I'd read about the Nikon Df and been intrigued by the Nikon ad series entitled Pure Photography.  What does this mean and what makes the Df "pure".  With thanks to Chris Atkinson, Manager of Henry's Newmarket, I was able to obtain a short term evaluation unit to find out. First Grip Putting hands on the Df is a nominally different experience.  I'm still not clear on what the purity angle is, but I will say that the Df feels more like an old style film camera than most digital single lens reflexes.  In fact, it feels and looks like an old F3 High Eyepoint, a camera I remember with fondness.

Layout

What makes the Df different in user interface (UI) is that Nikon has gone heavy on the analog style dials and less on the digital programmable buttons.  For someone without the time or the inclination to study the novellas that now masquerade as owner's manuals, getting going with the Df is very fast.  Very fast if you are older as I am and have a history shooting film cameras.

The sensor is Nikon's 16.2 MP sensor, that Nikon says produces quality like the D4, tuned for low light performance.  At time of writing, the Df pushes the boundaries of high ISO in Nikon's line.  Like most Nikon full frames, the camera can be set to shoot in FX (full frame) mode and DX (crop sensor) mode.  I like the flexibility that this brings and encourage other full frame providers to copy this feature.

Shutter speeds are set by a dial on the top deck and have click stops starting at a high of 1/4000 and a low of 4s.  There are also settings for B (bulb), T (time) and X, for manual flash synchronization at 1/200.  There is also a setting for ⅓ Step which allows the shutter speed to move in ⅓ stop increments.  This feels a bit goofy but is I guess more "pure" than simply putting an A on the dial like everyone else does.  Concentric to the shutter speed dial is a lever that sets, single, continuous low, continuous high, quiet release, self timer and mirror up modes.  Quiet basically delays some of the shutter and mirror noise, it doesn't eliminate it.  I don't find the Df to be overly loud at any rate.  Sony should steal this feature for the A7 because you can hear that thing go off across a busy highway.  Maximum burst rate is 5.5fps.

Beside the shutter speed dial is the rotary on off switch which is pleasantly obvious and precise.  It wraps around an old style shutter button tapped for a screw in cable release.  Cool if you have one, but they are very scarce these days.  Right of the shutter release is the mode rotary switch offering PASM settings.  In a smart move, Nikon has not splattered the Df with pointless "scene" modes.  Don't confuse this with the plethora of Picture Styles that set the processing for JPEG images and for how the LCD renders the JPEG it shows in playback.  If this were my camera, I'd set and forget for 14bit uncompressed RAW and Picture Style Neutral and likely never change things for as long as I own it.  Purist, I guess.

Towards the rear of the top deck is a minuscule LCD panel and a button to illuminate it.  Given that the audience for the camera is likely a former film shooter, who may suffer from some presbyopia by now, this display is so tiny and hard to read that I would never bother trying to use it.

Move to the left side of the pentaprism.  This is a digital SLR, be clear, but the top deck is oriented like an old Nikon film camera, down to the ersatz film rewind, which of course rewinds nothing but holds the ⅓ stop incremented exposure compensation dial offering ±3 EV of adjustment.  Below this is a concentric ring that controls the ISO (nearly typed ASA there for a sec) showing a range from L1 to H4, with ISO numbers starting at 100 and going up to 12800.  Down from 100 is logical, going in ⅓ stop increments (80, 64, 50) but going up from 12800 goes ⅓ stops to 25600, then a full stop to 51200, then 102400 and ending at 204800.

On the right front of the camera is a rotary wheel that controls the aperture in Aperture preferred and manual mode.  It is disabled in shutter preferred and program mode.  Below this are two buttons, the upper one providing depth of field preview and the second is a programmable function button.  On the left front of the lens mount is a bracket button, a very nice feature to have set up this way.  On the front face is a classic PC X sync port under the old style screw on cap.  Either never take this off or expect to lose it in the first week.  There is also an old style flashing LED self timer lamp.  Below this is the lens release and then an AF/M focus selector on the lens mount frame as is typically found on higher end Nikons.

The lens mount itself accepts AF-S and Nikkor AI lenses, but if you do have some really old Nikkor glass with the old style key slot, there is a fold down lever to engage the aperture ring ledge that existed then.  There is no ball lever as used to engage the keyslot on a photomic prism, but that may be a bit too "pure".

