The Nikon Df is a new song written by a tone deaf composer. Nikon's attempt to create a trendy retro-style camera has produced something of a Frankenstein. I'll grant Nikon great image quality. Being Nikon, it's a given. But otherwise the Df seems like an elephant designed by a committee. Control placement is contrary to good ergonomics — ie; the vertical front wheel. Things which needn't lock, lock, and things that should lock are hard to release. There's no WiFi, no GPS, and no video capability. Not because omitting these will save costs. It won't, but rather because some marketing genius at Nikon thought that by their non-inclusion a bold statement about the camera's retro-ness would be made.
Really? Excuse me, but this is a digital camera. Digital is as digital does. You don't want video? Just don't press the button. Don't want GPS? Don't want WiFi? Fine, ignore them. But to leave them out and then sell the camera at a premium price because the features are omitted seems ass backwards.
Then there are the locking dials. Great you, say, no more accidental settings. Well, yes, but also missed shots because every time you want to change an important setting you have to unlock the knob. Really? Really! And how about a shutter dial which is overridden by the Mode dial? This is one of the Df's major design goofs. You look down at the shutter dial and it displays a speed setting, but if you're in any mode except M or S the speed shown is not the speed the the camera will use. Redundant and confusing. What were they thinking?
Ok, let's calm down. There are some good things going on here. The Df can take legacy non-AI lenses and can provide open aperture metering in A and M modes as long as appropriate values are entered. This is a good thing. But, these non-AI lenses are not, of course, autofocus. Yet Nikon does nothing in this 2014 model to assist focusing, such as a traditional split image focusing screen (which would be both useful and retro) or, god forbid, focus peaking. Apparently in the Df's design brief, looking retro was more important than actual retro inspired usability.
In a word or two, what Nikon has done is create a camera designed to appeal by its "look" rather than its function. Marketing asked for it, but did the marketplace? I think not. In the end, because it uses the same sensor as the fabulous D4 the camera has great image quality. But in terms of handling and features it is a serious compromise, and in terms of price and quality of fit and finish the Df is a real disappointment.