Nikon Df. Opinions from users appreciated: I have been looking long and longing for a Df. My SLR is an F6 and my lightweight SLR is an FE and my DSLR is a 7100. I have a number of...

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

I have been looking long and longing for a Df. My SLR is an F6 and my lightweight SLR is an FE and my DSLR is a 7100. I have a number of modern fully automatic full frame lenses and even more legacy (FF, type Ai) Nikon glass so there's no problem with lenses for a full frame DSLR. To anyone using a Df: I am wondering if, in the context of an F6 and FE and 7100, a Df would disappoint me. I really don't want all the weight and hullaballoo of the 850, am not interested in getting into mirrorless, and am drawn to the simplicity and weight of the Df. Would the IQ disappoint me? The elevated price is not an issue.

Michael

BebuLamar

I have the Df and I love it but with that said I think you may not be happy with the Df. It's not that much lighter or smaller than the D850. One of my dislike of the Df is that it's too big. The IQ is good but not good as the same time because it has fewer pixels than your D7100 while you can get almost 3 times the number of pixels with the D850. If you buy new the D850 is even less expensive now.
If you consider the Df you must like its controls because that is what it has.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Df comes in at 26oz, the D750 at 29oz, and D850 at 35oz. A 16MP DSLR from 2013 for any price more than $800 is a waste of your money.

Are you shopping for the full-frame image capabilities or something else? The D750 / D780 options are a better choice. The D850 is shaping up to be the last best Nikon DSLR.

The world already might justify moving to FF as a mirrorless rather than a DSLRinosaur.

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

The Df comes in at 26oz, the D750 at 29oz, and D850 at 35oz. A 16MP DSLR from 2013 for any price more than $800 is a waste of your money.

Are you shopping for the full-frame image capabilities or something else? The D750 / D780 options are a better choice. The D850 is shaping up to be the last best Nikon DSLR.

The world already might justify moving to FF as a mirrorless rather than a DSLRinosaur.

Yeah and if you get a Z7 (not the II) which is only $2300 new. The IQ is better and can use your lenses although for some it may not AF. So if you want a DSLR the D850 is good and if you want a mirrorless the Z7 is good. If you want a small camera the Df isn't it. It's too big for me although I like it in many ways (no video capabilities included).

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

A lot to love and a lot to hate about the Df drmike99
My take? Over priced for what it delivers... albeit it has a healthy "Cult" following...

Uncle Ken did an extensive review on this "Unique" DSLR
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/df.htm

Ken cuts to the chase on his thoughts...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

drmike99 wrote:

I have been looking long and longing for a Df. My ... (show quote)

The Df is a nostalgia camera. It was designed to appeal to those that owned Nikon film camera's in the 1970's and 1980's. Don't get me wrong, it is a D4 in disguise of a 1970 film camera.
If your looking for STILL photography, it is fine. But for sports and wildlife, it is old technology. It does not have Group Auto Focus like the D4s, a separate focus system like that in the D500, D850 and D5, and lacks adequate frames per second to be of any use for birds in flight.

Carnpo Loc: North Carolina

I love my Df. I think it is for a limited market. Old people like me that used Nikon 35mm Cameras. In the early 70s I bought a Nikkormat because I could not afford an F model. As soon as I saw the release info on the Df I knew I wanted one. After I retired I worked a short term long hours high pay contract job. I rewarded myself with the Df. It has the same Sensor as the pro body D4 which was current at the time. I have other DSLRs. I use the Df for portrait work or carry around event shoots. I only use 50mm and 85mm primes with the Df. Just going back in time (sort of). If any of the above describes you, get the Df.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Carnpo wrote:

I love my Df. I think it is for a limited market. ... (show quote)

I bought the Df for much of the same reasons. It is a fine camera, buts it’s initial appeal was its design, and like you, when I first saw it, I knew I wanted one. I had the resources, so I rewarded myself with this beautiful, but still very workable, and fine camera. I use it on the street with a 35mm 1.4 lens attached.

To the OP, the Df is probably not the camera you need—but obviously you know best what you want.
I admit that when I plan a shot where I want the best image I can produce, I use my 800E.

BebuLamar

I don't know if the OP wanted to buy new or used. Although I heard Nikon has discontinued the Df you can still buy new ones from B&H but it's $250 more than the D850 as Nikon is having the D850 on sales. And certainly the D850 can produce images just as good if not better than the D800E.
I love the Df but I doubt that the Df is a better camera for the OP as he wanted a small and light weight camera. The Df isn't much of a weight saving and definitely not a space saving camera.

ELNikkor

Your F6 is like a DSLR without the sensor, the Df is like a film camera, without the film. The FE was my favorite film camera, and if you wish you could have that "feel", and still have the advantages of digital, the Df will fit your interests. You probably won't notice much difference between its photos and the D7100's, except maybe in low-light shadow blow-ups.

flasfill Loc: Sandy Springs GA

drmike99 wrote:

I have been looking long and longing for a Df. My ... (show quote)

My everyday camera was am FE. DSLRs included D100, D200, D600 and D800. Menus drive me crazy. When the opportunity to purchase a great used Df I jumped on it and have never looked back. It’s wonderful.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I only use 50mm and 85mm primes with the Df..." Carnpo Richard Avedon created some of the greatest photos of all time with effectively just two focal lengths: 50mm and 85mm (35mm equivalents)... But then again Avedon was a Fashion and Portrait photographer... Portraiture was his first love... Though Avedon said that Fashion paid his bills...

BebuLamar

ELNikkor wrote:

Your F6 is like a DSLR without the sensor, the Df is like a film camera, without the film. The FE was my favorite film camera, and if you wish you could have that "feel", and still have the advantages of digital, the Df will fit your interests. You probably won't notice much difference between its photos and the D7100's, except maybe in low-light shadow blow-ups.

The Df is much bigger than the FE although not that much heavier. The biggest disappointment for me with the Df otherwise it's a great camera for me. I prefer a heavier camera but smaller.

trinhqthuan Loc: gaithersburg

drmike99 wrote:

I have been looking long and longing for a Df. My ... (show quote)

I was in the market of Df and D750. After research and research... I went with D750. D750 is better than Df in almost evry corner of photography except the look of a classic Nikon in a Df silver body.

BebuLamar

trinhqthuan wrote:

I was in the market of Df and D750. After research and research... I went with D750. D750 is better than Df in almost evry corner of photography except the look of a classic Nikon in a Df silver body.

And a lot cheaper too. If you bought the D750 at the time when Nikon had the sales you could get it for about half the price of the Df.