Nikon Df General Discussion

heartyfisher

that hipster vid decided me on the black version if i ever get a Df .. ;-) i dont mind not having vid but not having a builtin popup flash CLS commander is such a pain for me... :-( .. maybe a DFs ? in a Year?

Msmoto

Silver..... Covered with black gaffer's tape.

Symphotic

Silver..... Covered with black gaffer's tape.

Oh, yes! That sounds something I would do.

Actually, I think I would go with black covered with BGT.

PB_PM

Silver..... Covered with black gaffer's tape.

Yes, so it looks like a junky old camera. Also cover the rear LCD with tape as well.

bland

Here's a Df shot with the long lens at 70mm. I had it on AutoISO and it choose 1250 and the light wasn't that good. The Df is an animal, beast force! :O

Symphotic

That bang you all heard was me pulling the trigger. I'm not going to get the kit lens, though. I'll go with a Voigtlander 40 mm pancake. Maybe I'll post on PAD Monday if I have time.

Golf007sd

For those that wanted to know what CCD is and is not vs CMOS.

Symphotic

The sensors in our (Symphotic brand) cameras are CID.

I've got my Df, black. I bought it with free return privileges, thinking I might send it back. After a day of playing with it, I have concluded it is a nifty little camera and a keeper. I tried a 50 mm G lens on it, took a couple of pictures of the dog, and almost sent it back, but then I went to my old camera shelf and started pulling AiS lenses out and trying them on the Df. It really is like I'm back in the day. Being of a certain age, I pretty much went into muscle memory mode myself once I put a lens with real aperture and focus rings on it. It's like shooting an F3 with free film.

Although the Df is fine in point and shoot mode, it really screams to be used in manual or aperture priority exposure mode with manual focus. It is much more compact than a D800, and light as well, so it will be a great second camera in my bag, or a first camera for personal use. (I wonder if I should grow a goatee...) I'll see if I can get away for a few hours this weekend and do some shooting.

WestEndBoy

I want the DF the most when I think about shooting my manual focus 50mm on it and using the aperture ring.

Symphotic

I want the DF the most when I think about shooting my manual focus 50mm on it and using the aperture ring.

I put a Voigtlander 40 mm f/2 on it as my standard lens. 40 mm is a more useful focal length for my purposes. If you use a CPU lens such as the Voigtlander, you need to disable the sub-command dial control of aperture and have it use the aperture ring. f7: Customize command dials. Otherwise the camera will not let you set the aperture using the ring. On non-CPU lenses (my long time collection) the aperture ring works without a hitch, but you need to tell the camera what lens you are using in the Non-CPU lens data settings.

Golf007sd

The Shutter sound...for what it is worth. After all, it all depends on the mic location, the type of mic, etc..etc. But at least you get an idea of the sound.

snakebunk

Great video. For me it would be worth a lot to have the quiet shutter of the Fuji. The sound of the shutter sometimes scares my models (birds).

About the Df, I think it has the most pleasant sound of the Nikons.

PB_PM

The Fuji only achieves that low shutter noise because it has a leaf shutter. Most mirrorless cameras, that lack an electronic shutter, are still louder than that.

Vipmediastar_JZ

The DF actually sounds quieter in person, at least to me.

I'm thinking of renting this for my next event and slap the sigma 35 1.4 on it and hang it by my neck along with two D800 with 24-70/14-24 and 70-200 on a dual black rapid strap and change lenses as needed for the D800.

It is very light but the 85mm might be best to keep lighter as far as my primes go but I'm just enamored with the sigma.

Golf007sd

Just watched this video regarding the Fuji X-T1 , and I find that the Df has more performance and value as a camera.

shawnino

It ought to have better performance: price wise equivalent is comparing D800 to D7100...

Golf007sd

@shawnino: The "value" that I was referring was not in reference to the price, sorry for not clarifying that part.

There are many things I can comment on regarding the XT-1, but this is not the proper forum for it. However, I can say this, on a number of levels, when it comes to taking a picture and cameras functionality, the Df comes out on top...IMHO.

Photobug

Nice favorable review of the Df in the latest issue of Popular Photography magazine. Just got it today.

PB_PM

The review at Photography Life was mixed.

NSXTypeR

Why does Moose in the fireside chat love that the Df has no video? I really don't understand.

Going back to Moose Peterson giving good grades to the Nikon Df, you really need to check their background.

Moose Peterson is a Nikon Ambassador, he might as well be a paid employee/spokesperson. I don't use the Df, but it seems illogical to not give it video. You can say it's retro, but it seems like a glaring omission to me. I'm sure that D4 sensor would be great in video too.

The same thing with Joe McNally, he's a Nikon Ambassador too. He gave it glowing reviews too.

To my knowledge, Chase Jarvis is associated with Nikon with the D90 and D7000 but not an ambassador, so he gave his honest opinion.

Golf007sd

@NSXTypeR: I went to my local camera shop today to see if they had the Df...no luck. But, the owner has one and he really like its performance. He was looking forward in getting the XT-1 as well so he can compare the two. We had a healthy conversation about this new up and coming body.

