- © Jeremy Walker
Direct, purposeful camera operation to inspire photographers
The Df is a new proposal from Nikon, offering a creative approach to photography. One of photography's fundamental tenets is to search the environment for meaning and then find the right combination of shutter speed and f-stop to appropriately convey it. From the first modern camera nearly a century ago until the recent past, mechanical dials were the favored interface for discovering such combinations, and manipulating them was a skill that became second nature to countless photographers. When Nikon began designing the Df, mechanical operation was the natural choice since it provides the photographer with the tactile pleasure of shooting with precision mechanics. Constant visibility and access to key camera settings reinforces the direct connection between photographers and their cameras, inspiring them to be more deliberate with each frame. In addition, the Df delivers exquisitely rich image quality, but from a significantly lighter and more compact body. Photographers can expect versatile image quality from ISO 100 to ISO 12800 — all without a large, cumbersome camera body. This significantly expands creative opportunities, while opening up completely new ones. This camera fuses sumptuous image quality with tactile precision mechanics for pure photography. With your fingers on the controls, you can think about photography differently, and explore your creative intentions more profoundly. With the Df, you are the photographer, not the camera.
FX format with 16.2-megapixel resolution: for photographers who roam
- Taken at ISO 2500, 1/125 second, f/8, handheld
- © Jeremy Walker
The Df is designed to travel. Photographers will take this compact, lightweight camera to more locations, and will enjoy discovering more photographic opportunities. The Df delivers the exceptional image quality that discerning photographers demand across an impressively wide ISO range. The idea to match an FX-format image sensor with 16.2 effective megapixels is the result of careful calculation: resolution, high ISO noise, dynamic range, tonal gradation, and color reproduction were all considered for the sake of offering the most well-balanced performance possible. Using an FX-format CMOS image sensor that incorporates Nikon's unique technology, the Df benefits from a large pixel pitch of 7.3μm, and is designed to collect the maximum amount of light in any situation. Combined with the sensor's low noise emitting circuitry, image-degrading noise is kept to a minimum even before image processing. As a result, photographers can benefit from exceptionally high image quality while taking advantage of the clean, rich tones, and wide dynamic range under a diverse array of lighting situations. An additional benefit is an easier-to-use file size. Not only does the Df deliver superb, commercially usable image quality for prints as large as A3, its 16.3 effective megapixels gives you files that are ideal for fast image processing, buffering and data management. For many passionate photographers, these are real-world benefits.
Dedicated to high-quality still photography
The Df is designed for photographers who want to concentrate solely on the art of photography. This dedication to still photography led to the removal of the movie-making components of the camera, including the operation knob and button, the microphone terminal and the speaker. The result is a smaller, lighter and more mobile camera body. Photographers can now carry the Df more naturally over longer durations, which allows them to concentrate their energy and effort on composition and creativity. Having fewer buttons and dials also simplifies operations and allows the photographer's focus to remain on capturing still images. Every camera in the Nikon lineup has its role. The role of the Df is to further the art of photography.
