Although it looks like it should belong on an AR-15 rifle rather than a camera, this cool piece of new kit is actually the DF-M1 – a dot sight for use on Nikon cameras. The dot sight fits onto the hotshoe mount and is intended to make it easier for photographers to track moving subjects when shooting at longer focal lengths.
The DF-M1 is best suited to superzooms like the Nikon P1000.
The dot sight is particularly suited to Nikon’s superzoom Coolpix cameras, such as the P1000. This incredible 16-megapixel camera features a massive 125x (optical zoom) magnification, which gives a 35mm equivalent focal range of 24-3000mm. Of course, trying to track subjects at the longer end of this focal range could be extremely tough, so photographers could use the dot sight to zero in on subjects.
The dot sight fits to the camera’s hot shoe mount.
Nikon’s website explains more about the DF-M1; “The Dot Sight DF-M1 is a compact, foldable scope compatible with specific Nikon cameras. Indispensable for telephoto shooting, this portable scope lets you place a target dot on your subject so you can track it without using the camera’s viewfinder. Track even fast-flying birds or aircraft with both eyes open, and easily keep your subject in the centre of the frame.”
The brightness of the dot can be adjusted as can the colour of the dot.
According to Nikon websites, the DF-M1 dot sight will carry a UK price-tage of £179, while US photographers will pay $175. However, although the product is listed as ‘coming soon’ on the Nikon website, no official launch date has been released.