Fitting to the retro concept, the Nikon Df has a lot of setting wheels, but no video, WLAN or GPS function. It brings a touch of nostalgia to Nikon’s SLR system and at the same time makes the exceptional image quality of the Nikon D4 affordable for amateurs.
Consistently retro
Instead of 6,000 euros for the D4 housing you pay for a Nikon Df including the matching, light-strong retro-focal range AF-S Nikkor 1,8 / 50 mm G SE only a price of 3,000 euros and gets half price the 16- Megapixel full-format sensor from the D4 with "night-vision quality"
Housing
In addition to the sensor, the Nikon Df from the D4 also inherits the Xpeed3 processor, which is crucial for signal processing, with 14-bit A / D converters and 16-bit image processing. As with the D4, the Nikon Df also has no high-flying at the nominal resolution, but promising prerequisites for low-noise images with higher ISO values and the basis for the high sensitivity range up to ISO 204.800.
Viewfinder and Live View
However, the design is first-rate - the new Nikon Df expands the range of digital full-size cameras by a retro model, which is reminiscent of analog camera elements such as the Nikon F2 from the 1970s. The many dials also allow fast operation. In the segment for 3,000 euros, however, the new competes with a strong competitor from the company's own: the 36-megapixel Nikon D800.
Exposure Metering, Autofocus and Performance
Compared to the Nikon Df, the Nikon Df is noticeably lighter and more compact, but in some respects it is also more economical: it comes without a built-in flash, has a slimmed-down autofocus after submission of the Nikon D610 consumer full- SD double slot of the D800 only a single slot for SDHC / XC media. In addition, the memory card must share a compartment with the lithium-ion battery.
The retro concept, which is designed for the Nikon D design, covers far more than the design. Nikon also covers features that have only been established in recent years at the Kameramarkt, such as the video function, WLAN and GPS. In addition to the vintage camera, the many electoral bikes as well as the renouncement of motif programs and a full automatic fit.
In addition to the M mode, there is time, aperture and program automation. As a special feature, the Nikon Df has a fold-out aperture stop lever so that, in addition to the modern F lenses, old Nikkor optics designed before 1977 can also be connected without an iris transmission.
The Nikon Df can control the exposure by means of an aperture measurement, but the photographer must set the focal length and light intensity in the menu under "Lens data", activate the "Lens without AI" entry under "Iris transmission" and finally the aperture Set manually - cumbersome. In addition, the lens remuneration in the 1970s was less mature than today. Nevertheless, some may be pleased about this feature, especially since some of the old Nikkor lenses are at least optimally well-suited to the Df housing.
Not least because of its distinctive and yet simple design, the Nikon Df radiates elegance even though it is only made of plastic on the upper, lower and rear sides of magnesium elements. The molded handle is slightly smaller and subtler than the otherwise similarly compact, but about 100 g lighter D610 and is located less comfortable in the hand despite the structured surface.
To ensure that the lowest possible dust is deposited on the low-pass filter, the Nikon Df has the Nikon-SLRs mandatory sensor cleaning system on board. In addition, their housing should be as well sealed as the D800.
Nikon, however, makes compromises when it comes to slit closure. It is designed for 150,000 exposures instead of for 400,000 (D4) or 200,000 (D800), and only exposes exposures up to 1/4000 instead of 1/8000 s. The different shutter and mirror design is also a major reason why the Nikon Df In spite of the same sensor and similar processor in series mode works much slower than the D4: the latter creates 10.2 B / s, the Df just 4.6 B / s.
In addition, the new one, unlike the D4, can not switch from the slot to the electronic shutter, in order to trigger almost silently. In fact, their "Quiet" mode brings in very little, and at most a slight, noise reduction when the photographer picks up the shutter button and slowly presses the trigger.
As typical for Nikon's current full-size cameras, the Df has a large, clear SLR viewfinder with an effective 0.7x magnification and 100% coverage. Using the APS-C format (24 x 16 mm) reduces the field of view to 97%. Grid lines can be displayed via the system menu. A separate cap with fastening clip is included to close the viewfinder.
