Nikon DF Images and Experiences...

[nlubis]

I had a chance to play around with a DF this afternoon.
It's everything that Lynn and other people in this thread had mentioned.
I find the controls quiet easily after a quick glance, all the settings are right there, the weight (or lack there of) and size is quiet pleasant to my hands. The whole (10 minutes or so) experience was nice, and does bring muscle memory from the older manual bodies.

When I do upgrade, I would still have to decide on either the D800 or DF though. As both are different tools.

my 2 cents.

 

[Keith]

There's a fair bit of crap being talked about this camera around the net IMO ... and I can't really think why?

The knockers seem to really dislike it and appear to be personally offended by it's design ... some things never change I guess! 🙂

 

[noimmunity]

There's a fair bit of crap being talked about this camera around the net IMO ... and I can't really think why?

The knockers seem to really dislike it and appear to be personally offended by it's design ... some things never change I guess! 🙂

It's been said several times in this thread and I have to agree. Resentment. People secretly want it (or something close to it) but can't/won't afford it. That generates an insatiable rancor that people justify through all sorts of sophisticated uses of reason.

Cameras could be such excellent training in the antidote to envy, if only people would just realize it.

 

[rivercityrocker]

My favorites are the ones who call it "hipster" in one sentence and then say it's an old man camera in the next, and then later say that the back is too digital, but are mad that there's no video...

People are crazy. They act like it's a personal attack against their aesthetic sensibilities.

 

[Flat Twin]

I think Nikon has out-maneuvered the competition and silenced the critics with the Df and done what no other camera company has been brave enough to do... design and manufacture a camera that the majority of modern camera users think is a bad idea, over-priced, under-spec'ed, and the death-knell of the company, but provides a real bridge for us old, grumpy MF lenses owners, with a full-frame sensor and a great optical finder, that let's the old MF lenses be used to their potential instead an EVF/crop sensor wannabe concoction.

I agree completely, well said!

Simon

 

[alan davus]

There's a fair bit of crap being talked about this camera around the net IMO ... and I can't really think why?

The knockers seem to really dislike it and appear to be personally offended by it's design ... some things never change I guess! 🙂

Spot on Keith. And what ever you do, don't dare to criticise what the knockers/killjoys are using. They'll rip your throat out.

 

[Davewolfs]

How does that aperture dial feel? It looks odd, almost non functional. How is it in practice?

 

[thereabouts]

How is focussing with manual lenses? The main legitimate complaint I've seen is the lack of a split focusing screen.

 

[willie_901]

How is focussing with manual lenses? The main legitimate complaint I've seen is the lack of a split focusing screen.

This is the key issue. I see no option but to take a couple of AI/ AIS lenses to the camera shop and try it for myself.

I do have one question though. On the DF where is the green dot located?

 

[nlubis]

How does that aperture dial feel? It looks odd, almost non functional. How is it in practice?

From my short play with it, your finger will 'find' it in an instance. It's not awkward, maybe because it's positioned closer to your body than compared to the horizontal sub-command dial on a pro body (D700).

The store also had a non-AI lens, which he showed me how to mount and program. The aperture selected can be seen in the viewfinder.

 

[rivercityrocker]

How does that aperture dial feel? It looks odd, almost non functional. How is it in practice?

I don't quite like it yet. It looks nice, but is a bit more difficult to use than the front command dial. The dials are the Dƒ are very stiff. Which can be seen as good or bad.

 

[rivercityrocker]

I find MF to be about the same as all of the other Nikon DSLRs. It's OK if you have good eyes, but mine aren't all that they used to be so I rely on the green dot a lot (which is located in the viewfinder display bottom left corner where it's always been).

 

[Davewolfs]

Folks,

I appreciate everyone's comments here. This is great stuff and for those who have the Df congratulations on your purchase it's a lovely camera.

I've made a decision and I am going to pass on the Df for now.

Here is my reasoning (not trying to burst anyone's bubble!)

- On the low ISO end, I miss out on 1 stop increased DR, pretty sure I can live with that.
- On the high ISO end, the D700 is pretty decent to 3200. Seems similar to Df at 6400. I have my D700 auto ISO maxed out at 3200 and that has worked for me. Df High ISO is incredible, 25600 looks similar to D700 6400. So clearly, I'm losing out here. For those who are new to digital I HIGHLY suggest learning the Auto ISO feature of your Df. It's a gift.
- Resolution increase of 4MP not worried about it.
- Keep the 1/8000 shutter (oddly I have quite a few pictures over 1/4000)
- Keep the AF (which I'm pretty happy with)
- I don't own any manual lenses, my eyes aren't good so I doubt using some nice MF Zeiss would magically become significantly easier
- Lose on weight but I don't think it matters, the Df is still "chunky" as it should be for F mount lenses (otherwise would be too small). If I can curl a 65lb dumb bell with one arm, I shouldn't be complaining about 300 grams.
- I have big hands and the D700 controls work really well for me. Perhaps the Df controls would work for me, but need to play with it. Maybe I'll rent one.

As for A7(R). I'm going to pass too. The fact that there is one native lens right now that people say is closer to 40mm than 35mm and isn't too great doesn't excite me. As for adapted lenses, what works and what doesn't seems to be all over the place. I'm not into experimenting.

There are also reports that the RX1 is faster in operation than the A7(R). I find this hard to believe because the RX1 is piss poor slow in dim lighting conditions. It's a camera you need to be very patient with. I would expect more from the A7(R). So will pass on being an early adopter at least for now. I think it makes sense to see what Zeiss's next move is in terms of lenses.

Sorry if I bored you! The RX1 and D700 will remain in the bag.

