Nikon DF first impressions

Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
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gqtuazon said:
This is not helpful for me. Lol!
Sent from my iPhone.
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I know. But after holding it, I think I'd miss the two wheel control I have with my present cameras. I can do all kinds of changes without lifting my eyes away from the viewfinder where with the Df, I'm not so sure.
Plus the best overall sensor score is still held by the D610... And the price of the Df is a little steep for me. I'm sticking to what I have for now. But as you might know, now doesn't last too long. :)
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Marcel said:
I know. But after holding it, I think I'd miss the two wheel control I have with my present cameras. I can do all kinds of changes without lifting my eyes away from the viewfinder where with the Df, I'm not so sure.
Plus the best overall sensor score is still held by the D610... And the price of the Df is a little steep for me. I'm sticking to what I have for now. But as you might know, now doesn't last too long. :)
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Yes indeed . I've seen some other users images with just available light also and I must say that they are pretty good especially with primes.

Like Brian have mentioned, mf is very good using the viewfinder which is consistent with other reports.


Sent from my iPhone.
 
hark

hark

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Brian said:
Vivitar 135/2.3, wide-open, ISO 5000, Processed with LR4 defaults for color noise. Pearl Harbor exhibit at the Marine Museum.
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This photo bothers me--I am specifically wondering about the skin on his face. It is so smooth, almost too smooth around his cheek and mouth making me wonder if it is from the post-processing, or if he might be a burn victim. I certainly wouldn't mind if he is a burn victim, but if his skin is so soft due to post-processing, you might want to adjust it a little. That said, I really do like the spirit of the photo and its subject! ;)
 
Marcel

Marcel

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hark said:
This photo bothers me--I am specifically wondering about the skin on his face. It is so smooth, almost too smooth around his cheek and mouth making me wonder if it is from the post-processing, or if he might be a burn victim. I certainly wouldn't mind if he is a burn victim, but if his skin is so soft due to post-processing, you might want to adjust it a little. That said, I really do like the spirit of the photo and its subject! ;)
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;) ;) ;) This photo was taken in a museum and the face is probably made of wax... ;) ;)

No pun intended but I got a nice laugh out of your post.
 
hark

hark

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Marcel said:
;) ;) ;) This photo was taken in a museum and the face is probably made of wax... ;) ;)

No pun intended but I got a nice laugh out of your post.
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Seriously??? :eek: It's wax?!! How embarrassing...although I'm laughing my arse off! ;)
 
hark

hark

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Well then, on second thought I guess his face DID get a little hot, didn't it?!! :D
 
B

Brian

Senior Member
hark said:
Seriously??? :eek: It's wax?!! How embarrassing...although I'm laughing my arse off! ;)
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This museum brought in Hollywood specialist to make molds of the faces of Marine volunteers that served in the period represented, and then go over pictures of them in younger days. You could be in the Museum, see a mannequin of a man in their 20s, and look up- do a double-take, and see the man now in their 70s giving the tour. The Museum has one volunteer that is a veteran of Iwo Jima. I thanked him, my Father crash-landed there a number of times.

In Monochrome- even harder to tell these are mannequins.
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
After handling a Df I can honestly say - No Thank you :) It's an interesting camera that's for sure. Tried an 80-400 on it - not good was like attaching a pack of cigarettes on that lens. The grip is way too small for me. I think it will be for folks that shoot with small prime lens, perfect for that.
 
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Brian

Senior Member
So far the biggest lens that has been on mine is the 7-~210 F4~F5.6 zoom, just a test of the AF function on this almost 25 year old lens. It did well. I will be using the 300/4.5 Nikkor-H on it, had the 105/2.5 on it yesterday when 4 deer walked across the backyard. Today, it was a fox from a new litter born this Summer. Used the 300/4.5 on an Olympus EP2 for that.
 
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gqtuazon

Gear Head
Sambr said:
After handling a Df I can honestly say - No Thank you :) It's an interesting camera that's for sure. Tried an 80-400 on it - not good was like attaching a pack of cigarettes on that lens. The grip is way too small for me. I think it will be for folks that shoot with small prime lens, perfect for that.
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Interesting feedback Sam. I have not handled the Df and I am very anxious to hold one. From the pictures that are posted on line, it is slightly lighter and smaller than the D600/D610 but not my much. How was the AF performance? Thanks.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Rick M said:
After reading this thread, I'm going to have to go to my dealer and hold one to get it out of my system.
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That's what I've been thinking also Rick. Time to go to Yokohama (1 hr by train) to go to one of my favorite (BH Photo equivalent stores) and get an actual feel and handling of this camera.

I've been going back and forth with my "near" purchased on this camera and the D610 with the online retailers. Somehow, I am being held back.:confused:
 
Marcel

Marcel

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I've held one and when I came back home I mentioned to my girlfriend that I wouldn't buy a camera that didn't feel good in my hands. I found the grip was not comfortable for me. As much as i like the look of it, I missed the placement of the shutter button compared to all other Nikons. The button is straight on top where the others are slightly angled forward which I find nicer to use. But it's mostly when I tried to open the battery door that I was not impressed. I like to remove my SD or CF cards to upload pics to my computer. Having the SD card inside the battery compartment is not my bag of tea.

The only thing that I find attractive is the sensor's quality under low light.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
I think I'll come to the same conclusion as Marcel as far as feel and controls. I like having the two wheels at my finger tips and the newer grip style. Of course the looks draw me to it, but the functionality and 16mp sensor are drawbacks (to me).
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
I will probably end up with similar conclusions.

However, looking at most of my pictures, the majority of them are indoors with flash. The current FX models does a great job with what I do since I learn how to compensate for their short comings by adjusting the flash output, ISO, shutter and/or aperture.

The problem with me is that I need to use it and process the images to see if the sensor is worth upgrading to. I think it is but it will have draw backs based on what was already mentioned.

However, all of those bells and whistles may not factor later on once you get a stunning low noise final product.

Thinking about not being able to use my remote controls is something that holds me back too including my trusty CF cards which is why I can't seem to make up my mind. I need "both" D800E and Df. :D
 
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