Nikon has announce the release of the Df, a Nikon FX-format digital SLR camera. The Df combines intuitive, worry-free dial operation with superior image quality over a broad range of sensitivities in the smallest and lightest FX-format body, making the camera extremely portable. Large metal mechanical dials on the top of the camera enable direct, intuitive operation, offering tactile pleasure of shooting with precision mechanics, and allowing users to feel the joy of creating images that reflect their individual intent. The camera also provides a system that allows users to focus on shooting with the security that comes from visual confirmation of ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, and exposure compensation values, as well as the convenience of direct adjustment of settings at any time, even when the camera is turned off.
With the same FX-format CMOS sensor, effective pixel count of 16.2-million pixels, and EXPEED 3 image-processing engine as the D4 flagship model, the Df offers stable, superior image quality under a wide variety of lighting conditions. It supports a broad range of standard sensitivities, from ISO 100-12800, with additional reduction to the equivalent of ISO 50 and expansion to the equivalent of ISO 204800 when necessary.
Superior portability and stable D4 image quality over a broad range of ISO sensitivities, from low to high, release users from common restrictions such as time, place, and lighting conditions, thus increasing the range and flexibility of expression.
What's more, the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G(Special Edition) kit lens, which maximizes the portability of the Df, will be released at the same time as the camera. Based on the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G normal lens, which was so well received for its superior optical performance in a compact and lightweight body, this lens was redesigned to serve as the perfect match for the Df. A leather-like texture on the outside surface of the lens, a silver aluminum ring, and a focus ring that reproduces the knurls on manual focus lenses were adopted for the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G(Special Edition). In addition, an optical design utilizing an aspherical lens element enables both sharp rendering and beautiful blur characteristics. This compact, lightweight, and fast fixed focal length lens is perfectly suited to the flexible, nimble photography for which the Df was designed.
Adoption of a collapsible metering coupling lever also enables use of non-AI lenses with the camera. As the Df is equipped with the Nikon F mount, which has not changed since Nikon released its first SLR camera, the combination of older NIKKOR lenses and a camera incorporating the latest digital technologies allows users to enjoy capturing photographs exhibiting a wide variety of forms of expression.
