Nikon Zf - Is 24MP enough?
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2024
- I get my hands on the brand new Nikon Zf, and take it along on a sunset shoot in the Peak District.
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NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)
Current landscape camera - Nikon Z7 - geni.us/nikonz7
Awesome telephoto lens - Nikon 70-200m f/2.8 - geni.us/nikon70200
Great ultra-wide angle lens - Nikon 14-30mm f/4 - geni.us/1430mm
Hiking mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f4 - geni.us/nikon2470
Sharpest mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f2.8 geni.us/2470mm28
Very long lens - Nikon 500mm F5.6 - geni.us/nikon500mm
FILM GEAR
AWESOME DRONE - geni.us/dji_mavic3
Nikon Z6 - geni.us/z6nikon
Nikon 20mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon20mmz
Nikon 24mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon24mm
Nikon 50mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon50mmz
Nikon 85mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon85mmz
OTHER PHOTO GEAR
Clever camera strap (peak design) - geni.us/PDstrap
Microfibre Cloths - geni.us/microfibre
Rab Downpour Pants - geni.us/rainpants
Awesome sensor brush - geni.us/brush4sensor
GorillaPod - geni.us/Kb9mV
The great printer I use Canon P1000 - geni.us/cIIc
Great bag for hiking - Tenba 24L - geni.us/orPwh
Great bag for travel (carry on) - Tenba 32L - geni.us/tenba32l
Super light Benro Travel Tripod UK - geni.us/Benrotravel
A must have for tripod (L bracket) - geni.us/myLbracket
Lightweight tripod - Benro Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod - geni.us/benromach3
Paper I use for all my prints - Fotospeed - geni.us/fotospeed Use DANSON10 to get 10% off your paper.
0:00 Introduction
5:56 The Basics
8:14 The IBIS and handholding
9:33 Shooing sunset and other thoughts
14:39 Looking at Z7ii vs Zf prints
As a 65yo who has been snapping for decades, this is the camera for me simply for the dials on the top. I use a Z7 but have considered changing for this reason alone. The Zf allows me to stay full frame which I prefer. I also tend not to lug around a tripod so the extra stabilisation is an added bonus. 24mp? Plenty for me.
Ich bin 70 und ständig mit Rad und Kamera unterwegs. Kann ich gut verstehen, habe die Z7, die Zfc und bin leicht verärgert über die Modellpolitik von Nikon. Deshalb weigere ich mich sie mir jetzt zu kaufen, 2500€ zu teuer für mich, kein Zusatznutzen für mich. Nikon hat verpennt die Z7 mit selbigen Display zu bauen, das nehme ich Nikon sehr schwer übel. Sie wollen das wir uns einen Schrank voll Nikons kaufen und unterwegs so immer mehrere Modelle brauchen, Müll-Idee. Nikon wird langsam alt und lahm.
24mp is sufficient for most applications, at least for me.
It's nice to see other companies than Fuji going "back" to the old style of dials.
It's so much easier (for me atleast) to quickly change what I want.
@@winheiMRzf costs 2000 us dollars.
Exactly!
First of all Nigel, don't sell yourself short saying there are "better gear reviews" elsewhere. Your reviews are exactly what most photographers are interested in seeing. Very practical...very useful! As for the Zf, the retro look reminds me so much of the Nikon F3 film camera that I used in the 1980s and 90s. That being said, that retro look is NOT a selling point for me. I like the controls on the Z72. However, that 8-stop IBIS does interest me. Might make me more interested in leaving the tripod at home!
As someone who started taking pictures with an FM2, I love the retro design.
I dont mind the vintage look, but the ergonomics of film cameras was really awesome if you think. Because we only need a quick access to iso, speed and exposure compensation. Btw I like that you dont sell a camera, you give tips about landscape photography as well.
The ergonomics of this camera are terrible with anything other than a pancake lens.
Came for the Nikon Zf review, stayed for the really excellent explanations of your thought process while shooting. Can't wait to explore more of your videos!
