Nikon Zf: Advanced Mirrorless Camera in Retro Style Unveiled

Nikon has at last unveiled its latest full-frame mirrorless camera, the Nikon Zf. The camera boasts a retro-design magnesium alloy body with a glossy surface, accentuated by engraved symbols on its mechanical dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation.

In addition to its vintage aesthetics, the Nikon Zf offers a slew of advanced modern features. It supports video recording in 4K UHD at 30 fps or Full HD at up to 120 fps, features high-performance autofocus with 3D tracking, boasts a 5-axis matrix stabilization system, and much more.

At the heart of the Nikon Zf lies the new EXPEED 7 processor, a proprietary addition that enhances the autofocus system, especially in low-light conditions. Notably, the camera supports pixel shift shooting, thanks to its most advanced built-in stabilization system among all Nikon Z series cameras, delivering an impressive efficiency of 8 exposure stops.

The Nikon Zf is also well-suited for videography, featuring a 24.5-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor and an autofocus system equipped with 3D tracking and deep learning technology for subject detection. The camera can identify and capture nine different types of objects, ranging from people and pets to vehicles and even aircraft. It boasts 299 AF points in Auto Area AF mode, encompassing 96% of the horizontal frame axis.

For videographers, the Nikon Zf supports video recording in resolutions up to 4K UHD at 30p, with the ability to shoot in 4K UHD at up to 60P in DX mode (with an additional crop factor). It also offers 1080/120P recording, with a recording time of up to 125 minutes. Remarkably, it’s the first Nikon camera to support video recording in automatic mode with shutter priority, allowing users to select shutter speed while the camera handles aperture and ISO adjustments. Internal 10-bit H.265 recording is also part of the package.

A unique feature of the Nikon Zf is its support for Touch Fn, enabling users to adjust camera settings while looking through the viewfinder by moving the focus point via the LCD screen.

However, a somewhat unconventional decision has been made regarding memory card slots. The camera features two slots: one compatible with widely used UHS-II SD cards and the other with Micro SD cards.

Performance-wise, the camera delivers high-speed continuous shooting at up to 14 fps or up to 30 fps when set to High-Speed Frame+ (C30). It also introduces a Pre-Release feature, allowing recording to commence before fully pressing the shutter button.

Notably, the Nikon Zf is the first Z-series camera capable of capturing pixel-shift frames, enabling the creation of images with resolutions of up to 96 megapixels, making it ideal for landscapes and architectural photography. This mode subtly adjusts the image sensor’s position to enhance image resolution.

Furthermore, the Nikon Zf boasts a dedicated physical switch for activating a special black-and-white shooting mode. In addition to the sharp, dynamic Monochrome mode in Picture Control, it introduces the new Flat Monochrome mode with smooth tonal gradations and the Deep Tone Monochrome mode, emphasizing contrast and highlights while preserving dark mid-tones.

Nikon Zf price and release date

The Nikon Zf will be available in mid-October 2023, with the body priced at $1,999.95 on Bhphotovideo.com and Amazon.com. Alternatively, it can be purchased bundled with the Nikkor Z 40mm F2.0 SE lens for $2,239.95, or with a Nikkor Z 24–70mm F/4 S lens for $2,599.95.

In recent news, Fujifilm announced the GFX 100 II medium format camera featuring a 102 MP sensor. The camera promises an expansive dynamic range and a shallow depth of field when used with suitable optics.