Nikon ZF – A Long Term Review

I’ve been using my Nikon ZF for over a year now, for work and for play, so I thought it was about time that I gave it a long term review for those of you thinking about getting the Nikon ZF. I’ve taken thousands of images with it, used it for weddings, events, portraits, landscapes, family photography and a lot more, and I’ve really run it through it’s paces. Any initial problems I had with it are more or less gone now (as I’ll discuss) and the firmware updates have exceeded all my expectations.

At this point in time I feel I can give a full and honest review of the Nikon ZF, how it is to handle when you’re in an event, how the files are to edit and those important questions that always get asked, just how good is the autofocus, how is that screen and how are the ergonomics? Needless to say, these are all my thoughts, my name is Mark, I’ve been doing some form of photography almost all my life and I’ve used many cameras throughout the years. Let’s take a deep dive….

Let’s take a little look at the Nikon ZF before we answer these questions:

The Nikon ZF was officially announced on September 20, 2023. It was released at approximately £2,229 for the body only and wad available in a selection of colours (like Moss Green, Crimson Red, and Indigo Blue). It brilliantly fuses the tactile, analogue charm of the past with Nikon’s most advanced modern imaging technology, serving as a spiritual successor to the beloved FM2 film SLR.

If you’re familiar with the specs, please scroll down to the ergonomics, image quality, autofocus and summary sections below.

Design & Handling

• Analogue Aesthetic: The camera features an all-metal magnesium alloy body with physical brass top dials (for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation) that develop a unique patina over time.

• Dedicated Monochrome Switch: A physical lever beneath the shutter speed dial allows you to instantly toggle into black-and-white mode, offering three distinct profiles (Standard, Flat, and Deep Tone).

• Form Factor: True to vintage form, it opts for a classic flat-front design rather than a deep modern handgrip. It also features a fully articulating rear touchscreen—a first for Nikon’s full-frame bodies.

Performance & Core Tech

• Sensor & Processor: It pairs a proven 24.5MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with the flagship EXPEED 7 processor (the same brain found in the Z8 and Z9). 

• Flagship Autofocus: Thanks to the EXPEED 7 engine, it inherits advanced deep-learning 3D tracking and subject recognition (humans, animals, birds, vehicles). It can even maintain subject tracking when using adapted manual focus lenses.

• Advanced Stabilisation: Features an industry-leading 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) offering up to 8 stops of compensation. Crucially, it introduces *Focus-point VR*, meaning the system stabilizes around your selected AF point rather than just the dead center of the frame.

• High-Res Pixel Shift: It is the first Nikon Z camera capable of pixel-shift shooting, allowing you to combine multiple exposures into a single, ultra-detailed 96-megapixel file.

Storage & Connectivity

• Dual Card Slots: It utilizes a unique, space-saving layout featuring one standard UHS-II SD slot and a secondary microSD slot tucked together in the battery compartment.

Camera Ergonomics 

Before you buy a Nikon ZF I highly suggest that you pick one up first to see if you like the feel of it. It’s a big camera compared to the Z6 series, and because it emphasises the retro looks it does not have a grip that stands out like other Nikon Z cameras. 

From the moment I owned a Nikon ZF I decided to put a leather half case on it, it just gives you a little more security and room for your pinky-finger to sit on the camera. I have seen people buy a grip for the ZF, if you plan to do this, I’d suggest you just go for a Nikon Z5ii or similar, as that feels much better than an add-on grip.  I feel the half case is a happy medium, it’s still retro, and still looks stunning, but you just have more to hold on to.

Using the ZF at weddings, events and portrait shoots I’ve learned to use smaller, or lighter lenses with the camera. I use my Z6ii for heavier lenses as that is perfect in every way for large lenses.

The dials are lovely, they click nicely and all the buttons as with all Nikon cameras are in the right place. You know with a Nikon that your fingers will just fall on the right buttons, with ease.

