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

 

 

Nice DMC-GH3 Image - Am I Missing Micro 4/3?

Image Source: http://www.mu-43.com/f56/pier-sunrise-gh3-40421/

 

Brian G posted the shot above, taken with the Lumix 20mm f1.7 lens and new DMC-GH3 camera.

 

(Click Here) to read Brian's post on mu-43.com

 

As I've recently written, I have not been exercising my Micro 4/3 gear much this year. Not at all, really. I am beginning to think the only reason is that I have so many other fun choices, and because I overdid it a little last year, focusing too much on that format.

 

I am planning a one day add-on to a business trip coming up, to go shoot in the California desert. In thinking about what gear to take, my first thought was Nikon DSLR. I want the ultimate image quality that the full frame D700 affords me, and everything from wide to macro to telephoto lenses. However, that would be a big, heavy pack. Hmm. Maybe. I think I would likely take a wide (20 or 24mm f2.8), 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4, and one zoom - the 70-300mm AF-S VR. I could cover the wider focal lengths with a single 24-85 zoom, but believe the tradeoff in optical quality makes it less sensible to go Nikon in that case. I am becoming even more dedicated to primes as time passes.

 

Alternatively, I could carry my DMC-G3 kit, with the following lenses: 14mm f2.5 (tiny), 20mm f1.7 (tiny), 45mm f2.8 macro (no macro in the Nikon kit above), and Olympus 75mm f1.8. I get faster apertures, great optics, and a very light kit, particularly if I don't carry a second body. The only tradeoff (and it's a big one) is sensor quality.

 

On the subject of Micro 4/3 image quality, the DMC-GH3 is the top of the line for Panasonic. The shot above is one of very few I've actually seen posted. Maybe it's just early in the GH3 life cycle. But, I have also read that many people don't like the increased size of the GH3. I'm certainly in that boat. If I don't get the tiny size of previous Micro 4/3 cameras (like my G3s), I will certainly carry a full frame Nikon.

 

So, you may see some new Micro 4/3 shots from me in the near future. I think I've recovered from last year's Lumix focus, with some good old Nikon, Leica, and even film camera therapy. I'm ready to get the G3s out again. And I'm still waiting on that DMC-GX2 announcement...

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Another Convert - Canon-to-Micro 4/3 - tconelly Shoots Barcelona With OM-D

 

Madrid, by tconelly on mu-43.com

Image Source: http://www.mu-43.com/f56/e-m5-travel-performance-barcelona-29520/

 
One of the main reasons I like Micro 4/3 is for compactness. That especially comes into play in travel.
 
tconelly on mu-43.com has converted from a Canon DSLR kit to an Olympus OM-D and large selection of lenses, including the Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7.
 
(Click Here) to read the post on mu-43.com, where tconelly describes the difference in size and weight of what he was able to carry on trips with Canon vs. Olympus.
 
On his Madrid trip, he shot a lot of images, and provides links to them. I would suggest at least going to his condensed set of the whole trip.
 
(Click Here) to see that photo set on pbase.
 
It's hard to imagine that he would have been more pleased with the results if he'd carried a larger camera.
 
Now I want to go to Madrid, as well. :)
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com