We also talked about Df's lack of video...like him, I too do not shoot a lot of video with me DSLR's. So that feature missing on the DF is a mute point for me (us). Having said that, I agree with you, it would have been better if Nikon had included it.

What I (most of us) care about is: image quality. Given that I own the D4, I know full well what the outcome is like. Moreover, many have said that the high ISO on the Df has been improved...that is a big bonus. I hardly ever use flash (for my style of photography)... thus, low noise is what I'm after when in low light. Here, the D4 sensor simply rocks the house.

shawnino

I just don't understand why one would choose to compare the Df to the XT-1.
One is FX, the other is DX.
One costs more than twice the other.

I get that they're both hipster bait. But so is a $70 Holga and a $7000 Leica M.

No surprise on the Nikon Ambassadors, but if I spoke critical words of them it'd be one part hypocrisy and two parts jealousy. If ANY camera manufacturer showed up at my door and offered me tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear and some sort of salary besides, my loyalty would be bought completely. Try it. (Somebody, please...)

PB_PM

You don't have to be a hipster to like a classic design.

WestEndBoy

You don't have to be a hipster to like a classic design.

Agreed!

TaoTeJared

I just don't understand why one would choose to compare the Df to the XT-1.
One is FX, the other is DX.
One costs more than twice the other.

It is very relevant and here is why:
DF $2,750 ($3,000 with 50mm)

XT-1 $1,300 ○ Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 $450 (50 equiv) ○ Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 $1,000 (85 equiv)
Total $2,750
Or if you are me, X100s $1,300 & XT-1 with 35mm f/1.4 & $1,750 = $3,000
--------------------------------------------------------

Everyone keeps comparing the DF to other Nikon DSLRs - and that to me is just baffling. The market they are going after are the Mirror-less bodies - not against the D610 or D800. I do believe the goal was to be able to utilize the existing lenses and have the kick-ass D4 sensor in it and give a real distinguishable option to people. When you compare to the mirror-less group, all the gripes of the DF fall away - all of the other bodies have most if not all the same issues, restrictions, and quirks.

I think there are many in the same boat as me - Have a Full rig with everything already and would like to have a smaller set-up to go out with, but can produce professional quality and be used as a back up or 2nd body if needed. The DF fits that. Fuji XT-1, EX-2, X100s, Sony A7/r, Omd-EM 1, EM5, EM10 and even the Pani GF7 all fits the bill.

So the main selling points for a Nikon shooter seems to be:

I'm going to add the cost of a 3-prime lens set-up of 28/35/50 equiv to the other brands. All are current prices from B&H.

DF
•The DF is the only one that can shoot the standard existing FX lenses without an adapter. No new special lenses to buy +1 Nikon
•FX sensor - Great Low light to 6400, usable to 102,000 (blows all mirrorless away) +1 Nikon
•Can use Nikon's CLS flash system. (Big plus for back-up body.)
•Do not have to buy any glass - Cost is the body alone.
•Focus system in DF is better than most Mirrorless I have used. I would like to see it and the OLY go head to head, but most have said the Oly still doesn't match mid-range DSLRs. The DF is still above that (D5300).
System cost $2,750
28mm 1.8/35mm 1.8/50mm 1.8 = $600, $600, 3000 = $4,200 (If buying all new.) Yes I went the cheap route.

Sony A7
•FX & cheaper but the Body and 55 1.8 is the same as the DF body.
•It really has no lenses yet & the one's there, are pulling $1,000 and up.
•I actually prefer the feel and grip of the A7 over the DF - but the dials and changing settings are even worse IMHO.
•Can use full frame 3 party glass with focus peaking. +1 Sony for this. I really would like to see my Zeiss ZM 50 f2 on a digital camera.
•24/36mp - maybe great for some, but not those with a D800 or a 24mp sensor already.
1,700, 55mm f/1.8 ZA 1,000, 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens$800, 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens $1,200
System cost $4,200*
*Note 2-lenses only 35& 55 - wide does not exist yet - $650 allocated for a 28mm

Fuji XT-1
•Best DX sensor. Pros are using ISO 3200 for work, 6400 is usable.
•Cheaper by half of the DF, $400 less than A7.
•Lenses: All major Primes released and zooms to cover most everything. All lenses reviewed very well.
•Dial operation/placement seem to be more preferred by most over other manufactures.
XT-1 $1,300, 18mm f/2.0 $400, 23mm f/1.4 $750, 35mm f/1.4 $450
System cost $2,900

Olympus OMD EM 1 & Panisonic GF7
•Largest Lens line up out of all of them. Surprisingly one of the most expensive as well.
•In-body stabilization. This really can't be understated. It does compensate for the smaller sensor by being able to hand hold at much lower shutter speeds.
•Largest 3rd party accessories
(For lenses I'm going to use the most well reviewed lenses for the cost as the performance of the "basic" ones have much lower reviews and performance than the other systems above.)
Body $1,300, M.ZUIKO 12mm f/2.0 $800, M.ZUIKO 17mm f/1.8 Lens $500, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 $530
System cost $3,130

Canon
LOL ROTF


If you own the primes or the lenses you want to use, the DF is a cheaper option for a second set-up. Only the Fuji XT-1 comes close.