This has quickly supplanted the Z8 as my every day. Such a joy to shoot and the mechanical shutter has "that feel" that makes it wonderful. If I take a second body beyond the Q3...I absolutely love the fact that the Zf uses the same battery. The MicroSD is no different than internal memory. Leave it in there and you have it when you need it. I've owned the Zfc and still own the Df...This is absolutely my favorite of the "retro's". Image quality is superb.
Well I guess this is more proof that we live in a simulation. I literally just received my ZF today around noon. Jumping around RU-vid this video shows up in my timeline. I have been watching other videos on the ZF but this is the most informative video I have watched. Thanks for putting this and the settings guide out there for us new owners. I appreciate it. Take care fella.
Nice video on the ZF. Obviously Nikon is doing their best for producing better cameras. For all those who wanted the Z6III and Z7III I believe they came out with this first because they knew it would sell like hot cakes. Nikon is in business! Patience. Nikon should continue doing well now.
For me I’ll be using this to shoot everything. I am just a hobbyist so I can’t justify a camera for each type of photography. This is a massive upgrade for me and appears to be competent in all areas of photography. From what I’ve read it’s no slouch in action and wildlife.
Update, got one and I’ve taken it for a spin. It’s excelled at whatever I’ve thrown at it. The only issues I’ve found are: 1. There are no settings banks. They could do so much more with this. Why not have user profiles that can be saved and recalled? And restored to the saved default (unlike existing Nikons which if you override you can’t recall the original). There’s no reason not to do it here. In fact there is more of a reason to do it - the lack of buttons (and my second point) 2. They went a bit overkill with the minimalist buttons. I’d wish that they just threw in a couple more, there are examples of mechanical cameras with extra buttons. 3. The dials aren’t powerful enough. ISO 6400 doesn’t mean ISO 6400 unless you are in manual ISO. Why not give us the choice for the behaviour? Even better, why not eschew the PASM dial and put a toggle on the body for ISO, aperture and shutter speed. The toggles could be “D” for Dial, “A” for Auto and “CW” for Control Wheel or something. Then you can just choose what is auto or not, or to be controlled by the wheels. This beats having an A mode (or C and 1/3 STEP) on the dials since you can leave the shutter speed set to a go to value and just toggle a switch to auto 4. I wish the “AUTO” exposure mode switch was more auto than it was. I wish it set say, the shutter button back to autofocus so I could hand the camera to a stranger and it would behave as a layperson expects. 5. The grip is a little small for bigger lenses. I will get the Japanese grip once it’s out. Z-GR1 or something. Overall it’s brilliant. Most of the shortcomings are inherit to the Z f. Nikon drops the ball with menu banks on most fronts. The only unique Z f issues are lack of buttons, small grip, and (in my view) misappropriation of the dials. NFI why they didn’t include menu banks. These are all fair fringe issues IMO. They only really apply for super dynamic shooting such as going from birds to portraits and then handing the camera to a layperson within a few minutes. If you know what you are shooting it’s excellent and the only shortcoming is the grip. I did find a bug. C30 mode in S exposure mode results in some super screwy aperture selections. Eg S mode at 1/8000th and it will choose f/22 in C30. Toggle to H, it chooses f/2.8. Whats with that?!
I bought a Z8 for my wildlife, action, landscape and macro work, but I will also be buying a Zf. There are times when I really don't want to lug around the Z8 and don't need 45MP. I will be carrying around the Zf and my Voigtlander lenses for casual, portraiture, low light and artistic rendering photography. I know that a lot of people are upset because this is not the equivalent of a future Z6III or Z7III. But they need to just chill out because those will be coming out within the next year.
What are the voiglander lenses that you have. Do you use a m mount with adapter. Have you used the native z mount 40 1.2 voiglander manual focus. That’s the one I am after for artistic rendering as well. Just wanted to know. Thanks
I like to purchase the M mount versions because they are so small and there are so many to choose from. Plus, if I ever choose to buy a Leica camera I will already have the lenses. For adapters, I have the Voigtlander M-Z Close Focus Adapter (for when I need close focus) and some Rayqual M-Z adapters (because they are made in Japan, not China). My M mount Voigtlander lenses are the 21mm f/3.5 Skopar, 35mm f/1.2 III Nokton, 50mm f/1.2 Nokton, 75mm f/1.5 Nokton and 90mm f/2.8 APO. The Noktons are perhaps my favorite lenses of all time in respect to rendering and bokeh (and I have owned more than 60 lenses). Each of them is really 2 lenses in one. Wide open they are creamy and dreamy. Stopped down they are clinically sharp without abberations or vignetting. @@jeyaramduraisingam7836
Your comment helped me to move forward with my decision to get the Zf. I have a Z5 but hardly take it out anywhere. I hate it because of the 4k DX crop. I was considering getting the Z8 because of the megapixels and 8k video but like the Z5, I'm not going to take around a $4,000 camera with me everywhere. The Zf seems like the camera that I would actually use. Possibly if I had a desire in the future, I could get the Z8 that would complement the Zf. Thanks for sharing. Helped me to make that decision!
