Nikon Df With Lenses from all Nikon Ages - Many Great Example Images

As you may know, I've recently acquired a Nikon Df. I'm thoroughly enjoying shooting it with lots of different lenses, from old pre-AI to the latest models.

 

Nikon Df with Nikkor-P 105mm f2.5 (pre-AI) Lens

Image Source: http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/newproduct/20131127_625119.html

 

(Click Here) to see a post on a Japanese site with great sample images from a large selection of Nikkor lenses. The photo above is included there, and I think it's beautiful.

 

The funniest thing is how I found this site. There's a forum post on Rangefinder Forum referring to this page. One of the comments on the post says that these examples remind the writer of how soft the pre-AI 105mm lens was. Cracks me up. (Click Here) to read that comedy.

 

Just goes to show you that you must judge cameras and lenses for yourself. If something works for me, I couldn't care less whether the majority of people opining online agree with me.

 

I need more time to get out with my new Df! It's such a wonderful camera.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

A Nice Shot From My Nikon F and Non-AI 135mm f3.5 Nikkor Lens

I recently bought a Nikon F with plain prism from KEH. It is in "BGN" condition, which as far as I can tell means the body is in truly excellent condition, but the prism (the most valuable component) has a ding at the apex of the pentraprism. The ding has absolutely no effect on functionality, and is not all that noticeable. So, I'm quite pleased with the purchase.

 

I put a roll of color print film (Kodak 400) through it, just to test the light seals, etc. Here's one shot I happen to like.

 

Paintball Champion, by Reed A. George

Nikon F, Plain Prism, Nikkor non-AI 135mm f3.5 Lens

Kodak 400 Color Print Film

 

I picked up the non-AI 135mm f3.5 lens at a local camera store for $50, also in great condition. It's not fast, with the maximum aperture of 3.5, but it is quite sharp. It's also really compact and light.

 

I thoroughly enjoy using all of this old gear that can now be had for so little money.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

SFTC Results - December's Camera, the Nikon F2

Today I'll share some images with my new Nikon F2 Photomic, which I bought from KEH for $120. It's in amazing condition, very close to like new in my opinion. For these shots, I used one of Nikon's least-loved lenses, the 43-86mm f3.5 zoom.

 

(Click Here) to see the post introducing this month's camera.

 

I mean, people HATE this lens. Many call it Nikon's worst lens, and blame this lens specifically for the long-standing belief (fact) that prime lenses provide far superior image quality to zooms. You can find plenty of haters of this lens online with a simple google search. Mine also came from KEH, for the princely sum of $30, and also looks brand new.

 

Anyway, here are some shots, all made on Kodak 400 color print film.

 

Lounging, by Reed A. George

Nikon F2, Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom Lens

 

Now, the shot above isn't tack sharp, but I think it works well at presenting skin tones, and is perhaps appropriate for portraits (which don't need every blemish to show up in sharp relief).

 

Here are a couple at the long end of the zoom, which are also a little soft:

 

Winter Leaves, by Reed A. George

Nikon F2, Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom Lens

 

And here are two below that show just how sharp the 43-86mm f3.5 can be at middle(ish) focal lengths. I've applied sharpening in Lightroom to both images, but not to an extreme level (maybe a little more than I usually apply with other lenses, but not significantly more).

 

Dragon, by Reed A. George

Nikon F2, Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom Lens

 

Bell Detail, by Reed A. George

Nikon F2, Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom Lens

I can't find anything to complain about here. Especially when you consider that this combination of the pro-level camera and "kit zoom" of the past, which commanded very high prices in its day, is mine for $150 total. Amazing capability. When I was a kid, I lusted over a camera like this. Now, they're available for very low investment, if you're willing to deal with film. I am.

