Nikon DF

The A7 is a clean-lined update of a classic silhouette. Simple in appearance, but modern and powerful in its capabilities (the A7r). And the pricepoint is exciting. Though, I wish it had a dedicated iso/shutter dial.

This Nikon DF is a bloated monstrosity of a camera. I am disappointed.

From an aesthetic point of view, the a7 is actually a nicer design, i agree. From a functional/photographers point of view, the Df looks to be pretty much the ultimate in terms of ergos and control layout.
 
It's interesting that it was hoped that Nikon would follow Fuji, Sony etc and drop a full frame mirrorless into the mix at some point. They've obviously disappointed a lot of people with the DF but those people aren't exactly starved for choice if that's what they want.

Looking at the image that uhoh posted of the D4 makes you realise how brutally efficient a pro bodied DSLR is and why they've dominated photography for so long and why working pros choose them. This camera will appeal to an entirely different type of shooter ... one who wants that type of performance but in a less antiseptic form.
 
Somebody was saying the camera doesn't do video?

They can't be that silly can they?

Just curious... and not to divert this thread at all, but when did video become part of photo cameras? And I wonder what percent of people that buy a DSLR use it for video to any extent at all. I know I've owned three or four over the past 8 years and I've not once used the video feature.
 
Just curious... and not to divert this thread at all, but when did video become part of photo cameras? And I wonder what percent of people that buy a DSLR use it for video to any extent at all. I know I've owned three or four over the past 8 years and I've not once used the video feature.

I don't shoot video often with my camera, however many pros do. A serious system camera has got to shoot video in 2013.

That's doesn't mean everyone will use it. It means the camera is versatile. It's one secret of the great success of the 5D.

Why cripple the potential of an imaging tool? Even Leica sees that.

Anyway I don't even know if this is true. I'm incredulous if it is.

In short: it should be the users choice, not Nikon's.
 
I don't shoot video often with my camera, however many pros do. A serious system camera has got to shoot video in 2013.

That's doesn't mean everyone will use it. It means the camera is versatile. It's one secret of the great success of the 5D.

Why cripple the potential of an imaging tool? Even Leica sees that.

Anyway I don't even know if this is true. I'm incredulous if it is.

In short: it should be the users choice, not Nikon's.

You mean Leica's video is worth a damn at all?
 
All I want is a full frame camera that can be easily manually focused -- like a digital leicaflex.

If this nikon df could be easily manually focused like the nikons of old, I'd be in. I hope it has a huge viewfinder and a split image aid or a microprism collar. One of these, a zeiss 50mm makro planar, and a zeiss 135 and I'd be set.
 
All I want is a full frame camera that can be easily manually focused -- like a digital leicaflex.

If this nikon df could be easily manually focused like the nikons of old, I'd be in. I hope it has a huge viewfinder and a split image aid or a microprism collar. One of these, a zeiss 50mm makro planar, and a zeiss 135 and I'd be set.


Assuming that Nikon's current full frame DSLRs all seem to have very good finders I would expect this to be so.
 
haha well they claim it is don't they?

I'm beginning to think the DF may be a Sony plot to make the A7s look better. 😱

I haven't given too much fib about Sony, when I discovered that they again have not learnt from their mistakes about lens line ups.
 
haha well they claim it is don't they?

I'm beginning to think the DF may be a Sony plot to make the A7s look better. 😱


Considering they've come with a camera that is totally unlike the current Sonys I'd say they've pretty well avoided that comparison.
 
Considering they've come with a camera that is totally unlike the current Sonys I'd say they've pretty well avoided that comparison.

Sony is throwing the long bomb: here is your new front line machine, Mr Pro. It basically does almost everything. Despite claims to contrary, with LAEA4 and Alpha glass it will AF fine for sports--as well as any DSLR.

Image quality is at the top of the chart. Video is second to 5D, but totally usable. And it shoots the cv 35/1.2 like the lens was made for it.

Nikon seems to be engaged in a re-branding exercise, and not much more. The camera does less, not more (maybe).
 
Sony is throwing the long bomb: here is your new front line machine, Mr Pro. It basically does almost everything. Despite claims to contrary, with LAEA4 and Alpha glass it will AF fine for sports--as well as any DSLR.

Image quality is at the top of the chart. Video is second to 5D, but totally usable. And it shoots the cv 35/1.2 like the lens was made for it.

Nikon seems to be engaged in a re-branding exercise, and not much more. The camera does less, not more (maybe).



I sort of agree ... maybe we'll start seeing the soccer mums with Sonys in future? 😀
 
I don't shoot video often with my camera, however many pros do. A serious system camera has got to shoot video in 2013.