A very well done review / discussion on the Zf. I like how you did the pluses and minuses and then other peoples perceived shortcoming at the end also. The photos you showed shooting at 1/4 second really got my attention. Wow. And that Voigtlander lens is just dreamy. I keep thinking I should go see one in person but I really don't need a new camera body right now. Thinking I'll wait and see what a Z6III looks like down the road. Many Thanks - Tim
Hudson, decided to return my z8 and get this camera. The z8 is phenomenal...maybe, even too phenomenal for me. I wanted more megapixels without sacrificing on the af abilities of the new processor (hence skipped on the z7II), but ultimately decided that I don't need a super advanced movie mode (8k, raw, etc.) and I don't need 20fps. I'd rather have something more compact that has isane high iso performance. The fact that I'm an aesthete that appreciates a beautiful camera, sealed the deal. To be honest, unless you are using a heavy zoom or telezoom lens or you are a wedding photographer who has the camera in his hands all day, I think the Zf's grip is perfectly fine. As soon as I put it in my hands, I was wondering why people were making a big deal out of it. Finally, thanks so much for these reviews and set up guides. All of the very best to you...Daniel.
Excellent overview, captured the texture well. I was really ambivalent on the announcement, then after going back and forth eventually found a used black zf at b&h, so a low risk try, modest expectations. Using it completely changed my mind, now the zf (often with the voigtlander 50 f1, sometimes the 40 f1.2 apo, sometimes the nikon 26 for small af) is now a daily carry. What a complete blast to use, hard to overstate how enjoyable the mf process is now.
Great review. This is the first Nikon release in recent years that's really tempted me. The Z7/Z8/Z9 are more camera than I really need, and the Z6II wasn't enough of a jump from the Z6. I'll probably wait to see what the Z6III offers at what price point when it comes, but even then this'll be a contender. And 8 stops of image stabilization. Mind blown.
hanks for a great video. I bought my Zf when they first came out, mainly for the manual focus features which are super helpful with my Voigtlander 40 f1.2 and 50 f1.0. Such a breeze to use manual lenses!. I agree with you assessment of the 28mm f2.8. My 40mm f2 was frustrating for me. So much so that a short time ago I bought Sony's e-mount 40mm f2.5 and a Megadap adaptor. It works amazingly! Autofocus with A/M switch, aperture dial, lens function button and sharp images. It is the 40 I wish Nikon had produced. It is my normal walk around lens, supplanting the 40 f1.2 because of the autofocus capability. I look forward to working through the Zf setup guide. Thanks for all you do.
Another one of your great reviews! I’ve been using the Fuji X-T3 for years after moving from the Nikon D800 system. I love the retro styling, but really want better low light capability for concert photography. This looks like it could be a perfect camera for me. I’ve also been looking at the new Canon r5 as well as the new Z6-but why spend more if I don’t have to? The retro styling gets me and it really looks like this can do everything I’m looking for! (And I DO love when people walk up to me and ask if I’m shooting film!). Thanks for the great review!
Great review! This will be my EDC landscape camera for my daily walks in the woods of the PNW. A bit heaver than I wanted but... I have a Z7ii for birds and other wildlife. Can't wait to try all my lenses on it! Cheers and thank you!
No, no it's hardly wasted. In my review video I link in this video's full description I tested it on my z6ii and z9. It was easier to focus in the 9s viewfinder somehow, but both worked. You still get a green confirmation in single point and you can zoom to the point, but man does the auto subject detection and tracking on the ZF make manual focus life easier. You're not working to keep that point on your subject while trying to focus and compose. It's less juggling.
The whole Voigtlander Nokton line is incredible. I would also consider buying the M-mount versions and attaching them to the Zf with an adapter. Reason being, there are more M-mount Voigtlander lenses and they are smaller than the Z-mount versions. Plus, if you ever buy a Leica camera then you already have lenses for it.
Hi from France ! Thanks a lot for this very comprehensive & interesting review ! Now I've got to struggle and resist to order this Nokton which I discovered in your first video on this lens a few months ago. Voilà... This is all because of you ! 🙂👍
Just got my ZF here in Canada after a looong wait...like a month, it came with an FTZii as a freebie... awesome camera, just superb....a hundred times better than my D5, which I will end up selling
Yet again a great and comprehensive review, so thanks very much Hudson. I’d love this camera if it were 45 mpx because I frequently crop in so I’ll stay with my original Z7 which I love even more than the Fuji X-T3 which I sold to buy the Z7. That Voightlander 50 mm f1.0 is on my wish list and will pair beautifully with the Z7. The great advantage of new cameras coming on the market means one can now buy the Z7 as cheap as chips. Greeting from 🇬🇧.
Excellent video. I got my Zf less than a week ago and am hoping that it will provide the feeling I got from my Canon Ftb. It makes me smile when I hear people grumbling about the angles of the Zf's body ... feels fine to me - my fingers still remember how to make the connection. I purchased a couple of Nikon AI generation lens from KEH earlier today along with a FTZ adapter (figuring that I might want to try a newer Nikon lens at a later time). Thanks Again
Love my red Zf and the simplistic shooting it provides with massive modern tech. There are some big niggles for me on the design in the hand. The “grip” needed to be bigger as does the Smallrig add on grip. The Smallrig still feels smallish and it makes reaching the front control dial a little challenging. The shutter button is a little awkward, especially if you have a strap on the camera. And kind of back to the control dials, I wish they were a little larger. I still have a habit of adjusting the exposure compensation thinking I’m touching the rear control dial. Ideally, it would’ve been great if Nikon built this with a factory add on grip that incorporated a shutter button/control dial to make it more modern in the hand grip/control wise, if one wanted. But then, some would just say buy a Z6III, etc.