 

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Final Skeletons From The Closet Camera (for 2014?) - Nikon F2 Photomic

Nikon F2 Photomic

Image Source: http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/history-f2/index.htm

While Nikon is inviting us to "fall in love again" with the new Nikon Df, I've fallen in love with a much older beast, the F2. It all started so innocently - I used my Nikomat for a month, as my selection for the Skeletons From The Closet (SFTC) series in September. (Click Here) to read about that camera, or search "Nikomat" here on the blog to see some results from that month. Next thing I knew, someone approached me with the fact that they had a nice F2 and 80-200 f4 AIS lens that they'd be willing to sell. Well, of course, I convinced myself that I needed a second Nikon body that could use the non-AI lenses I had for the Nikomat. Then a deal on a 135mm f3.5 lens came along (ok, I came to it, in my local camera store - $50 for a gorgeous example). Then, a 200mm f4 non-AI for $75 on a visit to the camera store in California. Hey, it was vacation - of course I went to the camera store. And finally, not quite satisfied with my first F2 (it's got a few blemishes and probably needs a CLA), I tried an EX condition one from KEH for ~$120. The KEH unit is literally like new. I can find only one tiny scratch, and the film transport is smooth as can be. So, having spent a few hundred dollars, I now have more early Nikon equipment than I could carry. And, I love it.

 

When I bought the KEH camera, I saw an EX condition 43-86mm f3.5 lens for $30. Sure, I'll try that too. More on that later. Just let me say that I'm sitting here looking at an image from that MUCH-maligned lens (known as the "worst lens" Nikon has ever made!), and it looks pretty decent to me. Again, my copy looks and feels like new. I'm not sure it was ever used.

 

I got a little behind in my writing, and didn't take any pictures of my F2 yet. I hope Nikon won't mind me borrowing the image above from their site. That's basically exactly how my camera looks, brand new.

 

So, this is the last SFTC camera selection for 2014 - the venerable Nikon F2 Photomic. I'll be sure to carry it around and shoot some pics this month to share. I have not yet decided whether to continue SFTC into 2015; if so, it will be on a less regular schedule. However, I do really enjoy the concept, and see no reason to kill it as long as I've got other cameras to try, or desire to revisit some of the best of those I used in 2014.

 

And, oh yeah, I'm not ruling out falling in love with that new Df as Nikon suggests!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

It's Here! The Nikon Df.

 

Image Source: http://www.adorama.com/ALC/BlogArticle.aspx?googleid=0014359&alias=nikon-df-is-a-small-retro-full-frame-dslr-first-look&utm_source=RSYS&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email110513NikonNPA&j=Email110513NikonNPA

 

After much fanfare and mysterious marketing, the Nikon Df has been announced. The best description I've found was on Adorama's page.

 

(Click Here) to read the description and see three videos, by Joe McNally, Bob Krist, and Lynn Goldsmith.

 

Okay - so what's important about this camera for me?

• First, the sensor. A full-frame, roughly 16 megapixel CMOS, reportedly the same as the Nikon D4, will be a monster (a good monster) in low light. The wider spacing between pixels (as compared to 24 or 36 megapixel sensors) provides superior noise performance.
• This camera will work with all F-mount lenses. According to Adorama's page, that includes non-AI lenses! I need to verify this point, as the Nikon site says "non-CPU" but does not specifically say "non-AI." I still have a full suite of non-AI lenses that are a blast to use. They've been incredibly cheap up until now - I just bought a gorgeous 200mm f4 non-AI lens at a camera store(!) for $75. That is likely to change with the advent of the Df.
• While it's styled like an FM or FE classic Nikon manual focus film camera, the Df has auto focus.
• Some people speculated that the price would be less than $2,000. Nope. It's ~$2,800 for the body only. However, I think that's reasonable for what you get.

In the videos at the Adorama link above, I picked up a few things:

 

Joe McNally - "feels like home"

Bob Krist - "more in the moment" when using the Df

Lynn Goldsmith - has always used Nikon only, for over 40 years - "limiting factors" make you work a little harder, but in a productive way

 

For me personally, the most important features of this camera, in comparison to my D700, are the ability to shoot non-AI lenses and weight. My D700 works just fine with AI and AIS lenses, but it won't shoot non-AI lenses. That would be a plus. How about weight? The D700 weighs in at 995 g., while the Df comes in at 710 g. (or 71% of the D700). That's a difference of 285 g., or about .63 pounds. Significant weight reduction to my most comparable camera. One more benchmark, the historic Nikon FM2 film camera weighed 540 g.

 

So, am I excited about this camera? Yes. Am I preordering one? Hmm. Probably not. If I didn't have the Leica M9 I would. I will likely have a Df some day.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com