ZF is here.

[Ko.Fe.]

May I present the Nikon Df
View attachment 4827050

I was after it, first not handsoaped brick of DSLRs. And works with old (cheap) lenses as nothing else.
I spend time to get to the store which is off my regular route. I walked in to digital cameras department, except Leica ones (separate department) and declared to show me DF. Sales person responded by putting something on the glass table.
My reaction was - EW!!! Why gimmick something nice with this meh.

It was disproportionally fat. With screen popping out and the fat end and screaming - fake!

ZF has this digital cameras birth defect hidable.

And for its $2K money it has what every digital EVF camera must have. The video record button and IBIS.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I'll keep the Df,

View attachment 4827058

View attachment 4827059

But am amazed with how easy fast/manual focus lenses are to use with the Nikon Z5.
The Zf has the same finder. I have a lot of lenses to use on it that cannot be used on the Df and M9/ M Monochrom.

I agree Brian. It's amazing how you can find an adapter or adapter combination to use pretty much any interchangeable lens made on the Nikon Z series cameras. I've used Leica LTM, Leica M, Contax rangefinder, Nikkor S rangefinder, Nikkor F, Canon FD, Nikkor LTM, Olympus Pen F, etc. So fun seeing how older lenses render on the newer sensors.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Cascadilla]

I agree Brian. It's amazing how you can find an adapter or adapter combination to use pretty much any interchangeable lens made on the Nikon Z series cameras. I've used Leica LTM, Leica M, Contax rangefinder, Nikkor S rangefinder, Nikkor F, Canon FD, Nikkor LTM, Olympus Pen F, etc. So fun seeing how older lenses render on the newer sensors.

Best,
-Tim

What have your results been like with Contax and Nikon RF wide angle lenses? I haven't tried any mirrorless cameras in part because I understand that Sony models do badly with these lenses.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've not had an issue with Nikkor-S and LTM wide angle lenses, 3.5cm, 2.8cm, and I don't have any Contax wide angle lenses so I don't know about those.

Best,
-Tim

 

[dexdog]

I have a Sony a7iii and a Nikon Z6. I bought the Z6 because I was curious about the use of wide angle lenses. I did a comparison of post-ww2 Contax biogon 35/2.8, S-mount Nikkor 35/1.8, S-mount 28/3.5 Nikkor, Zeiss 21mm/4.5 biogon and Canon 19mm/3.5 in LTM. I think that results from both cameras were very similar with the 35mm and 28mm lenses, but that the Nikon Z6 did much better on the 21mm and 19 mm lenses. The Sony is significantly less sharp in the corners of the frame with the latter two lenses (somethimes referred to as smearing) than the Z6. My curiosity about the two cameras was prompted by someone here on RFF a couple of years ago discussing the relative thickness of the filter glass atop the sensors. The Sony sensor apparently has thicker glass than the Nikkor sensor, which leads to more diffraction that is especially noticeable on lenses with large rear elements that are very close to the sensor such as the 21mm Biogon and Canon 19mm

 

[Cascadilla]

Thanks for the information--I have both Zeiss and Nikkor RF wide angle lenses and eventually would like to get a mirrorless body that will give reasonable results with them, so this is very useful.

 

[dexdog]

Thanks for the information--I have both Zeiss and Nikkor RF wide angle lenses and eventually would like to get a mirrorless body that will give reasonable results with them, so this is very useful.

I should probably try the same two cameras with the pre-ww2 CZJ Biogon, which has a protruding element in the rear of the lens. I imagine that performance would suffer due to short distance to sensor. The post WW2 Zeiss 35mm biogon does not have a protruding rear element.

 

[MarkWalberg]

I have a Sony a7iii and a Nikon Z6. I bought the Z6 because I was curious about the use of wide angle lenses. I did a comparison of post-ww2 Contax biogon 35/2.8, S-mount Nikkor 35/1.8, S-mount 28/3.5 Nikkor, Zeiss 21mm/4.5 biogon and Canon 19mm/3.5 in LTM. I think that results from both cameras were very similar with the 35mm and 28mm lenses, but that the Nikon Z6 did much better on the 21mm and 19 mm lenses. The Sony is significantly less sharp in the corners of the frame with the latter two lenses (somethimes referred to as smearing) than the Z6. My curiosity about the two cameras was prompted by someone here on RFF a couple of years ago discussing the relative thickness of the filter glass atop the sensors. The Sony sensor apparently has thicker glass than the Nikkor sensor, which leads to more diffraction that is especially noticeable on lenses with large rear elements that are very close to the sensor such as the 21mm Biogon and Canon 19mm

I use my Canon rangefinder 25 mm lens regularly on my Z6. Looks funny, but works great. Easy to use these wides with scale focusing. Don't really even need the finder much of the time. Rear element is not close to the sensor on this one. I have not tried yet my Jupiter 12 yet, which does have the deep rear element. I'm told it works fine on Z6 though.

 

[hap]

Never step into first batch. Preproduction copy was reported to overheat just by taking pictures within two hours in +32C. We need to see if this was solved by checking of first batch sold and reported.

same with new car production.

 

[wjlapier]

A few years ago, I used a bevy of S-mount lenses on a Z6 and was quite pleased with the results. It was pretty simple. Get an Amedeo adapter to adapt the S-mount lens to Leica M, then a Leica M to Nikon Z adapter, and you're all set. The nice thing about that set up is that even the lenses that are listed as not working with the Amedeo adapter (like the spectacular Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8) actually work fine with this set up. The 3.5cm f1.8 and the 8.5cm f2.0 were really outstanding on the Nikon Z6. I regret selling them off.