Thanks Hudson! I have the camera in use now for a week with the 40/2 Z and CV 40/1.2.I just just the dedicated dials and the shooting experience overall.
Excellent Video, I have the Zf on order (Sunset Orange) to be used mainly as an everyday / Backup to my Z8 and Z9. I thought about waiting for the later variants for the Z6 and Z7 and figures that the Z8 and Z9 have a high enough Pixel range, and that I'd be better off with something less expensive, but was also more than capable for what I would need as far as Pictures, the ZF fits that need perfectly. I'm glad you mentioned the accessories, I have the ZF Camera Grip from Small Rig, in preparation for my ZF when it arrives, however, I did not know there was a remote for the ZF, I'll have a look to see if it's the same device for the A1000, if not, I'll order that as well as the RRS Bracket from your page, I have looked at their Universal L-Bracket, but didn't think it would work because of the ZF Screen Monitor tilting abilities. Again, thanks for sharing the knowledge. Jim
Excellent review. I want to second the motion for a +/- 2/3 stop shutter speed variation through the command-dial when in M or S mode. This is an essential feature that the Nikon Df calls "easy shutter-speed shift". I hope this request finds its way to a future Zf firmware soon.
The day after I ordered the Zf I discovered that it doesn’t have what I consider the most important feature for a minimal-custom button body to have - Recall Shooting Functions. I’m spoiled by my Z8 because, similar to my Z6II setup, I have 3D tracking + Subject Detection OFF mapped to Fn2, via RSF, with a single press. Pure and instant tracking without subject detection overriding / grabbing at anything. Very important to have when it’s needed. There is no way to do this in the Zf without a menu dive, or i-Menu / Info screen dive. So - my Zf is still boxed, and I’m contemplating a return and waiting for the Z6III. I love everything else about it. I realize and appreciate it’s not a “built for speed body, it’s quite the opposite in some ways. I can even live with the bleep’in flippy screen 😆 for the reasons you mention. Thanks for this informative vid! 👏🏻
I was shocked recall shooting functions were in the Z8. That's always been the domain of the dual grip Nikon pro bodies. I think it may just be that it was easier to leave it in the OS than remove it when they ported the Z9 brain into the smaller body. Yep the ZF isn't your camera if you want it for action scenarios where a few presses of the i-menu are too much. The way I map my i-menu I can flip all those settings in a couple of seconds without looking down from the veiwfinder, but it's not a single button. But then that's what my Z9 is for. My Z9 is a precision tool for times when my sole focus is photographing action. It's blazing fast, dead quiet and makes great decisions for me. This ZF camera is a soulful machine that I can carry through my daily life. It brings me joy just to twist it's dials and hear that perfect mechanical shutter's awesome sound. I enjoy it far more than any other Nikon I've shot with. It's like a tesla VS a 911 restomod. Sometimes it's nice to have a clutch and a stick and feel a bit more connected to the machine you're driving. :) I wish my Z9 and Q3 had the "freaking" awesome flippy screen too! 🤣 I absolutely hate the Z8/9 screen. Fragile, nonprotective thing that's useless vertical on a tripod with an L bracket. But then differences of opinion make the world more interesting
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Very thoughtful / insightful reply, very much appreciated. I think the Zf could be a super companion to my Z8, best of both worlds! < me staring at closed Zf box... > 🙂
Bought this as a Xmas present for myself. I carry and use it almost constantly. Still shoot most of my professional work on D750s (except video - the Zf is my go to video camera now), but just for inspiration, feel and sheer fun, the Zf is easily my favorite camera.
Started with a D70…but after the D800 I jump to Sony and have been happy..especially with their AF and glass… but this Zf got me to buy Nikon again as a second body. … and I’m still able to to use my Sony glass with AF…given the Aperture ring and size of most my E glass its actually a better fit for this Nikon body than most of the Nikon glass.
Great information Thanks! This camera is the most compelling reason yet for Nikon to introduce an FTZ adapter with a screw drive for the millions of excellent old D lenses. I just do not understand what is holding Nikon (or some 3rd party) from doing that.
I'm a sony user who like to use voigtlanders M, some Zeizz zm lenses and of course, old vintages. I would love to buy this camera, it look just beautiful.
