I know the old timers love manual controls on the camera, and the Df has lots of it. I do question if the ISO dial is necessary. In the age of auto ISO, how useful is it to have a dedicated ISO dial? Personally, I set my ISO to Auto and never have to change it. Perhaps, the purpose is to slow you down and force you to take your time; same thing can be said about the shutter speed dial. This camera is definitely not created for operation speed. In a way, I guess it makes sense if it's targeted at the group of people who like to shoot their digital camera like a 1980s film camera.
The pricing of the camera is a surprise to me. Nikon has a tendency to price new niche cameras way too high. The Nikon 1 series comes to mind, and I think this one is overpriced for what it offers. No doubt many will pay for it purely for the look, but a D800 or a D610 is a better value.
I like the sensor in the Df. 16MP is a sensible solution that satisfies the majority of needs. I wish others will create a 16MP full frame sensor using today's technology. The low light performance would be phenomenal.
For me, I feel no love for the Df. Your mileage may vary.
Drums - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 135mm f2L @ f2. Click for larger.
I'm not a Nikon shooter either, but I also have to wonder at the pseudo-retro styling of the Df. Why not work with some Nikon aficionados and some UX designers to take the best features from the film cameras and the capabilities of modern cameras and come up with the best retro camera possible.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I think Nikon did a half baked job. They can do so much better. Take a look at the X-Pro-1. That's a beauty.
Delete>I set my ISO to Auto and never have to change it
ReplyDeleteI'm way too suspicious of cameras picking higher than I'm willing to do ISO. Consequentially I leave mine on "I make the choice" Its pretty rare I need to move it off 200 anyway, and when that's happening I already know the light looks dim anyway.
I've also heard that some cameras (perhaps mine?) wind the ISO up but never bring it down ...
The NEX-6 has excellent auto iso. I put my camera on aperture priority and auto iso, it never fails me. For my Panasonic G1, it always seems to make the shutter speed too low while keeping the ISO low, instead of maintaining safe shutter speed.
DeleteObakesan, ever since I got a hold of a RX1 to play with I really do love the AUTO ISO feature. I set my range and then concentrate on my two other settings or one for that matter. I set it up on the A7R similarly and been playing it like that. I prominent Sony equipped National Geographic photographer also swears by Auto ISO - Michael Yamashita and until I heard the words come out of his mouth I was a sworn "I make the choice" :) user.
ReplyDeleteYu-Lin, nice shot showing off the 135/2 prowess. :)
Chester, thanks for your input. Does this apply to most cameras or is it just at the new Sony cameras do it better?
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ReplyDeleteok, I linked to a the writings of someone from Wangs world and digging in the manual and experimentation has yeilded that Auto ISO on the GF1 (and my GH1) are fully operable and seem to operate in 1/3 ISO steps which is nice. Seems to kick in when shutter drifts below 30th ... I'll experiment with it and see how I go. Thanks for the pointers folks
ReplyDelete{woof says the old dog}
Panasonic's implementation of auto ISO is not as good as Sony/Nikon, but if you shoot auto focus lenses, it should be ok.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI visit your blog consistently. I am a manual lens user, but never try the enlarging lens to shoot before. After read your posts for a long time with the enlarging lens, I want to try it and see, I have got a Nikon EL-Nikkor f 1:2.8 50mm Lens for my Sony nex 6. So, here is my question, I am going to buy a helicoid adapter in eBay, but there are many size/length, 13-18mm, 16-20mm, 27-59mm, 36-90mm..... my question is, which one can give my EL-nikkor 50mm to focus to infinity?
Thanks
Martin
Hi Martin, the one I use was 17-32mm cheap helicoid, but it always works with the Yeenon 18-33mm, which is a much better product with smooth focusing and no play. A bit more expensive, but enjoyable to use.
DeleteWell, I think the idea is to retake the power of photography. Why use auto anything and let the camera decide what is right? You are limiting yourself when using auto. Would a painter be satisfied with printing the paintings and not actually paint them?
ReplyDeleteAre you saying the D600/D800 can not use manual controls?
DeleteOK, a month of using auto ISO and I'm over it. Consistently picks too low a shutter (not bumping up my ISO enough) and no way to manually over ride what I consider my lower limit to be). Can't see anyone solving this dillema
ReplyDeleteAs I said, the G1/GH1's implementation of auto ISO is poorly done. Same thing with Canon's Rebel T2i and to some extend, the 5D II. I found Sony's (and possibly the best is Nikon's) is excellent.
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