Nikon Df review
Top marks for style and image quality, but ergonomics could be better and autofocus performance really should be
Specifications
36×23.9mm 16.2-megapixel sensor, 1.0x zoom (50mm equivalent), 970g
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Nikon Df Sensor and Autofocus
Inside, there’s the same 16.2-megapixel full-frame sensor that appears in Nikon’s flagship D4. The D4 – and its sensor – are a couple of years old now, but the moderate resolution on such a large sensor bodes well for noise levels. The pentaprism viewfinder is the same as in its full-frame peers with a 0.7x magnification and 100% field of view, giving a big, bright view of the scene in front of the lens.
It’s accompanied by the same 39-point autofocus sensor as the D610, with nine cross-type sensors for increased sensitivity. This is essentially the same autofocus sensor that appears on the consumer-grade Nikon D5300. While it’s a good fit for a cropped-sensor SLR, on a full-frame model the autofocus points are bunched together in the centre of the frame too much for our liking. It’s probably the D610’s weakest feature, and a big disappointment on the pricier Df.
We also found that this autofocus sensor struggled to lock onto subjects in low light, not least because there’s no autofocus assist lamp. It coped reasonably well with high-contrast subjects under household artificial light, but vague and moving subjects proved trickier. Autofocus sensitivity is quoted at -1 EV, which falls short of the -2 EV sensitivity of other cameras at this price, such as the Nikon D800 and Canon 5D Mark III, and the cheaper Canon EOS 6D‘s -3 EV sensitivity.
Focusing issues aside, shot-to-shot performance was excellent at 0.3 seconds. The 5.4fps continuous performance is a tad disappointing, though; the cheaper, higher-resolution D610 managed 6fps. At least there’s a decent-sized buffer, lasting for 30 JPEGs or 22 RAW frames before slowing to the speed of the card.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | *** |
CCD effective megapixels | 16.2 megapixels |
CCD size | 36×23.9mm |
Viewfinder | optical TTL |
Viewfinder magnification, coverage | 0.7x, 100% |
LCD screen size | 3.2in |
LCD screen resolution | 921,000 pixels |
Articulated screen | No |
Live view | Yes |
Optical zoom | 1.0x |
Zoom 35mm equivalent | 50mm |
Image stabilisation | Available in lenses |
Maximum image resolution | 4,928×3,280 |
File formats | JPEG, RAW |
Physical | |
Memory slot | SDXC |
Mermory supplied | none |
Battery type | Li-ion |
Battery Life (tested) | 1,400 shots |
Connectivity | USB, mini HDMI, wired remote, PC sync |
Body material | Magnesium alloy |
Lens mount | Nikon F |
Focal length multiplier | 1.0x |
Kit lens model name | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G |
Accessories | USB cable, neck strap |
Weight | 970g |
Size | 115x144x129mm |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one year RTB |
Price | £2,750 |
Supplier | http://www.jessops.com |
Details | www.nikon.co.uk |
Camera Controls | |
Exposure modes | program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual |
Shutter speed | 30 to 1/4,000 seconds |
Aperture range | f/1.8 to 16 |
ISO range (at full resolution) | 50 to 204800 |
Exposure compensation | +/-3 EV |
White balance | auto, 12 presets with fine tuning, manual, Kelvin |
Additional image controls | contrast, saturation, sharpness, brightness, hue, noise reduction, Active D-Lighting, distortion control, vignette control |
Manual focus | Yes |
Closest macro focus | 45cm |
Auto-focus modes | 39-point |
Metering modes | multi, centre-weighted, centre. Live view: face detect, tracking |
Flash | N/A |
Drive modes | single, continuous, self-timer, AE bracket, WB bracket, Active D-Lighting bracket, HDR, interval, multiple exposure |