Nikon Df: professional DSLR with retro style. Modern cameras in retro style Small cameras in retro style
Nikon has announced a new type of digital SLR camera called the Df, designed exclusively for photography. The device has a design in the style of Nikon 35mm film cameras and technical innovations inherent in the latest professional models.
The Df is based on the same 16.2-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor (full frame, 36.0 x 23.9 mm) and the same EXPEED 3 image processor as used in the Nikon D4 professional camera. The light sensitivity range is ISO 100-12,800, expandable to 204,800. This allows you to obtain images with high detail and minimal noise, even in low light levels.
The camera's turn-on time is approximately 0.14 seconds, and the shutter lag is only 0.052 seconds. High-speed continuous shooting in FX and DX formats is possible at up to 5.5 frames per second.
The new product uses a highly reliable shutter mechanism, tested for 150,000 cycles at the fastest shutter speed of 1/4000 s and flash synchronization up to 1/200 s. The matrix self-cleaning module reduces the accumulation of dust in front of the photosensor.
The camera, as already mentioned, is intended exclusively for photography: the developers have gone beyond the traditional boundaries of the modern digital SLR camera market, equipping the new product with a unique retractable metering lever, which allows you to attach even vintage NIKKOR lenses without AI. When shooting in A (aperture priority) or M (manual) mode, the Df camera allows you to meter exposure with the aperture wide open (as with AI lenses).
The device features highly sensitive autofocus using the 39-point AF system Multi-CAM 4800. Sensitivity down to -1 EV, compatibility with lenses up to f/8 and the ability to select one of four AF-area modes (including 3D tracking) provide fast and Accurate coverage of the entire frame even in low light conditions.
The camera's sensor and 2,016-pixel RGB sensor provide precise data to the Scene Recognition system, which optimizes exposure, autofocus and white balance just before you press the shutter button for sharp images.
The Df model features a glass pentaprism viewfinder that provides nearly 100% frame coverage and 0.7x magnification. There is a 3.2-inch display, SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, HDMI and USB interfaces. Dimensions are 144x110x67 mm, weight - 760 g.
The retro Df camera will go on sale at the end of November at a price of $2,750 without a lens or $3,000 with 50mm F1.8 optics.
Technology has created a huge number of essays, books and films that emphasize the importance of film photography. Yes, a vintage camera cannot immediately provide you with a finished photograph, and it will not be able to offer you a variety of shooting modes, and you cannot view these photographs in electronic form. But, nevertheless, they also have their advantages. Therefore we offer you 7 best vintage cameras to capture the wonderful moments in your life.
Why? Because many people like the image quality that this classic camera offers, and in general, the history of these old gadgets itself cannot but fascinate. Below you can find a whole range of cameras that can even be found today, despite the fact that a lot of time has passed since their release. Sure, the cameras themselves are cool, but what about the images they produce? In addition to showcasing each piece, we've also decided to focus your attention on the photos taken of each of these vintage items - by the way, we offer both professional and amateur photos. Many of these cameras can be found on the Internet. Try to buy one of them and immerse yourself in this vintage world.
When you come across a list of vintage items, you definitely don't expect the first item to be equipped with a microprocessor. But we will surprise you. The Canon A1, released in 1976, was actually the first fully automatic camera, capable of controlling shutter speed and aperture based on what the light meter read (a device that became common among more advanced cameras). If you're looking for one of these "old school" cameras, keep in mind that this model uses an old school lens mount.
Originally intended for photojournalists, this camera has a 6 by 7 format. The 67 series came in several different versions - the 67 itself and the 670. The second was equipped with a Nikkor 80 mm f/2.8 lens, and the W67 was equipped with a Nikkor 55 mm wide-angle lens. The wide-angle lens is highly appreciated, since with its help even a non-professional photographer is able to capture huge buildings and interiors without any special skills. And the flip-up lens makes this camera one of the most portable 6x7 cameras around.
Nikon's Model F was the company's first DSLR, and it ultimately became the first DSLR to reach the masses. It has become a widely popular camera among amateurs and professionals alike. So, it was even used by reporters who covered the Vietnam War at NASA. For its time, this camera was a real breakthrough in terms of functionality. If you do decide to purchase such a camera, then you should understand that this is a pretty good vintage device that can take great pictures during a backcountry hike or in everyday life.
