Camera Review, Top 10 ReviewMorten ByskovOctober 24, 2023Nikon Zf review, Nikon Z f review, Nikon Zf sample images, Nikon Z f sample images, Nikon Zf hands on review, From Fuji to Nikon Zf, Fujifilm to Nikon Zf, Nikon Zf image quality26 Comments

Nikon Z f Review

The Nikon Zf. Finally, an Inspiring Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera With Retro-Styled Mojo

It has been a long journey searching for a full-frame mirrorless camera that spiked my interest to the point where I could see myself purchasing it.

A couple of years ago, I compared the Canon EOS R5, Sony A7R IV, and Nikon Z7 II. This year, I have tried a Sony A7 IV, Leica SL2-S, Leica M10, Panasonic S5 II, and a Nikon Z8. In truth, they are all nice cameras.

For a while, however, I was hoping that Nikon would make a camera based on the design of my Nikon F3 HP. I wanted it to be roughly the same size and with the same quality feel.

Guess what? Nikon has now made a camera, the Nikon Z f, based on the FM2, but in my opinion, it feels more like a mix of a Nikon FM2 and F3.

The Buzz Around the Nikon Zf

Rarely have I received as many personal questions and comments on Instagram as when I posted a few photos of the Nikon Zf and photos taken with it. Some asked if I was selling my Fujifilm gear; others just loved the look of the Zf and were debating to make a similar move and would share their enthusiasm.

The excitement surrounding the Nikon Zf reminds me of when Fujifilm introduced the X100 and X-Pro1 more than ten years ago.

In recent camera history, no manufacturer other than Fujifilm and Leica has successfully marketed retro-styled cameras. This has certainly changed with the introduction of the Nikon Zf.

I was visiting a photo store here in Vancouver on the weekend, and the friendly young woman who helped me out really wanted to see my camera. I happily showed it to her, and she was so excited.

Then, a couple of minutes later, another associate came over. She had a couple of customers who had spotted the Nikon Zf around my neck and kindly asked if they could see it. Of course :)

A woman walk the trails near Mount Fromme in North Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf. — North Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2

Time For a Change - Introducing Nikon To the Mix

I have been a Fujifilm photographer for more than ten years. It started with the X-Pro1 in 2012. If you have visited my site in the past, you would know that I predominantly review Fujifilm gear and have used their products for travel, pro gigs, and personal projects.

I will continue to review Fujifilm gear and intend to keep and use my X-Pro2 and GFX 50R alongside the Nikon Zf. Each will have their strengths in different situations.

That said, I also want to diversify and will attempt to expand my site with gear from other manufacturers. Nikon has been on a roll lately, releasing a string of interesting cameras and lenses, such as the Z9 and Z8. I have a list on my desk with lenses I plan to try and review over the next few months.

A boat at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Sample image from a Nikon Zf and Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 SE — Vancouver Maritime Museum, Nikon Zf, Nikkor 40mm f/2 SE @ f/2

Build Quality, Design, and Handling

Design and build quality are important to me when I pick a new camera, and I am guessing they are important to you as well since you are reading this review. So, how does the Nikon Zf stack up? Will it evoke similar feelings as the X-Pro1 did back in 2012 and why is this important to some of us?

You can argue that a camera is just an object or tool, so why not forget about aesthetics and focus solely on functionality? We are lucky to have a vast array of choices, and some of us will gravitate towards retro-styled cameras, while others could not care less.

There is an element of nostalgia when it comes to a camera such as the Nikon Zf. Thousands of Nikon FM, FE, and F3 users see the Zf and have flashbacks to the eighties, and younger photographers will likely admire the design from that era.

The wonderful thing about nostalgia is that you often forget the bad and only remember the good. So, are there any valid benefits with a retro-styled design? Absolutely. If you dig the looks of a camera, it can indeed inspire you to use it more often, and when I pick a camera, it is not only about functionality but also design and aesthetics.

Top view of the Nikon Zf with the PSAM switch, ISO dial, shutter speed dial, and exposure compensation dial — The top view of the Nikon Zf with dedicated PSAM switch, ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation dials

Ideally, a camera blends with a good user interface and elegant design. The old design may also have flaws that you had forgotten about, and at times, it will not handle quite as nicely as a camera with a perfectly molded grip.

