Nikon D4 & Nikon D3S Differences

While the cameras appear very similar, there are differences with shooting still images.

Now that I have practiced shooting the past few days with the camera, I have noticed a few changes I had to get used to. First of all I prefer to have two identical cameras. I like to not have to think about any differences between cameras while working. There are some button changes on the D4 from the D3S.

Due to the buttons not being exactly alike, I can see me making some errors. So, very soon I will try and replace my Nikon D3S with another Nikon D4.

The Nikon D3s is a great camera and if it were not for the changes in all the buttons I might have been able to live with the small differences in the still image shooting of the cameras. However, while the changes might well be great improvements having to adjust my shooting from camera to camera could cost me an image.

I think Nikon did think through this and still made the changes, because some of the functions I think are improvements.

On the back are more differences than the front. While many buttons appear to be the same, they are not all the same.

I am not going into every button difference here in this post.  I just wanted to highlight some that I use all the time.

First of all the choice of metering modes is located in very different places. The choices are the same, but you now push the choice on the left top and rotate the thumb dial to choose the different metering modes.

I seldom use the average meter and am picking between spot and the matrix.

One difference is the choices with metering. The Nikon D4 has removed the dial on the viewfinder and moved it to the left top menu.

This is the back of the Nikon D3S

The next major change for me is the focusing modes. On the Nikon D3S you just flipped the dial on the back and depending if you had the camera in AF-S or AF-C you got different functions which were tweeked in the menu.

On the Nikon D4 most of the choices are now visible on the top menu as you push the AF button on the front and dial the thumb or index finger dials.

This is the back of the Nikon D4

This is the Auto Focus button on the Nikon D4.  You push the button and turn the aperture or shutter dial to change functions.

This is the Auto Focus button on the Nikon D3S

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the thumb dial on the back you change the AF from AF-S to AF-C.

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the 3d choice.

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the d51 points

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the d21 points

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the d9 points

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the single [ ] that you move around.

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-C to many different choices. This is the auto function that locks in on faces and other subjects based on algorithms.

Nikon D4 - When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial on the front you change the AF-S to two choices, Single or Auto.

This is the dials on the Nikon D3S.  The lock button has been changed on the Nikon D4 to the meter and the lock function is now in the menu and not a dial.

This the the Nikon D4. In some ways having the meter choice here is nice. I do miss the lock button from the Aperture and Shutter not being here anymore. It is still accessible in the menu.

This is the Nikon D4. You will notice a new red dot on a button. This is for the movie function as the start and stop function. The rest is the same.

There will be even more updates as I continue to get used to the new Nikon D4.