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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 03-08-2014, 08:31 AM  
Df mini review / impressions - in disorder. Seriously this review is crap.
Posted By Byrd-2020
Replies: 37
Views: 3,696
Hmmm... I'm still amazed that I was able to get a camera with a D4 sensor in a body half the size/weight of the D4 for less than half the price. "Nostalgia" design or not--this camera represents, to my thinking, a good value.

By the way, when was the last time you missed a shot because you did not have at your disposal a 1/8000th shutter speed?
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 03-08-2014, 08:13 AM  
Df mini review / impressions - in disorder. Seriously this review is crap.
Posted By Byrd-2020
Replies: 37
Views: 3,696
Hello Spade-

Regarding the Zeiss ZKs: I thoroughly enjoyed the Zeiss lenses on my Pentax cameras. At one time I had four of them, the 18mm, the 35mm, the 85mm, and the 100mm. I have sold all except the 85mm f1.4 (my favourite). I also owned all three of the FA limiteds. I sold the 31mm (but I still have the other two).

I greatly preferred the Zeiss 35mm f2 over the 31mm FA limited. It was sharper, with better colour saturation and micro contrast. However..... it is a fairly large lens; and it is heavy. (And, of course, it's manual focus.) My initial plan was to take the proceeds from the Zeiss 35 ZK and purchase the Nikon version. (I still might do this.) I might also purchase at some point the Zeiss 100mm in Nikon mount. However... I have been so happy with the results the Nikkors are providing that I might not walk down the Zeiss path for some time.

I have to admit that I am enjoying the fast and precise autofocus capabilites of the Df with Nikkors. And, though I'm still in 'honeymoon' phase with my three Nikkor lenses, I don't really think that the Zeiss have much (other than build quality) over them. The 135 f2DC is probably the finest portrait lens I have ever used. The 85mm f1.8 is a sharper lens than my Zeiss 85 f1.4 (a difficult lens to use because of focus shift), and the exotic 50mm f1.2 is.. well... a lens that provides a rendering that is unique. (This is, like the Zeiss 85mm, a demanding lens to focus accurately.)

A 35mm lens will be my next purchase. And my choice is to spend $1,000 (plus) for the Zeiss or around $350 for the Nikon 35 f2 D. (I don't want or need a large--and expensive--f1.4 wide angle.) Given my results with the 85mm D lens, I leaning heavily towards getting the auto-focus 35 D. For my purposes, it will be--though not as good as the Zeiss--still, good enough.

In summary: Yes, the Zeiss lenses are of very high quality. But *if* they are optically superior to the Nikkors (some are, some aren't, I think) , it is only by a small amount. They are heavy, expensive, and manual focus only. (It is their build quality that is truly impressive.) I'll only be purchasing the Zeiss in those focal lengths that really matter to me.

Byrd-2020
(p.s. I'll try to get some shots with the 50mm f1.2 up shortly.)
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 03-06-2014, 10:59 PM  
Df mini review / impressions - in disorder. Seriously this review is crap.
Posted By Byrd-2020
Replies: 37
Views: 3,696
I too am now the proud owner of a Nikon Df. I had the opportunity to test both a black and silver model with the 50mm kit lens, and an 85mm f1.8G some weeks back. I thought the camera handled beautifully, and I simply could not understand what all the fuss was about. (I was surprised too that I found the silver camera to be the more attractive--I usually prefer black models.) What did it for me, though, was when I took my SD card home and opened up the files. I was simply blown away. This , I thought, was the 'look' I have been searching for (unsuccessfully) with both my Pentax and Fuji aps-c cameras.

I have now sold off two more K mount lenses (a Zeiss 35 f2 ZK, and a Zeiss 100mm f2 ZK), and I'm not looking back. I have purchased for my Df a 135 f2 DC, a 50mm f1.2 ais, and an 85mm f1.8 D. (All have aperture rings!). I am very pleased with the fast focusing of the 135mm and the 85mm; and the 50mm has shown itself to be the 'master of the night' on the Df. Focusing this lens (the 50mm) accurately does, however, require that I rely on the focus confirmation light; but this is much less of an issue than I thought it would be. With the purchase of a 35mm (I'm probably going for the f2 D), my Df kit will be complete. (For now anyway.)

I have kept a small stable of K mount lenses to use on my Pentax film cameras (and my Fuji Xpro 1). However, I have forgotten my (long standing) dream of a full frame Pentax. I don't believe that Pentax could--for my taste--do it any better than the Df. Even if Pentax came up with a a beautifully designed body there would be the question of the sensor. I doubt that a Pentax ff would have a sensor that could better meet my needs than the D4/Df sensor. The Nikon Df is, I must say, close to being my 'dream camera'.

I'm also thinking about selling off some of my Fuji kit. The difference in size between the Xpro 1 and the Df isn't all that great. And I could see myself having as a travel camera just an X100s while using my Df for 'serious work'. I'll wait a bit to see just how much action the Fuji gets now that I have the Df.

I have a long standing (thirty years) relationship with Pentax cameras (and I still shoot with my MXs), but the Nikon Df has 'swept me off my photographic feet'
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