For the past couple of years, the networks have been using one crew with a second lock down camera as the norm for many shoots involving a correspondent. During this time they’ve often been using full cameras as the second, but now they’ve been cutting back even more and are either requesting a smaller camera, or they are bringing their own.

I was never one to buy into the Canon DSLR because for years have been a Nikon guy, and abandoning the line seemed foolish, so I held out. When it was announced the D4 was coming out with expanded video and timelapse capabilities I jumped at the opportunity.

Since its purchase in April, it has now become the go to second camera, the go to timelapse rig, the go to camera for in-car interviews. Last night was a first, the D4 mounted on a Microdolly suction cup on the passenger window as the A-camera, a GoPro Hero 2 mounted on the driver side as the B-camera. A Micro Lite Panel was suction-cupped to the hood for a constant light source, and the audio was achieved through a Beachtech adapter into the Nikon. My sound guy went along for the ride lying on the backseat while monitoring.

My point is that anything goes these days and the quality and versatility of the Nikon D4 is simply amazing. There is an obvious restriction in accessible focal lengths compared to full 2/3" lenses, but these cameras and rigs are letting us do things never before possible. Since its purchase, on average the DSLR sees work at least twice a week. As long as the camera and .mov outputted files fit into the clients’ workflow, it’s good to go.