The front also has a decent enough finger ledge style grip.  So overall the layout so far is quite good.  With one exception.  The position of the strap lugs is perfect to ensure that the strap is going to get in the way of your fingers when they want to accomplish anything.  yes the lugs are where they were on classic Nikon F cameras, but those cameras did not have buttons and dials on the front face and the lugs get in the way.  If I were a buyer, I would personally ask Nikon service to remove them entirely and use a strap that attaches to the tripod socket, these lugs are that annoying.  To me anyway.

Moving to the back, the optical viewfinder is big and high and bright.  The interior layout is pretty basic and folks used to the viewfinder displaying a bundle of focus points are in for disappointment.  Since I only ever use the centre point and then recompose, I like the absence of clutter.  Digital readouts are easy to see and understand.  There is sufficient range on the dioptric adjustment to accommodate most everyone.

The rear panel is where the "film purity" analogy runs off the road into the trees.  It's like the back of any Nikon digital camera, with a decent enough 3" LCD with 920K dots, buttons and wheels all as you would expect out of a D610 or similar.

The right side has no doors or panels.  It should, but doesn't as you'll see later when I start ranting.

The left side has three pop open plastic doors.  They are connections for USB (Type C), Mini HDMI and Remote Control respectively.

The bottom plate has a ¼-20 tripod socket with Nikon's standard rubber grip pad around it.  Hopefully Nikon has found an adhesive that works for this because most Nikons that I have seen under medium to heavy use have this pad peeling off.  You'll find a large removable battery door that gives you access to the very small EN-EL14A battery.  There's certainly sufficient space for a higher capacity battery or would be if Nikon hadn't made the truly idiotic decision to put the SD card slot in beside the battery.  They could have put it on the right side where it would always be easily accessible, but no, they buried it in the battery compartment.  Someone needs a beating for this.  Nikon provides no guidance on the number of exposures to expect from a full charge.

You'll note that I have said nothing about video.  That's because the Df doesn't do video at all, even though it has a perfectly functional HDMI out.  I guess that means that video is not pure in the minds of the designers.

The Df has a Nikon i-TTL capable hotshoe, but in another idiot award winning step, they have completely left out the Creative Lighting System functionality that helps make Nikon cameras so very usable when you control the light.  I think of the magical unicorn of photography, Mr. Joe McNally, and can only assume that he would see this as missing and hand the darn thing back and in his gentle Irish-American way suggest that Nikon try again.  I don't know that he would actually do that but I will.  This is a stupid mistake and hopefully Nikon figures out a way to put CLS in via firmware update.

Looking at the accessory page, there is a big gap in battery life extension.  Yup, no battery grip is presently available.  The F3 or the older F2AS took monster battery grips for long life and you could use them as a bludgeon if you desperately needed to get away from bad guys.

The camera offers the standard metering choices of matrix, centre weighted average and spot, controlled by a tiny rocker on the back.  And although there is no video support, there is Live View so you can use your $3000 camera like a $100 point and shoot.

The "Kit" Lens

The Df comes as a kit with a 50mm f/1.8 AF-S Nikkor.  It's the same as the 50/1.8 AF-S Nikkor that has been around for years except the cosmetics have been changed to make it look like an old 50/1.8 AI.  It's not an AI, it's the same plastic barrel as the black 50/1.8 sold as a "portrait" lens by people who don't know what they hell they are talking about for years.

Usability

Despite my kvetching about the strap lugs position and the major missings, I surprised myself by how much I like shooting the camera.  There's nothing that makes it better than anything but it feels really good, although it would feel a lot better with a battery grip.  I love the optical viewfinder simplicity and I am very comfortable with the clicky mechanical feel of the shutter release.  It's not mechanical of course, but it feels like it could be.

The menu system is the same as what you would see on other prosumer Nikons, meaning it's a love or hate situation.  I don't shoot Nikon habitually at this time so my peers who do will loudly vent about user modes and the like.  I'm just really pissed that there is no CLS.  TTL radio controls from third parties are not winners in general, and while there are limits to infrared, most important being that it is line of sight (unless you are the aforementioned Joe McNally who makes infrared go around corners and up and down stairs) but it's a lot better than having to buy someone else's product and then curse it when it lets you down.  And yes, I am speaking specifically about Pocket Wizard TT1 and TT5 units.