If you decide to look at older cameras, you will find a couple of truly valuable and truly unique products. This camera from Olympus, produced between 1963 and 1966, stood out from other cameras with its small size and 36 by 24 millimeter shooting format.
Rolleiflex TLR 6x6
You'll be interested in this camera because it may have been used to take pictures of Vivian Maier, or maybe you'll just be drawn to the possibility of shooting with a viewfinder attached. In any case, this camera is a blast in its segment. It offers a 6x6 shooting format, and with it you can get incredibly clear and bright images. Take her to the beach with you or go for a walk around the city with her in your backpack.
Released in 1957, this camera marked the beginning of a completely new direction in the company's design. It features a shutter system that was built to replace older focal plane models - it boasts an opening speed of 1/500th of a second (hence the name). In addition to the new mechanism, the developers also offer us a wide range of different lenses and viewfinders. After all these years, the camera still does not lose its relevance and popularity.
This month Nikon introduced the new Nikon 1 V3, a professional camera with a retro body. Our material is about this and other cameras with modern filling and retro appearance.
The Model 1 V3 is marketed as a camera "for serious photographers who want to travel light and have high demands on speed, power and reliability." This claim is based on impressive raw data: the camera features an 18.4-megapixel CX-format (13.2x8.8mm) CMOS sensor that produces superb images with a high degree of detail, even in low-light conditions. The effective sensitivity range is ISO 160-12,800.
Anchors & Anvils
Enthusiasts at Anchors & Anvils are doing a very useful job: they are looking for old film camera bodies, restoring some of the mechanisms and adding modern features. The camera body is also undergoing major modifications: in the case of the company's latest brainchild it is metal and walnut wood.
The quite compact, elegant Nikon Df camera in a retro body has long attracted the attention of photographers of all levels and stripes. Pentaprism as optics, an abundance of purely mechanical settings such as shutter speed and exposure, and a PASM dial make the Nikon Df a truly welcome addition to the collection. Actually, in addition to this, the internal filling, on the contrary, is very modern. By and large, it is not much different from one of the company’s flagships - Nikon D4. The luxurious retro design does not prevent the case from being waterproof and shockproof - in general, chic, not a camera.
Fuji X-E2 
The technical characteristics of the camera are very impressive: ultra-fast autofocus, a 16-megapixel X-Trans CMOS II sensor in APS-C format (23.6 x 15.6 mm) with built-in phase detection autofocus sensors and an EXR II processor - class mirrorless cameras have not harmed Fuji's performance at all X-E2. It can shoot video, naturally, in Full HD and even has a Wi-Fi module. All this is neatly packaged in a very stylish case, the appearance of which refers to the most successful models of the company of the late twentieth century.
Fuji X-T1 
Another retro model from Fuji. In fact, the Fuji X-T1 model was released quite recently and boasts the most advanced characteristics, but the appearance of the camera is the most retro; This corresponds not only to the soft, slightly angular contours of the body, but also to its very texture. By the way, the Fuji X-T1 body is made of magnesium alloy, so the camera is both dust and moisture resistant.
Olympus PEN E-P5
This is the fourth digital camera from the PEN series released by Olympus. This is exactly what was discussed at the beginning of the material.
PEN is a very old series, which, in fact, made Olympus famous back in the 60s of the last century. PEN cameras were incredibly compact (at the time) and could take 72 frames on standard 35mm film. In 2009, the company updated this series with the E-P1 model, the innovation of which lay, on the one hand, in the fact that it repeated the design of old cameras, and on the other hand, it used the latest Micro 4/3 format, was just as compact, but together with those came with interchangeable lenses. This is how a whole class of “system” mirrorless cameras with removable lenses appeared.
The advantages of this technology are obvious: the amateur photographer gets a camera two to three times lighter than a DSLR, but with almost the same characteristics and the ability to select a lens for different shooting conditions. The only problem was that the first system cameras did not differ in the quality of the resulting images, and serious photographers began to treat them as expensive and useless toys.
A lot of time has passed since then. Today, Micro 4/3 format cameras are on par with, and in some places already superior to, SLR cameras at the lower and mid-price levels. At the same time, they can boast of an interesting design, which has received the due response in the hearts of amateur photographers and connoisseurs of stylish things.
