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Nikon Df · Nikon USA silver Df product photograph with AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Special Edition lens; lens excluded from body specifications

Nikon Df
Photo 1 of 21

Nikon Df · Nikon USA silver Df product photograph with AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Special Edition lens; lens excluded from body specifications

Nikon · Nikon DSLR

Df

Released November 2013

A 16.2-megapixel full-frame DSLR with mechanical exposure dials, non-AI lens support and no video recording.

Type
DSLR
Sensor
Full frame
Megapixels
16.2
Lens
Nikon F mount
Video
–
Body weight
710 g

What reviewers say

Both praise image quality and older-lens compatibility, while noting modest specifications for the price. Digital Camera World enjoys the tactile dials and strong high-ISO results. Photography Blog finds several controls awkward, the grip too small and autofocus coverage restricted, although focusing is generally accurate. It recommends trying the camera first; both identify missing video and a single card slot.

From photographyblog.com and digitalcameraworld.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
DSLR
Sensor format
Full frame
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor dimensions
36 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution
16.2 MP
Largest image
4928 × 3280
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
100–12800
Sensor detail
FX CMOS with 16.2 million effective pixels USA/global or 16.25 million Japan; total 16.6 million USA or 16.61 million Japan. Nikon explicitly confirms the same image sensor as D4. Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data; FX 4928 × 3280 and DX 3200 × 2128
Image formats
12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, lossless-compressed or compressed; TIFF RGB, JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic with size-priority or optimal-quality compression and simultaneous RAW/JPEG. Adjustable/custom Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing
ISO detail
Standard ISO 100–12800 in one-third stops; Lo expansion down to ISO 50 equivalent and Hi expansion up to ISO 204800 equivalent; automatic sensitivity control
Image processor
EXPEED 3

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
5.5 fps
Lens detail
F mount with body AF coupling and contacts; G/E/D, other AF and AI-P lenses with restrictions, non-CPU lenses and DX crop support. Collapsible metering lever allows compatible non-AI lenses; register focal length/maximum aperture and match camera aperture setting to lens ring for metering in A/M. IX and F3AF lenses excluded; Digital Camera World's all-mode AI metering wording should not be applied indiscriminately to non-CPU lenses
Autofocus
Multi-CAM4800 phase detection with 39 points, nine cross-type and seven central f/8-compatible points; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C. AF-S/AF-C, fine-tuning, single-point, dynamic nine/21/39, 3D tracking and auto-area. Live view uses contrast AF-S/AF-F and face/wide/normal/tracking areas; current USA AF-A listings conflict with Japan's modes and USA's own live-view AF-F table, while Photography Blog's 51-point dynamic description conflicts with maker 39
Shutter
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; mechanical dial selects 1/4000 to 4 seconds in whole stops, command dial extends to 30 seconds in one-third stops; Bulb and Time. X-sync 1/200 second, up to 1/250 with reduced flash range
Burst detail
Approximately 5.5 fps full-resolution continuous high or 1–5 fps continuous low; USA conditions specify manual focus, M/S, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaults. Quiet single-frame, mirror-up and configurable self-timer; Photography Blog's quiet-continuous 3 fps claim conflicts with maker's listed release modes. Japan buffer table gives 100 Large Fine JPEGs or 29 lossless-compressed 14-bit RAW frames at ISO 100 with SanDisk SDSDXPA-008G-J35 SDHC and specified settings; Digital Camera World's 37 RAW 14-bit claim differs
Stabilisation detail
VR depends on attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
No built-in flash; external i-TTL Speedlights, hot shoe and ISO 519 PC sync terminal, compatible Auto FP up to 1/4000. Current USA flash-control text mentions a nonexistent built-in flash, while Photography Blog denies the PC terminal despite listing it elsewhere; Japan explicitly confirms the terminal
Exposure controls
P/S/A/M; 2016-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±3 EV compensation, exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing; two-exposure HDR, interval timer and dual-axis virtual horizon. Mechanical exposure dials remain readable when powered off

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Optical
Screen size
3.2″
Screen dots
921,000
Touchscreen
No
Tilting screen
No
Display detail
Fixed 3.2-inch TFT, approximately 921000 dots USA or 920000 Japan; 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage, adjustable brightness and top status LCD
Viewfinder detail
Pentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage or 97% DX, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 15 mm eyepoint, grid and depth-of-field preview

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim)
1400 photographs
Body weight
710 g
Release detail
November 2013 release month; Nikon Japan records actual sale on 28 November, with global announcement dated 5 November. The regional day does not establish earliest worldwide sale; Digital Camera World's introductory 2014-vintage wording differs from maker's 2013 release
Recording media
One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-I in the battery compartment
Ports
Hi-Speed USB, mini HDMI Type C, PC sync and accessory terminal for MC-DC2 cable release, WR-1/WR-R10 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS; shutter button accepts a traditional threaded cable release
Wireless connections
No built-in Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter and GP-1/GP-1A GPS. Photography Blog's WU-1b wording conflicts with Nikon's WU-1a specification
Battery life detail
EN-EL14a, approximately 1400 CIPA shots; current USA also lists EN-EL14 compatibility
Charging
External MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5A connector
Dimensions
Approximately 143.5 × 110 × 66.5 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 710 g body only; 765 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap
Materials
Magnesium-alloy top, back and bottom covers; dust- and water-resistant sealing. Global maker specifies all three metal covers rather than only the top/back described by Digital Camera World
Colours
Silver or black
In the box
EN-EL14a, MH-24, UC-E6 USB cable, AN-DC9 strap, BF-1B body cap, BS-1 shoe cover, DK-26 eyepiece cap with cord and DK-17 eyepiece (Japan package)

Video

Video detail
Still-image camera with live view; no movie recording

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Native ISO 100–12800 with 1400-shot CIPA battery rating
  • Collapsible metering lever accommodates compatible non-AI lenses
  • Dedicated ISO, shutter-speed and exposure-compensation dials

Cons

  • No video recording or built-in flash
  • Single card slot shares the battery compartment
  • Fixed screen without touch controls

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
NikonD610
DSLRFull frame24.3Nikon F mount1920 × 1080 at 30 fps760 gOct 2013
NikonD4
DSLRFull frame16.2Nikon F mount1920 × 1080 at 30 fps1180 gMar 2012
NikonD4S
DSLRFull frame16.2Nikon F mount1920 × 1080 at 60 fps1180 gMar 2014

Sources

  1. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/df/spec.html
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/df
  3. nikonusa.com/p/nikon-df/1526/overview
  4. nikon.com/company/news/2013/1105_dslr_01

Photo: Nikon USA silver Df product photograph with AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Special Edition lens; lens excluded from body specifications

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