Anyone order a Nikon DF?

[Fraser]

I think the problem with threads like this and why they get so heated is that owners who still have previous models get a bit annoyed with being told they now have something that is no good and the new model is so much better. Similar to when you trade a car in to a dealers and they tell you 'oh no one wants these anymore'.
It does look a nice camera and I'm sure if I was a nikon DSLR owner it would be nice to have a smaller body with the D4 sensor and thats why I would be buying it not for how it looks or for the shutter speed dials, Canon users have had no shutter speed dial like that since the T90 in 1986 so I'm quite used to that😀

 

[Keith]

I think the problem with threads like this and why they get so heated is that owners who still have previous models get a bit annoyed with being told they now have something that is no good and the new model is so much better. Similar to when you trade a car in to a dealers and they tell you 'oh no one wants these anymore'.
It does look a nice camera and I'm sure if I was a nikon DSLR owner it would be nice to have a smaller body with the D4 sensor and thats why I would be buying it not for how it looks or for the shutter speed dials, Canon users have had no shutter speed dial like that since the T90 in 1986 so I'm quite used to that😀

The whole shutter speed dial thing fascinates me.

It doesn't make for a better camera ... it just keeps the traditionalists happy. 😀

 

[Addy101]

That person has made it clear that he prefers the A7. His observations on the Dƒ aren't accurate and repeating them without end as well as throwing in little jabs like "to burst your bubble" isn't adding anything. It's turned into trolling.

You're talking about me :angel:

I shouldn't have written "burst your bubble" - sorry 'bout that. I only said that I was surprised about the buzz this camera generates, I would've kept it at that, however you wrote in reply it is the D4 guts in a smaller body and I simply replied because I disagree. I don't know what is inaccurate in my reply, but it wasn't intentional. Again, sorry for the bubble remark - that was unwarranted.

I have nothing against the Df, I only think it is overhyped and most people would be better served by the D610 (or Sony A7, indeed). My personal opinion, no trolling, just opinion.

 

[x-ray]

The whole shutter speed dial thing fascinates me.

It doesn't make for a better camera ... it just keeps the traditionalists happy. 😀

Dials are something us traditionalists have been used to and used for fifty years. No it doesn't make a better camers but neither do buttons and wheels. It's nice to have options.

 

[jsrockit]

The whole shutter speed dial thing fascinates me.

It doesn't make for a better camera ... it just keeps the traditionalists happy. 😀

Well, you either have that hang up or you don't. No wrong answer really... we certainly don't all want the same design.

 

[Keith]

Well, you either have that hang up or you don't. No wrong answer really... we certainly don't all want the same design.

The discussion about the DF is actually starting to get a little purile IMO.

It's just a camera that will suit some and not others ... like all cameras I guess. 🙂

 

[Sparrow]

The discussion about the DF is actually starting to get a little purile IMO.

It's just a camera that will suit some and not others ... like all cameras I guess. 🙂

... perhaps that's just a rumour for now

 

[Davewolfs]

You're talking about me :angel:

I shouldn't have written "burst your bubble" - sorry 'bout that. I only said that I was surprised about the buzz this camera generates, I would've kept it at that, however you wrote in reply it is the D4 guts in a smaller body and I simply replied because I disagree. I don't know what is inaccurate in my reply, but it wasn't intentional. Again, sorry for the bubble remark - that was unwarranted.

I have nothing against the Df, I only think it is overhyped and most people would be better served by the D610 (or Sony A7, indeed). My personal opinion, no trolling, just opinion.

Who are you to say what people will be better served by? People buy what they have an affinity towards, it's the beauty of the free market. Let them enjoy it.

 

[Davewolfs]

Off topic (or maybe not). I held an A7 yesterday. The EVF is quite amazing, I most like how you can adjust EVF or shutter/aperture and experience what you see is what you get prior to making the exposure.

The articulating LCD is quite fun to use. The camera is unbelievably light, almost too light (felt like a toy). Odd because I don't have this sense with my RX1.

Sony/Zeiss need to pump out lenses fast, I can't imagine large lenses being well suited for this.

 

[Dez]

What exactly is it that this camera can do that a D700 can't other than look like an F3 seriously in need of a diet?
It's pretty, for sure, but what real added value is there? Now if they manage to stuff a 16MP digital camera inside an FM body shell, that's impressive.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Terry Christian]

A friend of mine works for a camera-oriented business where one of the perks is the ability to try out new gear that comes in. The last time I saw him, it was the new Leica M; now it's the Nikon Df.

He says it's now his favorite go-to camera. He calls it the true successor to the D700. His two biggest gripes with it are seemingly minor, and physical. He says the camera is rather short (top to bottom), so gripping it isn't as secure as he'd prefer; he'd like to see Nikon release a battery grip for it to stabilize the camera a bit more. Also, the strap lugs are on the front of the camera instead of the sides, so the camera tends to dip forward when hung around the neck.

