34 replies to this topic

[nikonfan1999]

What does everyone think of the new DF? Is it the worthy replacement for the venerable D700 that everyone has been waiting for? Good low light performance, not so excessive pixel count, good image quality.

[Adam]

What does everyone think of the new DF? Is it the worthy replacement for the venerable D700 that everyone has been waiting for? Good low light performance, not so excessive pixel count, good image quality.

It'll definitely be a camera of a different nature, but the rumors sound very promising.  I'm looking forward to the official announcement, and then we'll see!

[nikonfan1999]

I am just crossing my finger that they include a capable AF system in the thing. The rumors state that the AF system from the D600/ D610 will be incorporated. I hope these rumors are wrong. The AF system from the D800 would be great.

[PBandJ]

Not me. I'd like a 16 mp, Fx. d4 sensor and D600 AF are fine by me. I'd like to see it under the D610 price.

[nikonfan1999]

My opinion is that the two things holding the D600/D610 back are AF system with the mid frame cluttered AF points taken from an APS-C camera (D7100) and less low light capabilities than is technically possible. Per the rumors, the low light performance seems to be great in the new DF. What I hope does not come true is that it will inherit the same AF system from the D610. My gripe with the system is that it is clustered in the middle and does not cover enough of the FX frame for it to be really useful and intelligent for fast moving objects or even subjects that are outside the center of the frame by a relatively small degree. I hope they give the DF an AF system that was designed with a FX camera in mind. 

[Soda Farl]

I really like the idea of these and the marketing so far has been brilliant. I couldn't to consider trading down into the 39 point af system though a major draw back if that is going to be the case.

[PBandJ]

If it's got a $3000 price, as the rumors suggest, I'm out.

[alden]

So, just to get me up to speed on this thing, it's a "retro" looking digital SLR with an FX sensor. 

 

What is the big deal about this? I must be missing something. 

[TBonz]

Agree Alden...haven't seen anything as yet that makes me think I need one...

[Soda Farl]

So, just to get me up to speed on this thing, it's a "retro" looking digital SLR with an FX sensor. 

 

What is the big deal about this? I must be missing something. 

 

 

It's not just the retro look. It has the retro layout of the old film style camera's meaning all the functions are were you would expect them too be. For example dedicated dial for ISO etc.

 

I would be having one of these if it had of had the af system from the D800,D4.

[Richard259]

Well the first pictures were published on Nikon Rumors today and whilst interesting, in a retro sort of way, ie it even has a screw in mechanical cable release socket, it looks something like a bloated Nikon FG from film days.  The controls for shutter speed etc are straight off of the F3 and everything else id pretty standard Nikon fare.

However, there's still a mystery surrounding the viewfinder.  Is it electronic (hope not) or a true pentaprism?  I guess we'll all know tomorrow morning.  Oh and it appears to support SD cards only  which is a pain for those of us who have heavily invested in CF cards.

[Thumper]

Kind of a cool camera, but it is pricey.   I'd love to play with one though. 

[K-9]

Its retro design screams backup camera to me, but this price is no backup camera price. To me, I've been holding a DSLR type grip for too many years and it's too comfortable to switch my main camera to a more rigid grip like this retro design offers. If it were DX and priced alongside the OM-D, I'd be in, but I'll stay with my D700 as my main camera.

[cupic]

I like the retro/digital look but price is out of my view for now,but with rebates perhaps but I like my D700 too much

just havent got the time to shoot

 

 

cheers

[Graham Johnson]

Stupid price for what it is.

 

Would have made more sense at the price level if they didn't cheap out on...

 

1) should have had the 51 point focus module out of the D800 or at least the 39 point system but better spread through the frame

 

2) split focus screen

 

3) use an EL-EN15 battery like all the other new cameras

 

4) shot 7.5 frames per second

 

5) single CF card instead of SD card

 

If they had included this stuff the price point would have been OK and people wanting a D700 replacement would have been all over it.

 

I would have bought one as a back up camera to the D800

[Andi Lo]

Just like D300, a true replacement for D700 does not exist yet.

 

When pentax enters FF I gander we'll see a true replacement fro D700, just like they did with K-3 (=D400)

[byrd-2020]

Just like D300, a true replacement for D700 does not exist yet.

 

When pentax enters FF I gander we'll see a true replacement fro D700, just like they did with K-3 (=D400)

 

Don't you mean "when hell freezes over"? What makes you think that Pentax is going to enter FF?

[nikonfan1999]

Stupid price for what it is.

 

Would have made more sense at the price level if they didn't cheap out on...

 

1) should have had the 51 point focus module out of the D800 or at least the 39 point system but better spread through the frame

 

2) split focus screen

 

3) use an EL-EN15 battery like all the other new cameras

 

4) shot 7.5 frames per second

 

5) single CF card instead of SD card

 

If they had included this stuff the price point would have been OK and people wanting a D700 replacement would have been all over it.

 

I would have bought one as a back up camera to the D800

Completely agree. I especially agree with your point on the autofocus system and the split focus screen. For this price they should have included the autofocus system from the D800 covering the full FX frame as opposed to the current autofocus system borrowed from a DX system that does not cover the FX field of view sufficiently. Also, a split screen focusing system would have been great for better focusing using all the legacy glass.

[nikonfan1999]

I think both the Df and D610 cameras are really great. I however just cannot stop thinking how with small tweaks, they could have been so much better. I just wish Nikon would stop shooting themselves in the foot by listening too closely their marketing people. Both the D610 and the Df are great cameras. They however could have been so much more though. What is a focusing system designed for a DX camera doing in a FX body where they barely cover the center of your visual field? Also, why is the ISO in the D610 restricted, presumably in order not to outshine the D800. Both these additions would not -in my belief- have cost Nikon much nor would it have cannibalized D800/ D4 sales. It would rather have won them over more customers from the likes of Canon and Sony.

[cowleystjames]

I want to call the Df a novelty camera, but feel I don't fully understand Nikons reason for bringing it to market.
Would pro's buy it? I doubt it with the inability to increase the battery life with a battery grip, 39 point autofocus instead of the 51 on the D4, but the thing that kills it for me is the lack of a second card slot! What were Nikon thinking there?
But I do love it, managed to get to look at one at the Nikon school in London at the weekend, boy it looks good and so compact, about the size of a 7100.
I'm sure it'll sell to rich kids but if I wanted an FX in that price bracket I'd buy a D800.