Wow. Two new cameras on my blog in one week (here’s the other one). I’ve never been a gear whore and don’t like dedicating too much real estate here to it, but I do like me some of these compact cameras. So here we go – quick like.
Nikon got the aesthetics right, that’s for sure. If it does nothing else, the new Nikon Df is going to make you look like a legit photographer from the 70’s. Even more so perhaps like a photographer shooting film (but you won’t be.)
Specs: Within the tasty leather, chrome, and gunmetal exterior of this Nikon Df hides…
// the legendary sensor from the Nikon D4 – my favorite still camera sensor of all time
// Nikon’s latest + greatest Expeed 3 processor
// Optical viewfinder with 100% field of view (thank god – not having this sucks)
// Full wireless capability [requires WU-1 wireless adaptor].
// We’re still waiting on the side of french fries, but this full-meal of a camera may just satiate even the hungriest of critics.
Yeah, but does it deliver?
Before we can answer that question (because I can’t – haven’t used it), I want to set my expectations. Because they are (were?) high for this little bugger. But when the hype is this big, the goods had better follow. So here’s what it has to do to get my five stars:
1, Ergonomics. I like how all the dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and ISO give you the option of being really hands on with setting your exposure. Shooting this way really increases my connection with what you’re creating with the camera. The Nikon DF looks like it’ll do a nice job of recreating (or perhaps simulating) that experience of “making” pictures like the cameras of old… That feel helps me be connecting to the art just a little bit more–ie slowing down a tad– than some of my other tools in my shed.
2. The size. The size is nice. Or rather, the size is nice compared to a D4 or pro body. Don’t get me wrong, when I’m on a gig I need the pro body to lean on, bang around, pound nails and otherwise be tough and sturdy. With this little guy? I prefer the portability, sorta. It’ll make a great vacation camera for jet setting photographers….unless you also like to capture video of your travels like I do. If you want video you need another camera, or an additional camera, and then the whole compact selling point is thrown out the airplane window with no parachute. So what gives here? I dunno. They made up a nice advertising story about “back to basics” with a “real camera” but rumor has it they couldn’t keep the guts cool enough to shoot video because mechanically that stuff takes up space. Jury is out. I like the purity angle, but it’s 2013…
3. The sensor. It has the same 16.2-megapixel sensor as Nikon’s pro-focused D4, which is the best still sensor of all time. There, I said it. It has ISO range up to 12,800 and expandable to ISO 204,800!! You can basically shoot this thing in the dark – let’s just hope it (or you) can focus in the dark. What good is the sensor if you can’t pull the trigger in focus?
4. Focus. It better be decent. Nikons have historically kicked everyones ass in this department. This better not be a let down. I hope the focus is fast and accurate. (Speaking of fast…we know it’s not fast in frames per second department. 5 ‘n’ change. Not bad. But not fast. Who cares really – that’s not what this camera is for.) We really do want the focus to be fast, however, if it’s to stand out from it’s peers. BTW, how is the manual focus mode? It better kick ass. I’m curious to see if there are any features to assist with this. There’s a lot of marketing around this camera hightlighting its ability to use all the old non-AI lenses, but the cameras from that time had focusing screens built for manual focus. Without tools like focus peaking, a split image screen, or a microprism screen, shooting with manual focus lenses might just be a pain in the ass. Let’s hope they get it right
5. Pro shit. I’m excited to see how “professional” the camera can be. Can I pound nails with this thing? Is it heavy and durable? We use a ton of different cameras for video, but the D4 is my go-to camera for EVERY SINGLE commercial photo shoot we do. Could the DF could come along on our shoots as a good BTS rig? Even in our BTS stuff we expect pro quality That would be nice if this delivered. I will always have a couple D4 backups, but for the solo photographer, the DF could potentially save pro photographers some weight and coin if (and only if) it can produce professional results in a pinch.
All this said, I can’t wait to get my hands on the Df and take it for a rubber-burning test drive. Good pals like McNally are oogling over it, but Joe would have to use a Nikon mobile phone if they had one, so take that with a grain of salt. Anywhooo. Stay tuned for a more meaty pile of feedback when I get my paws on this thing.
The Df is available for pre-order in four options. Check out the goods here:
/// Black body w/lens
/// Silver body w/lens
/// Black body
/// Silver body
If it can focus properly in low light so the advantage of D4 sensor can be used then I am in. If not then D3s would be mine another body to look for I guess for the same price…
I have some prime lens with D300 and F2 camera ( yes it still working!). The DF is a perfect blend of both for me. I also have Fuji X system that taught me to take different approach before shooting so I dont worry much of the complicated dials in Df. Lightweight Full frame, D4 sensor, in retro looks, thats all I asked. Yes, I’ll buy it but not as early adopter if there is any flaw or QC problem like d600. I think the reasons why Nikon introduced the Df is to stop people like me from trying and jumping to another system, and at the same time the Df will push back to enjoying pure photography rather than following the trends of simple photography where iphone rules the instagram. Df is not there to replace your professional tools, but only to enjoying pure photography.
I am amazed at the level of polarization in the comments about this camera. “It only has 39 focus points so it’s unacceptable”. Really? I seem to recall a time not long ago when a fraction of that number served us quite well. There’s a lot more to AF than the number of focus points. And that’s just one example. If you like the user interface of typical modern DSLRs there are plenty to choose from. If you prefer a more hands on approach and the aesthetics of the classic cameras of the past then this would be a very nice choice. Personally I’ve been hoping Nikon would produce something like this ever since DSLRs started being produced. In fact I never really liked the trend away from the MF body styles when AF was introduced. I own both Canon and NIkon bodies and for much of what I do they are exceptionally functional. When I need speed I use an EOS-1D Mark IV. For resolution I have a D800e. I love them both for different reasons. When I want to take my time and enjoy the process of taking photos I will most likely use my Df (on order). I have some beautiful old Nikon lenses that I will enjoy using on this body. The D4’s sensor will be better than anything else I own for low light situations and plenty of pixels for most everything else. I was not unhappy with the results I was getting with my D3s with “only” 12 MP. 39 AF points are more than enough. More often than not I use the one in the middle and recompose if I need to. 5.5 fps is also just fine for 90% of the situations I’ll use this body for. To me photography is an art, not just a mad rush to crank out as many photos as I can in the least amount of time. I realize some people need to do that to make a living and there are many great pieces of equipment designed to do that. I want to enjoy the process from beginning to end. The tools I use are chosen partly on the basis of their aesthetics as long as they do what I need. It’s a lot like choosing a musical instrument. A synthesizer does a hell of a lot more than a Steinway and yet some people just like the look and feel of the Steinway. I suspect there are more than a few Leica shooters out there that wouldn’t give them up because of the way they are built. I grew up using MF Nikon bodies and love the way they look and feel. I still have a few and would love to use them but I much prefer digital at this point. I am looking forward to having the incredible capability of a top notch digital camera with the aesthetics and functionality of the earlier Nikon bodies.
This camera, I believe, will fill a well-defined gap in my equipment needs. I am a scientist (ecologist) and use photogrammetry to record field data (forest floors quadrats). I use a D3X for all tripod recording (as I need high resolution plus the voice memo), but at the same time I need a handheld to capture a range of other image information. The D610 and D800 don’t’ have high enough ISO (I’m in forests), and the D4 is too heavy. I’ve ordered one. I couldn’t care less about what it looks like — I want a simple camera (I don’t use half the controls on the D3X) with superb ISO and a rugged body with good battery life. Sold. Yours, Tom.
BTS rig you will be so disappointed there is no way to do this.