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Nikon Z f
24.50 Mpx, Full frame
Nikon Z f: Full-frame camera in retro style
20.9.2023
Translation: machine translated
On the outside, the Nikon Z f resembles an old film camera. Inside is modern technology, including a few technical innovations.
Nikon is launching the full-frame Z f camera with a retro look on the market in October. With the Nikon Z fc, there is already a retro camera for the Nikon mirrorless system - but this has an APS-C sensor. The two retro cameras look similar. However, the Z f with its full-frame sensor is larger and heavier.
Sensitive to light
The sensor has 24.5 megapixels. That's not exactly a lot for full format. However, it can be increased by pixel shifting. The camera takes several shots with a slightly shifted sensor and combines them to create a high-resolution image.
Due to the low resolution, the camera appears to be very sensitive to light. In any case, you can take pictures with it up to 64000 ISO. The autofocus should also still work in extremely low light. According to Nikon, its sensitivity is -10 EV. Fittingly for a camera with these strengths, there is also a constellation view: it makes subjects visible in the viewfinder even in extremely low light.
Modern autofocus
The autofocus is really something special. Scene recognition is said to be on a par with the Nikon Z 8. The coverage area of the 299 focus points is even slightly larger.
There is even a manual focus with scene recognition. This sounds slightly absurd, but makes sense in the context of Nikon's lens system. Although SLR lenses can be connected to a mirrorless Z camera with the FTZ adapter but with old models like this one the autofocus does not work. In the case of the Nikon Z f, this is a bit of a shame because these old lenses would fit nicely with a retro camera. The workaround is that you have to turn the focus ring yourself, but the autofocus recognises the subject and shows you whether you have focused correctly.
The autofocus has another special feature, according to Nikon even a world first: the image stabiliser is adjusted to the focus point. Normally, the centre of stabilisation is simply the centre of the image. I can't yet say what this does in practice. In any case, the image stabiliser compensates for up to eight exposure levels - a good value.
Video function: so average
The camera films 4K videos at up to 60 frames per second - but then with a crop that reduces the section to APS-C format. This is possible for 50 minutes at a time as standard. If you are not afraid of overheating, you can set the maximum recording time to 125 minutes. Full HD is possible at 120 frames per second. It is also possible to use 10 bit and the Nikon N-Log profile.
In terms of specifications, the video function is mediocre for a 2023 camera. Not particularly good, but not bad either. We will know more after the first tests.
With its 180-degree rotation mechanism, the screen is well suited for videos, including selfies.
Source: Nikon
Nice details
Matching the retro design: unlike the Z fc, the shutter release button has a screw thread for old-school remote shutter release by wire. Unlike Fujifilm or Sony, Nikon lenses have not had an aperture ring for a long time. Instead, there is a tiny LCD on the top that displays the aperture.
Source: Nikon
The second card compartment is by no means retro. This only holds micoSD and not a normal SD size, which makes changing cards a little fiddly. According to the manufacturer, there was not enough space for two normal SD cards. But it's cool that Nikon didn't use this as an excuse to only install one card slot.
The Nikon Z f has a monochrome mode. Black and white images can be created with different profiles. Other cameras can also do this, but here the black and white mode can be activated directly via a switch. Certainly also an idea to increase the retro feeling.
The front and top of the housing are made of magnesium alloy. It is protected against dust and dripping water. The shutter has been tested to 200,000 releases.
Available from October
The Nikon Z f is expected to be available from 12 October. In addition to the bare camera, there are also two kits: one with the 24-70 F4 lens and one with the 40mm F2.
Titelbild: Nikon
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.