I am a left eyed photographer and the back button focus is placed perfectly for me.  It's big enough you know when you have found it and the throw is enough that there is no question it is engaged.

Of course the Df mounts up all manner of Nikon glass.  If I were going this route, I'd likely grab a fast 35mm instead of the dopey 50mm, along with a nice 105mm and head out to the street.  Unfortunately, there is nothing subtle about the Df.  It's not small or unobtrusive.  Folks will know you have a camera.  Older ones might think you are shooting film, but if they don't want a candid taken, you aren't going to fool them anyway.

ISO Performance

My friend Ron Clifford (of Google + Photoshop Show fame) specifically asked about the high ISO performance because he heard it was amazing and in my initial look, I spent no time on this.  Ron's a great guy so I did a series of shots of Sondra using the Df with the 50mm at a variety of ISOs.  I was down to the wire to return it, so there are no prize winners here, but I think that you'll be impressed.  Ok it falls apart pretty badly at ISO 204800 but really there's nothing to complain about here.

Who's This Made For?

So about the price...

For $3,000 you get the Df body, the cheap ass 50mm, a strap, the battery a charger and not much else.  With careful shopping you could get a similarly configured D800 with the same dopey 50mm for the same money.  In terms of sensor capability, card capacity and additional functionality the D800 blows the Df into the weeds.  If you don't need the monster megapixels of the D800 you could again probably find a D610 and "nifty fifty"  <grrr> for about $1,000 less.  Why would you spend more to get less?  Well perhaps you have a real and perhaps medically treatable affection for all analog dials, except for the digital menu system and back controls.  Perhaps it's worth $1,000 to you to look like an old film photographer. (Hint - you can actually BE an old film photography for a couple of grand less - F3 and FM2 bodies are cheap now).  Perhaps you have too much money.  Perhaps you are a poseur.  Nope, not the last one because poseurs wouldn't be reading what I write.  The Df would be AWESOME if you could buy the body for $1,500 and then choose a real lens to put on it, and if you want the 50mm then that's your call.  I would go for the awesome Nikkor 35/1.4 but that's me.

Which brings us to who this camera is for.  Truth to tell, I don't know.  It's price makes it a high ticket item, not stupid high ticket like the Hasselblad labeled Sony A99, but high ticket regardless.  It is capable of great images and has terrific low light capability so it should be "the photographer's digital", but it brings nothing not already found in the excellent D610 or D800 except looks.  Are vintage looks worth an extra $1,000?  Not to me, and according to the sales numbers, not in general either.

Summary

Pros

• Feels really good in the hands, especially if you have a fondness for old Nikon F body pro cameras
• Great viewfinder
• Terrific analog style control layout
• Intelligently position depth of field preview
• Useful bracketing button
• Amazing high ISO performance

Cons

• Price that's too freaking high
• Idiotic card slot placement
• No CLS
• Limited accessories, specifically no battery grip
• Did I mention no CLS
• No video (even if you'll never use it, like 95% of DSLR owners, it is 2014 people)

So would I buy one,if I were in the market?  The answer is no.  The Df is, for me, a case of "so close, but not close enough".  I know the image quality is excellent.  It's the D4 sensor, which is proven globally.  Top line Nikkor glass is superlative, as good as anything in the market and better than many.  I found I really like the controls and was functional with the Df faster than I have been with any digital camera, but that's because I started shooting film when I was ten on a Minolta SR-3 so film camera layouts are stored in my brain.  I do still shoot film, albeit only 4x5 and 6x7, and if I wanted the look of a film camera, I still have that SR-3 as well as too many bags of film bodies and lenses.  Digital is very empowering but the Df has too many limitations for my use cases, and the price is stupid.  Some dolt in Marketing must think that serious photographers are complete fools to believe that there is a market for a feature disabled $1500 digital body sold for $3000.

If Nikon were to accept that they screwed up and dropped the body only price under $1500, this unit would sell.  At it's current feature set / price point, it's gonna be a dust collector.

