Nikon Df
Apr 8, 2014 08:26:04 #
I am new to this site and have been following the discussions for about a month. I have not seen anything about this revolutionary Nikon camera that allows the use of almost all Nikkor lenses of the F and DSLR systems, i.e. 1959-present. I don't own it yet, still enjoying the D800E and just completed another cycle of orchid photography at the fabulous show of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Has anyone used Non-Ai lenses on the Df?
Apr 8, 2014 08:38:36 #
ssymeono wrote:
I am new to this site and have been following the discussions for about a month. I have not seen anything about this revolutionary Nikon camera that allows the use of almost all Nikkor lenses of the F and DSLR systems, i.e. 1959-present. I don't own it yet, still enjoying the D800E and just completed another cycle of orchid photography at the fabulous show of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Has anyone used Non-Ai lenses on the Df?
Welcome to our forum.
MT Shooter has one, and he did a post or two about it. Ask him questions, and he'll give you good answers.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-198131-1.html
Apr 8, 2014 10:09:03 #
ssymeono wrote:
I am new to this site and have been following the discussions for about a month. I have not seen anything about this revolutionary Nikon camera that allows the use of almost all Nikkor lenses of the F and DSLR systems, i.e. 1959-present. I don't own it yet, still enjoying the D800E and just completed another cycle of orchid photography at the fabulous show of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Has anyone used Non-Ai lenses on the Df?
I don't own the Df, but I do regularly use Non-Ai lenses on my D40, and it works quite well for most situations. Just be prepared to manual focus with the older lenses. If your eyes are good, this shouldn't be too much of a problem photographing orchids, etc.
Apr 8, 2014 10:37:13 #
Thanks very much, very interesting discussion. Both the Df and 800E produced impressive results under difficult lighting conditions. The 800E worked beautifully for me in the orchid indoor project where no tripods or monopods are allowed and there are two competing lighting sources (large skylight and ceiling incandescent lamps). I only went there on sunny days, used the 70-180mm micro most of the time to reach the flowers displayed high up on trees and the ISO set at 800 most of the time. I prefer Aperture priority at 16 but flower displays in shade required occasional changes.
Apr 8, 2014 10:54:07 #
I have used older lenses on the D700 and D800 but the non-Ai lenses don't work with these cameras. I will try the D40, though as you already know digital cameras become obsolete very quickly.
Apr 8, 2014 13:46:03 #
I'm not sure if the Df can meter with Non-Ai lenses, that's something you may want to look into and take into consideration. My D40 cannot meter with the Non-Ai lenses, although with the help of image review, the camera's histogram, a little bit of trial and error (and exposure bracketing for truly difficult lighting situations), you can certainly work around this handicap, at least when shooting stationary subjects such as flowers and landscapes. I think I did read a review article stating that the Df can meter on those lenses to some extent, but I am really not sure.
Apr 8, 2014 17:47:55 #
rook2c4 wrote:
I'm not sure if the Df can meter with Non-Ai lense... (show quote)
The Popular Photography review of the DF (March 2014, pp. 67-71) includes the surprising news that "it's pretty easy to use older lenses on the Df" and that the camera is provided with a retractable coupling lever that makes it possible to engage and use non-Ai lenses. I believe this is the most amazing news, as it allows the use of almost all Nikkors from 1959 onward (few exceptions come into play like the early fish-eyes). It is, of course, understood that we only have manual control and focusing but even so it makes Nikon the only company capable of such incredible achievements. Some of those older lenses had unique qualities and their use on a DSLR will undoubtedly expand the horizon of digital photography. Think of the fabulous 58mm f/1.4 from 1959, the 55mm f/1.2 or the 20mm f/3.5 UD both from 1967, and so many others.
Apr 8, 2014 18:56:07 #
ssymeono wrote:
The Popular Photography review of the DF (March 20... (show quote)
That is awesome. If only ALL Nikon DSLRs came with this functionality/capability.
Apr 9, 2014 02:34:23 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
rook2c4 wrote:
That is awesome. If only ALL Nikon DSLRs came with this functionality/capability.
All Nikon users don't need this capability, so it's fine for most of us to have cameras without it. I don't know what the Nikon engineers had to do to make this work, but I'm happier not paying for the feature. Kind of like all the Df fans who say, "I don't shoot video, so I'm glad the Df doesn't make me pay for it."
Apr 9, 2014 09:37:29 #
amehta wrote:
All Nikon users don't need this capability, so it's fine for most of us to have cameras without it. I don't know what the Nikon engineers had to do to make this work, but I'm happier not paying for the feature. Kind of like all the Df fans who say, "I don't shoot video, so I'm glad the Df doesn't make me pay for it."
Sure there are users that are interested in camera compatibility with only the most recent lenses. But I can't imagine why a user would want have less lens options rather than more. Especially a camera with a two or three thousand price tag. Earlier Nikon DSLRs (D70, D40, D50) were able to mount and use these older lenses, however without the metering capability. In this regard, introducing a new camera with far-reaching backward lens compatibility is a good thing.
Apr 9, 2014 09:53:35 #
You are right, photographers need to be practical and use the most advanced equipment in their work. Nikon recognizes this responsibility and has always produced the best professional equipment possible. At the same time, Nikon feels the need to maintain the artistic integrity of photography and inspire as many as possible to explore beauty in all its aspects. Think of the now scorched California without the gorgeous images that so many photographers have reverently produced in its green condition. Such artistic aspects complete the circle of photography and the Df addresses the need to preserve rather than discard all the gorgeous lenses made not so long ago. I say "Bravo Nikon!" for yet another milestone in your long history of successes.
Apr 9, 2014 13:44:19 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
rook2c4 wrote:
Sure there are users that are interested in camera compatibility with only the most recent lenses. But I can't imagine why a user would want have less lens options rather than more. Especially a camera with a two or three thousand price tag. Earlier Nikon DSLRs (D70, D40, D50) were able to mount and use these older lenses, however without the metering capability. In this regard, introducing a new camera with far-reaching backward lens compatibility is a good thing.
If I have to pay an extra $200 for the feature, I'll pass. The Df needs an additional linkage between the camera and the lens to stop down the aperture when taking the picture, so it's not the same as adding an extra bit of software.
I do appreciate the strong commitment to backward compatibility, that was a factor in my choosing my first Nikon SLR.
Apr 9, 2014 14:54:13 #
ssymeono wrote:
I am new to this site and have been following the discussions for about a month. I have not seen anything about this revolutionary Nikon camera that allows the use of almost all Nikkor lenses of the F and DSLR systems, i.e. 1959-present. I don't own it yet, still enjoying the D800E and just completed another cycle of orchid photography at the fabulous show of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Has anyone used Non-Ai lenses on the Df?
Yes, I regularly use older non-AI lenses on my Df. The only difference is that you must use the aperture knob on the front of the camera to select the aperture when metering, then follow it by turning the actual lens aperture ring.
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