So, the Olympus PEN E-P5 has a 16 MP sensor, a 5-axis stabilizer with the ability to take correct panoramic photos, shoots at up to 9 frames per second, takes HDR photos and looks exactly like it was made in 1960. The rotating touch display allows you to shoot from various awkward positions - be it from below, or from above, or from around a corner, and the stabilizer allows you to get a stable image behind the display screen and in the picture even with the closest zoom using a telephoto lens. The E-P5 also has built-in Wi-Fi for transferring pictures directly to a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
As for the retro design, in addition to the aesthetic component, convenience and high-quality materials (metal, leather), it allows you to use the camera with maximum convenience: all controls are in place, the hand comfortably grips the body, the camera is completely balanced, and taking photographs with it is a pleasure .
However, in 2013, it's not enough to simply release a camera with a stylish design and hope for success. Therefore, the Olympus PEN E-P5 not only can take beautiful photographs and shoot videos in Full HD, but also has a whole bunch of different features. The camera is equipped with many art filters that imitate, like Instagram, many different styles of photography, but, unlike Instagram, they do it very high quality and in full size - pictures directly from the camera can be sent to large-format printing and hung in huge frames on wall. Moreover, in any of these filters you can make a collage of several pictures (a function also similar to Instagram, but more advanced - there are many more variations and effects) and save it, while each of the frames will remain in its original form and high resolution format RAW.
Using a special application for iPhone and Android, you can take pictures remotely and immediately save them to your smartphone’s memory. You can even send a picture to several smartphones at once - the camera can work as a media server with the ability to manually select which pictures will be available to your friends and which will not.
Fujifilm X-M1
Another oldest Japanese company, Fujifilm, released at the beginning of 2013 a camera no less worthy than the Olympus PEN E-P5 - the X-M1. This is also not the first Fujifilm model with a retro design; the X series already has 9 models in different price categories. The first camera in the series was the Fujifilm X100, which was released in 2010.
The Fujifilm X-M1, just announced and the most interesting camera to date, also has a 16 megapixel matrix - albeit of a different standard and slightly larger in size than the Olympus PEN E-P5. It uses Fujifilm's own CMOS APS-C sensor, with characteristics similar to those used in mid-range models from Canon and Nikon. In many ways, the X-M1 is similar to the E-P5: removable lenses, Full HD video shooting, built-in Wi-Fi... Unlike older Fujifilm models, this camera is easier to use: there are many automatic modes, there are art filters that simulate various views films, and the controls are intuitive, something Fujifilm has never been able to boast before.
What makes the Fujifilm X-M1 stand out is its design, which nods to the company's proud past while still looking as modern as the latest Porsche 911. While the X-M1 is not the Porsche Carrera of digital cameras, it is most definitely a Porsche Boxter . A small, compact and incredibly stylish device with very decent characteristics and its own history, the Fujifilm X-M1 in a light brown leather case will look in your hands like an expensive accessory that can also take excellent photographs.
Pentax MX-1
From a completely different opera, the Pentax MX-1 is a camera for amateurs, but advanced ones. This is Pentax's first foray into retro design, also a highly respected and ancient Japanese company. But here, unlike Olympus and Fujifilm, there is a fixed, although very good lens with 5x zoom, a simpler 12 MP sensor, no socket for flash or microphones (although both are built-in), and also lacking controls for full manual shooting. However, handheld shooting in RAW format, video shooting in Full HD, real metal and leather, excellent image quality and beautiful design are available. Plus, the price is half that of Olympus and Fujifilm.
Retro-design cameras are becoming a real trend. If in the year before and last they caused a skeptical smile among professionals and an enchanted smile among girls passing by, this year retro cameras have grown greatly both in terms of quality and technology. With their help, you can take truly beautiful photographs and videos; shooting with them is convenient and easy, and they will raise your image to a height that even the most advanced “DSLR” has never dreamed of.
Filmed by Ruslan Shebukov
Since October last year and at least until the summer, on Fridays and Saturdays, the SPHERE Museum has been hosting an exhibition of old cameras and retro photographic equipment.
One of the main advantages of the exhibition is interactivity. You can carefully touch everything, they will tell you everything in detail and additionally pay attention to interesting details.
General impression after leaving the exhibition: How great it is that small European-style museums are slowly starting to appear in Moscow, where you are welcome.