Hey Nigel was a great experience spending the day with you and Rick.
Great video
Looking forward to next time !
I really wanted to buy z7II but after i saw your Z5 review, i went and bought a Z5 with 24-120 F4s. never regretted the decision. i dont print large so 24MP is more than enough for most of the people. unless you work for corporates where you have to print large billboard size posters. Nikon has done a great job with their Z line cameras and S line lenses.
The notion that billboards require high resolution is a major misconception. Truth is, due to the viewing distance of a billboard, they are not even printed at high resolution. You could blow 35mm film up to billboard size, which is how it was done before digital.
The Z5 is pretty awesome for the price. I use it with the 24-120 or sometimes with the 35 1.8.
@@tonyferrell3456 I love my Z5 👌👍🔝📸
As I bought the Nikon Df a few years ago, this new addition to the catalog is very exciting for me! That retro feeling is a joy every day, and a great conversation starter when taking portraits or doing street photography, people are always curious about a digital camera that looks so much like a film camera! I think I'll stick with my Df for now, but so glad to see Nikon pursuing that line of products 🤗
The Df has the D4 sensor, which is one of the best ever (I have a D4S). Definitely a smart idea to hold onto it!
@@milesian1I am 100% sure the z6 sensor is miles better😂
@@kevc.2958Then the Z6 is the right choice for you. I use my D4S mostly for high volume sports action photography straight to JPEG with no post-processing, and rarely for things like portraits and landscapes with RAW output. I have no complaints about my Z6 either, which I use mostly for real estate photography. The files are just the right size and resolution and easy to work with in post, but the D850 files are the best I've handled personally. I imagine the Z7ii, Z9 and Z8 are in the same ballpark by now as the D850.
It isn't . i have had both. The DF gives fantastic results. Just sold my Nikon Z6 to concentrate on my m43rds cameras. @@kevc.2958
Again I am so glad we have an honest Ambassador . Have 'good clouds' in Ireland.
Don't care about looks. I just find I prefer dials to menu dives and scroll wheels for functionality. The IBIS is probably enough for me to jump on board this camera and maybe the improved AF over the Z6ii I now own. So I'm very interested I must say but I think I'll wait 6 months or so and see if there's any little `idiosyncrasies' about it first. Very tempted to buy it and use it alongside the Z6ii and just see what suits me best. The IBIS is a huge selling point for me - it helps focusing with old MF Nikon lenses a lot.
I love this Zf, the retro look and fuction is mana from heaven for me, it looks like a proper camera. However... Is 24MP enough? It's more than enough for 95% of all photographers. I've used Nikon for over 40 years now and currently own (and use) D5100, D7200, 2 D750s, Z5, Z6ii and a Zfc. On this Zf I like the cards Nikon have chosen to use, and the EN-EL15c battery, I've got enough of those to last a while. As for the 24MP's, I still have and use a D5100 which is 16MP, it lives in the car. My first one died after about 10 years and was un-economical to repair, I liked that camera so much I bought a refurb one for less than the cost of repairing my original. If I see something and jump out of the car camera in hand, I'm not counting pixels I'm grabbing a lucky shot. And if some thieving sod snatches it out of the car it's no big loss. Oh, the geriatric D5100 also has a flippy screen. Be honest, unless you're making prints the size Yarrow does, 24MP is more than adequate for the vast majority of Photographers, both Pro and Am.
Some will love it, others will not. Life would be boring if we were all the same.
@philyew3617 - I have a d5300 that’s lasted eight years and hopefully will a few more. I have several bodies (including ff), but am thinking of buying another d5300 if it’s in good shape. Shooting DSLR, compared to mirrorless, has its complications. But when the shots work, they’re superb. There’s a painterly quality this camera is capable of that I really enjoy.
In 2005 shooting weddings on the Canon 1Ds MkII, 16MP was enough. It was enough for albums, prints, wall art canvases, online albums.
