Nikon DF SLR camera: functionality worthy of a professional

REVIEW * TEST SHOOT * SPECIAL PROJECT * PHOTO CONTEST

In the not too distant past, Nikon built cameras with a full-size sensor only for professional reporters. The size of this sensor is the same as a traditional 36x24mm film frame. On a camera with a full-size sensor, you can successfully use aperture optics and precisely control the depth of field, one of the main expressive tools for the photographer.

Full frame sensor

Nikon Df camera’s sensor is the same as the one found in the Nikon D4, the company’s top-of-the-line flagship professional camera. The main advantage of this sensor is the so-called “fat pixel” or in more professional terms, the large physical size of each cell from which the image is formed. What it does for the user:

• Maximum image quality with full-frame 36mm x 24mm “film-format” sensor. Professional quality photos

  Nikon

  Df

  At half the price of the flagship camera

  Nikon D4

  .

• Superb image quality at all sensitivities

  ISO

  , Including 6400 and 12800

  ISO

  . This makes it possible to take reportage pictures at dusk, by lantern or candlelight, in adverse conditions, without using flash.

• Retention of all the nuances in highlights and shadows with the powerful EXPEED 3 image processor. The ability to deeply edit the frame in graphics programs without artifacts

• Small file size allows for faster continuous shooting at up to 5.5 frames per second. It allows you to take pictures in a professional style, without missing the fleeting nuances of nature or people.

When viewing a frame on a FullHD monitor, it’s hard to find any significant difference between the images taken at different sensitivities. A detailed study of contrast and detail in the photos gives us the following information. Nikon Df produces a contrasting picture with a clear separation of light and dark details from each other and from the background, which makes Nikon’s digital image processing algorithm stand out from other high-end DSLR manufacturers. Respectively, less work is subsequently required in a graphic editor when processing shots with a lot of fine details.

At sensitivities from 100 to 800 ISO the images are beautiful and do not differ at all from each other in terms of noise, you can distinguish them visually only by the file properties in the EXIF. In a series of 1600-6400 ISO shots, noise increases slightly only in the defocus and shadow areas, while scene-sensitive portions of the image are perfectly preserved. This shows the correct algorithm for converting electronic signals into visual information.

Fine texture retention at 3200 ISO. At a record for regular photography sensitivity 12800 ISO, which allows you to take pictures by candlelight or flashlight, noise is more noticeable, but their nature is such that allows you to print exhibition photographs over 60 x 90 centimeters, even without using special noise reduction programs.

The camera’s sensor is excellent and allows you to take high-quality photos at any standard sensitivity setting. I’d call the Nikon Df the best darkroom camera in the price range up to 120,000 Dollars.

Focus system

The focusing system, for which the Multi-CAM 4800 module is responsible, follows the philosophy of the so-called “cropped” cameras, which have a smaller frame size of 23.6 x 15.6 mm. The camera has 39 focus points. Despite claims that the manufacturer guarantees accurate sensor performance with optics as dark as F/5.6, autofocus remains fully accurate even at darker settings, such as F/6.7.

• 39 focusing sensors let you catch in focus all the important details in the picture, especially if they are in the center of the frame.

• High sensitivity sensors allow you to work with nonaperture lenses, avoiding focusing errors.

• It is possible to reduce the number of visible focus points or select one of them. Focus more precisely on the part of the scene that is important in this way.

• Focusing quickly and accurately anywhere in the frame when using Live View mode.

• The presence of the so-called “screwdriver”, a mechanical focus drive for older lenses, which often have recognizable and popular optical properties.

• No blurred images are a problem. In 2 months of testing the Nikon Df, not a single blurred shot was caused by the camera, even when used with telephoto lenses.

Among the focus sensors are 9 cross-shaped, with the central portion of the focus metering system sensors can work with not very fast lenses. The most predictable and reliable is the single-point focus system in the center of the frame. But if we want a fast-moving object such as a bird, an athlete or a car to be sharp throughout the frame, we can switch on the other sensors as well, or choose only the point where sharpness is most important, such as a human eye.

You can do it quickly by pressing the AF mode button with your left thumb and using the joystick to select the desired AF point with your right thumb. True, most of the focus points are closer to the center, so if your main subject is closer to the edge of the frame, you still have to move your camera. You can switch between single point, group of 9 , 19 or 39 by pressing the AF mode button with your left hand and turning the knurled control wheel on the front right side of the camera with your right hand.

All the traditional focusing modes are included: Single Frame, Continuous Tracking and Auto and Manual AF. I must say that most experienced photographers prefer the first mode, the second is used in difficult changing conditions, but they themselves choose the zone of the depicted area, not trusting it to the camera’s computer. And manual focus is used when shooting with a tripod.