Best,
-Tim

I just tested the S Mount 50mm f/1.4 in the Amedeo adapter with the techart adapter on a Sony A7C. AF works well and that lens is very sharp at f/2. Who would’ve thought you could autofocus these lenses. I know this is about the new ZF, but the mention of S Mount lenses on a digital camera reminded me.

 

[maigo]

I bought a Df earlier this year. Very happy with the output and user experience.
Except…
Have to think hard whether or not to ditch the Df and get the Zf just for the free-spinning exposure compensation button.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I wanted to buy a Nikon DF when it was first released, I had the money in my hand, went to the store, then I held it [the DF camera] in my hand… it just didn’t feel right. Fit and feel are very important to me. I was so disappointed. Anyway, now it’s too late in the game for me to buy a ZF, I’m far too invested in Fuji and Sony. However, I applaud Nikon for introducing the ZF, it looks like a beautiful camera, and I wish them much success.

All the best,
Mike

 

[Godfrey]

If Nikon would introduce a "Zf-D" ... a specialist, niche version of the camera that, much like the Leica M-D 262, has severely limited options and controls ... I would be on it very quickly. All I want is a top notch sensor, a good focusing system, and complete, explicit control of aperture, exposure time, and focus. All the other bells and whistles are just so much stuff that distracts from the use of the camera...

Selling my Leica M-D 262 was the most foolish thing I have done, equipment wise, in the past decade and some. Sigh.

This is what makes the Hasselblad 907x system so hard to let go of, even if I only rarely use it ... I can get the same thing as the M-D 262 with it by putting the CFVII 50c back on my Hasselblad 500CM and just going out to make photographs. 🙂

G

 

[Dogman]

Apparently we live in the age of continuously learning new skill sets just to get through the day. Self-checkouts at the supermarket is one of my pet peeves. I just wanna pay for my effin' groceries, not learn how to use the scanners. My step-son bought a new BMW5something or other yesterday and he says he can't figure out how/why it starts up by itself when he gets in it. He has to learn all the required electronics before he can have the "BMW driving experience". He has a PhD. No hope for an old fart like me with a BA. I still get confused with the controls on my 9-year old Toyota.

How the hell did we ever buy food, drive a car or take pictures a few decades ago without knowing how to use complicated electronic devices?



Okay. Rant off. Now we will return to the on-topic, regularly scheduled program.

 

[agentlossing]

My step-son bought a new BMW5something or other yesterday and he says he can't figure out how/why it starts up by itself when he gets in it.

That would be a bridge too far, I think, for me.

 

[Luke_Miller]

Apparently we live in the age of continuously learning new skill sets just to get through the day.

This may be a good thing. Now that I am at a "certain age" I find I need to keep learning new things and performing mentally challenging tasks. The mental exercise I need to compliment the physical exercise that keeps me functioning.

 

[raydm6]

I was in a Mercedes-Benz showroom yesterday waiting to test-drive a pre-owned 2020 E-Series.

I was walking around checking out the 2024 models in the showroom. The interiors (while gorgeous) almost simulate a fighter jet cockpit.

 

[justins7]

Is this only the second mirrorless, full-frame "35" digital camera with an actual shutter speed dial on top (the first being Leica M9-11)? I use a Leica M9, which I love, and whenever I use other digital cameras I just despise going through menus on the touch-screen. It's an absolute joy killer for me and makes me feel like a teenager endlessly scrolling through my phone instead of getting out there and seizing the moment.

And it really is spot-on related to all the idiotic tech being dumped on us with self-checkout, cars, etc. My Subaru Crosstrek has all kinds of ridiculous beeps, lights and auto pop-up messages on the dashboard which require you to reach for the brick-sized manual to figure out. And of course it never occurred to them to put the manual itself on the touch screen. Screen and menus are hell, but it's a hell that everyone seems to just accept and desire now.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Is this only the second mirrorless, full-frame "35" digital camera with an actual shutter speed dial on top (the first being Leica M9-11)? I use a Leica M9, which I love, and whenever I use other digital cameras I just despise going through menus on the touch-screen. It's an absolute joy killer for me and makes me feel like a teenager endlessly scrolling through my phone instead of getting out there and seizing the moment.

And it really is spot-on related to all the idiotic tech being dumped on us with self-checkout, cars, etc. My Subaru Crosstrek has all kinds of ridiculous beeps, lights and auto pop-up messages on the dashboard which require you to reach for the brick-sized manual to figure out. And of course it never occurred to them to put the manual itself on the touch screen. Screen and menus are hell, but it's a hell that everyone seems to just accept and desire now.

Be grateful for the brick-sized manual. At least it's a concrete object you can hold in your hands. What really bites is when they put the brick-sized manual online, and nowhere else.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

Is this only the second mirrorless, full-frame "35" digital camera with an actual shutter speed dial on top (the first being Leica M9-11)? I use a Leica M9, which I love, and whenever I use other digital cameras I just despise going through menus on the touch-screen. It's an absolute joy killer for me and makes me feel like a teenager endlessly scrolling through my phone instead of getting out there and seizing the moment.

And it really is spot-on related to all the idiotic tech being dumped on us with self-checkout, cars, etc. My Subaru Crosstrek has all kinds of ridiculous beeps, lights and auto pop-up messages on the dashboard which require you to reach for the brick-sized manual to figure out. And of course it never occurred to them to put the manual itself on the touch screen. Screen and menus are hell, but it's a hell that everyone seems to just accept and desire now.

I think the Xpros have shutter dials.