Nikon D4S Hands-On Extreme Low Light Test

The Nikon D4 was an amazing camera, but we were underwhelmed by the video performance. With the new D4S arriving, could Nikon have the most well rounded DSLR in the world? To find out, we brought in the mighty Nathan Elson, to shoot studio portraits with a 3 candle lighting kit!

Special Thanks to Nathan Elson and Adita Video

Filmed and Edited by Jordan Drake
Shot on the Sony FS700

[stenchlord]

Drinking a beer should be the industry standard to measure how good a camera's buffer speed is.

[Novel__Notes]

You two work well together. Very enjoyable.

[YonnyMestampo]

Hello.
I would sugest to do the video 400% crop resolution test again but this time with the next settings.
Go to the Shooting Menu>Movie settings>Frame size/frame rate> and choose 1920x1080;30fps;crop / /
Then compare the D4s to the 1DX at the same equivalent focal length, because that crop setting is going to multiply by 2.7 times the focal length of the lens, so you have to move the camera from the subjet acodingly.
You can also make the same adjustment to the multiplier by 1.5 times if you change the shoting mode to DX. 
So in video mode on the D4 and D4s you can have with the same lens, lets say for example a 24mm 1.4G, a 24mm, 36mm and 65mm without having to change the lens. And the sharpest image you can get is with the 2.7 times crop mode.

Thanks for the review.

[cybervand]

I really like these after dark episodes, could you do one with the GH4 when its released? I mean Low ISO, high and low frame rates, 4k, and so on.

[JustLovingLifeDude]

Hahaha...seriously loved this episode. I'm a Pentax/Fuji guy who has recently come to love your videos, especially after you guys got hammered in the best/worst of

[DmitryBrodsky]

Very interested in Jordan's take on Sony A7s.   Not only 4K but a regular 1080p results I see in first videos is phenomenal.  Is it going to be a cam to shoot all the videos from now on?

[NeilanPhotoGraphics]

6.06 lost right chanel audio for 10 seconds

[joeljrichards]

Very interested to see how this compares to the new Sony A7s. A little disappointed that the A7s won't come close in FPS and focusing but 

[JoeGP]

i get that the video is softer than on the D3300 but for YouTube or TV quality it's good enough, so i don't see that softness as a problem in those areas, lack of zebras and peaking yes, shame there isn't a Magic Lantern hackware for it.

Also it maybe just here on YouTube but the Nikon D3300 seemed sharper then the Canon 1DX as well

[leonpinoy]

I have questions for you guys about the nikon d4s. while you video taping someone can you take a picture??

[wize]

What  equipment are  you using to shoot this?

[KocaMetallec]

1DX Vs. D4s Vs. A7R Vs. 5D3(as reference)
PLEASE!!!

[jonvdveen]

Now I want to go home and try lighting a photo-shoot with candlelight. 

[CalviNNation]

The candle shots seemed oddly noisy to me especially seeing that all the scenes that were "filmed" by the candles seemed even less noisy. Im also not sure why they used that high of an iso and shutter for the shots. They probably could have got away with 1/20 or even 1/10 and half the iso.

[JohnPauloSalamat]

great videos guys! thanks for sharing.

[LowLightVideos]

In your Video @ 10:08 you say "as far as low light Cameras go, nothing can touch this ...".

It is tough to _exactly_ compare the Videos on my Channel for the a7s to your D4S Video but I think my Channel shows that IF the a7s does not beat the D4S then at least it is close to touching it (for (maybe) less than a third the price).

Sony a7s with Zeiss ZF2 25mm lens set to f2 -- Extreme Low Light Tests

Sony A7s: Low Light Demonstration (ISO 1600 to 409600)

One of those Videos on the Playlist is actually yours for the GH4. It is nowhere near as good as the a7s or the D4S for extreme low light but perhaps somewhat greater for it's low cost vs performance. I was really hoping for Nikon to leave everyone in the dust (Canon is coming and JVC has announced at NAB).

Thanks for your Channel and all the Videos you do.

PS: I have a few Thermal and Night Vision Videos. You might want a peek at if ever you test a Recording Digital Night Vision Camera someday (JVC is releasing one on their new Sensor in Sept.).

[rashidaltouqi]

I Do have problem with sitting in D4s in low light
please can you guid me to set .

[panavision]

they saved the improved video function for the d5. i assume it will be out in the spring of 2016. is it worth the upgrade? only if you owned a d4 and traded it in before the d4s hit the shops.

[tptrsn]

Man, you guys crank out some great videos!

[markwang]

i am really interested to see how the D4S compares to Sony's upcoming A7s in a low-light test (just don't compare the AF/fps!) :)