Z f

I believe we have a winner on our hands. This camera genuinely compels me to go out and shoot. It doesn’t stay on my bag for long. Its aesthetic appeal is undeniable. There’s no buyer’s remorse here. When asked for a recommendation, I said that for me, a camera has to feel good, have a weight that signifies its importance, and most importantly, make you want to use it. And I absolutely love mine. It’s a true classic!

Went with this on a cruise and it did everything I wanted. Great photos and pretty good 4K with no problems. The manual dials are great! This actually brought me back to Nikon again. Solid build, gorgeous design, and good images.

I bought this camera because I thought that it might be fun to have a camera that had all the advances of a modern mirrorless camera, but felt like using a camera from a simpler time, before searching through a maze of menus and repurposing 20 different buttons was the norm. I have not been disappointed. The menus are all still there when you need them, but the experience of using this camera is so much more simple. Many lenses have a dial that can be used for aperture, making the experience even more of a throw back to the cameras that I used back when I first started photography. I love that the screen on the back can be shut completely, which both protects it when not in use, and lets me use the retro style EVF full time, pulling out the screen only on the rare occasion that I need it. The auto focus is a huge leap forward from my Z6ii, and the build quality is solid. I do plan on buying a Z8 sometime in the future, but I have a feeling that I'll be keeping this one around just for the fun.

This is my second Zf, not sure why I sold the first one, but I didn't last long without a Zf! I have been shooting with Nikon cameras since 1974, including the F, F2, F3, FM, and the Nikkormat, both professionally and for fun! I love the simplicity of the Zf. Back to the basics of the exposure triangle that I can physically see and touch. It literally takes me back to my days of shooting with Tri-X and Kodachrome, but I can choose which without carrying 2 bodies! It seems most of the complaints are about the ergonomics, but hey it's a retro body and that's part of the beauty of the Zf for me! This is the camera I'll keep!

I purchased the retro style Zf with fun in mind. I needed something to spark creativity and I also wanted to get back to the basics. The Zf camera filled the niche. I set up the camera for only manual functions and disabled autofocus. I only use the exposure control dials on this camera. I expanded a set of classic Nikkor manual focus lenses and new Voigtlander Z mount lenses to be only used with the Zf. I made custom picture controls for the B&W mode and color modes, which now include a custom sepia B&W option. The goal was to produce great jpeg images straight out of the camera with zero post processing. Basically, I turned the Zf into a manually operated camera that mimics film cameras from childhood. Everything about this camera screams street photography and artistic snapshots. Manual focus lenses are perfect for this retro camera. That is what I use it for. The Zf definitely fills a big niche and has rekindled my interests!

There is truth in the statement that there really isn't a bad modern camera. So what sets cameras apart from their competitors is usability and how the user feels connected to them. Is the Zf the perfect camera? No. Can you make it the perfect camera for you? Yes! No other modern camera allows you to customize it to fit your hands as the Zf does. I added a Small Rig grip, a thumb rest for the back, and a soft shutter button. I close the back screen and use the ISO and Shutter Speed dials and the EVF to control the camera. I shoot mainly vintage manual focus lenses, so the manual focus assist it game changing. So glad I switched from the sterile colors and ergonomics of Sony.

Great camera and retro design. For areas of improvement: wished it would have AF-On button, but was able to remap AE-L button as AF-On button as work around. Also, dont like the clunk you get due to IBIS not self locking while powered off. Also, wished the LCD screen was flush with the body. Despite these 3 minor gripes, it is such a great camera that inspires you.

Ok, so I’m giving the Nikon ZF 5 out of 5 stars. I never gave a camera a perfect score because no camera is perfect until you find that perfect camera that fits you. I am 52 and started photography when I was 18 (34 years of photography). I have been a professional photographer for 17 years as of 2026. I have done video and photography for TV networks, product photography, events, weddings and fashion magazines. I have been an avid street photographer for the past 4 years and also travel photography. I have had about 26 plus cameras ranging from point and shoots Micro four Thirds, APSC, and full frame. From Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Black Magic and Sony. And in those brands had multiple models. So it’s safe to say, at least for me that this Nikon ZF gets a 5 out of 5. From build quality, functionality, size and weight, image and video quality. If you read or watched any reviews of this camera you will see all the positives about this camera and I agree with all those. The only negative I see come up over and over are the lack of a grip. For me I love and was in search for thin bodied cameras, I don’t like the modern grips on new cameras. I love the fact that I can add a grip to the Nikon Zf if I am doing a long photo shoot but keep the grip of for travel and street photography. If you wear a neck or shoulder strap while walking the streets I see no need for a grip on this camera. At least this camera gives you the option to have a grip or not while on other cameras you’re stuck with the big ugly grip that can’t come off. So I see the grip as plus not a negative. Great job Nikon for making my perfect camera. Thank you.

I have been a Nikon owner and semi-professional user for over 65 years, I owned a D80 for 17 years, then it died. I wanted a replacement Nikon that felt like the film Nikons I have used and still shoot with, and I wanted full-frame. The Zf appeared to offer all this. So far, I have not been disappointed. The camera handles well, The instructions are difficult to research in the manual, but the menus seem to work. I can set controls which I never managed in the D80. I love the finder and exposure control. I like the sharpness of results. It does need a handle most of the time. I immediately purchased one. I can use almost all the lenses I already own, which allows me to put off buying expensive new gear for now. I went through some confusion setting the image storage options, tried to download NX studio only to find out that the program will not work with my Mac due to its older system. The supplied strap is too thin and hard to take off-and-on, I have ordered a replacement. They say that this is the lightest full-frame Z camera, but it has to be the heaviest Nikon I have ever shot with, but I do like the solid, non-plastic feel. All-in-all I am satisfied and feel I made the best choice of features and price that match my needs and interests.