Specifications (Courtesy Nikon USA)

Nikon Digital SLR Camera Df Specifications

Type
Type	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount	Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Effective angle of view	Nikon FX format
Effective pixels
Effective pixels	16.2 million
Image sensor
Image sensor	36.0 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels	16.6 million
Dust-reduction system	Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Storage
Image size (pixels)	FX format (36x24): 4,928 x 3,280 [L], 3,696 x 2,456 [M], 2,464 x 1,640 [S] DX format (24x16): 3,200 x 2,128 [L], 2,400 x 1,592 [M], 1,600 x 1,064 [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) compression (Size priority); Optimal quality compression available NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
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
File system	DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 2.3, PictBridge
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage	FX (36x24): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical DX (24x16): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical
Magnification	Approx. 0.7x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint	15 mm (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)
Diopter adjustment	-3 to +1 m-1
Focusing screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII screen with AF area brackets (framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror	Quick return
Depth-of-field preview	Pressing Pv button stops lens aperture down to value selected by user (exposure modes A and M) or by camera (exposure modes P and S)
Lens aperture	Instant return, electronically controlled
Lens
Compatible lenses	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 cannot 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
Speed	1/4,000 to 4 s in steps of 1 EV (1/4,000 s to 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
Release modes	S (single frame), CL (continuous low speed), CH (continuous high speed), Q (quiet shutter-release),   (self-timer), MUP (mirror up)
Frame advance rate	1 to 5 fps (CL) or 5.5 fps (CH)
Self-timer	2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 s
Exposure
Metering	TTL exposure metering using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method	Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G, E and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12-mm circle in center of frame; diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15 or 20 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 12-mm circle) Spot: Meters 4-mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)	Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV
Exposure meter coupling	Combined CPU and AI (collapsible metering coupling lever)
Exposure modes	Programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
Exposure compensation	-3 to +3 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Exposure bracketing	2 to 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2 or 3 EV
Flash bracketing	2 to 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2 or 3 EV
Exposure lock	Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)	ISO 100 to 12800 in steps of 1/3 EV; can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1, 2, 3 or 4 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 12800; auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-Lighting	Can be selected from Auto, Extra high +2/+1, High, Normal, Low, or Off
ADL bracketing	2 frames using selected value for one frame or 3 to 5 frames using preset values for all frames
Focus
Autofocus	Nikon Multi-CAM 4800 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, and 39 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensors; the center 33 points are available at apertures slower than f/5.6 and faster than f/8, while the center 7 focus points are available at f/8)
Detection range	-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Focus point	Can be selected from 39 or 11 focus points
AF-area modes	Single-point AF, 9-, 21- or 39-point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, auto-area AF
Focus lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Flash
Flash control	TTL: i-TTL flash control using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor is available with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400 or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash modes	Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Flash compensation	-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3
Flash-ready indicator	Lights when optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe	ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)	Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800 or SB-700 as a master flash and SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes, or SU-800 as commander; Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400 and SB-300; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal	ISO 519 sync terminal with locking thread
White balance
White balance	Auto (2 types), incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored, spot white balance measurement available during live view), choose color temperature (2,500 K to 10,000 K); all with fine-tuning
White balance bracketing	2 to 3 frames in steps of 1, 2 or 3
Live View
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (M)
AF-area modes	Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Monitor
Monitor	8-cm (3.2-in.), approx. 921k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with approx. 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness control
Playback
Playback	Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, photo slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, and auto image rotation
Interface
USB	Hi-Speed USB
HDMI output	Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Accessory terminal	Wireless remote controllers: WR-R10 and WR-1 (available separately) Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately) GPS units: GP-1/GP-1A (available separately)
Supported languages
Supported languages	Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian
Power source
Battery	One EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
AC adapter	EH-5b AC Adapter; requires EP-5A Power Connector (available separately)
Tripod socket
Tripod socket	1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions / weight
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 143.5 x 110 x 66.5 mm/ 5.6 x 4.3 x 2.6 in.
Weight	Approx. 765 g/1 lb 11 oz with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 710 g/1 lb 9 oz (camera body only)
Operating environment
Operating environment	Temperature: 0 to 40°C/32 to 104°F; humidity: 85% or less (no condensation)
Accessories
Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area)	EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-24 Battery Charger, DK-26 Eyepiece Cap, String for eyepiece cap, UC-E6 USB Cable, AN-DC9 Camera Strap, BF-1B Body Cap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

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