Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless camera oozes retro style, but also promises plenty of substance. Andy Westlake finds out whether it delivers
Nikon has a particularly rich heritage in film photography, so it’s no great surprise to find many of its users hankering after digital models that resemble classic 35mm SLRs. Sadly, the firm’s previous attempts at such cameras have been somewhat underwhelming, with the Df DSLR from 2013 being awkward and bulky, while the mirrorless Z fc of 2021 was undermined by the lack of matching DX lenses. However, the Nikon Z f is a much more attractive proposition.
Like the Z fc, the Z f’s design harks back to the classic Nikon FM film SLR. But now, it packs a 24MP full-frame sensor, along with all the firm’s latest imaging technology. As a result, it might just be the retro-styled camera that Nikon fans have wanted all along. It could also tempt users of Fujifilm’s similarly designed X-T cameras with the prospect of a full-frame, rather than APS-C sensor.
At £2,299 body-only, the Z f looks competitively priced against its closest full-frame rivals, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II (£2,779), Panasonic Lumix S5II (£1,999), and Sony Alpha A7 IV (£2,399). But it is, unsurprisingly, rather more expensive than either of its APS-C lookalikes, the Fujifilm X-T5 (£1,699) or Nikon’s own Z fc (£899). Unlike the Z fc, it only comes in a sober black finish, with no silver version. But for those who’d like a degree of personalisation, it’s available from Nikon’s online store with various attractively coloured leatherette coverings (Bordeaux Red, Indigo Blue, Moss Green, Sepia Brown, Stone Gray, and Sunset Orange).
Features
Given its 24MP resolution, it might be tempting to assume that the Nikon Z f is a prettified version of the existing Z 6II.
But there’s rather more to it than that. Crucially, it gains the firm’s latest Expeed 7 processor, as used by the top-end Z 8 and Z 9.
This brings a number of benefits, most notably subject-detection autofocus. As a result, it’s perhaps better seen as a ‘Z 6III’.
Like its siblings, the Z f can recognise and track people, animals (cats, dogs, and birds) and vehicles (cars, motorbikes, bicycles, trains, and airplanes). You can either specify a subject type manually, or let the camera choose between them, which makes the system particularly easy to use. One notable new feature is that subject detection can also be used
