This Retro Nikon DF They're Talking About
- Thread starter BackdoorArts
- Start date
This is one that I'll have to try out in the store, first hand. Will bring a 55/1.2 with me to see how easy the focus is.
This camera has taken a lot of "hard knocks" already on the web, about not having interchangeable focus screens for manual focus. I usually keep an E Screen in an F2AS for the 55/1.2, never had a problem without the split-image focus. I normally use RF cameras.
The DF has focus confirmation, perhaps this is what is meant by "Fusion". I find that worked in the N8008s, I'm betting the DF will be even better.
This camera has taken a lot of "hard knocks" already on the web, about not having interchangeable focus screens for manual focus. I usually keep an E Screen in an F2AS for the 55/1.2, never had a problem without the split-image focus. I normally use RF cameras.
The DF has focus confirmation, perhaps this is what is meant by "Fusion". I find that worked in the N8008s, I'm betting the DF will be even better.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Well the camera is 50g lighter than the D610, so it'll be easier on the back and arms than their old F's
This camera looks better than I envisioned it a couple days ago. Looks more solid and weatherproofed. If I had 3000.00 laying around... I'd probably get one. But this time I'll wait until there are some used ones out there. Watch ebay for the flood of old Nikkor lenses being sold at higher prices because of the retro
I personally love the look of it and the layout of the controls. It reminds me of my old FTN... I can't wait to see how it feels in hands.
Personally, I think a lot of people will want to remember what it was like holding something a bit solid and playing with manual controls instead of thumbing through a menu screen (depending on camera).
Personally, I think a lot of people will want to remember what it was like holding something a bit solid and playing with manual controls instead of thumbing through a menu screen (depending on camera).
Carolina Photo Guy
Senior Member
I've been looking at the back of the Df. There seems to be a switch that goes from a manual focus screen to a digital one.
Anyone else notice that?
Or am I wrong?
Just curious.
Pete
Anyone else notice that?
Or am I wrong?
Just curious.
Pete
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
I've been looking at the back of the Df. There seems to be a switch that goes from a manual focus screen to a digital one.
Anyone else notice that?
Or am I wrong?
Just curious.
Pete
Are you talking about the AF-ON button seen here?
I don't know if that acts the same as the AF/M switch near the lens mount or if that acts the same way as pressing the shutter half-way down, but I'm guessing it's one or the other. If I was a betting man I would say it's the latter... but I don't gamble. LOL
Carolina Photo Guy
Senior Member
Are you talking about the AF-ON button seen here?
I don't know if that acts the same as the AF/M switch near the lens mount or if that acts the same way as pressing the shutter half-way down, but I'm guessing it's one or the other. If I was a betting man I would say it's the latter... but I don't gamble. LOL
Look immediately BELOW the AF-ON button to the SWITCH. The lowest symbol reminds me of an old style ground glass focusing screen and the upper symbol reminds me of the center weighted focus screen on the Canon A1.
This makes me think that you can switch between an old style manual focus screen and a digital focus screen.
mr2_serious
Senior Member
I think that is the metering. I see the something similar on the d300s n d800 (different locations though)
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BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Yep - Spot Metering vs. Matrix Metering.
Whiskeyman
Senior Member
Mightyquin
New member
It's clear now that the Df is just another Nikon DSLR with stuff added on to it.
The designers at Nikon stuffed up when they tried to translate 'less is more' in google and it came out as 'more is less'!
The designers at Nikon stuffed up when they tried to translate 'less is more' in google and it came out as 'more is less'!
I am going to guess that this camera will be very popular in Japan and China, the latter where there is a new infatuation with classic glass. I understand that, I've been infatuated with classic glass for 20 years now. The camera can use and meter with pre-AI lenses, the first Nikon DSLR made to do so. The camera even has an "uncoupled meter mode" which has not been seen since the Nikon Tn meter of 1967 or so.
As for more "bells and whistles" than the user of a Nikon FE2 or F3HP would like to see- most people are used to them. Nikon's competition will be the new full-frame Sony mirrorless camera, used with an F-Mount adapter. That means using the aperture manually, a dark viewfinder at F5.6 or so, and manual focus for all lenses. The Df- I can use with pre-AI lenses, set an Aperture on the lens and dial into the camera, use on aperture preferred auto and focus with the lens wide-open. Better than using with a Sony. I can use a Nikkor AF lens on auto-everything with the Nikon, not so on the Sony.
We'll see what the prices of older Nikon glass do with this new camera. They are already way up from a few years ago because of mirrorless cameras. Prices of used Leica glass where cheap before the leica M8 came out. $70 Summicron, $70 Canon 50/1.5, $95 Nikkor 5cm F1.4, etc 50 times over for me. I paid for a Leica M9 and M Monochrom by selling off lenses and still have 60 of them in Leica mount. I have at least 100 lenses in F-Mount. $25 50/1.4, $25 55/3.5, $50 5.8cm F1.4, $125 55/1.2, etc.... So- back to the build quality on this camera. If the lens mount is screwed into plastic as it is on the D600, that would stop me from buying it. I'm guessing it's closer to the D800, Nikon still remembers that their old lenses were heavy.
Just to add- prices of Nikkor lenses in Leica mount- way up, about 6x in the last 10 years.
As for more "bells and whistles" than the user of a Nikon FE2 or F3HP would like to see- most people are used to them. Nikon's competition will be the new full-frame Sony mirrorless camera, used with an F-Mount adapter. That means using the aperture manually, a dark viewfinder at F5.6 or so, and manual focus for all lenses. The Df- I can use with pre-AI lenses, set an Aperture on the lens and dial into the camera, use on aperture preferred auto and focus with the lens wide-open. Better than using with a Sony. I can use a Nikkor AF lens on auto-everything with the Nikon, not so on the Sony.
We'll see what the prices of older Nikon glass do with this new camera. They are already way up from a few years ago because of mirrorless cameras. Prices of used Leica glass where cheap before the leica M8 came out. $70 Summicron, $70 Canon 50/1.5, $95 Nikkor 5cm F1.4, etc 50 times over for me. I paid for a Leica M9 and M Monochrom by selling off lenses and still have 60 of them in Leica mount. I have at least 100 lenses in F-Mount. $25 50/1.4, $25 55/3.5, $50 5.8cm F1.4, $125 55/1.2, etc.... So- back to the build quality on this camera. If the lens mount is screwed into plastic as it is on the D600, that would stop me from buying it. I'm guessing it's closer to the D800, Nikon still remembers that their old lenses were heavy.
Just to add- prices of Nikkor lenses in Leica mount- way up, about 6x in the last 10 years.
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Brian, there is one thing you don't take into consideration with your assumption about the manual aperture with the Sony. With a Nikon, focusing with the closed diaphragm is a problem, but with the Sony mirror less, you will be looking at what the sensor sees and it won't be dark, it will be the adjusted image. So I think this would be irrelevant. But I've been proven wrong before so I'm just saying this for clarification.
I've used an Olympus EP2 with the EVF since it was introduced almost 4 years ago- the image gets noisy, and focus is with the aperture stopped down making it hard to nail the focus as you can do with the lens wide-open. I end up opening the aperture up to focus, then stop down to take. I have adapters for Nikon F, Nikon S, M42, Konica, Leica, and Canon for the u43 format: hardly use them anymore except for technical shots with an IR modified EP2. I ended up adapting manual SLR 50mm lenses to RF coupled Leica mount, Canon 50/1.4, Pentax 50/1.4, Minolta 50/1.4, and Konica 50/1.7.