Ergonomics. Classic operation

The camera body is definitely different from the smooth shape with the big grip we know today. The body is made of metal, based on a lightweight magnesium alloy. Its controls and look follow the best of professional film photography in the eighties and nineties, such as the Nikon F3 and FM2.

This applies to the front and top surface. I had no problem with this solution because of my long experience with film cameras. The back of the camera and menu are almost exactly the same as the modern Nikon D600 and D610, which have proven to be excellent.

• Weatherproofed to withstand high humidity, heavy rain or sand.

• Conscious and controlled switching of sensitivity and exposure compensation concentrates specifically on the process of shooting.

• No built-in flash, making it a tool for the serious photographer.

• Large, high-resolution 921,000-pixel display with automatic brightness control lets you see your shots in great detail.

• Fits comfortably in your hand and classic controls let you quickly switch shooting modes.

Thanks to the fact that the device does not have a large handle, it is very light and compact. An impressive set of interchangeable optics, including 500 mm1:4 lens and three zoom lenses, kindly provided by Nikon New York office, I managed to pack in one LowePro Rower AW II backpack, which isn’t too big. Carrying it by plane, carrying it in the field was no problem, but if the camera had been a couple of centimeters larger, I would have had to completely overhaul my gear set and change my shooting style.

The bright viewfinder, which displays 100 percent of the frame, clearly shows all the necessary shooting information, but without the frills that usually distract from the photographic process. The liquid crystal display on top of the camera is small, showing only shutter speed, aperture, battery status, and the number of frames that can be recorded on a memory card.

In my opinion, some of the controls, such as the design of the power button and the aperture wheel, could not negatively affect an experienced photographer. My wife, who is a professional photographer and home photographer, commented positively on this solution and mentioned no problems even with women’s hands.

A large stock of lenses

The F bayonet, which attaches the lens to the camera, was developed by Nikon in 1959. With some refinements it has survived to this day. Today’s camera system with this mount has a huge fleet of lenses. Among all this variety there are autofocus, special, telephoto, wide-angle, even rare American lenses with manual focus, adapters for microscopes, telescopes.

• The versatile F mount gives the Nikon Df the ability to use the world’s largest selection of lenses, from the very old to the latest.

• The new lineup of FX-format Nikkor lenses with Nano Crystal Coat on the lens provides the highest image quality.

• Ability to use old lenses. Nikon Df is also compatible with a large fleet of modern DX-standard lenses, produced both by Nikon and third-party manufacturers for SLR cameras with APS-C format sensor size of 24×16 mm.

The fact is that today some lenses from the seventies and even earlier with uncorrected chromatic aberration, uncoated or with other features of the pattern help create a technique which in some cases can be used as an element of one’s own style in artistic photography.

Pleasant Surprises

The small LCD display on the top panel of the device, plenty of mechanical switches, a jack for a simple mechanical remote release, a cable in common parlance – all this is not just a tribute to the classic design, but a quite deliberate opportunity to reduce the power consumption of the camera.

In the conditions of an autonomous expedition, this parameter proved to be very important. Out of 45 shooting days, only one day I finished the job due to a dead battery.

Turns out I can get around 1000 shots a day with active use of optical stabilization and frequent access to the power-hungry Live View mode. This factor may not be important for a city dweller, but for a traveler it can be decisive.

After reading the opinion of some people in the world wide web about the Nikon DF camera, I was surprised how few experienced photographers in the American-speaking segment of the Internet talk about the new technique. And on the other hand, how quickly the stamps and turns of journalists are replicated by the “copy-paste” generation in blogs and forums.

I will voice just a few of the myths:

• The Nikon Df’s design is made for hipsters – it’s absolutely not, the Nikon Df’s design is familiar to seasoned photographers with a track record.

• The camera has an uncomfortable grip – this is wrong – you need to make some adjustments to the Nikon Df’s usage techniques.

• Your camera is hard to use for shooting wildlife or travel, it’s a camera for the studio. That’s an absolutely incorrect opinion, you can use it to shoot nature and travel, to get good results and have fun doing it.

The camera has a very good algorithm for converting photographs to the JPG system when shooting under conditions of mixed light from windows and incandescent lamps, in any daylight. Auto white balance works fine, in many cases you can quickly publish material to the internet without using RAW NEF format.

And finally, the camera is just beautiful. There is an opinion among the capital’s users that it can occupy the niche of a status accessory. Not a single person in 2 months of use, and among them were many practicing photographers, asked me a question about the retro design. To those around me, the Nikon Df was just a good camera.

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* TEST SHOOTING

* REPORTAGE IN FLAMES

* DAYTIME SHOOTING

* BUFFET PHOTOGRAPHY