Nikon Df: Joe McNally, Angela Nicholson, & Chris Niccolls

Nikon Df: Joe McNally, Angela Nicholson, & Chris Niccolls

The New Nikon Df

The Nikon Df is as important for what it is as for what it is not. What it is is an excellent still photographers camera, if you’re one who likes to twiddle knobs. What it is not is a video creation tool. For some unknown reason, in 2013 Nikon Product Management decided the Nikon Df was to be different. The Nikon Df did not want to be “one of the boys.” It wanted to act like your grandfather’s oldie but goodie. Your grandfather’s Nikon couldn’t shoot video and the Nikon Df does not shoot video either. Very strange. Not mirrorless, and no video. Yep, sounds like something from the minds at Nikon Product Management….

The Nikon Df is not a tool for a hybrid storyteller. I have made the transition to creating both still photographs and video clips on the same locations. I have no desire to go back to just shooting stills. Over the past year I have discovered having this hybrid ability available at all times makes me a better storyteller. Video + Still + Pro Grade Audio + Post Processing Animation = far superior creative tools at my disposal to grab my audience. Accordingly, I will not be purchasing a Nikon Df, so I will not have one around to report on unless Nikon decides to send me over one for review. In place of my first hand coverage, I turn to three outside expert opinions I know and trust. Between these three, there is plenty of experience, expertise, and difference of views that I found it valuable listening to all three discussing what they liked and what they did’t with the Nikon Df. I hope you find them of value as well.

Joe McNally

Joe probably doesn’t need much of an introduction as one of the best known photographers in the world, and a frequent lecturer on everything photographic. Joe is also paid by Nikon to promote their products, so while I trust everything Joe does as a photographer, I always have to keep his sponsors in mind just as he does when giving his opinions.

Angela Nicholson

Angela Nicholson is Great Britain based Future Publishing’s Head of Testing for the photography portfolio. Previously, she was Amateur Photographer’s technical editor. Over the years Angela has tested a huge array of cameras and photographic equipment. Here is what Angela had to say:

Chris Niccolls

Last, but certainly not least of our three gathered opinions on the new Nikon Df is that of Chris Niccolls, the Senior Sales Advisor from The Camera Store in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Chris began shooting photos on old fashioned black and white film, on an old fashioned brass camera, at a time when digital cameras cost $60,000. Chris loved black and white photography from the very beginning and was swept up into the darkroom, processing films and turning out archival fibre based prints under the light of the enlargers. In the last ten years though, Chris has seen photography evolve from trays and chemicals to inks and computers and has been dragged kicking and screaming into the digital era, trading in his darkroom for the latest in wide format printers and digital SLRs. I have always found Chris’s opinions to be well thought out, and pretty much always right on the money.