Anything over 20MP and you can print as big as anyone will ever use in real life conditions.
A simple calculation tells me 24Mp is enough for a 45x30cm (~A3) print at 300dpi with a bit of margin for crop. While some people print larger formats, you don't watch those from a distance where you would need such resolution so you would still be perfectly fine.
There are uses for high pixel count, usually where significant cropping is common, e.g. wildlife or outdoor sports shot from a distance. Those people often crop a lot as a substitute for even longer focal length which does not exist or would be extremely expensive and inconvenient. For the rest of us, high pixel count mostly means slower readout (rolling shutter, cropped video etc.) and larger files without much of actual benefits.
Try shooting a GFX100S, your expectations move sharply upwards. All that detail to explore, crop. 24mp is 2014 resolution
@@jukeboxjohnnie yeah but not many of us have 5k to drop on a camera 🤣
You need good glass and a perfect photo to fully utilize 24 MP. Many seem to think megapixels are something magical separate from other aspects that affect the image quality.
@@jukeboxjohnnie yeah try shooting a phase one then, whats the point?
I pre-ordered mine. I love my Z6 ii, but as you stated in the vid, it's about what makes you go shoot. I was seriously looking at the XT-5. This is everything I need for my style of shooting.
Having a D800 and D850, and more recently acquiring a Zfc, I love my Zfc. If I were to move into Full Frame mirrorless, it would be the Zf. The look and feel of the retro styling reminds me of my FE and FM cameras from the early eighties. It's a joy to use, and I know the Zf would be the same.
I've been waiting for this! The Fuji xPro 2 was my favourite camera design, and this appears to be a full frame equivalent from Nikon. A camera that I'll look at and just want to pick up and use all the time. Design counts for a lot for me personally - I've picked up a very cheap 2nd hand Hasselblad XD1 over more capable Fuji GFX50 or 50r for example.
My Z7 will be sold, and this will be incoming.
Nice video Nigel ! As a long time nikon user it’s intriguing to have a retro looking F camera with up to date technology. I think this camera would be great for any new photographers that need to learn the intricacies of manual photography. The dials clicks and haptics of the use of this camera seem perfect for reinforcing learning ! Enjoy Ireland ! Best …
Hi Nigel, totally agree that the camera ergonomic is very important. I can't afford to get a Zf but if I could afford it I would certainly get one. Thanks for your highlights on it and your good tips. Always a pleasure to hear you and learn from you. Ciao!
I have one on order. Can’t wait to get it!
I have the Zfc, Z7 and Z8. I love the retro design for a walk around everyday camera. The 24 megapixel is enough if you don’t want to crop too much. I may be upgrading my Zfc to this body.
I want to get this with a full manual focus lens and just enjoy the process. Thanks Nikon for making this.
Great video. Nice to see you in the peak District again. 😊 camera looks great. 👍
Great video, Nigel!
Another great video as per. Not a clue why youve had issues with the growth of the channel. Me and the missus have became quite the fanatic fans of yours since i first found your channel as i mentioned in my last video 😂 Hope it picks up for you and you get the growth it deserves bud
Great video Nigel and kudos to Nikon for bringing out a retro feel model. It was also nice to see you wandering around familiar locations in the Peak District. Oh, please please take this as a compliment - I have no idea why you have an aversion to being hatless. You have made references to being uncomfortable whenever you forget your hat, but don't. Without a hat you look 10 times better and younger. I am sure Mrs Danson would agree. 😉
I absolutely love the Retro! I have a Canon but if I ever switched, I would consider it.
Yes, I think the camera is a great idea. It definitely reminds me of my old film Nikons, right down to the LCD showing the aperture, just like the “ADR” in the F3 HP viewfinder. The specs are pretty amazing, especially at the price point. On a side note, I’m surprised Ricci didn’t step in when you started talking about how great it was to have an Apple 😊
Perhaps this is the best camera to date from Nikon for everyone for an adequate price and not just for professionals, finally in such a camera that you can take with you has a good autofocus, and for most people "amateurs" enough 24 megapixels and one memory card, thank you Nigel for an interesting video.
