Mansurov
Who is the Nikon DF for?
With such an impressive sensor and retro style lightweight body, you might be wondering who this camera is aimed for. While the Nikon DF will be usable for pretty much any kind of photography, the fact that it has a low-noise 16 MP sensor means that it will be ideal for any kind of low-light photography. This includes wedding, event, documentary, travel, street and many other types of photography. And although it is not particularly a sports and wildlife camera due to its MultiCAM 4800FX autofocus system used on the D610 (compared to the 51-point AF system used on the D4), I am sure it will do quite well for those needs as well, as demonstrated in my Nikon D610 review. The only market the Nikon DF does not target is landscape, architecture and studio photography – for those needs the Nikon D800/D800E will still remain as the primary choice, thanks to the high-resolution 36 MP sensor.
In short, the Nikon DF will appeal to a huge market of photographers that need the best image quality (especially in low-light conditions), minus the bulk and weight of a pro-level DSLR. And if priced right, the Nikon DF will be a wedding photographer’s dream come true. People photographers that have been waiting for the Nikon D700 replacement – the Nikon DF is basically it.
What is up with Retro?
You might be wondering why the retro style is getting so popular lately. For some, especially those that are relatively new to photography, going backwards does not sound so appealing. To be honest, until recently, I had never quite understood retro and its appeal myself. Having shot with modern Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus cameras (both DSLR and mirrorless types), I felt like those cameras had everything to offer and worked quite well for my photography needs – until I started using the Fuji X series cameras. Interestingly, despite all the quirks of the Fuji system, I noticed that I wanted to use those cameras more than any other camera. Simply put, Fuji cameras are a pure joy to shoot with. I believe a lot of that has to do with the overall feel of Fuji cameras and lenses – everything just feels right in my hands. In addition to the excellent image quality, the retro design, style and ergonomics all played a role in the popularity of Fuji X series cameras. No clutter, pure photography.
And that’s exactly the appeal of the new Nikon DF camera – pure photography, no clutter, no distractions.
With the introduction of such lenses as the Nikon 58mm f/1.4G that no longer purely focus on sharpness alone, Nikon is coming back to real photography. This is what I and many others have been waiting for. Let’s move away from all the clutter of the modern world of often useless gadgetry and focus on the art of making pictures.
I am very excited about the Nikon DF. If Nikon indeed does execute on these expectations, I will be a believer again.