Nikon Df 16.2 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera with Auto Focus-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Fixed Special Edition Lens (Black)

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Im a hobbyist when it comes to photography. Primarily for taking pictures of my kid and the events that we attend. I tend to do a lot of indoor shots, and before I got the Df I pretty much had the flash hooked up all of the time. I wanted a camera that was FX since most of my lenses were already FX, so my choices were D800, D610 and the Df. Major factors in my decision were Low Light vs Mega Pixel vs Price... D4 was never on the list due to the heavy price. Low light photography won as the primary factor. Video was not on the list since the majority of the time I have taken video was by accident. Since I have gotten this camera, I have not even attached a flash. Flash has just not been needed, even with all of the indoor shots that I do. Post process is a little more difficult since I do not have consistent lighting (especially since last month was December and colored Christmas lights do interfere more than I expected). But still worth the extra time required in post, plus I found that having blues, reds and greens in a shot make for some interesting shots. Auto white balance is better than any of my previous cameras. Supposedly there are 2 auto white balance settings, but I have not read the manual deeply enough to find the second setting. It is a little warm for Daylight and Cloudy conditions, but tolerable to leave it as is when in post. Auto White Balance does have issues with Incandescent (WAY too warm) and Florescent (not consistent, but may be due to mixed lighting conditions). Some of the control knobs are not the way that I would have designed them, but still usable if not needing to make adjustments on the fly. On several occasions I have used the incorrect indicator for setting ISO. The decreased light (compared to my other cameras) in the view finder was supposed to help with manual focus, but I do not think was a good feature especially since manual focus in low light is now more difficult since I cannot see it. I did not have plans on using Live View much since it was a feature that I rarely used in the past, but the ease of access to Live View along with the horizon line, I now use it at least 5-10% of the time. The autofocus area does not reach to the 1/3 points in the frame, which I find odd since that is where I put my points of interest for a photo. Live view does not have this limitation as far as I tell. Before I purchased, I read several reviews saying that it was not feasible to use heavier lenses with the Df. I found that using my F2.8 28-70mm or my f2.8 70-200mm was not as bad as the reviewers stated. I do miss the extended battery pack for stability. Overall this is the best camera that I have ever had (previous cameras, D100, D200, D300, Nikon 1 V2).

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I mostly shoot film and I have a ton of manual Nikon primes. So, I wanted a camera that I could work like a manual camera. So, before this I tried the X-Pro 2 and I really liked that camera. It felt great in my hands and was a lot of fun to shoot. However, I was never really happy with the images. They felt flat and the JPEG colors looked a little cartoony. I felt the same way about the X100S. I think this camera is the opposite. It feels not great in hand. It feels kind of cheap, empty, and plasticy- like a really hard, plastic. The top and bottom metal plates just feel weird with such cheap plastic sandwiched between them. I bought a third paty grip for it though and its made such a difference ergonomically! It really feels like a much better camera and much more solid with the grip which adds a bit of weight to it. The images it makes are AMAZING. The colors are perfect and the photos have the kind of depth and pop that you rarely see outside of film. Its the first digital camera Ive used where I was as happy with the image quality as I was with film. Ive only used the x100s, Xpro2, d750, d810, and a Canon EOS 5d m3, but these images beat those hands down imo. Those other cameras all great, but they only really take pictures. This camera makes something else. It adds a little bit of magic to the camera. The images have a bit more pop, a bit more life. I feel like the standard j-pegs look a lot like Portra 400, which is one of my favorite color films. Ive also seen them resemble Kodachrome when taken with lenses much better than my own! At first I wasnt sure if I was going to keep it because of how it feels, but Ive really fallen for shooting with this camera. I would definitely recommend the third part grip though. I also wouldnt worry about having "only" 16mp. Ive blown some of these photos up plenty big. Megapixels arent the only to poster sized prints if thats what you really want to do.

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What to say....Finally a DSLR that feels familiar to these old hands that have been holding Nikkormats and Nikon Fs, FEs and F2s since the early 70s. My Wife and I are both dedicated Nikon fans, having accumulated a collection of Nikon bodies and Nikkor lenses over the years. This camera has so many features that appealed to me, but the most significant is that it has the ability to work with every Nikkor F-mount lens that we own, including a couple from the late 60s. As soon as I started reading about it, I pre-ordered, before it was released, and waited, and have used it since December of 2013. It is so meaningful and good in a very personal, familiar way, that I picked up a second black-body Df several months later. No Regrets. It has low light performance that surpasses every ability I had even dreamed of. My old shoulder stock and cable releases and soft shutter releases all fit the threaded shutter button. It is light and compact compared to many of the other modern DSLRs. It has superb ISO range and is easily adjusted on-the-fly (once you master all the settings available by the external knobs and dials). It is extremely configurable via the many menu options. Battery life is excellent. It seems tough or durable. It has not failed me through over ten thousand or so shots. I could go on and on, but the truth is, I am still learning to use all of the capabilities this camera has. Dont want to get into it that much? Set the Program on "P", set your ISO to Auto in the menu, and go take great photos immediately. There is, I admit, an emotional attachment in play for me and this camera. The ability to use it, as an instrument or tool of art is beyond words - It approaches most closely to a feeling or expression of emotion -- And So, it is hard to sum it all up it in words. My advice is to try one, if you can, before you purchase. It may not be for everyone, but it sure feels Right for me. Five Stars!

