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New DF, any good links to setting it up etc?

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solamnus

solamnus

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So got myself one of these controversiol babies, and have read lot about it both good and bad. But look forward to using it a lot together with my D700 and X-T1.

Any of you DF owners out there have good tips or links for setting it up or any other stuff that might come in handy please let me know:)

/Martin.
 
solamnus said:
So got myself one of these controversiol babies, and have read lot about it both good and bad. But look forward to using it a lot together with my D700 and X-T1.

Any of you DF owners out there have good tips or links for setting it up or any other stuff that might come in handy please let me know:)

/Martin.
Click to expand...
Martin,

Congrats on your new camera. I've had mine since they were released over a year ago - very pleased with the camera and the files it produces. I wish I could point you towards a single source of information but I have yet to locate it myself. My two basic "customizations" were to (1) move the AF function to the rear button (engage with your thumb), and (2) assign the auto iso function to the front FN button (2 step process; press FN and rotate the front wheel). This way I can catch focus quickly then release and tweak manually if I so choose. Engaging/ disengaging auto iso just takes a few seconds - no menus.

I use the camera in a very basic mode - single point AF unless there's a lot of action (then 9 point with AF button held down). Auto iso works great. I use up to iso 1600 regularly and 3200/6400 without hesitation.

If you run across a great information site, please post the link. In the meantime, enjoy.
 
This is a repeat of a post I made in another forum, but that was on a for-pay thread, so I thought I would repost here:

There have been a few negative statements in various forums regarding the Df Auto ISO implementation, particularly in regards to the ISO dial. I’ve found it a very good way to shoot with the Df, so I thought I’d share my findings.

First of all, don’t even bother going to the manual. The section on Auto ISO is useless.

The key to understanding how the ISO dial is used for Auto ISO is based on how the value the user sets in the menu for Maximum Sensitivity (ShootingMenu>Auto ISO sensitivity Control>Maximum Sensitivity) interacts with the value set on the ISO dial. The camera uses the greater of these two values for Maximum Sensitivity. This seems somewhat confusing and as I stated the manual is no help at all. However, it is actually a very useful and clever implementation.

Example: M Mode with Auto ISO:

The camera selects the ISO needed for correct exposure until it needs to get lower than ISO 100 or greater than the Maximum Sensitivity value. Beyond that, over or under exposure occurs. If the desired Maximum Sensitivity is set with the menu (say, ISO 6400), the ISO dial serves no real purpose (as long as it is below ISO 6400). The dial selected value means nothing and changing it does nothing. This is why (I think) some folks see this as a flawed implementation.

BUT, if you set the menu value of Maximum Sensitivity to it’s lowest value (ISO 200), the ISO dial will have the greater value (as long as it is above ISO 200) and you can adjust the maximum ISO sensitivity with the dial (ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, whatever you want without going in the menu). This is how I have my Df set up.

Example: A, S or P Mode With Auto ISO:

The user selects the desired ISO with the ISO dial - sounds logical. The camera will use that ISO value until the meter says it needs to reduce the minimum shutter speed the user has set in the Auto ISO menu (A Mode), exceed the lens’ maximum aperture (S Mode) or both (P Mode). Then it will start to boost ISO as needed until it reaches the Maximum Sensitivity set in the menu. This will be a very different setting than used in the previous M Mode example - it may be ISO 1600 or more. This is pretty much like previous Nikon DSLRs.

So, what happens when you change the ISO dial in this example? The camera will use the new dial setting as your new desired ISO (still reserving the right to boost ISO if needed) until the ISO dial setting exceeds the menu Maximum Sensitivity. From then on, the desired ISO and the Maximum Sensitivity are the same (the dial setting), and you are just specifying which ISO you want to use and are essentially back in manual ISO.

This is fairly logical from an ISO dial standpoint, the only thing being you need to remember the menu setting for Maximum Sensitivity to know when you transition into and out of manual ISO (if you care).

So in summary, the ISO dial can be used in three ways:

P, A, S or M mode with Auto ISO Off: the ISO dial setting is the shooting ISO

P, A or S mode with Auto ISO On: the ISO dial setting is the desired shooting ISO but the actual shooting ISO can be altered by the camera. When the dial setting exceeds the menu value for Maximum Sensitivity, it is essentially the shooting ISO.

M Mode with Auto ISO On: the ISO dial setting is the maximum ISO sensitivity the camera can use (as long as the menu value for Maximum Sensitivity has been set to its lowest value - ISO 200).

These are my own observations from playing with the Df. I got nothing useful from the manual on this. I emphatically reserve the right to be wrong and welcome any additions or corrections to these observations.
-- hide signature --

-Kent
Life is too short for slow glass.
www.kentjoostenphotography.smugmug.com

Loading…

www.dpreview.com
 
Lcameron1951 said:
solamnus said:
So got myself one of these controversiol babies, and have read lot about it both good and bad. But look forward to using it a lot together with my D700 and X-T1.

