Nikon DF

[Jan Van Laethem]

It is big!

Big compared to the FM2, not so big compared to the F3 HP. And certainly not big if you compare it to an F3 with motor drive attached.

By the way, did Nikon ever say it was going to be the size of the FM series, or was that just part of all the rumours ?

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

VAT in the UK is 20%. So the UK price for the kit (only option) before VAT is £2290.83. That's still $3665.33 at an exchange rate of £1 = $1.6.

Ronnie

It would also be interesting to take into the equation what the camera cost is when it enters the UK or any other country for that matter. In other words, what's the profit margin the dealer takes to determine the final price, or is that largely dictated by Nikon ?

 

[sc_rufctr]

Interesting,..... zero discussion about focusing manually except the point about non-interchangable screens..

I'm pretty sure there'll be an aftermarket option offered soon.

Maybe not a simple procedure though.

 

[andrew00]

I'm intrigued by it.

I've struggled for a while with the whole DSLR vs Mirrorless debate as I've found the IQ to be essentially equal between the two, more so now when you consider the Sony A7R essentially being a mini-D800E.

However, what the DSLR's typically have is the support system - things like quick processing, quick writing to cards, accurate focusing and all the other information based systems that you get with a DSLR.

But I do like mirrorless cameras b/c they're small and light and really once you hold an OM-D or a X-E2, a full frame DSLR just feels like a brick.

So I'm curious about the DF.

Perhaps it'll represent the right medium between the two worlds that I like - maybe it'll have all the responsiveness of a DSLR, with a sensor that, whilst I have no attachment to, is generally a 'premium' product. And maybe to that it'll have some size/weight/ergonomic advantages that I've come to like from the mirrorless world.

Or perhaps it'll just seem like a compromise camera in a shiny dress!

I can't shake the feeling about it that whereas it should have been a fully featured camera that finds a niche, instead Nikon are defining it's niche first and then looking for a market.

The 'no video' feature for example seems silly. Why not just keep the controls the same and have it as a live view menu option?

We're meant to believe that a whole host of stills shooters might, like in the videos, climb the hills of Scotland and seek out some lovely tranquil scenery, grab some beauty shots and at no point during that entire experience go 'you know what, it would be cool to get a bit of video here'.

It just doesn't make sense to me, there's no corollary between wanting to shoot stills and the need to remove video for my money. You can make an overt compromise in the design - a big red button everywhere, a flippy screen etc - and Nikon could have avoided that saying that ergonomically we're designing this for photographers first, that's all good.

But to actually remove a feature that is pretty commonplace and claim it's a grand design? I don't think so. I think what they've done is go - Ok we've got a D4, it's a premium/expensive camera. What can we remove that and repackage that won't cannibalise the D4 sales.

So they remove the 'Sports' features like the fast fps and they remove video and what they're left with is a DF. That's why it's not a true D700 successor as the D700 was a full on camera, not one that's been stripped to the minimum.

That being said, I don't NEED some of the features the DF has left out, like the fast fps and video and I don't WANT to be carrying a big heavy brick of a camera.

So the DF does appeal, and I'm sure it will for lots of other people. I just can't help feeling that it will do so in spite of Nikon's best efforts, rather than because of them.

 

[Highway 61]

The D700 doesn't do the video.

If you want the video, you have the D610. And it's less expensive than the Df.

I have to admit - the marketing seat the Df is on isn't quite well defined. We've discussed that extensively above.

A review video that goes through some of the motions of the camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lM0M-l6eu0#t=159

Oh no ! The machine-talking-guy strikes again ! 😱 😛

 

[Rogier]

Here is the link to the official Nikon Questionnaire:

Make sure you leave a comment at the end, perhaps they might listen :angel:

https://webc.nikonimaging.com/form/pub/info/df_en

 

[shadowfox]

Nikon should offer
Nikon Df - À la carte

And then laugh their heads off seeing unrealistic designs requested by the arm-chair camera designers.

 

[dfatty]

a humorous take on the DF. i know the author (it's not me, though) so be gentle, lol.

http://www.whatblogisthis.com/2013/11/nikon-releases-df-camera-that-tom.html

 

[jonasv]

Well, thanks for correcting me, it was not my intention to mislead anyone. I've checked it and it is now indeed 21%, on par with Spain, which are the only two countries I've ever purchased new equipment in. Incidentally, Spain went from 18 to 21% maybe two or three years ago.

However, it has been 33% in Belgium during the late 80s. I must have some bills from that time that I could check. This article here in Dutch clearly states the differences that used to exist (see page 11 of the pdf document) : 33% in Belgium, 18.5% in the Netherlands, 14% in Germany and 12% in Luxemburg.

http://www.greens-efa.eu/fileadmin/dam/Documents/Publications/Carrouselfraude-juli2011-Final.pdf

It would be interesting if someone could shed some light on the VAT situation in different countries, so that we know what we are paying exactly.