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I got this specifically for the sensor and controls. I have no interest in video on needs for 51 points of autofocus. I learned how to shoot on a Minolta from the 70s. The controls are not cumbersome nor confusing. The camera is built specifically for people who learned to shoot using film. The nature of photography for me is getting artistic photos and archival purposes of art work. If youre looking for a camera that does it all, this is not for you. Its a a camera with a very modern sensor for people who like to shoot photos only. The sensor produces beautiful photos and thats it.

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I would give this camera a perfect 5 stars except its not holding up well. The shots are fantastic and I have no problem with the quality of the images as they are excellent. I also have a Nikon D4 and the shots are very similar in contrast, latitude, etc...my problem is in surface of the camera. The material that is glued to the front is coming off (and I even use a retro leather case to protect most of the camera all the time). The fabric over the round front aperture dial also came off. The battery door in the bottom of the camera wants to fall off when you open the door. I have tape holding it as you are at a shoot, open the door and it falls off....not a good thing. It took me a while to get used to the placement of the dials but eventually you can get to everything quickly with practice. As I said before the quality of the shots you will get (especially using 24-70 nikkor 2.8 or 70-200 VR) will amaze you. Note other Nikon cameras Ive owned: D300, D700, D4 have also had the fabric start to fall off and I sent those back for Nikon to repair as Ill be doing with the Df. Seems their glue gives up in less than a year of use. With the Df I got it as soon as it was released (November of 2013) and it was already coming off after 3 months.

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For me, this is a camera of compromises. They tried to harken the feeling of a Nikon F3, with the conceive and performance of a digital body. Unfortunately I think they fell a bit short on both. The best thing about the old F cameras is the all metal build and feel. This camera is much more plastics in comparison. It still feels well made, just doesn’t inspire me the same way an F3 does. The control layout is NOT good for working quickly in the field when compared to a DSLR. I can overlook this with an old school film camera because they’re just so well built and fun to use. The DF just feels inconvenient. Make no mistake, the images out of the camera are very nice. I’d rather just use a DSLR or modern mirrorless body

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Have both the silver and black models (along with other Nikon full-frame cameras). As a long-time Nikon photographer, I find that Df is growing on me more and more. I love the variety of lens I can use on the camera and there is not a big image-quality penalty for using (high quality) older lenses. Most of the top-of-line manual focus (along with early AF) lenses, like the AIS ones for example, are not "out resolved" by the 16MP sensor. In fact, I find that any lens that I cannot get "sharp enough" on a D800 series body, end up working just fine on the Df. This has allowed me to use old lenses that were just gathering dust, fit more lenses in my bags (due to lack of AF motors) and do some creative things that I would not have thought to try with a higher resolving sensor. The controls are easy to use, even in the dark. Occasionally the ISO ring will give me troubles, but all the other controls are easy to use while wearing gloves. They seem to handle cold weather just fine too (although battery discharge was slightly accelerated); I have used the Df in temps as low as -21F. While I wish it was based off of D800 series or D4 series firmware (instead of the D600) everything still works very well in the field. My only big gripe, the thing I feel shorted on, is the lack of a curtain for the viewfinder. Nikon gives you this little plastic piece with a quick release that is supposed to fit over the eyepiece. However, I use a DK-17 magnifying eyepiece and this plastic cover often pulls the rubber pad off of the eyepiece. It can be while getting the camera out of the bag (if the fit is tight) or it might be while I am in the field setting up and I just bump the cover. At any rate, this is a real pain in cold weather as it is almost impossible to re-install the rubber pad while wearing warm gloves. I suspect that I would have the same problem, over time, if I were not using the DK-17 as this seems to be a design issue. Oh, unless you want all of your images on one card, I would not buy anything too big. I purchased 32GB cards for my first Df and after realizing that each card held over 800 RAW images, I only purchased 16GB cards for my second Df body. Maybe it is just me but I do not like the thought of that many images all on one card, especially since there is only one card slot. If you never used older Nikon film cameras like the FM, FE, and FA series models, you might find some of the controls to be clumsy or awkward. If you have used those cameras (including the early "F" models), it will feel a bit like visiting an old friend who you have not seen in several years. :)

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As a Sixty-something with experience as a photo-journalist in the 1970s this retro Nikon body brings back many great memories. As one who is getting back into serious photography after 30+ years in another profession this is the perfect upgrade beyond the Nikon D5200 I used for family shots over the past five years. The move from DX format to full frame is a valued advancement. For the price the benefits are worth every penny. Purchased the body with the Special Edition 50mm f/1.8 lens. From my first few casual shots the results blew me away. One superior benefit of this body is the ability to use any of your old Nikkor lenses dating all the way back to the 70s and before with a couple of simple adjustments. It you are getting serious about your photography, appreciate the nostalgia of the great Nikon F film body, but looking for all of the advancements of digital photography, then this is the body for you.

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Sues husband here ... I have been waiting for years and years for Nikon to design and manufacture a digital camera that could also take full advantage of all my older non-AI Nikkor lenses. Nikon designed the Nikon Df and didnt charge a Sheiks yearly salary for it. I bought it and I have been having the time of my life ! And ... of course ... yes! ... I recommend the Nikon Df ! It also helps if you have 16 older Nikkor lenses that you thought might be museum-donation fodder. And, of course, you can also use the newer digital Nikkors. And, after over 40-years of photojournalism, I do NOT have all the so-called "fond memories" of making like a mole in a darkroom !

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This camera is one sweet tool. It brought me so many memories of the film days. I love the low light capability of the camera. The pictures I get are absolutely on point as expected. No regrets whatsoever. Everywhere I take this camera, it causes a lot conversation due to its retro look, so it is a great talking piece as well. Not bad among a group of photographers.

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