The Nikon Zf has finally arrived – and it’s the retro mirrorless camera I’ve been waiting for
We reported Rumors about the Nikon Zf for a few months now, with the highly anticipated retro full-frame mirrorless camera causing quite a stir. Could this be a Fujifilm killer? Well, now it’s official, and after getting a sneak peek at the camera before its official launch during my hands-on review of the Nikon Zf, I think yes, it could beat Fujifilm…eventually.
Packing much of the same technology as the Nikon Z6II, including a 24.5 MP full-frame sensor (but not the The Z7 II technology we hoped for), plus a few Nikon Z8 intelligent, and firsts including AI-assisted vibration reduction, the Zf has some pleasant surprises in store.
The most expensive Zf is what the Nikon Zfc should have been from the start – although the low-cost APS-C pioneer serves its own purpose – and is a more powerful and smarter offering than the Nikon Df Retro DSLR. It’s a full-frame mirrorless beauty based on the design of the iconic Nikon FM2 SLR camera that Sony can’t recreate. Let’s see why I think the Zf will gain many admirers.
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It’s about the feeling
With the Nikon Zf and Nikon Zfc side by side in my hand before the Zf’s global announcement, I can see more similarities than differences. Retro-style cameras have virtually the same design, form factor, and control layout, while the quality of the body itself is quite similar. However, there are indeed differences, and the Zf more faithfully reinvents the legendary Nikon FM2.
Nikon Zf price and release date
The Nikon Zf costs £2,299 in the UK, body only, and will be available in October 2023. It can be purchased with the Z 40mm F2 lens for £2,519, or with the Z 24-70mm F4 lens for £2,849 (we’ll update this article with US and Australian prices as soon as we have them). The Zf is available in black only from third-party online retailers, while if you purchase from the Nikon store it is available in six color variants (see image gallery below). A handle accessory will also be available, price to be confirmed.
The Zf is physically larger than the Zfc, and its viewfinder screen is larger and a little easier to look at, while there’s a small raised bump as a handle that provides a little purchase. An optional handle will also be available.
And then there are the details. The trigger has a thread for screwing in a cable release – it’s really old school. The shutter speed and ISO dials on the top plate are made of brass, which the Nikon team says will hold up to reveal those lovely tones after prolonged use. I can’t wait for this.
The body itself features a magnesium alloy top and front panel, which makes the Zf a little tougher than the plastic Zfc, although the cameras feel similar. And when you’re shooting video, the Zf also has a headphone jack for monitoring audio (in addition to a mic input); it is one more port than the Zfc. These subtle differences combine beautifully and the Zf is the camera for FM2 fans, and especially street photographers.
The Good and the Bad for Retro Camera Lovers
One intriguing inclusion is a B&W (black and white) mode on the photo/video switch that sits below the nice shutter speed dial. This might seem like an excessive addition – why not just change the color profile via the menu? But when you consider the retro-style Fujifilm cameras that the Nikon Zf faces, equipped with Fujifilm film simulation for JPEG images and videos, then direct black-and-white access makes sense.
In this film photography-inspired mirrorless camera space, Nikon could be considered miles behind Fujifilm, with its film simulation color profiles now numbering 20 in total since the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100IIand who created so much buzz online that the cameras love Fujifilm X100Vs are sold out everywhere.
Nikon, on the other hand, has until now had a simple and unremarkable range of color profiles. The Zf offers three B&W looks, including the all-new Flat Monochrome and Deep Tone Monochrome, accessible immediately via the quick switch.
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What’s unfortunately missing from Nikon’s Z system – and it’s something I noticed two years ago when the Zfc was unveiled – is the free Nikon Z mirrorless lenses. There are a few retro-looking prime lenses, including the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE, but none have an aperture control ring to complement the camera’s ISO and shutter speed dials; a single control ring that is used by default for manual focus.
The ring can be customized to control the aperture instead, but trust me, it’s not the same experience you get with Fujifilm’s X series lenses that have a clicked aperture ring . And a manual focus ring. If Nikon wants to go all out in the retro space – and I hope it can – it needs to release more retro mirrorless lenses with an aperture control ring.
I go into a lot more detail about the technical specs of the Nikon Zf in my hands-on review, but my immediate feeling is that this new full-frame beauty, packed with serious power under the hood, and for a £2,299 body only list price, is a really interesting, albeit more expensive, alternative to the Fujifilm models, and a camera to have at your side for everyday photography. Look for more analysis in our next full, in-depth review.