Nikon DF

[Keith]

I notice my favoured camera shop (DCW) only has the DF listed 'with' the kit lens at around $3500. 😱

That's a damned sight more than I paid for my D700 a few years back and would be a major stumbling block for me ... $2500 for body only would interest me. After all it is the heart of a D4.

A sheep in wolf's clothing ... or maybe a wolf in sheep's clothing? 😀

 

[Frank Petronio]

Ok say it actually is a decent camera, horses for courses and all that... I'm liberal ;-p

BUT what about the major quality control flaws of the last two Nikon FX cameras? The D600 oil-on-mirror and the D800 focusing? And Nikon's less than stellar way of handling those issues?

What are you guys smoking that would make you want to be an early adopter of any new Nikon camera? I mean give it a couple of months for the sacrificial beta testers to do their job! (price will probably come down too...)

 

[maggieo]

Here you go, side-by-side. Excuse the quality of the quick kitchen table top shot. No time to set up a "studio".

Disclaimer for the old and bitter among us: no robberies, banking scams, capitalisation on the poor and unfortunate have been performed, affiliation with governments bureaucracies established, trust funds used, or anything unethical or morally questionable involved in acquisition of these cameras. In fact besides F3 and the two MF lenses none of them have been really "acquired".

As a side-note: I never fully understood fascination with F3 (partially - yes). Sure, it's a great camera, built like a tank, functions wonderfully, but too small, too awkward to hold. Df feels much better in hand.

These photos have made me want a Df. :bang:

 

[tunalegs]

BUT what about the major quality control flaws of the last two Nikon FX cameras? The D600 oil-on-mirror and the D800 focusing? And Nikon's less than stellar way of handling those issues?

Are Nikons still leaving the plant with these issues? 😕 Has anybody had this issue with the new D610?

 

[kjoosten]

Wow, the height of the Df really is dictated by the LCD. It would have to be the size of a film holder to make the camera the height of an F3. I bet THAT would have gone over well. 😎

 

[alan davus]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's the best looking Nikon digital camera ever. I just want to know about using manual focus Nikkors on it. If all is well, I'm in. From the front and top, it looks great, from the rear, oh! well, there has to be concessions for its digital nature.

 

[kjoosten]

Jeez, seems like I'm the only person who likes this camera and may possibly order one. Am I alone?

You are not alone, Vince. I ordered one as soon as the Amazon link went live.

 

[Phantomas]

BTW how do you find manual focusing with the Df and the older lenses? Many here seem to think that it will be very difficult to do without a split-image, but since you are the one person here who has actually used the Df, how is it really?

As I've mentioned before, I'm a child of AF generation, so using MF is not a "third sense" for me as it might be for some of the people here. Not that I don't MF - I do use rangefinders fairly regularly, but that's a different cup of tea. That F3 doesn't get much use. Lovely camera to look at and very capable, but just doesn't fit into my hand so well for me to make it my "user" camera (controls are awkward too).
So - MF. Having said the above I do (did, on D800 they are no-go) use Ai-S NIKKORs extensively and pretty much only on DSLRs. I've shot projects on D700 using nothing but Ai-S 35/1.4 (and occasionally 50/1.2) using no focus aid screens. I happily rely on Nikon's AF confirmation - that little green dot that lights up when the subject is in focus. I have no problem with this method - I keep my eye on the subject and framing, twist the focus ring and the moment green light comes in my peripheral vision I press the shutter - voila. Works for me and that's the way I intend to continue doing it on Df as well. As a matter of fact, if the split-screen focus screen comes out I will not instal it (also to keep the screen uncluttered for AF lenses). Of course everyone has their own valid techniques and reasons for preference of one screen or the other.

 

[Vince Lupo]

You are not alone, Vince. I ordered one as soon as the Amazon link went live.

That's good news! I think now that we've seen those comparison photos, that's likely to change the minds of more than a few people here.

I ordered mine from my good friend Sammy Shoshan/Classic Connection -- he's probably further down the food chain compared to Amazon or Adorama (at least as far as Nikon goes -- for Leica he's at the top), but I wanted to give him the business, so you're likely to receive yours before I get mine.

I appreciate the info regarding the manual focusing -- I'm hoping to use nothing but older lenses on this camera, so we'll see how I ultimately get on with them. It probably won't be an issue.

 

[Phantomas]

By the way, regarding the weight - I'm now holding the two in my hands - F3 + 35/1.4 and Df + 50/1.2 (as pictured) and they feel the same. Even, dare I say, F3 feels heavier... 😱 (allow for the benefit of the doubt and skewed perception). But at the very least the same. Fell free to look up the weight dimensions.

Luckily it looks nice outside, so I'll finish my morning coffee and take her out for a proper spin out in the open. And fight off females swooning at increased sex appeal 😎 😛 Yes, don't get your panties in a bunch over it but the camera does get "sexy" comments from onlookers.
As for the results, I've said it before, I'm not shooting anything critical right now that I'd consider show-worthy, but I think looking at other Nikon FX results will give you a very clear idea about the final results. And of course, all depends on the glass you slap on it.

 

[Highway 61]

Now if you compare it with the D610 :

Who said it was a D610 with a 16MP chip instead of a 24MP one and without video, flash and grip ? 😉

 

[mynikonf2]

You are not alone, Vince. I ordered one as soon as the Amazon link went live.

No, not alone at all. I have a cabinet full of vintage non-A.I. Nikkor glass that's been patiently waiting for this camera. 🙂
You can count me in, I will order one soon.

 

[pan]

One reason why people wants to buy the Nikon Df is because they says that they will be able to put old nikkor lenses.

But it's exactly the same on the last Nikon D610, right? You can mount an old NIkkor lens and it 'll be seen eactly like it will be mounted on Df.

I'm upset by Nikon, i like them but I don't understand their strategy. They won't sell this camera!

 

[Black]

One reason why people wants to buy the Nikon Df is because they says that they will be able to put old nikkor lenses.

But it's exactly the same on the last Nikon D610, right? You can mount an old NIkkor lens and it 'll be seen eactly like it will be mounted on Df.

I'm upset by Nikon, i like them but I don't understand their strategy. They won't sell this camera!

I don't think the 610 will meter with all previous Nikon lenses, though. The DF will (spot meter).

The VF of the DF is better than the D4 and D3s (and D800). It has a revised prism and mirror that the specs don't talk about.

I know of several people who have already ordered the DF, so it will sell. The problem being the price point and in some regions, the no body only option.

 

[Highway 61]

One reason why people wants to buy the Nikon Df is because they says that they will be able to put old nikkor lenses.

But it's exactly the same on the last Nikon D610, right?

On the Df you can mount non-Ai lenses if you flip the couplin tab up. In this case the camera will meter if you enter the lens data in the camera menu but then you will have to set the aperture manually (uncoupled metering). As if you were using an handheld meter.

On the D610 you can only mount Ai and Ai-S lenses (and, of course, all the AF, AF-D and AF-S lenses).

Yet - if you get your old non-Ai lenses Ai'd (either if you are lucky enough to find OEM Ai rear rings for your lenses or if you file them down following the many DIY instructions you will find all around) you then can use them as Ai lenses (coupled metering) on the D610, which is $1000 cheaper than the Df.

But - the D610 has a 24MP sensor, which may be a bit too much for some old lenses already, resolution-wise. The 16MP Df sensor will be more gentle with those lenses.

If I had a large collection of non-Ai lenses (I don't : I have three, which all are duplicates of the same lenses I have in Ai version too) and was on a budget, I probably would buy an used D700, and have my lenses Ai'd.

Hmmm.

I don't think the 610 will meter with all previous Nikon lenses, though. The DF will (spot meter).

If the lenses are Ai or Ai-s, the D610 will perfectly meter with those MF Nikkors in weight centered and spot mode, and even in matrix if you enter the lens data in the camera menu.

The only difference between the D610 and the Df is that non-Ai lenses will mount on the Df, while trying to mount them on the D610 will break the coupling tab.

But with non-Ai lenses, the Df offers uncoupled metering. As if you were using an handheld meter (bis repetita).

 

[tunalegs]

I would think the 610 would be capable of stop down metering with pre AI lenses wouldn't it? It just lacks the ability for open aperture coupled metering. It's also uglier. But dollar for feature it looks to be the better deal.

 

[Highway 61]

I would think the 610 would be capable of stop down metering with pre AI lenses wouldn't it? It just lacks the ability for open aperture coupled metering. It's also uglier. But dollar for feature it looks to be the better deal.

If you try to mount non-Ai lenses on the D610 you will break the non-flippable plastic coupling tab.

Getting a non-Ai lens Ai isn't difficult, see how to do it here.

If the purpose is using them on a DSLR there is no need to create another apertures scale at the rear of the lens, since there is no optical readout of the aperture from those cameras VFs (this was only the case on some F series bodies).

 

[csxcnj]

Here you go, side-by-side. Excuse the quality of the quick kitchen table top shot. No time to set up a "studio".

Damn, just figured out what was holding me back from liking the looks of this camera. WHERE is the RED STRIPE?

Seriously, the only things holding me back from buying this are A) the price and B) the focusing screen.

The size looks fine in side by side comparisons with other cameras.

If user reports come in after the camera has been in people's hands saying that the green dot works for focusing I'll consider buying. I have a D700 for use with zooms but just don't like using primes on it. Don't know why, just don't. So I use a variety of manual F bodies.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I don't think the 610 will meter with all previous Nikon lenses, though. The DF will (spot meter).

The VF of the DF is better than the D4 and D3s (and D800). It has a revised prism and mirror that the specs don't talk about.

I know of several people who have already ordered the DF, so it will sell. The problem being the price point and in some regions, the no body only option.

I'm not sure about this camera yet, and won't be until I've had the chance to play with one. Despite agreeing with pretty much every point Frank made earlier about Nikon this camera wouldn't fit into my work line-up, instead being a play-thing for personal use, and so I could live with the issues he raised. What I do have concerns about are those quoted above. A steep and, for me, hard to justify price point (certainly in comparison to other offerings including my trusty old D700 which is a near perfect 'play thing when released from its battery grip.) Plus the rather cynical lack of a body only option in certain countries/areas. Over the years I've accumulated a number of different 50mm lenses and the idea of having to have another one at extra cost is, frankly, a piss-take.

 

[Highway 61]

If user reports come in after the camera has been in people's hands saying that the green dot works for focusing I'll consider buying. I have a D700 for use with zooms but just don't like using primes on it. Don't know why, just don't.

The green dot will work for focusing just the exact same as it does on the D700.