I’ve been waiting for them to make a camera that looks and feels like a timeless Nikon (& not the 90s shapeless/formless plastic blob-design) for years. The mini-grip looks like the one on my FA, the perfect size to hook the side of your first finger around and thats all you need. The tactile dials for each of the shooting settings = no missing shots from screwing around in menus! I just wish it had the big sensor and was made in silver. …plated brass (so it’d wear beautifully). Will still buy one just bc i love that Nik did this and want to show my support & hope they do a big pro modelsomeday.
I am starting to think about this camera as a second camera to pair with my Z9. Currently the second camera is my Z7 that I purchased just 4 years 9 months ago. I’m a hobbyist not a pro so I do not need the second camera to match the other camera bit to complement the other camera. I use the Z7 for friends and family. I use the Z9 for the dogs and wildlife. I use both for landscapes. The Z7 is a wonderful camera but the Expeed 7 processor allows this camera to do so many more things. I would have very slightly preferred a Z9 type of rear screen but I do not do video or selfies. I recognize the Zf must appeal to a larger group of people. Another small thing, this time in favor, I very much like how this reminds me of my FM2 that I had for years and was my first Nikon. The Zfc didn’t strike that memory so hard.
Because the Z7 is still doing good and I am now retired, I’ll wait until the Z6 iii is released. I compare this and that to what I have. But in this Zf Nikon has made something that really plucks a lot of the strings.
Yup, 24.5MP is enough for me, got a 36.5 MP D800, I've pre-ordered one. Zf has -10EV AF which will allow the use of slower telephoto F glass with 1.4TC. This will be my first Z body, the ISO performance will IMHO beat the D800 easily. I've seen many UA-cam videos, it looks great in the hands of the vlogger's, like my mid 80's FE2. Will be getting the Smallrig grip for sure. I don't do video. I'm appreciative it doesn't use CFexpres Type B cards, which are more expensive than SD cards and I don't need to buy a reader. I my add, the new Zf kept me from jumping to Fuji X line.
Really good video and some great photos. It’s an area I know well. I love the retro styling of the ZF which Fuji have been doing for years. Very impressive IS results too. Just looking on the iPad screen at the side by side pictures it looks like the Z7 has a better dynamic range in the rocks in the foreground although I think at resolution of the prints the ZF may look a little sharper in the distant hills. The smaller size could make it a great walk-around camera, particularly for street photography when paired with a 50mm prime.
After moving back to Nikon from Fuji earlier this year I started missing Fujis dials, but didn’t want to get rid of my Nikon gear. This camera has just assured me, I’ll be sticking with Nikon.
Why the move back to Nikon? Just asking because I am on the wall myself, got all Nikon gear (D600, G lenses, most of them primes), and a Fuji X70 that I love.
For what it’s worth I moved from Fuji having gone from X-T1 to X-T3 over the years to Nikon 7. I forfeited the lovely manual controls of the Fuji for a larger camera (I have big hands), the gorgeous Nikon colours and 45 mpx which I find very useful for cropping in post processing. Also the Z7 has the usual DX mode (for shooting in APS-C mode) which increases the focal length of the full frame lenses by 50%. Although the Z7 AF is slow by modern standards it’s plenty fast enough for most of my photography. Having a faster processor of the Zf and better image stabilisation would be good to have but not really essential. We didn’t have these at all in the film days! I seem to have become used to the controls of the Z7 and don’t really miss the analogue controls of the Fuji. £2,300 is a high price to pay for what to me would be a nice to have luxury item for not much benefit, when I could spend that money on something else. I also enjoy shooting in Manual Focus and am seriously thinking of buying the Voightlander 50mm f1.0. I hope that helps.