The screen is the pull out and twist type. In my early impressions videos and articles I mentioned how this screen really lets me down compared to the pull down and see-in-an-instant type screen of the Nikon Z6ii. As time has gone on, I’ve seen the screen in not positive light. You can simply pull the screen down when in portrait mode, so I’ve been making use it that. I still get it in a tangle now and again, but I’m used to it so the way it works now (note: if you are in a slower working environment where, you’ll have no issues with the screen).

Image Quality

The Nikon ZF uses the same sensor as the Nikon Z6ii. As such I’m going to get this out of the way straight away. The image quality from the ZF is mind-blowing. With it’s 14.7 stops of recorded dynamic range (DXO measured), I’ve never felt the need to bracket (unless I’m looking for the HDR look).

Pulling up the shadows or bringing down the highlights is easy, with little to no detrimental affect on image quality. So much information is recorded that you really have to have missed your exposure by a good few stops to run into any issues. 

As for the noise, I can honestly say just like my Z6ii I seriously do not worry about any noise. For most occasions when I don’t need to lock my settings, I’ll use auto-ISO set up to 6400 (or 12800 if I am using a slower lens or very dark environments). Unless you start pixel-peeping, the noise is really not an issue, and I have yet to use any sort of software to remove the noise in any pictures for myself or my clients. 

Autofocus 

When I wrote my Z6ii long term review I mentioned that side-by-side you don’t notice much difference between the Z6ii and the ZF. This is totally based on general photography and events where the eye is the target. However, once you have the ZF in your hands, and only the ZF, the differences become much more clear as you can let the camera do the work. 

The ZF picks up faces and eyes much further away than the Z6ii, and it not only sticks to the focus point, but when you take the photo you’ll find that it’s hit focus too.

The ZF just never lets you down, it’s that accurate. And the same can be said with it’s tracking of animals and birds. Often the AF picks up a bird before I even see it!

I can’t speak for other systems or their autofocus (other than Fujifilm), but be assured, the autofocus on the Nikon ZF is more than good enough for any photographer, or else I wouldn’t be using it for paid work.

Summary 

I have praised the Nikon Z6ii and honestly, I can’t praise the Nikon ZF enough also. If you are going to buy one though, you need to be aware of the ergonomics. I’ve had so many people praise the camera for its looks, and then picked it up and hated it. It’s not a deal breaker, but if you have to use a grip there are better options for a camera.

The Nikon ZF IS my me camera. As much as I use it for work, if I’m going out I like to pick up the Nikon ZF. It looks good, it feels good and it does everything I’ll ever need plus it has the amazing Nikon Cloud Imaging colour profiles which are absolutely fantastic if you like to get beautiful images straight from camera.

The camera is solid, and quite heavy, and it’s built like a brick (yes, I’ve dropped it and the camera won the fight!). It feels like a premium crafted machine, because it is. I highly recommend a strap around the shoulder so the camera falls onto your waist when out and about.

If you’re after a new camera to use as a workhorse, I recommend the new Z5ii or Z6iii. If you are after a stylish camera, that looks beautiful and takes beautiful images, the ZF is for you.

Tips

If you have just bought a Nikon ZF, here is how I set up my Nikon ZF for work and play.
Want to see the Nikon ZF in action at a full days wedding? Take a look here as it is pared with the Nikon Z6ii.
Five things I LOVEd and HATEd about the Nikon ZF when I first had it can be found here.

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My name is Mark G Adams and I run Photography By Mark G Adams. I am a professional photographer from South Wales, shooting weddings, events and portraits as well as running meets and workshops. For fun I like to shoot landscapes, wildlife and occasionally do street photography. Enjoy my website as I share my knowledge learned over decades of working and having fun in photography.
You can find all the latest articles and blogs on my homepage here.
My main photography social media page is my Photography By Mark G Adams page.
Nikon Recipes for the Z system can be found here.
You can find a complete list of my gear here.