The Nikon Zf strikes a chord on the design and performance fronts, and while some photographers won’t mind the ergonomics, others will prefer a more modern design.

With a 22.2 oz / 630 g weight, the Zf feels solid, even hefty. All buttons and dials have an air of quality about them. I have yet to bump into anything that feels flimsy or plasticky. The Zf has a small grip almost identical in size, look, and feel to the grip on the Nikon F3.

You can purchase a grip or cage from SmallRig, which may be a good idea if you want to use the Zf with bigger lenses. Nikon also has a grip, ZF-GR1, which, to my eyes, looks like a better fit in terms of design and ergonomics.

The Nikon Zf shown with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S and K&F Concept adapter and a Nikon F3 HP in the background — The Nikon Zf shown with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted using a K&F Concept adapter

I am happy to use the Zf without a grip, but I may consider the Nikon grip later.

We have to talk about the dials on the Zf for a second. They turn with satisfying clicks and are of very high quality, almost identical to my Nikon F3 HP.

Nikon Zf Specs

24.5MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
EXPEED 7 Image Processor
ISO range: 100-64,000
5-Axis In-body vibration reduction, 8 stops
Up to 14 fps, mechanical, 30 fps electronic shutter
UHD 4K 30p video and full HD 120p video
96MP high-res mode
Memory: Slot 1: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
Slot 2: microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Battery: EN-EL15c rechargeable lithium-Ion
3.69m-Dot EVF
3.2" vari-angle touchscreen
Weight: 22.2 oz / 630 g (Body only)
Price: $1,996.95 - B&H Photo

A hot dog stand on the corner of W Georgia and Granville in Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf. — Downtown, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and K&F Concept adapter

In Action

I will include Nikon’s menu system in this segment, which can be daunting when you come from Fujifilm. However, I would say that even an old dog can learn new tricks, and I am surely and steadily getting the hang of it.

My friend Julian reminded me of the “?” (question mark) feature on Nikon cameras. You simply press the “?” and instantly get an explanation of some of the features. It’s like a built-in manual. Cool.

Another friend, Kyle, helped me properly set up the Auto ISO function. However, it is a tad convoluted compared to the setup I have on my Fujifilm cameras.

The Nikon Zf and Nikon F3 HP — The Nikon Zf next to my Nikon F3 HP

The “i” function is super handy as you can access your most common features quite easily.

I managed to set up a favorites menu where I keep and will add a few more settings that I frequently access, such as formatting your cards, changing shutter types, and Auto ISO settings. I then chose the front camera function button to access the favorites menu. I quite like this setup.

At first, I was not over the moon about the shutter sound, but I think I am getting used to it. The shutter is very responsive, but the actual sound is a slightly high-pitched click. You can also shoot completely silently using the electronic shutter.

A size comparison between the Nikon Zf and Nikon F3 HP

A feature I have used extensively with all my Fujifilm cameras is the exposure compensation dial. While it is a bit firm on the Nikon Zf, you can change it with your right thumb without having to use two fingers. I shoot in aperture priority 90% of the time, and this quickly gives you access to a manual override.

One of the dial changes I made was to move the aperture adjustment from the front to the rear command dial. I am used to the front dial, and while it feels okay, the back dial feels much better and has a wonderful tactile feel.

I have used the camera with the rear LCD flipped to the closed position more often than expected, and I expect to do this more once I have the camera set up to my liking. The texture of the camera wrapping (I'm not sure if it is real leather) feels quite premium.

The fully articulating rear LCD on the Nikon Zf, fully closed. — The rear LCD fully closed

Almost all sample images in this initial review are captured with manual-focus lenses. I never use the AE-L/AF-L button, so I changed it to a punch-in zoom button and found it to work quite well.

Only, I have to push it twice, once to zoom in and once to zoom out. On my Fujifilm cameras, I punch in, then half-press the shutter, and it will zoom out again. There may be a workaround that I haven’t figured out yet.

Although only a 3.69M-dot, the viewfinder is very good. I find that I can manually focus almost all images without having to punch in. I also like how customizable it is so you can remove clutter.

My impressions of autofocus performance are very good, with excellent eye-tracking.

I intend to update this review as I try more native Z lenses, but with the Expeed 7 processor and similar autofocus performance to the Z8 and Z9, I expect it to be excellent.

