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

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

The buttons are not exactly alike, so I can see myself making some errors. So, I will try to replace my Nikon D3S with another Nikon D4 very soon.

The Nikon D3s are great cameras, and if it had not for the changes in all the buttons, I might have lived with the slight differences in the cameras’ still image shooting. However, while the changes might be significant improvements, adjusting 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 are improvements.

There are more differences on the back than on the front. While many buttons appear 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, the metering mode choices are located in very different places. The options are the same, but you now push the choice at the top left and rotate the thumb dial to select the various metering modes.

I seldom use the average meter and pick between the spot and the matrix.

One difference is the metering choices. 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 following significant change for me is the focusing modes. On the Nikon D3S, you just flipped the dial on the back, and depending on whether you had the camera in AF-S or AF-C, different functions were tweaked in the menu.

On the Nikon D4, most choices are now visible on the top menu when you push the AF button on the front and use 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 to change functions and turn the aperture or shutter dial.

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, the AF switch changes 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, you change the AF-C to many different options. This is the third choice.

Nikon D4—When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial, the AF-C switches to many different options. This is the d51 point.

Nikon D4 – When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial, you change the AF-C to many different options. These are the d21 points.

Nikon D4—When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial, the AF-C switches to many different options. This is the D9 point.

Nikon D4—When you push the AF button on the front of the camera and rotate the index finger dial, 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, you change the AF-C to many different choices. This auto function 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, you change the AF-S to one of two choices: Single or Auto.

These are the dials on the Nikon D3S. The lock button on the Nikon D4 has been changed to the meter, and the lock function is now in the menu rather than a dial.

This is the Nikon D4. Having the meter choice here is nice in some ways. I miss the lock button from the Aperture, and the shutter is no longer here. However, 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 get used to the new Nikon D4.