooting video you wont be on the viewfinder anyway.