Nikon DF

What a mess of a camera,this has to be one of the uglier objects I've seen,as a camera it's very weight of deformity excludes instinctive use...IF YOU WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY LOOK TO THE FUTURE NOT THE PAST🙂
 
I could be tempted by the possible aperture coupling of the old manual focus lenses. I have a bunch of those in stock. I will have to make myself an idea of what the Df feels in my hands though.
 
I've finally read through all 28 pages (as of right now). So even though no one has actually tried out a production example, it sounds like version 2.0 will need interchangeable focusing screens, at least in the opinion of many here. That, and maybe a lower price. But why don't we see how the thing actually works?
 
So even though no one has actually tried out a production example, it sounds like version 2.0 will need interchangeable focusing screens, at least in the opinion of many here. That, and maybe a lower price. But why don't we see how the thing actually works?

As far as I know, no production sample has been delivered yet, at this point Nikon only takes orders. Nikon's marketing has been scarce with information so far.

I understand there are pre-production cameras around and these will be reviewed shortly. This is probably a good place to watch :

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/1...ource=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_1

and also

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikon-df

It surprises me that, according to this article, the DF has been four years in the making. So I wasn't far off when I said this is the camera Nikon should have marketed in 2009 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the F.
 
I could be tempted by the possible aperture coupling of the old manual focus lenses.

All FF Nikons so far will couple with AI lenses, for manual and aperture priority modes. Beyond that, the DF is said to have a swing out tab which will allow for fitting pre-AI lenses - but it can't couple with them. And using a lens uncoupled is enough of a hassle that most people with a first AI generation camera that permitted uncoupled fitting of pre-AI lenses (e.g. FM/FE/F2AS/F3/F4) either converted or gave up using their older lenses.
 
All FF Nikons so far will couple with AI lenses, for manual and aperture priority modes. Beyond that, the DF is said to have a swing out tab which will allow for fitting pre-AI lenses - but it can't couple with them. And using a lens uncoupled is enough of a hassle that most people with a first AI generation camera that permitted uncoupled fitting of pre-AI lenses (e.g. FM/FE/F2AS/F3/F4) either converted or gave up using their older lenses.
That's true. I had all my NAI lenses Ai'd just because I had bought an FM. Then I realized that I don't really find an in-camera metering very useful and still carry my hand-held meter.
 
What a mess of a camera,this has to be one of the uglier objects I've seen,as a camera it's very weight of deformity excludes instinctive use...IF YOU WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY LOOK TO THE FUTURE NOT THE PAST🙂

Agreed, or make a simple retro Nikon F without all the bells and whistles of traditional DSLR. I fear Nikon has blown it by trying to be everything to everyone.
 
Nikon has a questionnaire on the Nikon DF here: https://webc.nikonimaging.com/form/pub/info/df_en

I've told them it's a bad styling exercise and basically sucks!

All I wanted was something like a Leica M 240 but an SLR, albeit with a few more manual controls. I guess Nikon wanted to make a retro style camera for amateurs, not a professional tool for serious photographers...
 
I think this camera has been aimed directly at retiring baby boomers and, big as that target is, it may have missed. They should have let Mr. K build it for them. 🙂
 
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How the heck can anyone complete such a questionnaire, when no one's actually used the product? This is getting pretty meta, if you ask me.
It doesn't require you to have used the camera - plenty of mini-reviews on the web (try DPReview) that give you all the info you need to make an informed decision that this camera is a turkey.

For example, we all know that, unlike film, digital needs the exposure to be more precise. So, what does Nikon do? Designs a shutter dial that only has whole stops! To use partial stops, you need to turn the shutter dial to a special setting so you can select the shutter speed using a different dial! And to add insult to injury, you have to press another button down to actually enable the shutter dial to turn in the first place! Good grief! :bang:

Yes, it's an "analogue" control, a real dial - but Nikon has turned something that should be supremely ergonomic and intuitive into something ... well, words fail me! Anyway, suffice it to say that I can't think of another camera (film or digital) that is so awkward... 🙄

My old Leica M8 had a shutter dial with 0.5 stops, and the Epson R-D1 I used to own had 0.3 stops. To set the shutter speed you - radical as this may seem to Nikon - just twisted the dial!

I don't actually need to handle the DF to know how badly Nikon has cocked it up! Just looking and reading its specs and how it operates is sufficient...
 
It doesn't require you to have used the camera - plenty of mini-reviews on the web (try DPReview) that give you all the info you need to make an informed decision that this camera is a turkey.

For example, we all know that, unlike film, digital needs the exposure to be more precise. So, what does Nikon do? Designs a shutter dial that only has whole stops! To use partial stops, you need to turn the shutter dial to a special setting so you can select the shutter speed using a different dial! And to add insult to injury, you have to press another button down to actually enable the shutter dial to turn in the first place! Good grief! :bang:

Yes, it's an "analogue" control, a real dial - but Nikon has turned something that should be supremely ergonomic and intuitive into something ... well, words fail me! Anyway, suffice it to say that I can't think of another camera (film or digital) that is so awkward... 🙄

My old Leica M8 had a shutter dial with 0.5 stops, and the Epson R-D1 I used to own had 0.3 stops. To set the shutter speed you - radical as this may seem to Nikon - just twisted the dial!

I don't actually need to handle the DF to know how badly Nikon has cocked it up! Just looking and reading its specs and how it operates is sufficient...

The shutter speed dial doesn't bother me in the least -- I tend to work in shutter priority anyway (understand -- I'm a film guy like 100%). These controls would seem to align with how I use a camera, so for me it seems intuitive. But until I actually play with it, I can't truly evaluate this.

But I certainly know where you stand!
 
It doesn't require you to have used the camera - plenty of mini-reviews on the web (try DPReview) that give you all the info you need to make an informed decision that this camera is a turkey.

For example, we all know that, unlike film, digital needs the exposure to be more precise. So, what does Nikon do? Designs a shutter dial that only has whole stops! To use partial stops, you need to turn the shutter dial to a special setting so you can select the shutter speed using a different dial! And to add insult to injury, you have to press another button down to actually enable the shutter dial to turn in the first place! Good grief! :bang:

Yes, it's an "analogue" control, a real dial - but Nikon has turned something that should be supremely ergonomic and intuitive into something ... well, words fail me! Anyway, suffice it to say that I can't think of another camera (film or digital) that is so awkward... 🙄

My old Leica M8 had a shutter dial with 0.5 stops, and the Epson R-D1 I used to own had 0.3 stops. To set the shutter speed you - radical as this may seem to Nikon - just twisted the dial!

I don't actually need to handle the DF to know how badly Nikon has cocked it up! Just looking and reading its specs and how it operates is sufficient...

When I used my FM or F2, shutter speed was set and I would make micro adjustments with the aperture ring--step-less.
 
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