Nikon DF

[Highway 61]

I think I expected more simplicity. It appears they simply put a retro pentaprism on top, and gave every menu item a switch or dial.

Yes and yes.

Yet this is - for me - a very nice camera.

Now there will be some key features which will determine if I rather pass or continue to be after it :

- build quality (especially the inwards)
- VF magnification and frame coverage
- focusing ability with MF lenses
- battery life
- storage media
- shutter noise and durability
- sensor
- price tag (body only).

Time will tell.

 

[froyd]

I haven't forgotten - I watch V again every 5th of November.

Or better yet, read it.

 

[David_Manning]

I have to admit...the thing I like about my 5DmkII is I can operate shooting controls without moving my eye from the finder. This is why a modern dSLR is fast and flexible. This looks a bit fiddly. I looked at my FE2...much more simple, but with accessible necessary shooting controls.

While I think this is an interesting camera, I think I had higher expectations...which really isn't fair. Maybe I'll change my mind when/if I can get my hands on one.

I blame the marketing campaign!!! 😉

 

[froyd]

Am I the only person here who likes the F4? Solid build, dedicated control dials and switches always to hand. Works with almost every F mount lens, even in matrix meter mode. Here's hoping Nikon follow up the dF with the dF4 😀

One of the best Fs ever. main drawback for me was weight more than size. I also never liked the locking shutter wheel that required a center button press to release. Other than that, that VF rival any Rf I ever used.

 

[NazgulKing]

I think I expected more simplicity. It appears they simply put a retro pentaprism on top, and gave every menu item a switch or dial. Unless it functions in some special, unannounced way, on ergonomics alone, I think I pass.

I'll stick with the M9 for Digital Fusion 😀

I dunno, but if Leica had made it easier to change ISO quickly, I wouldn't have minded.

What I like about this camera is that it has made the Quick Menu redundant.

 

[Samouraï]

It's so crowded and ugly. Nikon's equivalent of a DSLR M9 it is not. I'd still like to get my hands on this camera (to test), but I doubt I'll be purchasing. Can anyone explain to me how "pure photography" requires 50 different buttons and dials and switches? All I need is the ISO dial and the Shutter dial. And what's the deal with the strap lugs? Do they balance the camera better when there is a lens attached?

 

[literiter]

Looks somewhat reminiscent of af old Kodak Medalist with that deep body and chrome.

But it's got a real DSLR type LCD readout on the top and a really nifty row of dials on the top too.
Dang but they must "fused" a lot of different cameras together to make that thing. It looks nothing
Like my F3.

So now we wait for the reviews to come in, to prove this bit of pudding.

 

[Fraser]

I have to admit...the thing I like about my 5DmkII is I can operate shooting controls without moving my eye from the finder. This is why a modern dSLR is fast and flexible. This looks a bit fiddly. I looked at my FE2...much more simple, but with accessible necessary shooting controls.

While I think this is an interesting camera, I think I had higher expectations...which really isn't fair. Maybe I'll change my mind when/if I can get my hands on one.

I blame the marketing campaign!!! 😉

Plus no need to move hand position and everything is on the top without the need to search in menus.

 

[Samouraï]

http://petapixel.com/2013/11/04/first-leaked-photos-nikon-df-show-online/
tons of leaked photos courtesy of petapixel

 

[kshapero]

I beg to differ. The F4 top is much less complicated and much more straighforwardly laid out.

Best,
-Tim

Still, I think it is a nice layout. Pretty much everything is there.

 

[KoNickon]

Starting to look rather like the old Norita 6x6 -- tall. For me, lots of buttons and switches, with specific purposes, beats menus every time. Now -- how about a full frame finder? Haven't seen anything about that.

Of course, what are we getting excited about? Version 2.0 will be along within 12 months anyway.... It may look analogue, but I'm sure the product cycle is 100% digital.

 

[henri klein]

whenever possible comparing film and digital versions is an eye opener.
Oh man, they used to look so much nicer!

 

[daveleo]

I think they missed the runway.

 

[uhoh7]

http://petapixel.com/2013/11/04/first-leaked-photos-nikon-df-show-online/
tons of leaked photos courtesy of petapixel

Looks friggin gorgeous in that shot 🙂

Knobs on top remind me of my contax 3a

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

This "pure" idea is just never going to happen, since few [are there any?] lenses from Nikon have f-stops.

Few Nikon lenses ? Just about any Nikkor ever made has f-stops, except for G lenses, which should never have come off the belt anyway.😀

 

[benlees]

A real clunker. Or a tank, to put a more positive spin? Can't wait to see the pricing on this one.

 

[jsrockit]

They are getting closer, but not close enough to what I want this time. Maybe someday.

 

[Rodchenko]

So, this is it?

Looks like Bonfire Night will have damp squibs.

 

[Highway 61]

And what's the deal with the strap lugs? Do they balance the camera better when there is a lens attached?

They are located where they always were on classic Nikons so I assume they will do the job properly.

Of course most all older lenses will have f-stops. How well corrected they are for full frame digital I assume has already be sorted out somewhere?

Anyone have a definitive list?

There are good tests here and there. On www.photozone.de for example. And somewhere else.

As soon as the sensor doesn't exceed the lens resolving power, many Ai, Ai-S and AF-D prime lenses perform beautifully in front of a FF sensor, without nasty CAs or vignetting. If the Df sensor is the 16MP one, this will be true with this camera too.

 

[furcafe]

I'm guessing that is intended to be a programmable dial that defaults to being the aperture dial for G lenses (shades of the Zeiss Ikon Contarex).

Some kind of front knurled dial in front of the Power On/Off that I don't know the function of

Best,
-Tim