Unfortunately, I can't recuperate VAT as I don't make a living taking pictures.

And thanks for correcting me, then. I didn't know that. My apologies if I was a bit brisk in my reply. Thinking we pay more taxes than we actually do, appears to be a Belgian national sport sometimes. (A recent survey showed that 64% of Belgians thought they were in the highest income taks bracket. 11% actually is.)

Back on topic: I like the camera, as I prefer manual knobs instead of menus. I wasn't looking for 'pure photography' or 30MP, so I am not dissappointed as much as many others here.

I was thinking of getting it, but the one thing Nikon really screwed up for me as a semi-pro, is giving it only 1 SD card slot (so I've read in the specs). Come on... even my D7000 has two. I won't shoot paid gigs without backup.

 

[andrew00]

Popped into the Calumet open day in LDN, they had a silver and black DF there but wouldn't let anyone touch them (?) let alone take a photo, which was annoying as I 'know' it can take good photos, what I wanted to do was feel how it held etc.

Either way they book look decent in person, ideally would be wider and less tall like the FE but whatever. The silver has a slight colour to it, reminded me of a Contax G2, not exactly yellow/green, but with a slight inflection to them. Probably preferred black as it was less 'busy'.

 

[jsrockit]

Popped into the Calumet open day in LDN, they had a silver and black DF there but wouldn't let anyone touch them (?) let alone take a photo, which was annoying as I 'know' it can take good photos, what I wanted to do was feel how it held etc.

How ridiculous. I would never go back to them then...

 

[f16sunshine]

It's cool.
Too late but still pretty cool. Reminds me of the Contax N Cameras more than a Nikon though. The thick body and dials on both sides of the camera. Very much like an N1 although that camera has the Shutter dial on the left rather than the EC and ISO.
Good luck to all Nikoneers who venture in. I don't use Nikon and am not invested in the F mount in any way so.... it's an easy pass.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

How ridiculous. I would never go back to them then...

These must be pre-production samples then, like in the video that was posted a bit earlier on this thread.

A bit silly anyway to display non-funtional kit. Like a car dealer with a new model, and then you discover there is no engine under the hood.

 

[Vobluda]

I give it a try today with the kit lens.
Recently I am using Sony NEX 6/7 and M9-P as digital cameras and I have to say that the DF is soo huge and heavy. They have at the table other current Nikon FF DSLR and I didnt find DF being the smallest.
Also I occur the same situation as with the Panasonic GX7 - the grip doesnt work with my average size hands.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

And thanks for correcting me, then. I didn't know that. My apologies if I was a bit brisk in my reply. Thinking we pay more taxes than we actually do, appears to be a Belgian national sport sometimes.

No problem, Jonas. Belgium and France must have been amongst the most expensive countries for photographic purchases, but that was quite some time ago and luckily for us, the European Union has leveled out much of the differences. Still, we pay more for our cameras than people in Japan and the US.

I'd be interested too, but can't really justify such an expense for what is basically a hobby for me. I'll probably sit on the fence for a year or so and watch.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

No problem, Jonas. Belgium and France must have been amongst the most expensive countries for photographic purchases, but that was quite some time ago and luckily for us, the European Union has leveled out much of the differences. Still, we pay more for our cameras than people in Japan and the US.

I second that observation. To top it off, many photo stores have poor "customer service", and paying extra for sloppy service is not a very good bidness model, im(v)ho. And don't get me started on the Parisian Leica store on Beaumarchais, sheez, it's like they're actively begging to scare customers away (unless you have a serious bourgeois air going?)

When I lived in the U.S., I found UK prices ridiculously high. Now, I have found, more often than not, that the UK offers cheaper prices (shipping included) than French in-shop prices (and their awfully-put-together websites, if you dare order online from them, have hefty overheads...and on top of that they take a long time to get the item out the door).

Where was I? Ah yes: still expensive. UK and Germany are my main sources of camera gear now.

 

[Highway 61]

And don't get me started on the Parisian Leica store on Beaumarchais

This place is to photo gear stores what Richard Nixon was to US presidents, no doubt ! 😀

Try "Photo Vincent", rue Sainte-Anne. Nice second hand gear and courtesy, at least.

 

[Phantomas]

There is nothing wrong with preproduction samples. I've been using one. I also tried to share some technicalities here, but... internets will be internets, and RFF is not immune either 🙂

 

[fireblade]

There is nothing wrong with preproduction samples. I've been using one. I also tried to share some technicalities here, but... internets will be internets, and RFF is not immune either 🙂

split prism function nicely? 😉

 

[Phantomas]

split prism function nicely? 😉

I make do with focus confirmation dot.