Nikon Df2 v. a D700 replacement?

[David H. Hartman]

I totally fine with the D800 control layout. The D5 looks as good or even better. I've wondered about the appeal of the Df. Is it inspite of the retro layout or is that part of it?

My problem with the D800 starts at about 1250 ISO where edge sharpness and color noise starts to degrade the image. When I bought the D800 it was in spite of its 36MP not because of them. I really wanted a camera with the D300s layout and the D4s image sensor and processor. FX is a must.

Now I really like the D800. I probably should have bought a D800e. The D5 is and probably will continue to be way out of reach financial. I want a camera with better image quality in low light and a viewfinder more suited to manual focus lenses.

What's the Miss Lizzy of Nikon dSLR(s). Will I hold her before my eyes grow too old?

Dave Hartman

[Hugh_3170]

Given that the price of a new D5 is over half the price of a new small car here in Australia, a D700 or Df successor with teh D5 sensor would be very welcome.

I have both the D700 and the Df, and could argue for a successor to either of these two fine cameras, although if just one then I would prefer the D700.  But that is just me - others mileages may differ on such a choice.  I am pretty sure somehow that Nikon will never build a successor to the D700 with the latest D5 sensor in it.

[aerobat]

I've transitioned from a D300 to the D800 and always liked the "pro" control layout.
The D800 was a problematic machine with AF issues, not well damped mirror etc... just never grew happy with it.
A friend recommended the D750 but I wasn't really thinking of "downgrading".
Well after a year of D750 usage for me it certainly hits the sweet spot of good resolution, low light capability and good AF.
If a future D850 inherits the D5/D500 AF it will certainly gain interest from me.

[MILLIREHM]

Have used amongst others the D700, the D800E, D500, D4S, D5. Plus I am the owner of a Df which I like and will replace more of the jobs I used the D700 for after it lost track compared to newer cameras speedwise. I enjoy the Df with the exception of a ergonomic disadvantageous front wheel that make my fingers hurt over the time.

There is rumors of a Df2 but i don't see what the improvements should be. Hope it wont be a Df with (re-added) video function.

[Frank Fremerey]

I hope to see the fifth generation D8xx VERY soon.

I fear it will be very expensive, starting at 4000 Euros (The amount I paid for the D3 when it came out)

I also fear I will be tempted to buy it on day one like I did with the D500. Not economical at all.

I never tried the D800, I tested the D800e and the D810 and the D750 extensively though.

I liked the much more reliable AF in the D800e compared to the D600, the D810 is the better balance as a whole package. The D750 felt more snappy and lesss professional even than the D600 or the D810. Image quality more or less the same in all of these: D600, D750, D810. Really nice cameras, but if you got one it does not make much sense to switch between them.

The D5 is really really nice in next to no light. Have not used any camera that can compare by a huge length. The price is too much for what she is FOR ME, ymmv.

[tommiejeep]

Wolfgang, all I would like to see is 1/8000 and more focus points covering most of the sensor.  Unless they pull something out of a hat, I am very happy with the sensor.  I shoot D750, D3S, D700 and now the D500.  All have specific purposes but the Df is the one I use for fun.   For static images I have he Sony a7rii and that is more MP than I need.  I indeed moaned about the ergonomics , even delayed my purchase, but the only thing keeping me from buying another, mint,  Df is the thought that a Df2 may be announced. 

I have found the silent shooting on the EM1 and a7rii very useful but the Df is not that bad.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

The D810 has a bit better viewfinder than the D800 and hundreds of small improvements. Noise is a bit better behaved at high iso than the D800 (which produces streaks in the blue channel at ISO 6400 if underexposed in low K light and color corrected; this artifact is not present on the D810 at least to such a degree). Many of the improvements are to improve chances of high resolution: more consistent AF, less vibration, EFCS, also quiter and more pleasing sound. Then there are smaller things. I think the D810 is  the best overall package to date in Nikon DSLRs. However, it is due an update soon (2017 probably).

I don't think the price is going up. This family is very popular and is likely to sell well once again, equipped with the AF from the D5. I guess the price will stay at 3200€ and go down from there, once initial demand is satisfied. Stuff that is not expected to sell is priced high, such as the D5. The D810's successor is likely to sell like hot cakes IMO. A lot of people are waiting for more cross type AF points in a camera of this family.

The D750 is another option, it has better image quality at high ISO than the D810. But: the body is just not right for my hands. Many like it a lot, however. VF is ok, but I'm not sure about MF.