Any of you DF owners out there have good tips or links for setting it up or any other stuff that might come in handy please let me know:)

/Martin.
Click to expand...
Martin,

Congrats on your new camera. I've had mine since they were released over a year ago - very pleased with the camera and the files it produces. I wish I could point you towards a single source of information but I have yet to locate it myself. My two basic "customizations" were to (1) move the AF function to the rear button (engage with your thumb), and (2) assign the auto iso function to the front FN button (2 step process; press FN and rotate the front wheel). This way I can catch focus quickly then release and tweak manually if I so choose. Engaging/ disengaging auto iso just takes a few seconds - no menus.

I use the camera in a very basic mode - single point AF unless there's a lot of action (then 9 point with AF button held down). Auto iso works great. I use up to iso 1600 regularly and 3200/6400 without hesitation.

If you run across a great information site, please post the link. In the meantime, enjoy.
Click to expand...
Thank you:) some good information there so i have something to start out with at least before i get a feel for the camera. Cheers.

I got this review from Flickr group for DF, maybe you can get something out of that too.

Loading…

deadsailorproductions.blogspot.com
 
macmaven said:
This is a repeat of a post I made in another forum, but that was on a for-pay thread, so I thought I would repost here:

There have been a few negative statements in various forums regarding the Df Auto ISO implementation, particularly in regards to the ISO dial. I’ve found it a very good way to shoot with the Df, so I thought I’d share my findings.

First of all, don’t even bother going to the manual. The section on Auto ISO is useless.

The key to understanding how the ISO dial is used for Auto ISO is based on how the value the user sets in the menu for Maximum Sensitivity (ShootingMenu>Auto ISO sensitivity Control>Maximum Sensitivity) interacts with the value set on the ISO dial. The camera uses the greater of these two values for Maximum Sensitivity. This seems somewhat confusing and as I stated the manual is no help at all. However, it is actually a very useful and clever implementation.

Example: M Mode with Auto ISO:

The camera selects the ISO needed for correct exposure until it needs to get lower than ISO 100 or greater than the Maximum Sensitivity value. Beyond that, over or under exposure occurs. If the desired Maximum Sensitivity is set with the menu (say, ISO 6400), the ISO dial serves no real purpose (as long as it is below ISO 6400). The dial selected value means nothing and changing it does nothing. This is why (I think) some folks see this as a flawed implementation.

BUT, if you set the menu value of Maximum Sensitivity to it’s lowest value (ISO 200), the ISO dial will have the greater value (as long as it is above ISO 200) and you can adjust the maximum ISO sensitivity with the dial (ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, whatever you want without going in the menu). This is how I have my Df set up.

Example: A, S or P Mode With Auto ISO:

The user selects the desired ISO with the ISO dial - sounds logical. The camera will use that ISO value until the meter says it needs to reduce the minimum shutter speed the user has set in the Auto ISO menu (A Mode), exceed the lens’ maximum aperture (S Mode) or both (P Mode). Then it will start to boost ISO as needed until it reaches the Maximum Sensitivity set in the menu. This will be a very different setting than used in the previous M Mode example - it may be ISO 1600 or more. This is pretty much like previous Nikon DSLRs.

So, what happens when you change the ISO dial in this example? The camera will use the new dial setting as your new desired ISO (still reserving the right to boost ISO if needed) until the ISO dial setting exceeds the menu Maximum Sensitivity. From then on, the desired ISO and the Maximum Sensitivity are the same (the dial setting), and you are just specifying which ISO you want to use and are essentially back in manual ISO.

This is fairly logical from an ISO dial standpoint, the only thing being you need to remember the menu setting for Maximum Sensitivity to know when you transition into and out of manual ISO (if you care).

So in summary, the ISO dial can be used in three ways:

P, A, S or M mode with Auto ISO Off: the ISO dial setting is the shooting ISO

P, A or S mode with Auto ISO On: the ISO dial setting is the desired shooting ISO but the actual shooting ISO can be altered by the camera. When the dial setting exceeds the menu value for Maximum Sensitivity, it is essentially the shooting ISO.

M Mode with Auto ISO On: the ISO dial setting is the maximum ISO sensitivity the camera can use (as long as the menu value for Maximum Sensitivity has been set to its lowest value - ISO 200).

These are my own observations from playing with the Df. I got nothing useful from the manual on this. I emphatically reserve the right to be wrong and welcome any additions or corrections to these observations.
-- hide signature --

-Kent
Life is too short for slow glass.
www.kentjoostenphotography.smugmug.com

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3594000#forum-post-52739534
Click to expand...
Thanks! Very useful information there:)

/martin.
 
solamnus said:
robert829 said:
I used Manual mode auto Iso and just fire away!!!
Click to expand...
Hehe, that sounds like a fun setup! :D
Click to expand...
I'm having a play with M vs A with Auto ISO as per Robert's description. I never would have worked that out....

