There are cameras you need, and then there are cameras you need. The Nikon Df has always been the latter for me, and finally after 13 years I pulled the trigger.
The Long Courtship
I’ve wanted a Df since the day Nikon announced it back in 2013. Every review, every hands-on video, every forum post about its quirky retro charm – I consumed it all. But I never pulled the trigger. When I was primarily shooting studio work, it just made more sense to focus on the practical stuff: autofocus points, sensor size, the latest tech. Still, I always drooled over that camera.
Here’s the thing: I’ve always had vintage Nikon film cameras and lenses sitting around. Beautiful AI-S glass that I’d occasionally mount on my DSLRs just to see what they could do. But they never quite felt right there. It was like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard barbecue – technically functional, but somehow missing the point entirely.
Enter the Zf
Fast forward to early 2025. I started reconsidering the Df again, doing that familiar dance of justification and rationalization we all do before a camera purchase. That’s when I discovered the Zf existed. Modern sensor, retro soul, basically everything the Df promised but with a decade of technological evolution baked in. Decision made.
I picked up the FTZ2 adapter, which made all my AF Nikon lenses “just work” with the Zf. But you know what? They still didn’t feel at home there. Manual focus lenses, though? Those felt right on the Zf. With the proper adapters , my vintage AI-S lenses offered exactly the nostalgic shooting experience I’d been chasing. Finally.
The Voigtlander Problem
I built up a nice collection of (mostly) AI-S lenses over the following months, but found myself gravitating almost exclusively to street photography with a 28mm f/2. If I’m being honest with myself – and this is where things get expensive – if I’m really a 28mm shooter, I can justify splurging on the wonderful Voigtlander 28mm f/1.5.
And oh boy, is that a glorious lens. Native Z-mount. No adapter. Just pure optical magic.
Suddenly I was spoiled. The non-adapted experience meant EXIF data just worked. IBIS engaged without a struggle (for what it’s worth at 28mm). It just felt like a step up across the board. But more than the technical advantages, the images from that Voigtlander have a microcontrast to them that is 100% my thing. It reminds me of the Nikon 35mm f/2 D, which I’ve always loved over much more expensive glass.
The Native Z-Mount Rabbit Hole
Once you go native Z-mount, adapted lenses start to feel like second-class citizens. Before I knew it, I’d also acquired the Voigtlander 50mm f/2, the 75mm f/1.5, and the 15mm f/4.5. Suddenly there was very little need for adapted lenses on most of my outings.
Which left me with a question: what to do with all these beautiful AI-S lenses collecting dust?
- The character filled 20mm f2.8
- the “will I ever actually use this?” 24mm f2.8
- the “will I ever use this either?” 35mm f2.8
- the chunky 50mm f1.4
- the swiss army knife 55mm f2.8
- the “how can it be this small!” 85mm f2
- the world famous 105mm f2.5
- it’s big fat brother, the 105mm f1.8
- .. and why stop there, the 105mm f2.8 Micro
- the 135mm f2.8
- the 200mm f4
- the 300mm 4.5
- the quirky, but incredibly competent oddball 28-50mm f3.5
- the “wow, is this made of bricks?”" 25-50mm f4
It’s the photographer’s circle of life, really. Time to finally buy a Df.
What Will I Use It For?
Honestly? I really don’t know.. although I just used it to shoot the lense pictures above. Not my finest work that’s for damn sure, but feeling too lazy to setup strobes - however, threw on a Nikon 60mm f2.8 D Micro (screw driver focus) lens.. reminding me that the smaller collection of D series lenses come back into play! Does it never end?
I don’t think it does anything better than the Zf when it comes to actual image creation. The sensor is older. The tech is dated. But here’s what it does have:
- It feels amazing in hand
- Throwing an AI-S lens on it is the most natural thing in the world – it feels right
- It’s weather-sealed, which might make me reach for it on certain occasions when I wouldn’t risk the Zf
Will It Actually Get Used?
Does that really matter?
I’ve bought and sold many Nikons over the years. I have a really nice collection of old film cameras gathering character on a shelf. Of all the DSLRs I’ve owned, the D3s is the one I couldn’t let go of. Do I use it? Nope! But it’s part of the collection – a reminder of where I’ve been, what I’ve shot, who I was as a photographer at that moment in time.
Will the Df simply become another shelf queen, or will I actually reach for it over the Zf?
Time will tell. But somehow, I don’t think that’s really the point.