My new Nikon Df

dasuess

dasuess

Nikon Freak
Local time
6:43 PM
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
525
Just picked up my new black Nikon Df yesterday. After spending the past 24 hours taking mundane and meaningless pictures so I could familiarize myself with its operation, I went out this evening to take some "real" pictures.

Being a Nikon F owner and user for 40 years, the Df was very easy to get to know. I have been having a great time using my non-AI Nikon glass I bought back in the mid-70's. I will be sending them out for AI conversion soon, but even as non-AI lenses I find them easy to use on the Df.

This is a great camera...
 

Attachments

  • 07152014_205139 - Version 2.jpg
    07152014_205139 - Version 2.jpg
    19.2 KB · Views: 0
Glad to hear you're happy with your new camera! My understanding, from the various user reports I've seen on the Df, is that people seem to feel very strongly about the camera, whether pro- or anti-. It's good to hear from someone else in the "pro-" camp! (Full disclosure: I don't have one and won't get one - mostly because I'm not that invested in Nikon gear rather than any particular thoughts about the Df as a camera.)

...Mike
 
Roger Hicks said:
Good, innit? Have you seen my review in American Photo? I was sufficiently impressed that I bought one...

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...
http://www.americanphotomag.com/article/2014/05/gear-review-nikon-df

Roger,

I enjoyed your review. Short and to the point, yet conveying useful information. I'm in the camp that says "I like the sentiment, but I doubt I'll buy the camera" while fully understanding why someone more invested in Nikon gear than me might find it compelling. You've helped explain why that's so.

...Mike
 
Hi Roger;

I DID read your review in American Photo. I actually didn't realize you wrote it. Only when I recognized Frances in one of the photos that accompanied the review did I realize you were the author. I'm not really in the market for a DF but it was a really good review and was enjoyable to read!

Best
Paul
 
Roger, what's the viewfinder like for manual focus lenses? I've been hearing that it's a bit better than the D800's ground glass, but that doesn't say much about how it measures up to a F3 or FM2. Good review by the way, I'm still on the D800/Df fence myself (though file size isn't a concern for me).
 
dasuess said:
I think I am going to have it done by John White at aiconversions.com
Click to expand...

I think Jimmy Koh at Koh camera has some ai conversion kits for various lenses -- you might want to contact him and also get any kits on eBay -- then use these yourself or send to John White. The kits make the lenses look nicer.
 
NY_Dan said:
I think Jimmy Koh at Koh camera has some ai conversion kits for various lenses -- you might want to contact him and also get any kits on eBay -- then use these yourself or send to John White. The kits make the lenses look nicer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip... I have mildly concerned about sending the lenses out for conversion.
 
How easy is the manual focus? I have a lot of AIS glass and have already purchased a D200 for use with it but the focus isn't easy. In another thread, I have asked about improving this and was told there are two companies that make replacement screens to improve manual focus. Does the Df need this as well or can you focus it with the OEM screen? Thanks,
 
lcpr said:
Roger, what's the viewfinder like for manual focus lenses? I've been hearing that it's a bit better than the D800's ground glass, but that doesn't say much about how it measures up to a F3 or FM2. Good review by the way, I'm still on the D800/Df fence myself (though file size isn't a concern for me).
Click to expand...
Works fine for me, but then, I'm used mostly to OLD SLRs: Nikon F, Pentax SV... I've got a Brightscreen as well as several Nikon screens for the Fs. The electronic focus confirmation works well on the Df. File size was not all that important to me either: both have their advantages. I may yet (given long enough) buy a D810 myself.

@Mike: Good. I tried quite hard to reinforce the idea that it's not for everyone!

@Paul: Thank'ee kindly!

Cheers

R.
 
presspass said:
How easy is the manual focus? I have a lot of AIS glass and have already purchased a D200 for use with it but the focus isn't easy. In another thread, I have asked about improving this and was told there are two companies that make replacement screens to improve manual focus. Does the Df need this as well or can you focus it with the OEM screen? Thanks,
Click to expand...

See Roger's reply about MF with the Df. My relatively short experience with the Df is that MF with the OEM screen is no problem, but then I have always had a plain ground glass screen in my F. I never did like the the split prism screens. I also understand that replacement screens are not available/possible with the Df, but I could be wrong.

Before purchasing my Df, I lugged all my MF non-AI glass to the local camera store and tried each lens and took pictures with my own SD card. I then took the SD card home and brought up the images on my 27-inch monitor. They looked good to me as far focus was concerned, so I called the store back and ordered a black Df.

I love this camera and it makes me feel like a kid again, which is no small feat at my age ;-)
 
I have been committed to the Nikon since my days in the Marine Corps where the F was issue to combat photogs. I still have and use an F along with a number of Nikkormats and I REALLY wanted a Df but settled for a D7000 for budget reasons. Although the 7000 is a good digi I still love the profile and full frame of the Df.

Good luck with it!!!
 
I do wish they would make a striped down version with just ASA/ISO, shutter speed, center weighted metering, on/off, battery low and card full LEDs, lens release and a shutter release (that took AR-1s). Ignore all the other fancy stuff and controls. Give RAW and JPG for each shot and call it a day. I look at the Df and worry about how I would hold it and not hit a control button. I they need space for electronics make the head larger like a F2 Photomic or FTn.

I would be even cooler if they had a model without in sensor filters and did only B&W.

It does look like a fun camera in spite of my dreams.
 
Does the Df have the "green light" focus assist? I found that pretty helpful on my D90. On my D7000 I installed a Katz Eye and there is no issue with MF on that camera.
 
The photographer I work for just bought a black DF to pair with his silver one...and the D4/D4s team gets less and less use for commercial/institutional work. That being said, the black looks infinitely more professional than the silver version. Great camera, excellent files.
 
Good luck with the Df! It's been the subject of some controversy, but overall it seems a good camera.

I've had a long history with Nikon SLRs, used them alongside Leica RFs for most of the time from 1969 to 2001. I have a couple of Fs and a small set of lenses. I briefly considered the Df when it was first revealed after the overly silly marketing campaign, but decided that I didn't really like all the dials, knobs, buttons, etc that festoon it. And it's still bigger than I prefer.

Like others have said, what I'd love, if Nikon would ever really do it, is basically an F3 with a digital sensor and a minimum of other stuff cluttering it up. But I doubt they'll ever do it.

Given that, the Sony A7 body has become my surrogate for that wish: It works well with all my Nikon and other SLR lenses, and it's a bit smaller/lighter. It becomes pretty close to the F3 + MD-4 motor if I stick the battery grip on it. Much less control clutter and, the way I have it set up, very simple in use. Not perfect, but what camera is?

G
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom