Praise for the unique Nikon DF

[AlwaysOnAuto]

When the Df came out I really wanted one as I was a die hard Nikon shooter then.
Now, I just make do with my Sony A7ii and iii. They can take just about any lens I have in my cabinet and do acceptably well with them.

 

[splitimageview]

It's great that *some* can focus using the standard screen to their satisfaction. The photo above is a great example of a static subject, close-up.

But not every situation is similar.

Certainly there are those who find they can use the focusing screen for manual focus, and those that don't mind training their eye away from framing to peer at a tiny flickering green dot off in the corner of the viewfinder.

So why did Nikon hype the camera the way they did, and include the FM-style flip-up lever for compatibility with non-AI lenses, and then simply provide the same focusing (green dot assist) available in their other DSLRs?

Precise, quick manual focusing for most shooters (especially wide-open, with long lenses) in most photographic situations is simply hit or miss with digital focusing screens, and green dots.

It would have been trivial to include a proper, traditional, split-image/microprism/matte focusing screen.

 

[Timmyjoe]

The 105mm is the longest lens I regularly carry with the Df. This was shot at about 150 yards, of an enormous American flag hung from a construction crane for a 4th of July celebration. Not too difficult to nail focus folks.

I just think it's an awful lot of whining from folks who have probably spent very little time actually using the camera.

But to each his/her own.

Best,
-Tim

 

[jsrockit]

I used the camera for two years... and a lot. I preferred autofocus, but when I tried manually focusing with manual focus lenses ... I experienced what Huss is talking about. A huge flag... of course we all can do it. Something a little more chaotic but crucial to nail focus wide open ... there was “play” in using the green dot. I say this as a lover of the Df.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

It's great that *some* can focus using the standard screen to their satisfaction. The photo above is a great example of a static subject, close-up.

But not every situation is similar.

Certainly there are those who find they can use the focusing screen for manual focus, and those that don't mind training their eye away from framing to peer at a tiny flickering green dot off in the corner of the viewfinder.

So why did Nikon hype the camera the way they did, and include the FM-style flip-up lever for compatibility with non-AI lenses, and then simply provide the same focusing (green dot assist) available in their other DSLRs?

Precise, quick manual focusing for most shooters (especially wide-open, with long lenses) in most photographic situations is simply hit or miss with digital focusing screens, and green dots.

It would have been trivial to include a proper, traditional, split-image/microprism/matte focusing screen.

I used to have a Nikon F4 with the optional split image-microprism screen that Nikon sold for it. I suspect that the reason they didn't include such a screen in the Df is that those screens dramatically show how inaccurate autofocus often is!


The AF often disagreed with the split image-microprism screen in my F4!

 

[Timmyjoe]

I used the camera for two years... and a lot. I preferred autofocus, but when I tried manually focusing with manual focus lenses ... I experienced what Huss is talking about. A huge flag... of course we all can do it. Something a little more chaotic but crucial to nail focus wide open ... there was “play” in using the green dot. I say this as a lover of the Df.

How does the size of the flag have anything to do with whether it is in focus or not John? A tack sharp star on an enormous flag is either gonna be in focus or it isn't gonna be in focus.

Best,
-Tim

 

[jsrockit]

How does the size of the flag have anything to do with whether it is in focus or not John? A tack sharp star on an enormous flag is either gonna be in focus or it isn't gonna be in focus.

Best,
-Tim

Ok, so focusing on large flat objects on a sunny day is just as hard as trying to focus on one object within a crowded frame in lower light?

 

[Monz]

With a after-market split screen and magnifying eyepiece, I found manual focussing ito be very easy.

T&S: The Sultan by Monz, on Flickr

Df, 35mm Distagon f2.0

 

[Monz]

Medjool Dates by Monz, on Flickr

Df, 55mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor

 

[Monz]

Service by Monz, on Flickr

Df, 85mm f1.4 AF-D

 

[Huss]

I tend to think it depends on the lens.... I could agree with a wide range on a lens like a 28mm but on something like my 300/f4 it is very precise and even the tiniest of movements changes the dot to one or the other of the arrows.


None of my experience is on a Df though, so I might be way off the mark.

I used the Df with my 105 1.8 AIS, and could not nail focus at 1.8 due to the play.

No issues with my D850 or F6.

 

[Huss]

With a after-market split screen and magnifying eyepiece, I found manual focussing ito be very easy.

Which is why that is how Nikon should have equipped it in the first place. (maybe not the magnifier but for sure the screen).

The F6, that is still in production, is like that.
The Df isn't because it is the D610 with the D4 sensor.

