Nikon Df: I bought a Nikon Df in order to continue using the many Nikor lenses I've collected over the past 50 years. The lenses work, but even with the instruction manual I'm not sure...

Nikon Df

I bought a Nikon Df in order to continue using the many Nikor lenses I've collected over the past 50 years. The lenses work, but even with the instruction manual I'm not sure I'm doing things correctly. Is there an Ugly Hedgehog forum on the Nikon Df? If not, is anyone interested in starting one?
Thanks, Terry.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I do not believe so, however a few of us on here use the the Df. Perhaps if you asked specific questions those of us that use one could square you away. I also still own non-AI and manual AI, D type, AF-S and one G lenses without issues. There are a few steps to go through to put them to use, but they all work fine once you are set up. I have only owned mine for a year and believe there are others with more Df experience than me. Ask away. And yeah, to my brain the manual can be confusing.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

With respect, it is unlikely that Admin will authorize a section focused on one camera out of the hundreds of thousands that have been manufactured. Are we to have sections that just focus on the (excellent) Olympus Pen E-PL5 or the Canon G11 or the Leica M2?

Nikon Df

Thanks for the quick initial responses. I'll work on some specific questions tonight. If there are other cameras like the Df, a more general discussion could be useful. I'm new to this (or any other forum) so have a lot to learn about how to ask the right questions.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Nikon Df wrote:

I bought a Nikon Df in order to continue using the many Nikor lenses I've collected over the past 50 years. The lenses work, but even with the instruction manual I'm not sure I'm doing things correctly. Is there an Ugly Hedgehog forum on the Nikon Df? If not, is anyone interested in starting one?
Thanks, Terry.

There are restrictions with using vintage Nikkor lenses. I believe you can use old AI and AI-S lenses and later, but pre-AI lenses could be seriously problematic. You loose various functions with different old film lenses. See the following Nikon Compatibility chart.

https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

Good luck!

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

pesfls wrote:

I do not believe so, however a few of us on here u... (show quote)

What Camera manuel is NOT confusing?

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

hookedupin2005 wrote:

What Camera manuel is NOT confusing?

Guess if I think about it, none I have ever waded through!

Larryshuman

Last month I used my Nikon Df with my 200~500 F:5.6 VR G at Lock & Dam 14 in Clinton IA. I used manual with auto Iso. Shutter speed was set at 1/4000, I shot at the same time a Nikon D5 on my 600mmF:4 VR G and you cannot tell which camera/lens was used. Last week I shot a juvenile Red-tail Hawk with the Df/200~500 and they came out just as stunning. You can download a Df manual from Nikon or just goggle it.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

lamiaceae wrote:

There are restrictions with using vintage Nikkor lenses. I believe you can use old AI and AI-S lenses and later, but pre-AI lenses could be seriously problematic. You loose various functions with different old film lenses. See the following Nikon Compatibility chart.

https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

Good luck!

You can use pre AI but modern matrix metering is lost. I use a hand held meter in these circumstances but you do not have to. You just have to flip the aperture indexer out of the way before mounting and then enter your lens data in the non cpu menu. It has a tab for non AI lenses. Fully manual works fine although the manual says you can use aperture priority so long as you match the body setting to your lens aperture, if I recall correctly. I have not used that feature. I just continue to use the old glass fully manual, as I am used to that. The manual does clearly state if you do not flip the aperture indexer on the body up you will damage the body if trying to mount it. Yes it is a bit of steps to get set up but if my not so computerize brain can get there, anybody ca.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

There are other forums that are Nikon full frame such as this link: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1021

Even the Fuji forums have multiple models within the same sub forum, so I would say, you are unlikely to get a forum started here with such a limited audience. But you can give it a shot....

Larryshuman

All these images were shot using the Df camera using auto Iso and manual meter. Shutter was 1/4000. You should download the manual from Nikon's site or just google it.

Df & @00-500 G VR
Df & @00-500 G VR...

steve1oshea Loc: Reading, England

Larryshuman wrote:

All these images were shot using the Df camera using auto Iso and manual meter. Shutter was 1/4000. You should download the manual from Nikon's site or just google it.

Great shots, fantastic detail.

BebuLamar

I own a Df since 2013 and love it. I would like to discuss anything about it.

Larryshuman

Its a very basic camera. What is very nice about it is the 16.2 MP sensor is its from Nikon's D4 camera. Great high ISO on cloudy dark days works really well with off camera flash and operates my old nikkor glass as well as the new glass. If you have owned previous Nikon bodys then it should be very easy to get to know the Df really well. Steve Perry has a couple of E books on Nikons Auto Focus and Wildlife shooting. These are really almost required reading by all.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

pesfls wrote:

You can use pre AI but modern matrix metering is l... (show quote)

OK, thanks for the correction. The chart reads a bit confusing for "pre-AI" with the "NO" with out reading the footnote. It seemed odd to me to begin with since I'm sure I've seen pre-AI lenses used on F2 bodies. I don't even own a Nikon camera but I did remember the chart for the OP.

That is one big difference with Pentax, I can use any lens from a M-42 Screw Mount to any K-Mount. Though like Nikon there are various functions and automation lost. How do vintage lens fans live with Canon?

In general, the person I know with a Nikon Df loves it, she leaves a vintage 50mm on it and people stop and ask her about it since it is so cute and retro looking. (That must lead to some embarrassing pick-ups since she is married to a retired COP!)