Have you used the Zf with any of the older AIS lenses? I'm finding that with those older lenses I don't get the green focus indicator. However, subject detection still works. @@HudsonHenryPhoto
For me and probably many street shooters, the fact the LCD flips around and can be hidden is a good feature when you want to perhaps be more subtle about your shooting and don't want shots to accidentally come up in Review mode on the LCD. This is one thing I missed about my D5200 (which had an articulating screen) plus it can help protect the screen during traveling/in the bag (not that I've damaged any screen really and I usually put the screen protectors on anyway). And while I know that Nikon wanted to keep this retro, I really would have liked to see an AF joystick on this Fuji has one on their XT30 and higher XT cameras, even though their retro cameras maybe didn't have this). So that's one feature that's missing that I would like to see perhaps in a Zf Mark II. But it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me personally (as I shot a D750 for years which also didn't have a focus stick--and I've actually find myself using the DPAD to move focus points but have gotten used to the focus stick on the Z cameras over the years to a point where it will be hard -- not impossible -- to switch back, but it does mean that I have to be mindful of which camera I'm using although the DPAD for focusing works on all Nikon cameras). I also wish they perhaps could have made it so that when you are at full-stop shutter speed increments, you could increase or decrease by 1/3 stop using the command dials (but not have to be in the 1/3-step mode). Fuji does this and it's quite helpful if you need to just tweak your exposure slightly. This is something they could offer via firmware update though I think where if you're on a full-stop (say 1/250s) you could use the command dial to move up or down by 1/2 or 1/3 stop. Even though you can get fast UHS-II micro SD cards, the camera is still limited to UHS-I for micro SD, which is about 90 MB/s real world. This is fine if you're doing short bursts or single shots but for more heavy shooting (a lot of burst shooting) it could become a problem. But I'm just glad they gave this camera two memory card slots, even if one is the slower micro SD UHS-I spec, better than just only having one so I'll take it (and IMO with SD cards, I feel that it's more critical to have dual card slots when you ar working with SD cards than with say CFE or XQD as those IMO have proven to be more reliable -- I've lost some images to bad SD carsd, but not yet to any CFE or XQD cards). So the fact they were able to squeeze the micro SD card slot in is a bonus. For me, I would probably just leave it in there as a backup SD card in case the primary SD card for some reason had an issue (corruption, etc). This all being said, I'm going to be picking up a Zf. I bought a Z6 II over Christmas (which I can still return apparently, and am going to). When the Zfc came out, I was tempted, but to be honest, there were little things about it that bothered me. Mostly that I would need a different type of battery, it didn't have IBIS (not a big deal), and that it only had one SD card slot (sort of a big deal for me since I've had issues in the past and lost images). So I held off, but it looks like the Zf may serve two purposes really -- it's an improvement over the Z6 II that will be going back to the store, and it gives me the "retro" look/feel/function that I was seeking out and it also means I don't need to go back to Fuji to get retro styling (not that they are bad cameras, because they aren't, but I'm trying to keep everything within the same system/mount, and the Zf looks like it checks all/most of the checkboxes for me).
Well said, this is not a camera body for everyone. Those of us that want a FF retro style body had to wait for years. (love my Fuji X-Pro2 but I want full fame) If you are after a PASM type body there are many from all the big brands.
I don't have an issue with the micro SD card, in fact, it's a really cool solution. I do, however, think it should have been compatible with UHS-ii micro cards. That seems like it should have been a no-brainer.
Hi Hudson thanks for all your videos. I returned mine for a few reasons. Firstly how ever I tried I couldn't get sharp images with the 40mm f2 lens. Secondly the shutter release button was way to sensitive (took photos rather than focus) no matter how gently I pressed it. Thirdly trying to get the memory cards out. Thanks again and keep up the good work. 👍🏻
Thanks for the kind words. I wasn't a fan of that lens when I tried it either a year or so ago. It's a lower tier Z lens. I sometimes forget that people combine focus with the shutter button. I can't imagine that, first thing I deactivate. I love the cameras shutter and button feel, but I'm a devoted back button focus guy. Hmmm the card is similar to many SD card devices. I haven't had an issue there.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks for the reply. At one stage it wouldn't take the photo all it would do is light up the green focus point. Never mind back to the drawing board. Thanks again for all your work 👍🏻
Haven’t had much time to shoot my ZF. I’m still hoping to get a hold of the oem grip Nikon sells in Japan. I think I’d like it more than the smallrig grip which I do have.
I hope that some manufacturer finds a way to add a thumb rest/bump. A small one would already improve the handling. At the moment it looks like the OEM grip won't be sold outside Japan. We'll see ... I'm also interested in Nikons grip.
Hmmm, Having looked at the ZF-GR1 they put out in Japan, I certainly like the SmallRig design much better. I really dislike how the GR1 doesn't go all the way to the top of the built in grip and doesn't wrap fully around it for larger hands like mine. Seems abrupt. The SmallRig one feels and looks perfect to me. I wouldn't change a thing except adding a QD port, but then different opinions make the world a more intersting place.
Hey Hudson, I would be curious to know your thoughts on the Techart adapter (TZM-02) we can hear/read a lot about, which enables autofocus on manual M-mount lenses. What about this Voigtländer 50mm f/1.0 M-mount on this adapter to get both the bokeh AND the AF ? Regards from France.
Awsome work you did here, thanks a lot! One important issue I'd have loved you to adress, are "Adapters". Shall we go with FTZ, FTZ II or Techart? Since you mentionned this camera was a dream to shoot with old lenses, this topic is missing somehow. Or maybe you plan a separate video on the adapter topic?
Back when the original Z6 and Z7 launched I raved about how well the FTZ adapters worked. The FTZII is merely that adapter without the needless bulge at the bottom. If it's Nikon glass you're after, the FTZ works great. I use that with my 105 1.4 AFS. That's the only old lens I regularly use and it lives on it. I can't imagine another adatper improving it for Nikon glass.
Another excellent review, Hudson! Thank you! As a Nikon Z8 and Z7 landscape, product, macro, and sometimes wildlife photographer, I do enjoy the image quality I get from the Z System, and some fine NIkkor S lenses. Since you mention you also shoot Leica, as I'm somewhat of a sharpness/detail fanatic, I was wondering if you can see any difference in sharpness and/or detail rendition between your Nikkor optics and the Leica or Voightlander optics, and if so, at what print size? (I realize that one probably can't see a difference in a compressed RU-vid video image.) Thanks again sir!
