Nikon Df

The Nikon Df is a full frame DSLR from 2013. It pairs a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with the Nikon F FX lens mount, so it belongs to Nikon's SLR system rather than a mirrorless line.

Burst shooting reaches up to 5.5 frames per second, and the autofocus system offers 39 points. The weather-sealed body weighs 760 g, and framing is through an optical pentaprism viewfinder.

It records no video at all, which shapes who it suits: photographers whose interest begins and ends with still images.

The Df pairs a full frame 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with the Nikon F FX mount, with images processed by the Expeed 3 chip. The ISO range runs from 100 to 12800, giving room to keep shooting as light falls.

Its Optics score of 60 is good, and it sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

Burst shooting reaches up to 5.5 frames per second, a maximum rather than a sustained figure, and the autofocus system offers 39 points. The 1/4000s maximum shutter speed can limit wide apertures in bright light.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so camera shake at slower shutter speeds must be managed with steady technique, a stabilised lens or a support. Framing happens through an optical pentaprism viewfinder, which gives an immediate view of the subject.

The Nikon Df offers no video recording at all. There is no movie mode to fall back on, no frame rate to select and no recording resolution to configure; the camera captures still images only, and moving footage is simply outside its capabilities.

A built-in timelapse function is absent as well. Without video recording or an interval feature, the Df cannot produce moving image sequences on its own; anyone wanting time-lapse or movie clips would need additional equipment.

Live view does work, framing still photographs on the 3.2-inch LCD, but nothing here records moving images. For photographers whose work is entirely stills-based this costs nothing; if your projects mix photos and video, you will need a second device.

Composition happens either through the optical viewfinder or on the 3.2-inch LCD, which offers 921,000 dots and live view. The screen does not tilt or respond to touch, so low and overhead angles mean crouching, and settings are adjusted through physical controls.

There is no WiFi, Bluetooth or GPS. Images leave the camera on an SD card rather than over a wireless link, and any location information has to come from outside the camera.

The body is weather sealed, which helps in dust and damp conditions, though sealing is not the same as waterproofing. Flash users get a mount for external units, since no flash is built in.

The Features score of 57 is modest. The non-touch screen and absent Bluetooth cost points here, while the weather sealing, 3.2-inch screen size and live view counted in the camera's favour.

A single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot handles storage. There is no second slot for backup or overflow, so capacity depends on the cards you carry and how deliberately you manage space.

The EN-EL14 battery is rated at 1400 shots, though the conditions behind that rating are not specified, so treat it as a specification rather than a promise of real-world endurance.

The Df does not charge over USB, so the battery cannot be topped up from a computer or power bank during a shoot. A spare battery is a sensible addition for travel.

The Storage and Battery score of 48 is modest. The battery itself is a real strength; the single slot and the missing USB charging are what cost the score points, and they are also the day-to-day compromises.