framer said:
I use a wireless usb cable adapter. Works perfect, fast, easy to use. It does require a extenal battery pack to deal with but for under $50 and works with any usb camera. I use to use a WT-2 with my D2x but found the wireless cable faster and easier to connect. Also used it with my D3s and D2h. Nikon missed the boat by not going with the wireless USB solution that could have been built into the cameras for pennies.

framer

I have to disagree that this is a perfect alternative. The problem with a wireless USB adapter is that the software and the camera still think they are using USB. USB does not seem to be very tolerant of noise which becomes larger as the length of the wireless link increases. You end up with lots of lock-ups in both software and hardware if you push the limits.

The ethernet and wifi protocols are much more noise-tolerant. You could, if you really wanted to, control a D4 on the other side of the world using an ethernet link.

The problem, as I see it, is that Nikon are transitioning from one way of doing remote camera-ing to another. We are caught in a transitional phase.

The old way was to use an external unit that provided both wifi and ethernet - the WT-1/2/3/4 series.

The WT-5 is a departure as it only provides wifi - the D4 already has the ethernet. The UT-1 gives other cameras the same functionality as the D4.

Where will Nikon end up? I suspect wifi will be standard in consumer cameras soon and Nikon will have to follow that trend. Pro cameras will need both wifi and ethernet as options, and maybe Nikon are reluctant to provide both built-in.

framer said:
I use a wireless usb cable adapter. Works perfect, fast, easy to use. It does require a extenal battery pack to deal with but for under $50 and works with any usb camera.
framer

We are waiting for the details on this....please, and thanks

i suppose it isnt so bad.. considering unless you're paid at an event, its only useful at a studio setting... not that i would ever use one ( i think )

Framer,

Would you mind sharing how you set up your wireless connectivity? If it is already documented on some web page, the web address would be fine enough.

Thanks,
Paul

Does the WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter works with the Nikon D7000?

Thank you,

Alfonso

I use a wireless usb cable adapter. Works perfect, fast, easy to use. It does require a extenal battery pack to deal with but for under $50 and works with any usb camera. I use to use a WT-2 with my D2x but found the wireless cable faster and easier to connect. Also used it with my D3s and D2h. Nikon missed the boat by not going with the wireless USB solution that could have been built into the cameras for pennies.

framer

Why does it look so ugly...?

It looks like a SB-900 got decapitated. :D

Honestly, I don't get why someone would design a communication device to that extent without built-in wi-fi support. Seems like a pretty obvious way to make more money via accessories.

GPS is the same for that matter. If you can put a GPS receiver into a mobile phone, what's so tough about putting one into a camera? The chips are cheap and small, all you'd have to figure out is where to place it for best reception. The new Sony A99 has built-in GPS.

Just seeing if anyone else likes this. $500 is a bit steep but not bad. Add the wireless WT-5A and it is ridiculous. All of the "home made" things I have tried have been slow, and sloppy. I have been looking for something that I could quickly stream photos to a laptop or web and this may begin the gap.

UT-1 Communication Unit alone is $470.00
UT-1 Communication Unit with WT-5A $1,299!
WT-5A Wireless Transmitter - $877.00 (D4)

For comparison:
WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter = $60 (D3200)
WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter = $60 (D7000,D600)
(Someone really has to explain why the WT-5A is $800 more.)

Communication Unit UT-1 primary features
Wireless network support when used in combination with the WT-5
When used with the WT-5 (available separately), UT-1 networking functions can be used over wireless networks. Nikon also markets an UT-1/WT-5 bundle that provides networking functions over both Ethernet and wireless networks.
Image transfer
Still images can be transferred as they are captured, and still images and movies already stored on a memory card can be saved to a computer or FTP server.
Transfer of images to an FTP server
Still images and movies can be automatically uploaded and saved to an FTP server as they are captured, enabling transfer of a high volume of high-resolution image data captured by a digital-SLR camera. This allows for verification of images from a remote location by those not in the immediate vicinity of the camera.
Remote camera control from a computer
When used with Camera Control Pro 2, remote control software developed for studio and remote photography in the field (available separately), remote control over a wide variety of Nikon digital-SLR camera functions from a computer is possible. Camera Control Pro 2 allows users to specify and adjust shooting settings such as exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance, and also to use live view photography and even record movies remotely. In addition, still images and movies can be saved directly to the computer as they are recorded with remote shooting using Camera Control Pro 2.
Superior handling for efficient studio and field photography
The UT-1 can be mounted on the camera's accessory shoe or on a tripod. When another accessory, such as a Speedlight, is mounted on the accessory shoe, the camera and UT-1 can be mounted on a tripod using the optional SK-7 bracket for smooth handling.

Tommie - I have found that both the D4 and D800 (same AF sensor) do not focus as well on vertical lines as they do on horizontal ones. I think that most of the AF sensors are vertical with far fewer being cross type. You can test it easily by taking the same test pattern in relatively dim light and shooting it in both a horizontal and vertical orientation. Try this one:

@ jonnyapple still laughing.....this could, of course, be embarrassing if my D400 announcement prediction of September 18 at 7:00 PM, Photokina proves to be true......

