Nikon DF

[sevo]

That's true but if you do it often enough it becomes second nature ...

Does it? Most AF age press photographers I have watched are masters at AF locking or manual override - I've never seen a single one of them use a AF camera in full manual mode.

 

[Keith]

Does it? Most AF age press photographers I have watched are masters at AF locking or manual override - I've never seen a single one of them use a AF camera in full manual mode.

This was mainly from my own perspective. I've been using my D700 as a manual focus camera almost predominantly since I got it and I discovered fairly recently that the green dot is very useful when I have trouble focusing via the screen.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The indignation being displayed by some people at Nikon daring to make a camera that doesn't suit 'them' is pretty funny! 😀

Dear Keith,

Quite. Some of these objections are on a par with "I'm really not interested unless it comes in Hello Kitty pink and accepts Olympus lenses".

Right now I'm idly considering a new digital body to use the numerous Nikon MF lenses I've acquired over the last 40 years. There are quite a few choices: M typ 240, D800, A7R, DF. All very different cameras, all very different prices, all with advantages and disadvantages.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rodchenko]

...unless it comes in Hello Kitty pink and accepts Olympus lenses...

Now you're talking! 😀

 

[Highway 61]

Right now I'm idly considering a new digital body to use the numerous Nikon MF lenses I've acquired over the last 40 years. There are quite a few choices (...)

Obviously the choices are limited by the matter of matching "old" lenses with a sensor having a resolving power which should not kill the lens own one.
The A7r, D800 and M typ 240 should get off the list.

With MF Nikkors, a 12~16MP FF sensor is nice (correct pixel density so that the lenses aren't producing muddy images). Over this megapixels count, you'll be disappointed with the results. From moderately disappointed to tragically disappointed given which Nikkor MF lens you use, even with some which you were not less than loving during the film era.
So the actual choices are : Canon 5D (original one), Nikon D700, Nikon D3 and D4, Nikon DF. Still "a few", but not many.

If you buy new, you may choose between the D4 and DF only.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Near the DF Logo: Maybe an AF/MF switch?
Under the Shutter.. the Cover or wheel? Mystery to me...

Could it be a cover of some kind that can be unscrewed to reveal a socket to plug in an electronic cable release ? Mystery, mystery, there's a bigger one and a smaller one over at the other side.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

I'm a Nikon fan, uhoh7, and I think the thing looks clunky. Other than the truncated top deck (no need for the film chamber space) which in the silver has that classic FM look to it, it's just like the D4, with all the buttons in the world scattered about.

A nice effort from Nikon, but as you say, too many buttons scattered around. They could have kept it much simpler.

This just shows how far out of touch the Nikon designers are with their own legacy of classic cameras. Instead of sending out that guy in the videos to wander the woods of Scotland, they should have sent a bunch of Nikon designers and engineers into the woods with an F and a handheld meter as their only companion, so they could find out for themselves what "pure photography" meant.

Would I buy one ? Probably, as it is the most desirable for me between all the other Nikon DSLRs. Is it what I expected ? Not quite.

 

[sc_rufctr]

I ordered one today... My local cam store didn't want to take my deposit until they knew the final AU price.
They should land in Aus at the end of the month.

I have a spot ready for it in my camera cabinet 😀

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

DP concludes:

"Hardcore Nikon fans will point to the support for 50 year-old non-Ai lenses, which is valid, but I suspect that the constituency of photographers for whom this is a real selling point is vanishingly small."

Is this a nicer way to say that we are a dying breed ? 😎

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Interesting links here :

http://nikondf.nikonusa.com/

 

[Roger Hicks]

Obviously the choices are limited by the matter of matching "old" lenses with a sensor having a resolving power which should not kill the lens own one.
The A7r, D800 and M typ 240 should get off the list.

With MF Nikkors, a 12~16MP FF sensor is nice (correct pixel density so that the lenses aren't producing muddy images). Over this megapixels count, you'll be disappointed with the results.
So the actual choices are : Canon 5D (original one), Nikon D700, Nikon D3 and D4, Nikon DF. Still "a few", but not many.

If you buy new, you may choose between the D4 and DF only.

Not really. There are many more considerations than the ONE you fixate upon. Anyway, I hope to be trying the M typ 240 shortly.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Addy101]

Well, here it is. It is less ugly then I feared, but the two main downers are the price (€2800,- for a glorified D600) and it won't accept any lens I own: maybe that is why they throw in the matched 50/1.8G :angel:

If you can't change the viewfinder, the Sony A7(r) will be better for manual focus. Gee, even with a split prism viewfinder, the A7 probably is a better manual focus camera anyway.

And finally: in silver it looks like a Canon EOS 50E 😱

 

[Highway 61]

There are many more considerations than the ONE you fixate upon.

I'd like to learn them.

 

[Keith]

In silver it looks a lot like an FG ... which I've never really liked the look of.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

i was expecting the size of the cam to be smaller and less knobs. why does Nikon wants to place so many knobs on the cam? the cam comes with a LCD screen and user can select setting via that. .....

If you compare the 2 cameras in the picture, it is obvious here that they wanted to style it with a retro look, but that doesn't make it a digital FM2, rather an F3 HP on steroids.

A bit like the original Mini from the 1960s and its current incarnation marketed by BMW. If you put both cars side by side, the newer one towers over the other. "Just copy and enlarge to cram all the latest technology inside" is what BMW must have thought. Not very different from the route Nikon is taking with the DF.

 

[Ade-oh]

A retro styled DSLR for nearly £3K? It looks nice but it's really just bling. I'll stick to my film cameras and my D7000.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

In silver it looks a lot like an FG ... which I've never really liked the look of.

They should have placed black dials on the top plate, then. 😀

 

[gilpen123]

It's available for pre order at Adorama. $2.99K with 50 1.8 and body at $2.74K. Not so bad IMO for an FX sensor.

http://www.adorama.com/ALC/BlogArti...ign=Email110513NikonNPA&j=Email110513NikonNPA

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd like to learn them.

Size. Weight. Price. Ergonomics. Intended use. Versatility. Durability. Personal preference. Will that do for a start?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . A bit like the original Mini from the 1960s and its current incarnation marketed by BMW. If you put both cars side by side, the newer one towers over the other. "Just copy and enlarge to cram all the latest technology inside" is what BMW must have thought. Not very different from the route Nikon is taking with the DF.

Dear Jan,

A perfect analogy.

Cheers,

R.