 

[Gid]

Each of the Dfs I have owned have been slightly different as far as manual focus is concerned. With my current Df the screen and the green dot coincide, that is, if it looks in focus on the screen the green dot confirms this. My first Df was almost as close but not perfect so I used the screen visual to get me close and the green dot to hone the actual focus. The other two were OK but with slightly more difference between the screen and the dot. I never experienced the play mentioned by @Huss. I had two other Dfs that I returned because there was noticable difference between the screen and confirmation dot. So, clearly some sample variation and possibly poor QC. None of the above has ever been a big issue in use as I have always used a combination of the screen and confirmation dot to achieve focus and it is now second nature. However, I can see that it could disappoint or frustrate those looking for the MF film camera experience. Finally, as I wasn't a Nikon film shooter (Olympus, Canon and Leica) I had no expectations about the Df so had nothing to be disappointed about.

 

[Monz]

Agree with you Huss. Having a focussing screen with split ring/ fresnel prism as the default would have been great. It would have been an easy thing for Nikon to have done. DIY installation of a third party screen is a bit fiddly but doable.

Which is why that is how Nikon should have equipped it in the first place. (maybe not the magnifier but for sure the screen).

The F6, that is still in production, is like that.
The Df isn't because it is the D610 with the D4 sensor.

 

[kshapero]

I used to have a Nikon F4 with the optional split image-microprism screen that Nikon sold for it. I suspect that the reason they didn't include such a screen in the Df is that those screens dramatically show how inaccurate autofocus often is!


The AF often disagreed with the split image-microprism screen in my F4!

I had a Katz Eye on DSLR from a few years back. It really messed up the AF. I thought I was becoming cock eyed.

 

[Pál_K]

One thing that always baffled me is the hate that is inspired by the Df. I can understand it not being your cup of tea, or not being comfortable in your hands, or not being a camera that you are interested in. But the hate, it really confuses me.

There are multiple cameras that I have tried to use over the years that didn't work out for me, so I didn't buy them, or sold them if I had, and moved on. I never had the level of anger that I see so many folks express about the Df. It's like Nikon offended them personally by bringing out this camera.

Mystifying.

Best,
-Tim

Maybe the reaction depends on the forum.

Here, I think many people are saying the Df is not bad, certainly they don't hate it, but the Df fell short of what it could have been or what their expectations were (which would be something like a digital FE2). That's were my thoughts are. I definitely don't hate or even dislike the Df. It just wasn't compelling enough to make me buy it, given my other cameras. I do admire Nikon for their romantic spirit and honoring tradition with the F6 and Df.

On other forums, specifically dpreview,.... well, some there have a lot of hate for anything but their Chosen Brand. I have a low opinion of them.

 

[shawn]

I had a Katz Eye on DSLR from a few years back. It really messed up the AF. I thought I was becoming cock eyed.

That is interesting, I had one on my D700 and the AF was great.

Shawn

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I had a Katz Eye on DSLR from a few years back. It really messed up the AF. I thought I was becoming cock eyed.

The focusing screen cannot affect AF operation on a DSLR (or a film SLR). The focusing sensors do not read off the focus screen.

 

[splitimageview]

The 105mm is the longest lens I regularly carry with the Df. This was shot at about 150 yards, of an enormous American flag hung from a construction crane for a 4th of July celebration. Not too difficult to nail focus folks.

I just think it's an awful lot of whining from folks who have probably spent very little time actually using the camera.

But to each his/her own.

That's a great example of a high-contrast subject that indeed, should be easy to manually focus with nearly any camera. I don't suppose it was shot wide-open in bright sunlight at 150 yards. 🙂

A few years ago I experimented quite a bit with focusing screens and adapted lenses on DSLRs. This was well before there were any mirrorless cameras with 135-sized sensors; heck, at the time there were only micro 4/3 mirrorless! One such test was with the Sony A900, which at the time was a fantastic camera, but tech marches on, so it's quite quaint and primitive today.

It was a great sensor platform for adapted lenses, due to IBIS, but it did not have live view. This meant focusing accuracy would be entirely up to the focusing screen...

Adapting Contax lenses, as well as Leica R lenses, was an exercise in frustration due to the fact that, like all DSLRs before and since, the camera was designed for native AF lenses, and not manual focus. Third party focusing screens were, in a word, a fail; the registration was simply not accurate enough. Not to mention the screens were not nearly to the quality level of any good manual focus film Nikon focusing screen...not nearly contrasty enough.

So when the Df teasers started, it was quite exciting! I'd be able to use Zeiss glass (ZF) (as well as old Nikkors) and have accurate manual focus!

Unfortunately manual focus ended up being just the same old, same old, as every other Nikon; the hypersensitive green dot that is too slow for many subjects and is truly only very good at distracting from the framing...

So the only true legacy feature for manual focus lenses on the Df, was the flip-up AI lever...

Sigh.

 

[hap]

Ever since it came out I wanted a Df...sort of like I wanted a digital Pen F. the price was too high. eventually, the price went down and so did my desire. If somebody gave me one I would probably find reasons to like it. fun thread to read.