@@christianpetersen1782 Thanks for the detailed reply, really appreciated! That Voightlander 50mm f1.0 you are considering buying seems to be a beast, just checked out some pictures taken with it and the 3D pop looks incredible.
It looks like a fun camera to use. Good talk introducing this camera.
Thx for the comments on the new nikon camera, reminds me of my fm2. And of course your video
If I wasn’t fully invested in Fujifilm already, I’d absolutely go for this camera. Looks like a beautiful piece of gear.
Loved my Df ... ordered the Zf first hour available
When rumours of the Z8 were going around I mentioned elsewhere it would be nice to see a retro full frame style of the ZFC. Here we are! Owning an SP rangefinder I feel very drawn in by this plus it has some internal software updates. Very tempting (I have a 6ii).
I've printed shots from my Z6 (24mp) at 24x36 inches and they look phenomenal. I am never going to be printing bigger than that. I have a Z9 and the resolution is nice but it really isn't too big a jump
The Zf is my next camera, I love the retro look and 8 stops of IBIS, nice
I still own my FA. I love the feel of it and as someone that got a Fujifilm X-T3 for street shooting, I think I finally have a a reason to sell it and get a ZF. I currently use a Nikon Z6, Nikon Z7ii and Nikon D850. Looks like I will be selling lots of gear as I was already planning on the Z8.
Nigel, I started shooting Nikon at the age of 16 with a Nikon EM, I have owned many Nikon's over the years including an F4, I switched to Fujifilm a few years ago mostly because Nikon mirrorless stuff was way to expensive, this could be the camera which takes me back to Nikon, I am giving it some serious thought! Thanks for sharing and enjoy the trip to Ireland.
Love the retro look, my first proper camera was a canon AE1 would love a mirrorless AE1
Yes. More than enough. I have a Z7ii And as amazing as the 45mp files look, they're often too big to work with and posting on social media is a pain. I also have a Zfc and the files are much more manageable. I'll be looking forward to getting a ZF
With the price point, and recently looking at the Z6ii, this is everything I could have hoped for. I shoot a combination of film and digital, and this would feel right for me, and I would have it with me all the time. Time to start saving.
Sony
just watching this now as I finally decided to upgrade my gear from the d750 and go mirrorless! I am an avid film shooter for all personal work and shoot digital for paid work, so it feels like I might get the best of both worlds for my digital images! Thanks for the great review!!
Yes, getting this camera - I can use for travel & Gimbal
I love the styling! I recently bought an 'as new' Z6 with 24-200 zoom from MPB. I am absolutely delighted with it and, if nothing else, this video helps reinforce my thoughts that 24MP is enough. The IBIS and VR I already have are deeply impressive so I can see how this new camera can be very attractive with another 3 stops. I don't need it but I can imagine the Zf being popular.
It's nice to see some love for the Z6. I've had mine for several years and I'm very happy with it for real estate photography, portraits, headshots, and video clips for real estate. The D850 is still my main body, but the Z6 is actually nicer to hold and use. And 24 mpx is definitely a sweet spot for resolution.
I was only round Padley Gorge/Burbage the other day - though doubtless this was shot a longer time ago! Much sunnier when I went.
Like your compositional process, I will be taking a leaf from your book and slowing right down - I have a tendency to rush, so I don't always return home with the best images. Still, always learning.
ZF is compelling, but I'll be hanging on for perhaps a Z6 III - aesthetics are one thing, but I prefer the ergonomics of more modern styled cameras.
I had mine on order two months before it was announced. Asked my favorite camera store then to place my order as soon as was announced as I knew it would be good.
This is very tempting. I may have to finally make the leap to a real camera after struggling with the capabilities of my small sensor superzoom for a few years.
I now have a Nikon Zf. I’m using it often along with my Nikon Z7 to compare images taken at the same focal length, f-stop, ISO and so forth. So far after three weeks of photographing landscapes, and printing, the comparisons with A-1 print size are remarkable!! The Nikon Zf has kept pace in all facets of the images taken with Nikon Z7.