I love the image quality from my Leica Q3, but I would say that a number of my S lenses might qualify as clinically sharper. The 105 2.8 S macro, the 14-24 S, the 70-200 S the new 400 TC S are all in a class of thier own. The Leica Q's 28mm, the Voigtlander 50 1.0 and the 400 TC nikkor have a special character that's hard to put your finger on thoguh. I'm sure the 50 1.8 S Nikkor is sharper than the Voightlander 50 1.0 at 1.8, but it's just not as special. The way it renders, color, contrast and out of focus details... The old Nikkor 105 1.4 is one of those lenses too...
Wow, Hudson! Very interesting information indeed! Though I do think my Nikkor S 50 f/1.8 is a very sharp lens, I still am pleasantly surprised that you feel it’s sharper than the Voigtlander 50 lens at 1.8. I’m in the market for a smaller “travel kit” than my Z8, and am considering the Nikon Z8 or Leica Q2, but didn’t want to sacrifice image quality from my Z8 and Nikkor lenses. Thanks again sir!
I have been dealing with menu driven software and controls for a long time, since the 80.s. Control wheels and dials are not just for looks some people relate better to them as a great deal of your brain is given over to the use of your hands. The menu system is there if you can't give up the cell phone experience making the whole argument silly. My ZF is in mail and I cant wait. Could it be that having the aperture. shutter speed and iso right there in front of you puts you in control before the camera even comes up to your eye with out having to wade through a bunch of nested menus? This Nikon is just not a blast from the past but maybe a return to a smoother way of doing it and smoother is faster.
I’ve most always had high mp cameras and I shoot high ISO live music. I am want a 24mp Nikon sensor. They have been beautiful and I want that low light easy carry retro camera. I want to shoot manual glass in low light. I love the Nikon d-pad . I want that
@@Daniel_Ilyich yeah, but they certainly offer no aperture ring feel. When I have tried that, I find myself constantly chasing aperature by mistake just handling the lens. I generally turn the control rings off for that reason, they spin even if slightly bumped.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I spoke too soon. I thought that the lower rubber looking ring was functional (I'm just setting up my camera). Yeah, I'd keep that as the manual focusing ring. I got the 40 SE with the Zf, so it was $240 instead of $309. I'll stick with it as my walkaround lens. The images that I've seen on dpreview are good enough. I got the 85mm as my portrait lens.
I have a few of the Voigtlander lenses and they're the perfect compliment to this camera. The complaint about the grip is always super weird to me. If I handed someone an FM2 with a 300 mm f 4.5, they're rave about what a great camera it is. If I put the same lens on a Zf they'd be like "OMG, where's the grip? How do I even hold this?" Something about replacing the film with a digital sensor in a camera that's otherwise almost identical just completely rearranges people's brains. It's a retro camera. If you put a big grip on it, it's no longer retro. The feel of handling it, even if it's less ergonomic than a modern camera, IS LITERALLY THE ENTIRE POINT of this camera existing. I personally wish Nikon had omitted the grip altogether like they did with the Zfc... but at least they let it be an aftermarket add-on instead of building it into the body.
AND, the big flaw, is that the settings are saved to slot 1 in both the Z9 and the Zf (I do not have a Z8!) The settings should be saved in camera --- this would mimic a U1 option -- and choice of slot. Slot 2 would be ideal! Hello???
Just pull the card in slot one and save settings. It will save to slot 2 if one is empty in all the dual card bodies. I always recommend having them on both.
The A7RIV is a nice camera. It's a generation old in handling, features, menus and user experience, but a solid machine. The V really smoothed out a lot of it's rough edges. Sony doesn't do much with firmware for prior models in comparison to nikon. Also that cameras image quality suffers a lot at higher iso. They improved that with the V too some. The only really high MP camera I've used with stellar high iso performance is my Q3. It's astounding. This Zf is a very different camera. It's a slower more deliberate camera for those who love manual dials, yet you can still set it for command wheel control when needed. They put their best performing low light sensor out there in it paired with insane 8 stop IBIS, making it very handholdable. I've handheld waterfalls at 1/2s with it at 70mm, and I set my auto ISO limit to 20,000! It's a beautiful retro machine with very cutting edge features. It's not a high megapixel machine, but then we have super resolution in Lightroom classic now. A sharp file from this can easily bloom to 96MP with a couple of clicks. It's a crazy world.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto would be interesting to test out the low iso performance, but looking at dpreview comparison scene its cleaner then panasonics s5s and thats quite amazing as for a long time you would have something like canon 6d mk1 and a lot of expensive cams that are worse in low light
I've long preferred Panasonic's video output to thier stills processing, but I frequently remind folks, all the brands are doing amazing products now. All of them. You can't go wrong, but choose carefully. It's an entire ecosystem. I choose Nikon primarily the for lens quality, reverse compatibility commitment (you can slap 50 year old Nikkor lenses on the ftz) , unreal firmware support and ergonomics I love and have grown used to over decades. :)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I just have stupid amount of cams of all possible brands, just very rarely I buy something that is new and current, what would be interesting to know is how other adapters work through a sony adapter, like mounting la-ea5 and putting a minolta screw lens to make it proper mad :D
Certainly not. This is a preview of what will soon come technology wise in the Nikon Z6iii but packaged in a retro camera that is SO NIKON looking to those of us who shot thier manual film cameras of 2 decades ago and before. Look at an FM2 Nikon camera from the 80s and then look at this... Fuji has been making cameras that look like old Nikons as thier bread and butter in the modern digital age. Nikon only occasionally does that. look at the Nikon Df from 2013 for example, but never before in the digital age have they done it as well as this example. I'll be keeping this Zf for the long haul. It's a joy to use.