That's doesn't mean everyone will use it. It means the camera is versatile. It's one secret of the great success of the 5D.

Why cripple the potential of an imaging tool? Even Leica sees that.

Anyway I don't even know if this is true. I'm incredulous if it is.

In short: it should be the users choice, not Nikon's.

The whole point of these sort of cameras (fuji x and nikon df) is that some of us actually don't want video. We don't want the option. We don't want the option to geotag photos, or to have creative filters in camera, or transmit photos to our cellphone. We just want the best of IQ, build and ergos in a simple and mechanically prominent camera body. We don't want to be able to customize every button or for it to transform into a blender so I can blend smoothies. If I want to do video I will buy a video camera.

A lot of sony and panasonics still cameras have movie record buttons on the top plates which are easy to accidentally hit. We don't want that bull****, no sir. Just about every other digital camera on the market has video - the pros you speak of are spoiled for choice. They probably already have a video ready dslr. Thats why this one doesn't need it.
 
Interview with Sony Brain

Question: Is there still some snobbery on the part of customers that Sony is an electronics company and not a camera company?

Ans:
That’s a big challenge for me. I was speaking to a Japanese newspaper and I told them ‘I hate being called an electronics company that makes cameras’. People think Sony and they think televisions and Walkmans, that’s the image. No-one says ‘camera manufacturer’. But I will let them know - we ARE a camera manufacturer. One of the best. With the RX-series things started to change, and we’re getting there gradually. Now, everyone in the industry is starting to say ‘Sony is creating great cameras’. We’re going to keep on doing it, and keep on creating products that no-one has created before.

SonyInterview.jpg


Kimio Maki
 
"The whole point of these sort of cameras (fuji x and nikon df) is that some of us actually don't want video. We don't want the option. We don't want the option to geotag photos, or to have creative filters in camera, or transmit photos to our cellphone. We just want the best of IQ, build and ergos in a simple and mechanically prominent camera body. We don't want to be able to customize every button or for it to transform into a blender so I can blend smoothies. If I want to do video I will buy a video camera.

A lot of sony and panasonics still cameras have movie record buttons on the top plates which are easy to accidentally hit. We don't want that bull****, no sir. Just about every other digital camera on the market has video - the pros you speak of are spoiled for choice. They probably already have a video ready dslr. Thats why this one doesn't need it."


Well put --- thank you!

A DSLR that doesn't do video? Why it might as well not have a pump for inflating my bike tires! Whatever was Nikon thinking?


On the other hand, I am also aware that some us here really think of video as a critical feature. And others just have to be able to geotag, or need a button that will transmit photos to a cellphone without further ado, or ... .

Hence the difficulty Nikon (or anyone else) finds in trying to design a product that is actually different that what's already out there.
 
Interview with Sony Brain

Question: Is there still some snobbery on the part of customers that Sony is an electronics company and not a camera company?

Ans:
That’s a big challenge for me. I was speaking to a Japanese newspaper and I told them ‘I hate being called an electronics company that makes cameras’. People think Sony and they think televisions and Walkmans, that’s the image. No-one says ‘camera manufacturer’. But I will let them know - we ARE a camera manufacturer. One of the best. With the RX-series things started to change, and we’re getting there gradually. Now, everyone in the industry is starting to say ‘Sony is creating great cameras’. We’re going to keep on doing it, and keep on creating products that no-one has created before.

SonyInterview.jpg


Kimio Maki



What worries me is the market - what will happen if customers start to lose interest. If they just say ‘I don’t want a camera, a smartphone is good enough for me’. I don’t think it will happen, but it’s a concern


Very interesting interview! 🙂
 
Any idea what that big knob is, next to the Df logo? Looks like it twists. On the front, just below where the shutter release would be?

Some kind of electrical port? Strange that it would be on the front and not the side.
 
Interview with Sony Brain

Question: Is there still some snobbery on the part of customers that Sony is an electronics company and not a camera company?

Ans:
That’s a big challenge for me. I was speaking to a Japanese newspaper and I told them ‘I hate being called an electronics company that makes cameras’. People think Sony and they think televisions and Walkmans, that’s the image. No-one says ‘camera manufacturer’. But I will let them know - we ARE a camera manufacturer. One of the best. With the RX-series things started to change, and we’re getting there gradually. Now, everyone in the industry is starting to say ‘Sony is creating great cameras’. We’re going to keep on doing it, and keep on creating products that no-one has created before.

. . . . . .

Kimio Maki


Makes me think again that Sony should re-birth (re-birth ?) the Konica-Minolta Brand name for its cameras. Probably to late for that, but maybe not.
I thought it was egotistical when they bought K-M technology and patents and called it "Sony".
 
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