Teasers are over: new retro Nikon FF Body finally outed

[ahsanford]

Here it is:
http://nikonrumors.com/2013/11/04/this-is-the-nikon-df.aspx/

They've been hyping the balls out of this. If you've been hiding under a rock and missed all the teaser videos, in five words or less, this new body is:

SLR
Full-Frame
Digital
Retro
Stills (only)

I just don't get it. It's got a prism and optical viewfinder, so it will not be small. It's just a vintage film camera hiding modern tech beneath. This is a fashion-skinned DSLR.

It's like they are going after (a) film users and (b) Fuji users who still want to look cool but with a larger sensor. Or -- big reach here -- Leica users who really want autofocus? (Surely they'd go with the new Sony rigs, right?)

I live in California, and I know a ton of arty kids with photography classroom experience who shoot old film SLRs partly for the craft of it and partly for the style of the old tech. But these kids don't have the coin for an FF DSLR.

I'm lost here. Unless the stills-only / no frills aspect of the design gets the price way down, I just don't get what they're aiming for here.

- A

 

[RLPhoto]

It just doesn't look as slim as my old OM1 film camera. It still looks rather thick but I could be wrong. There is nothing bad about the idea if it's done perfectly.

 

[Dylan777]

I will wait for Fuji FF - mirrorless. I wouldn't change anything about Fuji x100s, except body size for 35mm sensor - I'm ok with slightly bigger body size.

That Nikon retro looks :-\

 

[Albi86]

I like the "Made in Japan".

If the price is contained and Nikon has gone all-in in stills functionality - aka 24MP, 51pt AF, HSS, 6-7fps, interchangeable mirrors, etc... then it's a winner and finally a real successor to the D700.

 

[Sporgon]

Well I made my prediction on the other thread about the DF before seeing the pictures, and I recon I've got it right. Impossible to say without using one, but I guess the physical controls could work well.

Nikon finally getting their ducks in a row; I think this camera will be a great success for them.

And they've finally put the logo right again after years of it looking wind swept - or drunk.

 

[ahsanford]

I like the "Made in Japan".

If the price is contained and Nikon has gone all-in in stills functionality - aka 24MP, 51pt AF, HSS, 6-7fps, interchangeable mirrors, etc... then it's a winner and finally a real successor to the D700.

I don't believe that will be the offering:
http://nikonrumors.com/2013/10/28/nikon-df-camera-rumors-recap.aspx/

Looks like A+ for mechanicals and B for features / electronics / bells and whistles.

- A

 

[Albi86]

I like the "Made in Japan".

If the price is contained and Nikon has gone all-in in stills functionality - aka 24MP, 51pt AF, HSS, 6-7fps, interchangeable mirrors, etc... then it's a winner and finally a real successor to the D700.

I don't believe that will be the offering:
http://nikonrumors.com/2013/10/28/nikon-df-camera-rumors-recap.aspx/

Looks like A+ for mechanicals and B for features / electronics / bells and whistles.

- A

I still hope the rumour will be proven untrue tomorrow

Otherwise it's just a revamped and overpriced D610.

 

[Loswr]

Gotta love that old film SLR styling straight out of the early 1980's. To complete the package, you just need a groovy mullet haircut and a sweet ride like an early 80's Mazda 626...

 

[7enderbender]

Gotta love that old film SLR styling straight out of the early 1980's. To complete the package, you just need a groovy mullet haircut and a sweet ride like an early 80's Mazda 626...

Well, they/you certainly now the target market here ;-)


I would be totally happy to have a digital Canon F1n version of this (with a viewfinder that supports manual focus lenses) and load it into a fully restored early Celica.

 

[Aglet]

I will wait for Fuji FF - mirrorless. I wouldn't change anything about Fuji x100s, except body size for 35mm sensor - I'm ok with slightly bigger body size.

That Nikon retro looks :-\

yup, a big fence for next gear direction.
FF Fuji and FF Pentax rumors yet to bear fruit beyond photo of prototype.
Still luvin my d800s tho might consider swapping one for a Df. I like all the basic controls on big, glove-able dials.

Gotta love that old film SLR styling straight out of the early 1980's. To complete the package, you just need a groovy mullet haircut and a sweet ride like an early 80's Mazda 626...

Does that 626 come with some sweet seatcovers?.. you know, the skintight demin variety, big hair, lots of eye makeup and ..

 

[paul13walnut5]

Reminds me a little bit of...

 

[paul13walnut5]

I do know that I want those Mazda Wheel trims!

 

[privatebydesign]

I don't know what it is about Nikon design, I understand the ergonomic reasoning for having dedicated buttons for functions, but why does every Nikon look like the designers cashed in on a Chinese button and lever manufacturers fire sale?

P.S. If Canon make an A-1 lookalike they can keep it.

 

[DRR]

I don't get who this is for exactly. If it's priced right it'll sell. I'm sure it's a fine camera. If I'm a Nikon user though I don't think I'd be all that excited. If Canon came out with the same thing, I wouldn't be particularly excited.

The size is my main sticking point. It doesn't appear to be any smaller/thinner than an entry level DSLR. It looks smaller than the Nikon FF offerings but not significantly. I like the dial approach but I feel like they've gone overboard a bit.

Contrast this to the recent Sony FF mirrorless offerings - much smaller lighter, thinner. If Canon came out with something like the A7 I'd be intrigued.

Basically if they could take the mirror box out of a 6D, make it thinner and lighter, and price it under $1500 body only, have full EF lens compatibility, I think that would be a winner.

 

[RomainF]

Will be priced at 3.000$ with kit lens (50 1.8 ) and 2700$ without.

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/11/04/this-is-the-nikon-df.aspx/

 

[drjlo]

Will be priced at 3.000$ with kit lens (50 1.8 ) and 2700$ without.

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/11/04/this-is-the-nikon-df.aspx/

I personally find the Df extremely ugly and would much rather buy the D610 (if I were buying Nikon).
The pricing also appears to doom the Df to commercial failure IMO, and I must believe some of the Canon executives must have gone over to Nikon camp and took jobs on the "Pricing Committee."

 

[Loswr]

...I must believe some of the Canon executives must have gone over to Nikon camp and took jobs on the "Pricing Committee."

Or some Leica execs joined the Nikon 'pricing committee' after being booted from Leica for proposing pricing that was just slightly too moderate...

 

[AvTvM]

meet the new Nikon Df ... erm the Nikon DOA

Steampunkt design without any functional advantage. Still need both hands to operate it. And best of all: no video, no video! AND expensive as hell. Conclusion? It won't sell. hehehe!

D800 is currently at 2000 Euros - including 20% VAT [Germany]

 

[Rat]

I was foaming at the mouth when I was buying my first dslr and I found out I wouldn't be using my mechanical cable release anymore. I still refuse to get why this simplest of remotes was scrapped just like that :'(

That doesn't mean I see a use for this camera. Weird. May attract hipsters.

 

[xps]

In the end of the 70ies, I bought a AE-1. It became a good a friend of mine and I took it with me on each of my flight.
This would be an good "retro".....

I took the picture frome the www)