Nikon Zf: Phenomenal - With A Few Quirks!

00:19 Why Has It Taken So Long to Review the Zf?
00:42 Gut Reaction Now That I Have One in Hand
05:07 The Details (The Good Stuff)
11:51 The Imperfect Parts
20:44: Closing Thoughts

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[annarakannan]

I never thought I will be a nikon shooter. I was eyeing a canon for a while. Then came the Zf reviews. It was the perfect camera for me. I ordered it. I am in the system now. I love the 40mmf2. My search is over. Thank you Nikon.

[Anon-zlne]

I am a former Fujifilm shooter and now have a Nikon Zf that I use exclusively with small M mount Voigtlander Nokton lenses (21mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.2, 50mm f/1.2 and 75mm f/1.5). Nikon really hit this one out of the park, and I absolutely love the Zf. It really is a shame that Fujifilm took the "we're never going full frame" stance. I suspect that I am just one of many former Fujifilm users that are switching to Nikon now because Fujifilm refuses to release full frame cameras and lenses.

[johnfromconnecticut]

Great review!

I started shooting with Nikons in 1980 with an F2AS and FM film duo. Progressed through the digital era, always with Nikons, leading up to my Z9 which is phenomenal. Wanted a smaller walkaround full-featured, full-frame body and the Zf hit all the right notes. I don't know how many other distinct measures of a product's success there are, but here is the one that matters most to me:

THIS CAMERA IS PURE JOY.

I now take my Zf and 40 f/2 or 28 f/2.8 everywhere, every single day, and take tons of pictures every time. I have loads of fun using it and when I am staring at the images on my computer I am repeatedly astonished. Yes, there are times when nothing can top the Z9 with the 135 f/1.8. Yes, it is hard to describe viewing a set of beautiful B&W 8x10's taken with my F2AS on Tri-X. But the Zf is in another realm of photographic experience, at least for me. Using it with my vintage Nikkors (28 f/2, 50 f/1.2, 85 f/2, 105 f/2.5 as well as the incredible 50 f1/2 S-line Z almost brings tears to my eyes. I have been returned to the days of my youth, where thoughtful consideration and planning were part of the process.

All I can say is Wow, Nikon, Wow!

[jeffselfphotography]

I received my Zf in October and wasn’t in love with it initially. But the more I used it, the happier I got with it. There are two instances where I realized that Nikon got it right. The first time was over Thanksgiving when I showed it to my daughter, who was home from college, and she thought it was a film camera. The second time was when I used it after shooting with my FM2 the day before and I caught myself trying to use my thumb to advance the film lever.

I have the 40mm f/2 although it’s not the SE. that stays on it 90% of the time. I’d really love to put a native mount manual focus lens on it at some point because I think this camera is meant for manual focus lenses.

And you are correct. We really need a lens with the aperture ring on the lens

[obedbrinkman]

love my blue Zf - it's a piece of art

[montycraig]

Hugh, you are by far, my favorite YouTube gear reviewer. Your concise description, and insights are by far way superior to most. Thank you for the work you do on here.

[Abc]

Seeing the green box lighting up while in manual eye- defect focus is almost as much fun as nailing focus with a rangefinder.
There is a TT artisans 6bit adapter which allows you to use completely analog lenses and get the focus assist features

[jeffwilcox]

12:08 I'm a Fuji shooter and I love that this camera is so good. It's good to have choices. Fuji is a humble company and I love them, I'm sure that they are quietly taking notes and working to improve their lineups. As for Nikon: I am so glad that they are out of peril (from a few years ago) and that they are making great things. Keep up the great work.

[martinandreasson]

A liberating review of a camera that definitely deserves it. And as i have said myself since i saw it and after also coming from the Df( that i still own and love), its the only FF camera ( or of any camera for that matter ) that embrace the retro look completely but still manage to bring the advantages of the present.
That is one thing that always makes me come back to Nikon even though i shoot leica and fuji both presently and in the past, their bravery to put something out ( like the Df, the Nikon 58mm f1, 4, and now Zf ) that they have a vision for and follow that through even though it does not cater to everyone at that point.