A couple of friends cross Granville Street in Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf — Granville Street, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S and K&F Concept adapter

Nikon Zf - Image Quality

Having used the Fujifilm GFX 50R extensively over the past year, I did not expect the image quality from the Nikon Zf to blow me away. Going from the larger-than-full-frame 50-megapixel sensor to a full-frame 24-megapixel sensor was bound to make a difference.

Adding the Zf to my camera mix is more about slightly better portability, speed of operation, and performance with some of Nikon’s Z autofocus lenses and Z-Mount lenses from Voigtländer. I may even gander at some of my favorite older AI-S lenses or pair the Zf with some of the latest AF-S lenses using the FTZ II adapter.

However, the images in this first week of testing slightly exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, the new camera did not make me a better photographer overnight. It's funny how that is.

If you are used to an APS-C-based Fujifilm camera, you may notice a slightly different look from the full-frame sensor with the Nikon Zf, but I find this jump in sensor size less noticeable than going from full-frame to Fujifilm GFX cameras.

The sample images in this initial review are processed from RAW files in Lightroom Classic. For the past few years, I have used Capture One Express for Fujifilm, and now I am curious if there is a noticeable difference between the Nikon Zf files from Lightroom to Capture One. Maybe I will explore this at some point. Please leave a comment below if you have tried both.

The Nikon Zf shown with a Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and K&F Concept adapter

In Lightroom, you can pick specific camera-matching presets (thanks for the heads-up, Kyle), and I have used this feature for some of the black-and-white images in this post. At this point, I have mainly adjusted curves, exposure, and white balance and often reduced contrast and sharpness slightly.

The Nikon Zf picture profiles are okay, but I find Fujifilm’s film simulation nicer and more organic-looking. In fairness to Nikon, I do need to explore their presets a bit more before dismissing them.

So far, my favorite color profile is the “Rich Tone Portrait,” and the three black-and-white presets are all very good. I most often use the standard Camera Monochrome, but the Flat Monochrome and Deep Tone Monochrome settings are also usable, depending on which look you are after.

The colors from the Nikon 24-megapixel sensor are rich and very pleasing and I would probably leave these untouched for the most part.

The sample images in this review can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger photos if you are viewing them on your PC or laptop or pinch-zoom if you are viewing them on your phone.

A young man is on his mobile phone at Robson Square in Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf — Robson Square, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and K&F Concept adapter

Summary After a Week With the Nikon Zf

This is not a definitive review after one week with the Nikon Zf, and I plan to update this page as I test the Zf in different scenarios. I haven’t even mentioned the Pixel-Shift mode, which allows for combined stills into a 96-megapixel file, and I have yet to turn the dial to video. Stay tuned for updates.

To a certain degree, I find that Nikon, with the Zf, is filling a gap and has continued a trend that Fujifilm started with the X-Pro and X-T Series cameras.

It’s the retro-styled vibe that initially got me onboard with Fujifilm, and here I am again, repeating a pattern, except this time the camera has “Nikon” written on the front.

The Nikon Zf differs as we now have a solid retro-styled full-frame option that isn’t priced in Leica territory. It is an excellent time for photographers who enjoy a bit of nostalgia thrown into the mix without having to spend between six and eight thousand dollars.

Fall leaves on a car in Vancouver. Sample photo from a Nikon Zf.

I wrote to one of my Instagram contacts who asked about the Nikon Zf and said that there isn’t a magic bullet when it comes to cameras. That is partially how I feel about the Zf at this point.

I am excited about the Zf, but I also find that it is important to mention that it is not a Z8, which has a deeper feature set, larger grip, stacked sensor for super-fast readout, and more megapixels if you need to make large prints or crop your wildlife photos (the Z8 is also twice the cost).

It is also not a Fujifilm X-T5, which is lighter, has a 40-megapixel sensor, and offers Fujifilm’s excellent film simulations for $300.00 less.

However, from the get-go, the Nikon Zf feels like a well-rounded and solid performer in the 24-megapixel full-frame segment.

It works great with manual focus lenses and has the latest processor for fast operation and excellent autofocus performance. I look forward to spending more time with it.

Please see more sample images below.

Nikon Zf and Nikon F3 side by side. Nikon Zf review. — The Nikon Zf and Nikon F3 HP side by side

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Nikon Zf - B&H Photo

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