Thoughts on the Nikon DF.
I hope this blog will go some way to help a couple of people out, wedding photographers or otherwise, to the suitability of using a Nikon DF or two in the day job. I say day job, as their is no question this is awesome kit for personal and travel. And if nothing else this has proven a good way to reflect my own (Wedding Photographer Barney Walters) thoughts on the system. :)
I have been using the Nikon DF for about a month, all thoughts are my own and I am certainly no camera gear geek, so don’t know the ins and outs of how things work internally – rather this is my working thoughts after using the camera for a few weeks in a paid for working environment. i.e Weddings and Engagement Shoots.
Pros
1. Small and lightweight – makes you more agile. Although my first impression was that it wasn’t as small as I thought but was certainly much lighter. However as I have used alongside a D3s and D3, I have come to realise its smaller size.
2. Good ISO to 10,000 in my opinion, even 128,000 is useable when exposed perfectly. Something I couldn’t dream of with my D3s.
3. The Auto ISO feature which I haven’t had on the D3 and D3s is a nifty little time saving trick. It frees my time up to spend more time thinking of the bigger picture. Although I may decide not to use it too much – I tend to like more control not less – its good to have the option though.
4. I like the Sensor! – although not such a fan of the bigger file sizes, twice that on average of my D3s. – Although I guess thats just moving with the times. An option to have smaller Raw’s would be useful.
5. People like the look – I think it looks less angry than a D3, D4 or whatever. Plus, its a good talking point and more appraochable.
6. Battery life is excellent. Probably a third of the size of the Nikon D3s batteries, but one battery lasts me all day – well over 1,000 frames. Although I have not used with a VR lens yet.
7. I have always been a fan of the Nikon FM2 since I first used one and can see myself now using this instead of the FM2 for a large part of my personal and travel pictures, hopefully keeping to the full manual mode on the top dials, which I personally just can’t use at a wedding – solely for speed of reacting to environments.
Cons
1. Only one card slot – I really like the security of two slots – it makes me a lot more worried about card failure – although using top spec cards and in 6 years only having one fail of which I got 95% of the pictures back is probably not a bad record. Never the less I am a little OCD when it comes to multiple copies of pictures.
2. The fastest shutter speed is 4,000th, a stop less than what I am used to at 8,000th. Annoying as I shoot a lot on f/2, and often in the summer use the 8,000th limit.
3. The exposure bias dial, probably my most used function on any camera, is a little awkward and although I appreciate the beautiful dials, it would be nice to have easier access, as it slows me down too much in fast paced environments and have already thought ‘ I have had enough of this’ and switched to a D3s until calm was restored. Just a software update to allow the shutter control thumb dial to control the exposure bias would be suitable. I would imagine that the new D750 might prove useful in this area.
4. I would like to see a dual Raw size recording format like that currently appearing on other cameras.
5. Autofocus. Seeing as the wait for better autofocus was a key reason that moved me from Canon to Nikon two years ago, to take a step back in autofocus on the DF, is probably what will stop me buying two or three of these and switching completely to a DF workflow system. There are only 39 focus points rather than the 51 I am used too and its not just a drop in quantity but quality also, it is obvious when using for more than 10 minutes that they are not so quick or accurate than what I have come to expect from the bigger rigs. But I guess at a price point that is nearly half of a D4 or D4s, something had to give. Its also worth a note that I think the points are more closely packed and therefore framing outside the centre 50% or so of the frame because even more tricky than normal. I have also noticed the autofocus particularly weak at a distance from the subject and during movement – I can’t say Its particularly sluggish in low light though.
6. The eye piece focus dial moves very easily and has several times changed whilst its been around my neck. The same is true of the metering selection dial. Switching to spot frequently rather than my normal evaluative mode.
7. I have always been a fan of battery grips, and its not that I want one for the DF, that would just destroy the point. BUT I do find it annoying shooting upright without a secondary shutter release, Its a personal thing, and it just feels weird bending my wrist to take a frame. – Thankfully I don’t shoot much upright anyway.
Conclusion
In conclusion I love this little camera full of power and have no intention of sending it back or selling it on – until perhaps an ’S’ or ‘v2’ version comes out. For me; two key things need to happen for me to use this system fully – and my back and neck really want me too!
1. The autofocus needs to improve, more points, more accurate and a wider spread of points would almost but certain make me buy two copies. Whats more – I wouldn’t mind paying a little more for it!
2. I would really like a second SD slot or other card slot. Oh and an extra stop on the shutter speed would defiantly seal the deal!
Whats next for me ?
Until something new happens in the DF line, I’ll be using the DF alongside a full sized body, ill probably look at getting a D4 or D4s soon to shoot alongside the DF with, in the mean time my trusted D3s with nearly 200,000 frames will continue powering on.
The frames throughout this blog are all shot on the Nikon DF. Your’ll find more pictures throughout my Wedding Blog shot on both the DF and D3s and a recently acquired D4.
Thanks for reading. I would welcome you to have a look over my Website or Wedding Blog here. Enjoy.
– by Barney Walters
Thanks for this post Barney, as a wedding photographer looking at getting a Df to replace a well loved D700 I found it really useful. I have a D800 that I love as it captures detail and dynamic range by the boat load but not sure I (or my Hard Drives!) could face twice the number of D800 RAW Files!
The Df looks a good option and from your post it sounds like it works well in most wedding situations. I am sure there times where the action may move quicker than the Df’s more limited controls and dials can keep up so having the D800 should fill that gap.
Also think the Df (with 35 or 50mm Lens) might replace my Fuji X100 as a personal and travel camera – would be interested in your thoughts on the Df for this use too?
Hey Alex,
Thanks for the message and glad you found it useful. Since writing I have bought a D4 and am still using my D3s on a daily basis. The DF is still also getting used but is taking a back seat on jobs, particularly faster paced parts of wedding days when it does stress me out a little (normally due to focusing issues and back button focus) – its fine but when trying to frame awkwardly or way from the ‘norm’ its then you realise the limitations. If I’m working closer to the subject then its fine and if i’m taking a bit more time to do something. Im also using the DF alongside the D3s and D4 as a third body with third lens easy switch option.
Would hate to think about D800 files! – I have noticed a slight difference in using a D3 and D3s to now a D4, Df and D3s combo with slightly slower rendering issues. (thats on a iMAC 27 with maxed out Ram). – thankfully never had to deal with D800 files, nor do i intend to.
I have owned a Fuji X100 in the past (for about two weeks). honestly I hated it and it just wasn’t for me. Too small I think ! Have always leant towards a full size camera as a personal camera – but now the DF fills that roll, particularly because can just switch and use the same settings I would normally. + I love switching it too full manual mode and using it just as I would my FM2.
Best of luck!
Barney. :)
Good read, I’m a full time pro and looking at the DF as a replacement to work along side my D3. I find the D3 is a bit heavy on a 10 hour shoot and my back and neck are starting to show a few signs of failure.
Would have been really interested to here a bit more from you, on using the DF with 24-70mm and the 70-200mm, the staple of every wedding togs bag.
Phil
I’m a little late to the party, but I’m a full time wedding photojournalist & fine art photographer and I’ve been shooting with the DF for many years now – everything in my portfolio was shot with it! It’s not for everyone, but I grew up with my mom shooting film, so I just can’t stand the feel of “normal” digital cameras. No point to this other than to say that it is definitely possible to use only the DF as a pro :)