I grew up with shooting A mode on an FE but the way Auto ISO works in M mode may convert me. It seems to give me more control or at least make me think more about the settings I'm using. Thanks Robert!
 
CliveTJ said:
solamnus said:
robert829 said:
I used Manual mode auto Iso and just fire away!!!
Click to expand...
Hehe, that sounds like a fun setup! :D
Click to expand...
I'm having a play with M vs A with Auto ISO as per Robert's description. I never would have worked that out....

I grew up with shooting A mode on an FE but the way Auto ISO works in M mode may convert me. It seems to give me more control or at least make me think more about the settings I'm using. Thanks Robert!
Click to expand...
I saw two different settings for the auto iso?, one for sensitivity and then something else, cant recall the name for it now.
 
I also use the camera in M mode with auto iso. Just set your shutter speed with the dial on top and then choose your aperture as you wish for depth of field and auto iso takes care of the rest. I use to use A mode as well but now only use M mode. I can check out my shutter speed at a glance.
 
I'm sure you'll enjoy your new camera. I bought a refurbished Df from B&H last week and I think it's swell.

I've been using mostly Aperture mode, so I changed the menu setting to allow adjusting the aperture with the rear command dial when in that mode. I find the front dial a little stiff.

I also set the Fn button to toggle Auto ISO on and off when pressed with the command dial. Saves going into the menus.

I have a Gariz leather half case that makes the camera even more comfortable to hold.

That's about it!
 
solamnus said:
CliveTJ said:
solamnus said:
robert829 said:
I used Manual mode auto Iso and just fire away!!!
Click to expand...
Hehe, that sounds like a fun setup! :D
Click to expand...
I'm having a play with M vs A with Auto ISO as per Robert's description. I never would have worked that out....

I grew up with shooting A mode on an FE but the way Auto ISO works in M mode may convert me. It seems to give me more control or at least make me think more about the settings I'm using. Thanks Robert!
Click to expand...
I saw two different settings for the auto iso?, one for sensitivity and then something else, cant recall the name for it now.
Click to expand...
The other is shutter speed for which I have as Auto (ie 1/fl). At the top of the screen it shows "ISO sensitivity" which is shows whatever value is set via the ISO dial. It's a bit counter-intuitive.
 
ravduc said:
I also use the camera in M mode with auto iso. Just set your shutter speed with the dial on top and then choose your aperture as you wish for depth of field and auto iso takes care of the rest. I use to use A mode as well but now only use M mode. I can check out my shutter speed at a glance.
Click to expand...
ok:) yeh i tend to use A mode most of the time. i dont know, something about trusting the camera with the ISo seems dangerous! But it might be so good in this camera so that its nothing to worry about?^^
 
trentschler said:
I'm sure you'll enjoy your new camera. I bought a refurbished Df from B&H last week and I think it's swell.

I've been using mostly Aperture mode, so I changed the menu setting to allow adjusting the aperture with the rear command dial when in that mode. I find the front dial a little stiff.

I also set the Fn button to toggle Auto ISO on and off when pressed with the command dial. Saves going into the menus.

I have a Gariz leather half case that makes the camera even more comfortable to hold.

That's about it!
Click to expand...
Nice:) yes so far, i have experimented with it just a bit. But i actually like the ergonomics of it etc. I heard soooo much trash about it so my expectations were not that great hehe. I really bought it with an open mind and with the mindset that most of the negative remarks about it was nothing that bad for me or something that i could work around or would be ok for me. So so far i like it a lot, love the look of it as well. My fingers are burning with desire to try it out this weekend!

About the settings. I consider using it in M mode with auto iso as Kent here suggest, although i mainly shoot in A-mode on my D700 so might do that here as well. good tip about changing the wheel to the back instead, i also find the fron wheel a bit stiff^^

Cheers, Martin.
 
I think the front wheel varies by camera. The one I have is the most free I've felt of all the Dfs I've tried. I'm going to give M a go. This camera is so much fun.
 
Yes, the auto-iso is really that good. I don't use this method with any of my other cameras, for two reasons; they don't have a manual shutter dial which allows me set my shutter speed without looking into the viewfinder, and the upper iso's with the DF are really excellent. I let the auto iso float between 100 and 6400.
 
I never use the front sub command dial. I have switched this around as well and use the main command dial for apertures with the kit G lens. My other lenses have aperture dials.
 
ravduc said:
I never use the front sub command dial. I have switched this around as well and use the main command dial for apertures with the kit G lens. My other lenses have aperture dials.
Click to expand...
so if you use the DF in manual you still set the aperture in the back and then the shutter on the big shutter dial and then let iso be manual?
 
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