Nikon DF

[Highway 61]

In the dead angle of the mirror chamber/VF prism housing, above the lens release one (on the same level as the strap eyelet) there is a pesky button which bothers me **a lot** because if it's not the "Fn" button then that's the flash one... 😡

If that thing has a (bulky/rattling) built-in flash, I'm out. Definitely.

 

[Range-rover]

When I went to Photoexpo on Saturday, I ask at the Nikon booth about the new camera they knew
nothing about it, I told them it's all over the internet and they just didn't know.

Range

 

[Keith]

If this just turns out to be a reasonable sized retro styled DSLR with a sensor from the D4 but with an emphasis on manual focusing it will still be a very worthwhile tool IMO.

 

[Highway 61]

If this just turns out to be a reasonable sized retro styled DSLR with a sensor from the D4 but with an emphasis on manual focusing it will still be a very worthwhile tool IMO.

Yes. But - no flash please ! Nikon God, have mercy. 😀

 

[robert blu]

If this just turns out to be a reasonable sized retro styled DSLR with a sensor from the D4 but with an emphasis on manual focusing it will still be a very worthwhile tool IMO.

I agree 100% but only if your mentioned points will come all together in the same camera!

1 - reasonable sized
2 - retro styled
3 - sensor from D4
4 - emphasis on manual focusing

robert 🙂

 

[Keith]

Yes. But - no flash please ! Nikon God, have mercy. 😀

You need to make some type of offering to the Nikon Gods ... maybe sacrifice a Canon 5D mklll under a full moon? 😀

 

[shadowfox]

You will be disappointed. It probably is a retro looking camera that is either very expensive or less "pure" the you expect. If you're lucky it will be a Sony A900 with F-mount, but most likely it will be a Nikon D610 in a retro looking body.... :bang:

Wow, I didn't even know there is a D610 already. 😱

That won't be a bad camera at all (to be under the hood) especially if they equip it with manual dials and controls.

Most importantly it satisfies my first two requirements: full-frame sensor, and a viewfinder.

 

[Larry H-L]

No internal flash needed, but a PC outlet for studio use would be welcomed.

 

[Highway 61]

You need to make some type of offering to the Nikon Gods ... maybe sacrifice a Canon 5D mklll under a full moon? 😀

Hmmm... I think sacrificying my D700 would be more useful to have some actual & good reasons to buy the DF onwards ! 😛 😀

 

[Mudman]

The only thing NPS was willing to say when I mentioned interest in a retro styled camera was "Sometimes you just need to wait and see what comes about..."

 

[willie_901]

Focus

It costs Nikon nothing to use existing AF technology in this camera. A significant percentage of Nikon's user base has never operated a manual focus-only camera. So it seems unlikely that AF will not be included in this product.

At the same time, mechanical, analog MF and fully implimented AF are not mutually exclusive features. They are only seem mutually exclusive in digital cameras because marketing and product-line VPs decide they should be.

The New Lens

There is no reason why the optics of the existing 50/1.8 G lens can not be used in a lens package that supports both AF and analog, mechanical manual focusing. My copy of the 50/1.8 G is much better than my ex-copy of the older 50/1.8 D lens.

It would not surprise me if the DF platform supports a removable/interchangable prentaprisms to enable multiple usage modes… including traditional SLR mechanical manual focusing.

Pure Speculation

If my guess is right, the only issue is: how much will analog focusing proponents be willing to pay for an optional MF pentaprism option?

 

[David_Manning]

I'm thinking the new DF will be retro-styled but still mainstream enough to sell to the general enthusiast population. Of course it'll be AF-enabled. But *maybe* they will have an EVF-type hybrid finder that allows quick, accurate MF of original lenses. I know that may disappoint some who would prefer a true split-finder MF, but I don't think we'll EVER see a reincarnation of a 1980's camera in operation. I'd say forget swapping finders, but I think it'll have the silhouette of an F3 without the HP finder.

I have to say I'm cautiously optimistic and excited about it's pending release. I love the user experience of the used M9 I just bought, but I'll be the first to admit it's only half of a photographic equation. There is room in my nest for a good, trusty SLR too...

 

[stitchohana]

4th video is out, looks like the cam design is what is available over at NikonRumors. Nikon is going to unveil the cam on 5th Nov. cant wait to see the actual cam

 

[Keith]

4th video is out, looks like the cam design is what is available over at NikonRumors. Nikon is going to unveil the cam on 5th Nov. cant wait to see the actual cam

I'm no Nikon expert but the shadowy image they show in that video looks a lot like an F3, which relieves me because I'm no fan of the looks of the FM series but I could certainly live with something that looked like an F3.

 

[Highway 61]

Looks like what the "special edition" 50/1.8 G lens has to offer is a chrome grip ring, ala Ai/Ai-S.

Otherwise this is probably a regular 50/1.8 G.

As they say on Nikon Rumors, we should still be a bit cautious with the actual tech. specs of that camera : we have no information about very important features yet (finder magnification and coverage, battery model, cards slots, shutter, sensor, etc).

Yet, this is now... hmmm. Yummy yummy.

 

[Keith]

Looks like what the "special edition" 50/1.8 G lens has to offer is a chrome grip ring, ala Ai/Ai-S.

Otherwise this is probably a regular 50/1.8 G.

As they say on Nikon Rumors, we should still be a bit cautious with the actual tech. specs of that camera : we have no information about very important features yet (finder magnification and coverage, battery model, cards slots, shutter, sensor, etc).

Yet, this is now... hmmm. Yummy yummy.

Out of all the new 'toys' that have surfaced over the last few years this is the first that has really got my attention.

Potentially very 'yummy' I agree. 🙂

 

[jarski]

It will be expensive for first few years, but then, am in too! 🙂

 

[bojanfurst]

Out of all the new 'toys' that have surfaced over the last few years this is the first that has really got my attention.

Potentially very 'yummy' I agree. 🙂

Same here Keith. My two d200s died almost a year ago (well, one is still sort of working) and I never replaced them. Have only film cameras now because I don't do any paid work anymore. This might make me interested in digital again if the price is right and they don't mess it up somehow.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm thinking the new DF will be retro-styled but still mainstream enough to sell to the general enthusiast population. Of course it'll be AF-enabled. But *maybe* they will have an EVF-type hybrid finder that allows quick, accurate MF of original lenses. I know that may disappoint some who would prefer a true split-finder MF, but I don't think we'll EVER see a reincarnation of a 1980's camera in operation. I'd say forget swapping finders, but I think it'll have the silhouette of an F3 without the HP finder....

I have to agree.

 

[David_Manning]

I just watched video #4 Pure Photography #4 and I'd say the guy's obviously focusing the 50/1.8 manually. And there IS a chrome ring around the lens.

The silhouette at the end of the commercial is getting more telling, too...the pentaprism looks great, and classic.

Keeping fingers crossed...