Very refreshing :) You also summed it up nicely and i could not agree more with the pros and cons of the camera but that it in the end does not really matter, because we have here a package like nothing else. And for someone like myself( and others looking past the things that always could be better with a new camera coming out) that wanted something similar to a Df 2 but in a smaller package this tick almost all the important boxes for me and enough to make me like this camera SO much that i sold my M240 and two Leica lenses to afford it. And thus far i have not regretted it. I also added the grip and 2 lenses, the 40 SE and the 28 SE and like you really like it together with the Zf, even though they are plastic and no ring. Its on my wishlist for the future, to get a Z lens with a ring or get hold of a VL to use with he ZF.
But in the meantime im having LOADS of fun using those two AF lenses and adapting a host of nice F lenses i already owned and another host of manual vintage goodness from M42 mount and OM mount and Leica M mount. SO much fun. Well done Nikon.
/Martin.

[panino.c]

This is a camera that pleases the soul.❤

[VolvoGuy]

I tested the waters with the little Zfc, and I’ve been so impressed that I’ve packed up my Sony gear to trade in on the Zf Monday.
I do wish Nikon had more Z lens choices or more 3rd party options open, but the manual focus assistance on this camera is so good I don’t mind just grabbing a few Voigtlander lenses for it.
They are the perfect match anyway.
I’m so glad that they didn’t half-a$$ this camera. It could easily have just been a so-so “retro” camera for looks only.
Kudos, Nikon! 😉

[noradius]

Been using it with 40mm kit lens, so far it feels pretty pretty good. I really like the metering in this camera beside the mad AF and clean high iso. Once set up, I dont think about the operational part of the camera, I just shoot. It doesnt come in the way between what Im seeing and act of capturing. A spare battery in my pocket, and Im ready to start the day.

[kentkochheiser]

Thanks Hugh, well said. I've had mine since the initial launch and as a Leica M shooter I really enjoy it. I have a pretty good suite of Z lenses since I also shoot a Z9 and a Z8 for sports. The big discovery for me was the Zf with the Z mount Voigtlander 50 Nocton! The manual focus on the Zf makes even f/1.0 almost foolproof even with my 71 year old eyes. The most fun camera since my M10 Monocrom!

[rossxjohnson]

It's definitely an interesting product / camera offering. Just wish in an alternate reality, Nikon would make lenses better suited to the Z f or maybe more compact or retro style lenses where no adapter is needed.

[Bayonet]

Just a little helpful pointer, if you want focus confirmation (e.g. the green square) with manual focus non-electronically communicating lenses then using them on the TTArtisan M-Z 6-Bit Adapter enables that functionality.

[brochg]

Thank you, Thank you, Hugh! I made in through 2023 with no expendatures on cameras or lenses. Since I have several excellent Z lenses, this seems like a no brainer. I'm a photo-only shooter, and it seems like this is an ideal body. I started shooting on an FM2, and I think I would love the ZF.

[ocphish]

Thanks for a very interesting video, Hugh. From the mid 1970s until 2018 I was a staunch Nikon user with film and digital cameras in my collection. Then Fuji announced the X-Pro2 and I was hooked. I became a real Fuji fan and currently have my pre-ordered X-Pro2 plus X-T2, X-T3, X-T4, X-T5 and X-H2. But suddenly Nikon stepped up to the plate and announced the Zf. I pre-ordered 2 of them, which I now have, and have been blown away by them. The main thing that has impressed me was the absolute ease that I can get great SOOC photos without any real effort thus freeing me up to concentrate on the image I am after. I took one of the Zfs to Strasbourg in France about 4 weeks ago for the Christmas Markets and the results I got, both day and night-time shots, are stunning. I fear my Fuji kit will start collecting dust now, at least for a while, as I continue having fun back with Nikon.

[joedoerr]

I know next to nothing about this camera. I've only had it for a few days and am totally new to mirrorless and digital. BUT, you CAN enable glove touch control! Press MENU button, scroll down to SETUP MENU, scroll down to TOUCH controls, select and then turn on Glove mode! You're welcome!!😀

[karengrigoryan]

Well said Hugh! I switched from Nikon D3s bodies 7 years ago to Fujifilm X and GFX but this little Zf marvel was enough to bring me back to Nikon from Fujifilm X-T5 bodies (keeping GFX100s though for studio work). It is indeed a remarkable camera!

[ephraimki]

got mine 3 days ago. already in love with it. immediately got the 50mm 1.8S and the 85mm 1.8S together with the small 28mm 2.8 SE. i only used SLR´s previously and i am already blown away by this cam. guess i will need some time to understand all the new modes and features, but even now after few small sessions i am sooo in love with this thing. wonderful. thank you nikon.