If you want to understand a little how photographers worked 100 years ago, what they could see when they covered themselves with a black rag, and how photographs were printed at home quite recently, then you should go straight to the exhibition ->
We begin our inspection of the exhibition with the camera obscura. In turns, two or three people climb inside, and the rest act as models
The inside looks something like this (it was photographed in complete darkness, in fact, it is visible a little more clearly). No lenses or sharpness settings, just a hole in the box. The inverted image is simply projected onto the opposite wall of the box
There are wonderful examples
You can gently touch and ask
Medium format camera Salyut (Soviet copy of Hasselblad 1600F). This is what Yuri Gagarin used.
Wide-angle lens MIR-3 65 mm, f/3.5
One of the Soviet large-format “boxes”.
The lens is wide-angle, but in this format it is 300 mm f/4.5
And here's what you can see from the reverse side. The screen moves forward and backward on runners to adjust sharpness.
If you completely cover yourself with a black cloth, you can tune in more accurately
Here, during the excursion, they tell you what a boom the spread of photography has created for criminologists, government agencies issuing documents, visas, etc.
Original passports of the Russian Empire from the late 19th century are presented. There are no photographs in them. A simple verbal portrait is given.
A wonderful document: this is what a French visa looked like in 1914. There is a photograph, but there are no requirements for it. The lady simply took a photo against the backdrop of the garden and the house.
The Soviet passport, which appeared in the late 1920s, has a place for a photo in the lower right corner: Space for photo card (optional)
The workhorse of the 1930s photographers.
With the beginning of the war, cameras were confiscated from the population, and cameramen were given compact Leicas.
With a Leica and a notepad,
Or even with a machine gun
We went through fire and cold.
Leonid Utesov sang lyrics by Konstantin Simonov
This once very fashionable and prestigious camera is probably not worth introducing
A real photo gun! It existed not only in cartoons.
Camera + 300 mm lens + special handle with butt.
The simplest plastic camera Shkolnik. It's small, but shoots on medium format film.
Every seventh Soviet family had and still has such a camera. It was inexpensive and sold well. Its production volume exceeded 20 million pieces.
Smena-8M is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most popular camera in the world.
In the foreground with a yellow filter is a very interesting and rare German camera from Robot.
Besides the fact that he shoots 3 frames per second and winds the film himself...
...you can shoot at it secretly, at an angle of 90 degrees, when the photographer himself seems to be looking straight, but in fact looking to the side through the side peephole.
The toggle switch on top allows you to switch the camera to normal shooting mode.
He was a success with the paparazzi.
Small spy camera
It doesn't even have a viewfinder. Factory mark too.
A special accessory that allows you to hide this camera under your clothes, with only a button showing out. In the photo (and in real life) it’s hard to see that the button actually consists of two parts that move apart at the time of shooting. Different buttons were made for different tasks.
The smallest one is not a camera, but a lighter.
When photographing with an accordion, you need to sight from above through the lens and mirror above the lens.
Photosensitive materials are inserted here
And this is how the “accordion” develops
The glass plates on which the photographs were taken are also shown.
Photo correspondent case from the 1930s
Quite a heavy case FKD 18x24. What’s interesting is that the camera was produced in the USSR from 1931, right up to 1987 (!).
The camera is on a tripod, please note: at the bottom right there is a “telephoto” (lens with a large zoom) for this camera, and on the left is the glass on which the photographs were taken.
Of course, no mechanics. The photographer simply manually removed the lens cap and then closed it, independently controlling the shutter speed.
And again the telephoto. Use the wheel to adjust sharpness
Stereo camera and faded example photo
And then we were taken to the red room, where they showed how photographs were printed by hand until recently (and in some houses still)
The whole magical process of a drawing appearing on photo paper can be seen in the video:
The museum is located in the basement of a residential building
A museum where even simple advertisements are written with soul is beautiful by definition!
This is what the courtyard and entrance to the museum look like (next to the second entrance).
Finally, we must say the following:
Of course, the museum will not show anything fundamentally new to sophisticated photo collectors and amateur photographers. But if you want to turn old equipment in your hands, look at old cameras and be present (or feel nostalgic) when photographs are printed manually, then you definitely need to go there!
Well, it’s a real treat for little novice amateur photographers! Everything is explained very clearly and interestingly for the little “whys”.
Helpful information:
Official website of the museum: http://www.smuseum.ru/
The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 19:00 (Sundays will be opened in the near future)
Excursions start: 12.00, 13.30, 15.00, 16.30, 18.00.
Address:
St. Ivana Franko, 22, bldg. 1.
Metro Kuntsevskaya
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