Camera control
In terms of the monitor, Nikon differs from the retro concept: the decent 3.2-inch display with 307,000 RGB pixels is responsible not only for menu, info display and playback, but also for the live-view, if necessary with electronic water scale . If an exposure correction is made, the effect is directly there. However, if you want to regulate iris and shutter speed manually, the LV exposure preview must explicitly call up via the dimmer button. In addition, the Nikon Df will display a histogram only in the display.
For the exposure measurement, the Nikon Df uses a RGB sensor with 2.016 pixels, like the D610, a descent compared to D4 and D800, which can reach 91,000 pixels. The phase autofocus system coupled to the exposure metering system was also taken over by the more favorable D610, not by Nikon's professional team: it operates with 39 instead of 51 fields, 9 instead of 15 cross sensors, and slower compared to D4 and D800 >
Picture gallery
In the test, the Nikon Df needed an average of 0.33 sec. For focusing and firing at an optimum light ratio, while 0.47 s (D4: 0.26 / 0.24 s, D800: 019 / 0.29 s) in the darkened environment. If the camera has to switch from the live view to the contrast autofocus system in the live view, the delay time is extended to 0.97 s (D4: 0.85 s, D800: 0.92s)
Nikon uses a lot of choice wheels: rear a universally applicable u.a. For the front, one for the bezel, at the top one for ISO number and exposure correction, one for the shooting mode, the other for the shutter speed with rotary switch for setting the operating mode
It is no wonder that the upper second display is barely space, but the more noticeable the amount of information it contains, from aperture, exposure time and battery status to the number of still available shots - Nikon brings it all to 1.8 x 0.7 Cm below.
Image quality with low light
Picture gallery
Also interesting is
Test Conclusion
Apart from the aperture wheel, which is uncomfortably accessible between the handle bulge and the lens, the decisive dials are equipped with a locking device. As a rule, a button press is sufficient to release the lock. The mode wheel must be dragged upwards, however, during the rotation.
Practical: in live view mode, the spot white balance measuring field can be quickly and easily positioned. Menu structure and controls such as four-directional rocker and i-button (quick menu) are known from other digital Nikon SLRs.
Nikon's Nikon Df's 36 x 23.9 mm full-size sensor compares the Nikon Df to a larger number of pixels, which is particularly worthwhile with higher sensitivities. The 16 mm-pixel-compatible resolution remains almost constant until ISO 800 is reached (1,449 to 1,418 LP / BH), as well as the dead-leaves values as a measure for the representation of color contrasts (1,084 to 1,049 LP / BH). In addition, there is the very good fine-tuning (0.5 kurtosis) and the moderate noise (0.5 to 0.8 VN).
Only from ISO 1.600 comes a discreet visual noise into the game, which strengthens itself up to ISO 3,200 still a trace. Nevertheless, the Nikon Df belongs to the privileged cameras, which can still have useful results.
From ISO 3,200 to ISO 6,400, however, the performance falls more clearly: the noise is slightly disturbing at 1.3 VN, and the dead-leave values decrease from 1.008 (ISO 3.200) to 857 LP / BH (ISO 6.400); 12.800, large-area color noise finally occurs (1.6 VN).
Nothing is the Df at ISO 6,400 and 12,800 better than the D4 and the D610. Compared to the 36-megapixel counterpart D800, the Df is expected to be lower because of the resolution, but with a more moderate texture and diffraction loss when dimmed.
The Nikon Df is a camera with radiance and exceptional picture quality. In comparison, the Nikon Df once again gets a little more out of the 16 MP full format sensor than the twice as expensive D4 - especially at higher sensitivities. The fact that she can not record videos fits the concept. Apart from the sensor and image processor, both from the D4, the Df inherits numerous components from the consumer model D610.
On the whole okay, only with the AF sensor Nikon would have better grasped the D4 component. And also a full magnesium housing would not hurt. Nevertheless the surcharge against the D610 (about 1.000 euro) appears fair to the sight of the results. Buying picture quality.
Nikon DF
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