I briefly got to hold it. He had the silver model and the finish looks rather plasticky. He replied that the black finish would probably look better, but that his workplace hasn't received any of the black ones in yet.

 

[Frank Petronio]

What exactly is it that this camera can do that a D700 can't other than look like an F3 seriously in need of a diet?
It's pretty, for sure, but what real added value is there? Now if they manage to stuff a 16MP digital camera inside an FM body shell, that's impressive.

Cheers,
Dez

Not to exasperate the faithful ;-p but a $1200 used D700 is a lot more capable with a much more sophisticated focusing system, higher frame rate, user-interchangable screens... oh and twin control dials that don't require three hands to change the ISO.

To me Nikon hasn't released a better camera since the D700-D3. They should have shoved a larger sensor into the D700 chassis and called it a classic and sold a million more.

OK... back to the usual rounds of complaining about complaining ;-p

 

[Davewolfs]

Not to exasperate the faithful ;-p but a $1200 used D700 is a lot more capable with a much more sophisticated focusing system, higher frame rate, user-interchangable screens... oh and twin control dials that don't require three hands to change the ISO.

To me Nikon hasn't released a better camera since the D700-D3. They should have shoved a larger sensor into the D700 chassis and called it a classic and sold a million more.

OK... back to the usual rounds of complaining about complaining ;-p

It's fair to say that we all love the D700.

We're all preaching to the choir here, the only one not nitpicking seems to be Bjørn Rørslett but we know he's been drinking the kool aid probably longer than I've been alive.

 

[jamais]

If the Df cost two thirds of the actual price (or less) I would buy it. Manual focusing is quite easy which has been my biggest concern - until I tried it today. Build quality seems very good - comparable to the FM/FE. That is really good, but imo just not good enough in cosideration of the given price. The most astonishing: Me - a confident film photographer - being seriously tempted to go digital without thinking even a second about the consequences...

 

[aeturnum]

I don't use SLRs much these days, as I've fallen in love with the size and experience of rangefinders. However, looking at the DF, I don't see why I would buy it over a D600 (610?) or a D800.

Ironically, if the DF had fewer features (remove AF? remove rear screen?) I would be more interested. It seems like the shooting 'experience' would be very similar to other modern DSLRs. The modern DSLR experience is highly developed and fantastic, but it's not what I want.

 

[sc_rufctr]

I canceled my order yesterday.

A local shop was doing an official launch and I got to hold one for the first time.

Sorry gents but it felt like a chunk of plastic. The top may be metal but it certainly didn't feel like it. The chrome plating/finish (whatever) looks awful and IMO won't wear well at all.
And it's big... 😡

After all that hype I was so disappointed.

 

[kjoosten]

Had mine for a week.

Had mine for a week.

My two cents.

My current Nikon is a D700, so that is my point of comparison.

At first I thought the Df felt rather light, but after using it for a few days, that impression went away and it really became very comfortable to use. Similarly, for the first day or so, I was uncomfortable with the grip and the very different way you hold the camera compared to the D700. But again, after a few days, this became much more natural and now I find it quite comfortable and natural.

The chrome looks and feels EXACTLY like that of my F3/T.

As far as manual focussing goes, I agree with those that who find the VF no brighter, but much better at allowing images to snap into focus. I always had a very difficult time manually focussing the D700. The Df seems quite a bit better to me. It also appears to me that the Df's focus indicator has less "slop" than that of the D700.

The mode I'm finding I enjoy using is manual with auto ISO and exposure compensation. This also seems to fit well with the top deck controls - max ISO with the dial, shutter speed with the dial and exposure compensation (if needed) with the dial.

I think I'll be keeping the Df. It will be a vacation and "everyday" camera due to it's smaller size and weight. Not sure about selling the D700 yet - I need to make sure the Df does everything I need as good or better.

 

[wintoid]

Thanks for what seem to be very level-headed comments.

As far as manual focussing goes, I agree with those that who find the VF no brighter, but much better at allowing images to snap into focus. I always had a very difficult time manually focussing the D700. The Df seems quite a bit better to me. It also appears to me that the Df's focus indicator has less "slop" than that of the D700.

That sounds great, thanks. Definitely still got one eye on this camera. Hopefully the price will drop a bit after some time.

 

[noimmunity]

...this is the reason why you obviously can't understand the heavy disappointment now felt by the long-run faithful Nikonians having been waiting for a really different FF DLSR for about a decade already.

I can't understand in the sense that it isn't within the range of my personal experience, but I feel for ya dude.

 

[jsrockit]

Not to exasperate the faithful ;-p but a $1200 used D700 is a lot more capable with a much more sophisticated focusing system, higher frame rate, user-interchangable screens... oh and twin control dials that don't require three hands to change the ISO.

and yet I'd rather have the Df. Call me shallow, but I just would get on with it better and none of the features you have mentioned are needed by me. Ergonomically, I prefer the Df's shape and I also prefer the sensor in the Df.