But of course if this were really true, NIKON Global would be cleaning my D4 sensor....ha, ha, ha

Just because I happen to have one sort of before some others means nothing....:-)

I don't think any of us needed persuading before she arrived actually Jonny. LOL! Most of us have had NAS for years.

Overheard conversation between "msmoto" and her superiors at Nikon Global:
mm: This scheme to infiltrate NRF is working beautifully. I post D4 photos on this forum and now all the members want one.
NG: Excellent. Let us know if you need us to send you any more exotic teles.
mm: Get this: they have even made me a moderator.
NG: Mwu hah hah hah hah hah hah. Everything is proceeding as I have forseen it!

Tommie, I hope they're giving you a fair cut for any D4 purchases by NRF members. ;-)

Have fun, golf!

OK, let's get a grip, golf. Just because you have a new toy....well....the shots are extremely impressive...1/10 sec at 70mm and tack sharp. Have fun...

Ok...so I have been playing with my new toy and OMFG. I have never been able to shot at ISO 10,000 hand held....let me say again hand held @ 1/10....yes 1/10 on my 24-70 2.8 and get a clean fully usable shot. Hence the shot below.

@msmoto...you are right I'm blown away...should I get to high...someone please catch me when I fall.

D4 24-70 2.8 1/10 ISO 10000 @ f/6.3 Hand held!!!

D4 14-24 2.8 1/40 ISO 10000 @ f/2.8

D4 is available right now on NikonUSA.com store.

enigmeow said:
Interesting you would say this. I feel shooting at any angle other then horizontal makes the focus issues worse. I went climbing with my daughter and the only pictures that even remotely turned out were when i was on the same level as her. If I was above or below her, the focus was a disaster

My theory is that possibly the whole focus assembly is lose in the camera? If I angle the lens down and shake slightly, you can hear something moving. I assume it is just the mirror moving?

--josh

D4/70-200

Josh,

Nothing is making noise in my D4. As a matter of fact,it appears that when it can't acquire focus, it freezes like a computer would. I can almost imagine the timer coming on in windows or the pinwheel on a mac. The D4 is completely unresponsive even if you release the shutter and recompose. Ironically, most times you can use the vertical focus button even when shooting in normal orientation. I will send it in to Nikon after I shoot a wedding next weekend.

D4 is now available on NikonUSA.com store.

djb663 said:
I just received my D4 four days ago. This evening I could reproduce a problem with troubling regularity. With a 24-70 2.8 mounted, pointing straight down at a flower or leaf, or the floor when inside the house, the D4 sometimes does not even try to focus...

Interesting you would say this. I feel shooting at any angle other then horizontal makes the focus issues worse. I went climbing with my daughter and the only pictures that even remotely turned out were when i was on the same level as her. If I was above or below her, the focus was a disaster

My theory is that possibly the whole focus assembly is lose in the camera? If I angle the lens down and shake slightly, you can hear something moving. I assume it is just the mirror moving?

--josh

D4/70-200

acon said:
Interesting thread. I thought I was nuts until I searched and found this. My D4 seems to have a very slight front focus issue on 3-4 lenses which seems easily corrected with a +1 to +4 fine tune adjustment.

However, my 70-200mm VRII is way out of focus on my D4...

I just shipped my D4 and 70-200mm VRII back to Nikon in hopes they can address the focus issue. I felt it was unusable...

@Thomas R....Oh, now I understand.... when I use my D4 with the Elinchrom units, I set the shutter to 1/160th, in manual program mode. Then flash the units using the Skylite trigger. I read the f/stop off the meter and then adjust the f/stop in the Manual exposure mode on the D4. I guess that is what you are talking about. The flash is set to "front curtain synch". Does this make sense?

Thomas R, the D300 and D700 both have build-in flash units. It's the build in flash's mode that you are setting in the Bracket/Flash menu.

The D4 has NO build-in flash unit so there is no adjustment for setting its mode.

Just set whatever flash unit you use to manual mode.

I am not an expert but hope that helps.

msmoto said:
I am not certain what you mean when you say "manual". On page 191 of the D4 user's manual the flash instructions begin. There are many options, but I cannot figure which one might be called "manual".

Maybe checking in the book will help. You will be able to download it at http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17724

If you have a D300 or D700, the Bracket/Flash menu allows you to chose Manual, TTL or Commander Mode Flash. I use manual since I meter my lights and adjust the exposure on my camera accordingly. I cant figure out how to do this on this D4. My D4 will be my new studio body until the D800e shows up, so, I'd like to have it fuctional in the manual flash mode.

Thomas R said:
Does anyone know how to set your Flash Mode to Manual on this camera?
I've been hunting for it for 2 days.

I am not certain what you mean when you say "manual". On page 191 of the D4 user's manual the flash instructions begin. There are many options, but I cannot figure which one might be called "manual".

Maybe checking in the book will help. You will be able to download it at http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17724