Sony XQD ExpressCard Reader
With the D4 accepting and one of its slots dedicated to the XQD card, it’s here to stay so finding working solutions is part of the game. While it was cool Nikon provided a card and reader, one reader just isn’t enough for me. I managed to acquire one of the brand new Sony XQD Express Card Reader and I’m here to tell you, it’s not only faster, easier for me to remember to take with me. That’s because it resides in the express slot in my Dell. But it’s so new, Mac and Win machines don’t have the drivers for it already installed. With a little of digging I found the drivers. You can grab the Win Driver here and the Mac Driver here Hope the extra option helps you.
D4 Settings – the Long Form
As promised, here are my settings for the D4, top link is a PDf and bottom link is the file you can upload into your D4. Now these settings will change with time and when I think about it, I will update these settings and date the file accordingly. Now, External settings that can be set are as follows:
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D4 body Settings
- Metering – Matrix
- AF-C / d21
- Firing mode – CH
- Flash – Slow
Hope this helps you, I know I’ve got more to learn with the D4 but to say I’m impressed is an understatement!
Tighten the Screws!
Tighten them 70-200VR2 tripod foot screws! I first posted this warning a couple of years ago, heard from many theirs was loose and then a tragic story of one lens mounted to a tripod falling to the ground because they didn’t tighten their screws. Received an email yesterday asking if I had heard of this problem which jarred my memory. I checked my lens and sure enough, they were loose again. Now many put loctite in these screws holes but I won’t do that because if the lens goes to Nikon for repair (a big if), I don’t want those screws locked in. I do need to remember to check them though and wanted to pass that reminder on to you.
D4 Video – “Pretty Amazing”
01.01.2013 Pages are in the process of being updated. In the meantime you can watch our videos on our YouTube Channel as well as all Videos are available on iTunes as Podcasts!
“Pretty Amazing”…that’s what Torey, the biologist I’m working with said when I played back the video of the San Joaquin Kit Fox den we worked last night. “It’s better there then what I’m seeing in person!” That’s what Torey said watching the activity I had shot. In 2hrs, I shot 10GB of 1080/30 vid using just 29% of my battery power and all my skills to pan capturing the activities of 4, 7 week old SJKF pups. You’ll see in the video the pups outside their den in Bakersfield, CA. I shot this using a Rode mic (almost no sound, none to record), GP-1 attached to the D4 and the default D4 movie settings. Now the Auto ISO for the video made me scratch my head when I saw that feature but now that I’ve seen it in action, I think it’s genious. During my time shooting, I saw the ISO change from as low as 1800 to 12800 while the exposure levels stayed consistent. The WB was set to AWB with the light source being this funky combo of parkway, bldg light stuff with a welder in the background working. Focusing was all done manually. What’s here is a 200MB clip, raw and unedited straight from the camera which, getting it uploaded from the field was a feat onto itself. Of course, the stars are one of my favorites, the endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox pups. Those how saw my video of them at Photoshop World might notice a HUGE difference in the quality. Compared to the D3s which is what I used last season, sucks compared to the D4! Be sure to click on HD when you watch it! I hope you enjoy!
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In the Bag
- D4
- 200-400VR2
- Lexar 32GB 600x UDMA
Last Minunte Opening, FL K&M
Just had a last minute cancelation in our upcoming, as in two weeks away, K&M FL Adventure. If surf, birds, boats, planes and girls grab your attention (this is an all girl adventure, participant wise except 1 guy) and you can make it, give us a call 760.924.8632. I can’t wait to take the D4 to the beach!
It be filled….the girl part got to ’em :-)