Now that the z6iii is out I find myself looking at this camera again as possible backup camera replacing my z6ii. Have you found a grip for this camera that is both Arca Compatible and QD compatible?
@@zZola_Photography nope, but using that uni RRS L bracket or a Kirk arca QD clamp works great in conjunction with the smallrig, which I just love. This and the Q3 are my two favorite cameras ever.
I don't own the ZF camera, just a Z6 ZFC and Z9. when I heard it takes a micro sd card. and I wondered about this. On my Z9, I make up custom memory banks for different styles of shooting, sports, portraits etc. However when I remove that memory card or format it it wipes out the memory bank info. I wonder if this micro sd card can just stay in the camera and I could save my memory banks and it would just stay there.
Great camera to be sure, but for me I'm one of those waiting for the Z6 iii or Z7 iii. Just not into retro. But a question to you...Q3 or Zf, understanding the Q3 has much more pixels, yet seems like they are competing with each other?
Oh no, they're very complimentary. The Q3 is the finest 28mm you could imagine keyed to an incredible dedicated camera. Given it's insane 60MP sensor, there are many times where that's all I need. The ZF is often my 50 or 105mm compliment, at other times it's my 14-24, 24-120 or 100-400 compliment. No mistake though. If the Q3 could power my other lenses, the ZF would spend a lot of time looking pretty on the shelf. Most of the time in Scotland I had both the Q3 and the ZF with the 24-120 or 50 1.0 slung on each side. Hella combo. In Cuba I did the same thing with the z6ii and Q2. The ZF & Q3 are an even better combo.
I bought the Zf, like the camera but there is a serious omission. I shoot a lot of Aurora pics, and use LRTimelapse to convert the top series to timelapse. I liked the low light sensitivity of the Z6 and the Zf should be even better. On my Z6 and Z8 I use the pro intervalometer to control the camera. I was really surprised to find that there is no port for connecting the intervalometer. I think this is a real error by Nikon.
I used to use external intervalometers too, but the built in combined with QDSLR bits wifi is so much better for advanced Timelapse in my opinion. I've not used an external in years.
Hudson, Watching this long after the ZF’s announcement. I’d held off on the ZF awaiting the Z6iii, but now seeing the 6iii, it feels like so much overkill from what i need. So, even though the grip is funky/bad, i’ll likely go with it and the Small rig add on. BUT, have you tried any of the rear thumb grip accessories? When i had a Fuji X100, i found the thumb grip was enough to make it more usable. I’m wondering about doing the same with the ZF…like maybe one of the Wood glue on ones, or the metal bracket that fits in the hot shoe bracket. Any experience trying these? Thanks
I'm not a fan of thumb grips at all. My thumb is busy when I use a camera. I don't ever keep it up there. They just seems to be unneeded and in the way to me. I love the Zf with the small rig grip. It's fantastic for me. No other need.
I would like to see the analysis in photons to photos of this sensor. Especially low light dinámica range above 1600 and how works the touchscreen as a substitute of the joystick. Thanks!
They likely have it, but since it's the exact same as the z6(ii) I haven't looked. I've been using it since the Z6 launched 5 years ago. 800 iso is the low light noise base and it's shockingly good up to about 20,000 iso if well exposed, particularly in conjunction with lightroom denoise.
Your videos are always super informative. Thanks. One question: do you know a way to one-press the camera out of single or continuous mode AF? In other words, program one button to like continuous AF 3D and another button to single AF small area? I’ve tried setting the back button to 3D and leaving the shutter to both af and shutter so I can set the focus mode to small area. Works ok but I’d love to have the shutter set to focus recompose, and the back button to 3D continuous for sudden action. I think you have a solution like this in your Z8 video. Wondering if Zf has anything similar. Thanks again for great content. I had the Voigtlander f1 for M and sold it. You are making me want to repurchase it for Z mount.
No, as you know you can do AF-On + area mode. I do that with 3d on the ln2 button for rare instances I shoot action with a long lens on the ZF. I flip the back button to wide area for that to make picking up the subject easier and more controlled. I'd almost never chose to combine focus with my shutter control, but we all work differently. Without recall shooting functions hold (Z8/Z9 only) there's no way to switch afc to afs on a button. That said the i-menu can be very fast and easy without even looking out of the viewfinder. If I'm planning for complex action shoots, the Z9 is my tool. The ZF is for slower, more contemplative work for me. I honestly rarely shoot autofocus with it. ;)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I am mostly an M shooter and the Zf is my only non-rangefinder mirrorless. The autofocus is so good that I’ve become addicted and have started to really enjoy wildlife and bird photography (masochistic on an M). It’s only a matter of time before I get a Z8, lol. Finding a good AF solution with the Zf will help delay that purchase a little bit longer. I think with the shutter separate from AF I can get closest to what I am looking for: the front button on a small area, the back button on 3D. Then, either hold the button down until pressing shutter or releasing after it achieves focus, for a focus and recompose.