 

[rivercityrocker]

From my short play with it, your finger will 'find' it in an instance. It's not awkward, maybe because it's positioned closer to your body than compared to the horizontal sub-command dial on a pro body (D700).

The store also had a non-AI lens, which he showed me how to mount and program. The aperture selected can be seen in the viewfinder.

How is focussing with manual lenses? The main legitimate complaint I've seen is the lack of a split focusing screen.

Folks,

I appreciate everyone's comments here. This is great stuff and for those who have the Df congratulations on your purchase it's a lovely camera.

I've made a decision and I am going to pass on the Df for now.

Here is my reasoning (not trying to burst anyone's bubble!)

- On the low ISO end, I miss out on 1 stop increased DR, pretty sure I can live with that.
- On the high ISO end, the D700 is pretty decent to 3200. Seems similar to Df at 6400. I have my D700 auto ISO maxed out at 3200 and that has worked for me. Df High ISO is incredible, 25600 looks similar to D700 6400. So clearly, I'm losing out here. For those who are new to digital I HIGHLY suggest learning the Auto ISO feature of your Df. It's a gift.
- Resolution increase of 4MP not worried about it.
- Keep the 1/8000 shutter (oddly I have quite a few pictures over 1/4000)
- Keep the AF (which I'm pretty happy with)
- I don't own any manual lenses, my eyes aren't good so I doubt using some nice MF Zeiss would magically become significantly easier
- Lose on weight but I don't think it matters, the Df is still "chunky" as it should be for F mount lenses (otherwise would be too small). If I can curl a 65lb dumb bell with one arm, I shouldn't be complaining about 300 grams.
- I have big hands and the D700 controls work really well for me. Perhaps the Df controls would work for me, but need to play with it. Maybe I'll rent one.

As for A7(R). I'm going to pass too. The fact that there is one native lens right now that people say is closer to 40mm than 35mm and isn't too great doesn't excite me. As for adapted lenses, what works and what doesn't seems to be all over the place. I'm not into experimenting.

There are also reports that the RX1 is faster in operation than the A7(R). I find this hard to believe because the RX1 is piss poor slow in dim lighting conditions. It's a camera you need to be very patient with. I would expect more from the A7(R). So will pass on being an early adopter at least for now. I think it makes sense to see what Zeiss's next move is in terms of lenses.

Sorry if I bored you! The RX1 and D700 will remain in the bag.

Sound reasons. I'm keeping my D700, but it will become my back up or go-to for sports or dirty work. My D700 has shot more frames than most people shoot on 10 cameras. More than a half-million.

Sounds like you know what you need and what you don't as well as what you can live with and what you can't. You don't seem to need a new camera. The D700 is a great camera. Nikon's finest achievement in my eyes. If I could buy one with the firmware updated to current specs for Auto-ISO settings and some other things I'd go that route. But I need a new camera and the D4 isn't what I need.

I like to see people that objectively think about things before jumping in and not dumping all over the camera because it's not what they need personally.

 

[willie_901]

I find MF to be about the same as all of the other Nikon DSLRs. It's OK if you have good eyes, but mine aren't all that they used to be so I rely on the green dot a lot (which is located in the viewfinder display bottom left corner where it's always been).

Thanks for answering my question.

 

[Davewolfs]

What has changed with Auto ISO in the DF?

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

How does that aperture dial feel? It looks odd, almost non functional. How is it in practice?

My thought was... why would the aperture dial look odd or be nonfunctional... it is where it always was on the lens... then I realised you were talking about the dially thing on the front of the Df which I have never used.

How is focussing with manual lenses? The main legitimate complaint I've seen is the lack of a split focusing screen.

For me it was a plus not to have a split image, I never liked or used a split-image screen in my film Nikons.

Great pics. Love the colors. That camera would jump right in with my other Nikons. I just wish it cost 1K less....
Thanks for the post

I wish it would have cost $1000 less as well...

Sorry if I bored you! The RX1 and D700 will remain in the bag.

Makes perfect sense to me... not boring at all.

 

[rivercityrocker]

What has changed with Auto ISO in the DF?

Nothing new with the Dƒ specifically, but with the D7100 and forward there's a feature that enables the camera to detect the focal length of the lens and adjust the minimum shutter speed accordingly, you can also set to prefer a faster or slower minimum shutter speed depending on what you need.

I loved the Auto-ISO in the D700, but Nikon has made it much better. To the point where I almost never touch the ISO setting unless I'm using flash or doing studio work. I have it dialed in exactly as I like and it works flawlessly. If the D700 had that update It would literally almost be perfect. (though I have come to appreciate a few more MP's)

 

[Davewolfs]

Nothing new with the Dƒ specifically, but with the D7100 and forward there's a feature that enables the camera to detect the focal length of the lens and adjust the minimum shutter speed accordingly, you can also set to prefer a faster or slower minimum shutter speed depending on what you need.

I loved the Auto-ISO in the D700, but Nikon has made it much better. To the point where I almost never touch the ISO setting unless I'm using flash or doing studio work. I have it dialed in exactly as I like and it works flawlessly. If the D700 had that update It would literally almost be perfect. (though I have come to appreciate a few more MP's)

Good to know. That sounds quite convenient, I wasn't aware of this. It's surprising that they would not update the firmware to include this.

 

[Spicy]

Yeah it does. But the $250 "kit" 50 is a steal. The price of that 58 is preeeeeety steep. Then again, if it were a Leica lens I wouldn't even blink. BUT you always know that you aren't going to lose a substantial amount with a Leica lens if you sell it.

How is it a steal? They're charging you $50 more for a "retro" silver plastic ring that doesn't even do anything.

Would've rather they charged $100 more and made a modified 50/1.8G with an aperture ring.