Nikon Announces D4 HDSLR

A lot of you know I'm a huge Nikon fan, and I've been waiting for them to step up and supply their users with a body that you could properly shoot video with. They delivered that camera tonight (well, they actually just announced, they'll start delivering the end of February). That camera is the Nikon D4.

I'll skip a lot of the details, if you're interested you can read through DP Review's overview article, but I want to point out a couple things that should make it interesting to video professionals. What makes the D4 special in a crowded DSLR video market? It has a feature that no other DSLR camera does - it outputs a full 1080p uncompressed signal out HDMI. That's right, you can use AJA's Ki Pro or mini (or any other HDMI recording device) to record a 8-bit 422 uncompressed image with no display info ruining it.

Other exciting features include backlit buttons, the ability to change ISO, shutter speed, and aperture while recording, 1/8th stop aperture increments for smoother changes, and an optional wireless transmitter that lets you control the camera from any web-based device (like an iPad or iPhone) including a live video feed on the device.

The camera should begin shipping in mid-to-late February for $6000. Visit Nikon's D4 website for full specs, details, sample images, and brochure.