Comparing the Nikon Df and Nikon D4

Photography Tips

Choosing the right camera can be tricky, especially when the camera manufacturers are constantly putting out new models. The fun, retro looking Nikon Df is an appealing choice to many because of its timeless styling, but how does it stack up when compared to other pro level DSLRs, such as the Nikon D4, which share the same sensor? Watch the following video clip to find out:

Kai pitted the Df against the D4 in a couple of different tests starting with its low light performance. Before he even had the chance to start shooting, he ran into a few problems. Namely, the aperture wheel is in an awkward place, making it difficult to use–it also doesn’t do half step increments. Then there was the issue of the memory card. Its slot is located on the bottom of the camera, so the camera would have to be removed from the tripod to access it. As far as the low-light test, you be the judge:

Side by side comparison of the DF and D4 low-light performance.

An increasingly growing necessity in our DSLRs is the ability to record high quality video:

Next on the test, a comparison of how the two cameras record video.

As you can well see, the Df video recording performance is not just sub-par, it’s non-existent.

According to this review, the Df also fell short of the D4 in terms of auto-focus and burst mode speeds. In a nutshell, while the Df is very trendy looking and does have the same sensor as the powerful D4, the rest of the camera’s features appear to be lack luster at the price point. Kai suggests that a more suitable choice for basic features and low-light performance might be the Nikon D610.

“Go at it. We all know you’re buying it ’cause it’s different.”