The Df Revival

[Jakov Minić]

You just got a pillow in your head Jakov 

That means that I have studied well and that you accept me as a master

[Erik Lund]

Yes

[Frank Fremerey]

Straight?
Zenlike?
Works for me?


The Df works for many, but not for me.

I always felt like holding a hybrid between a D600 which I use daily and love and a FM-2 which I used daily from 1988 til 2004 and loved to bits.

Two in one. Df ... "f = fusion" felt like "c= confusion" for me.

[Jakov Minić]

Does 'Confusion' mean that you like adjusting the settings of your camera by going through the menus?
On the FM2 you couldn't even have an ISO dial, remember
Just like the Df can't have the roll-your-film dial
Quite nicely on top of the ISO/film dial you can also find the exposure compensation dial. Quite genius if you ask me.

The top right hand of the two look very similar to me by having three elements; sharing the shutter speed dial and the shutter release.

A famous formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger once started complaining how they were introducing to many dials on his steering wheel to which the other formula 1 drivers just rolled their eyes (films).

[Frank Fremerey]

The ISO-Dial on the FM2 is clear to be seen on the picture. It is integrated into the Time-Dial.



I do not complain that the Df does not have enough dials for me, she has too many, because she can be used as a D600-Type-Camera as well as in the old FM/FE/F3 way.

The Fuji Interface is wonderful. I never use the menus, I use three freely configurable buttons (one for ISO, one for Macro Mode, one for drive)  to access the functions I need without even taking the eye from the huge bright optical viewfinder.

What do I miss on the Fuji? Exchangable Nikkor lenses.

[John Geerts]

John, love the last one with the boy riding through the water spouts.  I really like the exposure and colours.
Tom

Thank you, Tom.

[RobOK]

I do not complain that the Df does not have enough dials for me, she has too many, because she can be used as a D600-Type-Camera as well as in the old FM/FE/F3 way.

The Fuji Interface is wonderful. I never use the menus, I use three freely configurable buttons (one for ISO, one for Macro Mode, one for drive)  to access the functions I need without even taking the eye from the huge bright optical viewfinder.

What do I miss on the Fuji? Exchangable Nikkor lenses.

I tend to agree with this. I love the Df and use it as often as I shoot (weekly-ish) but have never gotten the hang of all the unlock buttons to move dials without looking at them. I am sure it can be done, but it is not in my "muscle memory". I am tempted by the Fuji, probably the XT-1 or future X-Pro2.  But to get all new lenses.... sigh. Maybe one day there will be a Nikon mirrorless with F-mount and a refined Df interface.

In the meantime, two from the current Df!!

[Jan Anne]

My experience with the Df is limited to fooling around with Bjørns spare Df during one of our trips, though I've shot Nikons for years it feels a bit weird handling one compared to my Sony a7S (how quickly can we get used something else).

That said I can totally see myself owning one of these beauties in the future, would be prefect in combination with my 50/1.2 Ai-S.

This one was shot in Montenegro last year with Bjørns Df and his chipped Noct Nikkor 58/1.2:


And here is Mister Cool himself - aka Jakovic - using his Panda Df and 300/4.5 Ai-S

Sony a7S with Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO Lanthar EF

[tommiejeep]

Cool shot of the Df  ,  not a starring role Mr. Cool  .  Since you have shot the Df,  what do you think about the Df files compared to the 12 MP files coming from your a7s?  I really enjoy working with the Df files more than the D750 files.  I am wondering what an a7sII will look like and at what price.
Cheers,
Tom

[stenrasmussen]

The upper deck control dials are fine but the buttons and directional pads are still very much like toys compared to the Dƒ's.
I know 'cause I've tried the switch twice. As for the files...yes, RAF's are good but the NEF's from the Dƒ are more flexible. JPEGs ooc is an easy win for Fuji though.

[Jakov Minić]

Jan Anne the second photo that you posted is magnificent!
I wonder where you got that model 

[John Geerts]

The AF 17-35   -  Besterd-square -

[Frank Fremerey]

The upper deck control dials are fine but the buttons and directional pads are still very much like toys compared to the Dƒ's.
I know 'cause I've tried the switch twice. As for the files...yes, RAF's are good but the NEF's from the Dƒ are more flexible. JPEGs ooc is an easy win for Fuji though.

I will stay with Nikon for a while.

For the time being #1 reason is the NPS. Noone has is. Except Big C for Sports.

Image quality of D600 and experience with RAW conversion. Reason #2.

I feel very much at home there since 1988. #3

I  am not sure that Gen5 might be another leap forward. This is wait and pray.

So.
The AF of the Oly plus IBIS
The ergonomics and lenses of the Fuji
The A7R2 but not the sytem and surely not the servive of Sony

they all do not cut it

an video? Hä? What? Need it?

[Frank Fremerey]

I hate it that Nikon gave up on Capture NX...

[Jan Anne]

I hate it that Nikon gave up on Capture NX...

So do I, processing the Df files with CNX2 made me feel at home straight away as I've used nothing else for years to process all my Nikon files. I'm a strong believer in a simple but capable first party raw editor, sadly Sony is not on par with CNX2 so I used CNX2 for the first few months to process Sony TIFF files

I have no experience with the CNX2 successor though, how does that compare to CNX2?