Give this a try... Wide area large or small on the back button as your base AF mode. Then program your lens function button buttons to AF-On + 3d. You choose a subject or aquire a fast moving subject with the back button and hand it off to framewide 3D tracking by laying on the lens function button. If there is an error with the auto subject detection, change up the base mode to dynamic area small which has no subject detection, but still hands off motion to surrounding points. You can still hand that off to 3D by pressing and holding the lens function button. ;) That's an amazing action setup.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto [Sound of finger moving away from the “buy” button on a Z8, lol]. I will try this on the 100-400, thanks! Every time I fiddle with the setup it is more muscle memory to reprogram, but I’ll “know” when I get it right for my style.
I wanted to circle back here a month later to let you know what I’ve been trying. I have the back button set as you recommended, wide area large, or sometimes even all area. Then I have the front button set to 3D Tracking (It doesn’t focus when I set it for some reason, it just gives me the box and I still have to press the back button to actually focus, maybe there is a way to change this so it automatically focuses when i press it?) - this give me a way to try to let the Zf’s amazing autofocus do its thing, but when something is not quite right, like trying to focus on a bird that is beyond a bunch of nearby trees and leaves, I can hit the front button with my pinky and either focus and re-frame, and shoot. I have been reluctant to set a lens button because I am a creature of habit and I know I have some lenses that may not have programmable buttons. But I do think there is a way to bring the buttons from the 100-400 into play, especially because the lens is resting on my hand already. Anyway, thanks for the help! Sincerely, Still Trying Not to Buy a Z8 but failing slowly. Nikon is back, baby.
Yep, I love the 1TB Lexar for video. It handles the highest quality video this camera shoots, which is fine enough for me. It's also a huge overflow slot too as you mention. I dig it as well.
I want to want the Zf, but I don’t think the right lens for it exists just yet (for me.) I love the Voigtlander 40mm f/2 Ultron on F-mount and really hope that they do a native Z-mount version that’s comparable in size as the Nikon 40mm Z lens. I’ll be ordering one immediately if that happens…
@@EvilTeddie23 yes, I’ve seen that lens and it is bigger than the 40mm f1.2, unfortunately. My interest in the Zf is almost exclusively tied to whether I can get a small, native Z-moment lens that is also manual focus only.
Do you use the Voigtländer 50mm 1.0 in Z mount? The the squre will turn green and it will show you the aperture correctly but with the VM Variant adapted vie adapter or the old NiKKOR 105 it wont´t?
The 50 1.0 nocton. Designed for Z. All the new Voigtlander Z lenses interface spectacularly. However, even my old ais 105 2.5 on the ftz gives eye detection and green confirmation. You have to activate that. I show that in my setup guide. The real cheater though is programming the OK button to punch into 100 percent when perfecting focus. That with subject detection and tracking is nuts.
Looking forward to buy the zf and the 50 mm voightlander. But i am not thrilled with the chromatic abberation. Do you encounter this problem often and did you get ride of this with lightroom or photoshop.
On the Z9 when you make an exposure you get a frame(?) that indicates an exposure has been made without blacking out the screen. Can you do that with the Zf?
You can in silent mode almost. There's a little lag, but it's more like a dslr than the original z6/7 cameras. It's not bad at all. That unreal old school mechanical shutter sounds so good though. They got that perfect.
Hi Hudson - question: When you shoot in RAW and in B&W - you are saying that the ZF files retain the B&W (are displayed in B&W)) when you bring them into Lightroom? Is there some kind of setting for this? This is not the case with any of my other Nikon cameras - not with the Z6II or Z8 - does this camera work differently with LR? -PD
100% those cameras can do that too. Lightroom preferences -> Presets Tab -> Raw Defaults -> Global -> Camera profiles (instead of Adobe Default) Now BAM--all your Nikon NEFs will come in with the cameras' Picture Control profiles instead of over-riding with Adobe's default profile (which is color).
Partially disagree with the aftermarket battery statement. I have 2 aftermarket batteries from miady brand, 2 Nikon batteries, 1 came with my D850, and 1 came with Zf. They all work on my Zf. I think you may want to put it this way, in body charging over USB-C is only supported on native batteries at the moment.
All of my aftermarket batteries were bricked. BRICKED That includes batteries that worked great in the Z6ii & 7ii. I've heard from dozens of others with exactly the same story. You got lucky with that brand. :)
absolutely, but it's annoying how it works. It reduces the exposure using ISO. test it and watch, but it gives no indication on the exposure gauge that you're leaving the meter reading. In PAS that's not true. Only M. So, yes, but be careful and look at the dial.
