The new Nikon Df camera looks like a camera from the 1970′s and I can still remember using a Nikon FM2 from that era which looks quite similar.
Nikon Df Camera Front
The camera has a timeless style but when you look closely it also has the latest technology in many respects.
Nikon Df Camera Rear
One thing that strikes me is that it still uses the old cable releases from time past, not sure that this appeals to me. I would love it to have the current 10-pin remote connector.
The camera uses a 16.2-megapixel FX CMOS sensor which is the same sensor as in the professional D4 camera. It also uses the EXPEED 3 image processing engine with an ISO range of 100 – 12800, which is quite high so it can be seen as a low available light camera.
The camera body is essentially robust magnesium alloy body and is weather and dust resistant.
There is also a special AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G (Special Edition) lens which has been designed especially for this camera.
The camera is quite small and weighs only 710 grams.
Independent dials are provided for setting shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation, exposure mode and release mode.
The camera will power up in a 0.14 seconds with a shutter release time lag of approximately 0.05 seconds which is quite fast.
There is a 39-point Autofocus (AF) System. Featuring a variety of AF-area modes such as Single point AF, Dynamic-area AF, 3D tracking and Auto-area AF.
The Nikon Df camera does not come with built in Wi-fi as many new cameras do, but Nikon’s WU-1A Wireless Mobile Adapater can be used to add this functionality.
Technical Specifications
- Type Single-lens reflex digital camera, Nikon F mount
- 16.2 million pixels
- Image sensor 36.0 x 23.9 mm, CMOS sensor
- Dust reduction System Image sensor cleaning
- Image size (pixels)
- FX (36 x 24) image area : 4928 x 3280 (L), 3696 x 2456 (M), 2464 x 1640 (S)
- DX (24 x 16) image area : 3200 x 2128 (L), 2400 x 1592 (M), 1600 x 1064 (S)
- File format
- NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed
- TIFF (RGB)
- JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16)
- Picture Control System Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
- Media SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards
- Viewfinder, Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
- Frame coverage
- FX (36 x 24): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical
- DX (24 x 16): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical
- Magnification Approx. 0.7 x
- Diopter adjustment, -3 – +1 m-1
- Focusing screen, Type B, BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII
- Reflex mirror, Quick return
- Depth of field preview
- Compatible with AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G, E, and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses (using DX 24 x 16 1.5x image area), AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU lenses. IX NIKKOR lenses and lenses for the F3AF can not be used. The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster (the electronic rangefinder supports the center 7 focus points with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/8 or faster and the center 33 focus points with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/7.1 or faster)
- Shutter Type Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
- Shutter Speed 1/4000 – 4 s in steps of 1 EV (1/4000 – 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV with main command dial), X200 (with shutter-speed dial only), bulb, time
- Flash sync speed X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/250 s or slower
- Release mode Single frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, quiet shutter-release, self-timer, mirror up
- Frame advance rate 1 – 5 fps (continuous low speed) or 5.5 fps (continuous high speed)
- Self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 – 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
- Exposure mode Programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
- Exposure compensation -3 – +3EV in increments of 1/3 EV
- Exposure bracketing 2 – 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
- Flash bracketing 2 – 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
- White balance bracketing 2 – 3 frames in steps of 1, 2, or 3
- ISO Sensitivity, 100-12800 (Extended Mode 50-204800.
Nikon’s current range of FX cameras.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Special Edition Lens
The AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G lens is a Special Edition lens which has been introduced specifically with the Df camera.
It is designed for FX format DSLRs and it provides a knurled aluminium ring and leather tone finish to complement the Df camera.
The lens features a wide maximum aperture of f/1.8 and ecxcellent bokeh, an aspherical lens element and high quality optics ensure excellent clarity and contrast.
Switching between auto and manual focus modes is conducted with an M/A and M Focus Mode Switch. Its Silent Wave Motor technology offers fast and quick focusing on your subjects when shooting stills or videos.
Technical Specifications
- AF-S G lens with built-in CPU and F mount
- Focal length 50 mm
- Maximum aperture, f/1.8
- Minimum aperture, f/16
- 7 elements in 6 groups, including 1 aspherical lens element
- Angle of view,
- Nikon film SLR and FX-format D-SLR cameras: 47°
- Nikon DX-format D-SLR cameras: 31° 30′
- Autofocus controlled by Silent Wave Motor and separate focus ring for manual focus
- Minimum focus distance, 0.45 m (1.5 ft) from focal plane
- Maximum reproduction ratio, 0.15x
- Number of diaphragm blades, 7 rounded
- Diaphragm is fully automatic
- Aperture range, f/1.8 – 16
- Filter attachment size, 58 mm, P = 0.75 mm)
- Dimensions, 73 mm maximum diameter x 52.5 mm distance from camera lens mount flange
- Weight, 190 g (6.7 oz)
Nikon’s standard Lenses.
The Stokes Bay Bush garden is a wonderful place to visit on the north side of Kangaroo Island, it is a native garden paradise for photography. If you love Australian native flowers and plants then you will love visiting this garden.
I toured this garden solely with my 105mm f/2.8 Nikkor, Micro lens as it is a lens which is very suited for this type of close up photography.
The first flower below is a yellow banksia and there were many varieties and colours of banksia flowers in the garden.
Yellow Banksia, Stokes Bay Bush Garden, Kangaroo Island
I carried a tripod with me for this outing as I wanted to get the sharpest images possible with the Macro/Micro lens.
The second image below is of a pink banksia flower. Most of these images have been captured at an aperture of around f/10 and a shutter speed of between 1/500 to 1/1,000 second, I find that these settings will be sufficient to give adequate depth of field and a shutter speed sufficient to avoid any camera movement.
Pink Banksia, Stokes Bay Bush Garden, Kangaroo Island
The next image below is of a budding kangaroo paw flower.
Kangaroo Paw Bud, Stokes Bay Bush Garden, Kangaroo Island
When capturing images of flowers I always like to get some additional subject matter in the image to give some extra impact. In this one below I have captured a bee on a daisy flower.
It can be noted that Kangaroo Island is well known for its honey production and here we have a bee hard at work.
Daisy and Bee, Stokes Bay Bush Garden, Kangaroo Island
The equipment I currently use for my photography is as follows:
I really like some of the Hejnar Photo brackets and equipment; it is top shelf equipment from my experience and I have used the following from them:
- Camera L-Brackets
- Multipurpose Rails, suitable for nodal rails and flash brackets.
Kangaroo Island, South Australia – Part 3 – Pelican in Flight, Starscape, Lighthouse and Seascapes