Thanks so much for this. Im new to your channel and absolutely love it! I have the ZF (coming from z6ii) and its such a beautiful camera. I am contemplating pulling the trigger on the voigtlander 50mm 1.0 as it just seems so incredible. I was wondering how you find it in daylight at 1.0 with shutter speed max of 8000? I guess the exposure compensation dial is our friend there. Have you tried to 50mm 2.0 from voigtlander..im thinking as a step into those lenses might be better for me (price wise)..anyway thanks again your videos are so helpful
The 40 1.2 is quite nice. :) I at times add a Kase magnetic 3 stop ND filter or polarizer out front to cut the light a bit. I use an 82mm with a 62-82 step up magnetic ring. Www.hudsonhenry.com/kase
Love your reviews. Succinct, to the point and from a real photographer, not a glorified self-promoting "influencer". Are you of Scottish Heritage by any chance? I distinctly heard you utter the words "little bugger" in one of your videos, which gives it away :)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto My favorite place in the world. I had friends living on Skye when I lived in Inverness in 1988 and I'd hitch hike over there every chance I got.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto BTW, I got the Voigtlander 35mm F2 APO for $750 on sale @ Camera Quest. Ashwin from the Leica review says it is as good as the $8000 Leica 35mm F2 APO. Having owned the Leica M 50mm F2 APO 10 years ago, that's quite a testament. I'll let you know what I think of it on my trip to Japan and Okinawa over the holidays.
I've shot with the 1.2 a few times. It's sharp as hell with nice focus fall off. It's clinically unbeatable, while the Voigtländer has a unique style and character that I personally love more. It vignettes and loses a wee bit of sharpness at f1, but I love the look it creates. The 50 1.2 has AF too, but it's a big beast that can be intimidating to non model subjects. In any computer sharpness analysis, I'm sure the S lens would win between F1.2 and 2.0, but I love the rendering of the Voigtländer Nocton more and it doesn't make people look worried when you point it at them. ;)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto haha! True, the Voigtlander will be less intimidating. Thanks for your reply. I bought the Zf but I find the (included) grip a bit small but I will persist and lets see if I will adapt to the ergonomics of it.
Thankfully no! Similar to the leatherette of the legendary fm cameras of old, it's a synthetic that's far more durable, weather proof and stain resistant. Seems nearly identical to what was on my fm3a and fe2 bodies.
We said that about 12mp too in the D700 days. Time marches on and this sensor dates to the original Z6 launch. It's great, but far from cutting edge. Leica's new 60MP Q3 / M11 sensor is better in low light than the 46MP sensor in the Q2... Have no doubt, when the next gen of Nikon's sensors launch, they'll do just as well or better in low light at higher resolution.
I wish the build quality was a little better, it certainly doesn’t feel anywhere as well made as my Z7 or Z9 The door to the battery compartment it feels very cheaply made and could easily break
Hmmm. It's door's smooth to match the old base plate asthetic, but it feels better made and far easier to operate than the card door in my Z9. That's the first door on a nikon to bother me personally. ;) I've been banging around from the cascades to Australia and the Scottish highlands with the ZF on one hip and the Q3 on the other through rain and snow at times. I'm hard on gear and it's sure been proving nikon though for me.
Yep, true of many bodies. They definitely design for the right eye dominant. I switch to avoid eyestrain and it's always a bit if an issue, a touch worse on the ZF, but not unworkable for me. Same goes for running the focus point around using the touch screen while in viewfinder.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Well, I guess they were trying to model it on the FM2 film body. I have one of those and an FM3A and the thing won't meter or shoot without the film winder cocked open, which sticks in your face if you are a leftie :)
Differences of opinion make the world a more interesting place. I LOVE the ergonomics of this machine with the grip plate, especially with the 50 1.0 Voigtländer on it. That lens rarely comes off. I'm not a big fan of the ZFc personally, and that big lens on it would be insanely imbalanced. The Zf has a ludicrous amount of tech built in, from its 8 stop IBIS to the processing power for full blown subject detection (even in manual focus). It's also magnesium with Nikon's legendary build quality and brass dials. It's not a budget compact body filled with compromises. It's a retro, low-light machine built to work with fast manual focus primes. It's very much like a fine restomoded car. An elegant old school machine with cutting edge guts. It's certainly not for everyone, but I see myself keeping this one for the long haul while Z8s, 9s and whatever comes next come and go. A passion camera I love slowing down and shooting with.
I find that it's form over function. Indeed the U1/U2/U3 are critical for in the field work to quickly change for new situations. Example: Came home from shooting varsity sports, finding my grumpy grand-daughter visiting our home with a big smile and giggling for a change. Impossible to grab that shot, tried but failed with the sports setting. By the time I changed to portrait, the grump was back. Just annoying and frustrating. Where are the U1/U2 or C1,C2 like in Canon R6MkII or all Olympus gear. Zf and Z9 is Work and Fiddling, need to concentrate on handling, Canon and OM is fun, can concentrate on composition once C1/C2/C3 ... etc is set. I do find the Zf focus tracking & [3D] MUCH better and MORE ACCURATE than the Z9! The front dial access is impeded by the SmallRig handle, reachable, but annoying. Yes, that playback button location reflects some deeper flaws. Brassing? Tine will tell!
So much comes down to personal preference. I vastly prefer the Z8/Z9 bank systems to the User modes because I find the user modes fatally flawed by always reverting exposure settings each time you turn the power off to save battery. None of nikon's user prefernces are really dailed in. They need to look to Leica in my opinion. The Q cameras have 6 user profiles that store every single setting in the camera internally. They adapt as you change settings for the given shoot and only revert to the saved profile settings if you reslect the profile from the i-Menu equivalent. You can export and import those settings to the memory card. Perfect.