For me, this means I will be using the Zf well over 65% of the time for landscapes and the Z7 for purposes I would need the full 45MP to do the job.
I am astonished at how good the Nikon Zf is at landscapes. Plus I love the tactical design for shooting in the field, which for me is a plus.
24MP is plenty. Retro style is fine but no reason to upgrade from my Z6. Autofocus maybe, but I will wait for the Z6 lll and see if that features further upgrades. Thanks for your vid
Good review thanks. I like your videos more without the cap!
Beautiful video I have ZF is fantastic camera
Nice comparison video! One question, were you able to fully use the articulating screen with the l-bracket?
Man why are there so many Fuji users out here talking about their Fuji gear. I am a Fuji user and this camera is literally a dream come true. Don’t tell me you Fuji users have not been wishing for them to make a full frame camera. Lol that’s just lies. About to sell all my fujis for this. Except for the pro1. To each their own. Keep shooting
Fantastic review...so different from most of the others which sound like a gearhead's review rather than this one which is a photographers point of view. Loved it !
Well, it is really the camera i was waiting for. Not so much for the retro desogn but for the autofocus and flip screen. 24 mp is the optimal image size for me. And if I need more, pixelshift will probably cover it. So yes I'll probably buy one in the near futur. Thank you for the video.
Flip screen. Funny because camera marketing people usually buy you off with a 20 cent O ring at the mount interface and call it weather sealing without saying it's weather sealed. . All the you tube whores go crazy about that one. Could be thirty cents though.
Love to see this on my hand, multiple color choices on body, this retro and beautiful are more eligible for everyone on tphography, or videography finally that articulated screen. i wish Nikon should have done this earlier on other FF bodies like on my Z8, its more cool when Zf comes with similar body color camera strap.
Just tried one at the store. Desperately needs a proper grip. Will wait,
According to Petepixel there is going to be a grip available, but not for batteries. The VR can be linked to the focus point which maybe useful for some. I am tempted as I do own the 28mm & 40mm muffin lenses. Still waiting for the Z7iii if it ever comes. However the ZF can shoot -10ev so going to be a great low light shooter.
For me, the retro styling of the ZF is pure nostalgia. It's a shame they left off the little window on the back where you could tear off the end of the film pack to remind you what ASA you were shooting. Last year I broke open my piggy bank and bought the Z9. It's a fantastic camera but it's big and heavy and I didn't fancy taking a £5k body to some dodgy holiday destinations, so I've just bought an as new Z50 body from MPB for £600. 21 megapixels is fine as long as it's paired with good lenses. My Z 14-30mm F4 becomes 21-45mm and my Z 24-120mm F4 becomes 36-180mm on the Z50, but for me the advantage of the S lenses (I have the 100 - 400 too) is that I can set the lens function ring on all of them to ISO, so I can control shutter speed, aperture and ISO without fumbling for buttons or taking my eye away from the EVF. Give me a decent grip and plenty of function buttons and controls I can tailor to my preferences and I'll leave the retro look for others to enjoy.
Thanks for your critique Nigel........it appeared to me that your Z7ii image had slightly more depth of colour than the Zf. However it is great to have a fully articulating screen finally, as that is exceptionally helpful when composing portrait style images low to the ground. You didn't mention whether the Zf had extended shutter speeds up to 900 secs, which is wonderful for cloud movement. I have gone from a Z6ii to a Z8 and am loving the new camera 😁
Thanks for an excellent unbiased review. A plus for the 24 MP sensor (assuming that it is of equivalent quality to that of the Z7) should be less noise at low light levels due to each sensel being larger. The IBIS and AF sound impressive. Many L-brackets come with a sizeable grip, so that should solve the lack of a significant grip. I love the tactile nature of the dials on my Fuji, and the ZF appears ready to offer the same experience at full frame.
Unbiased? The fact that these you tubers are taking the bait and publicizing something thats the digital Nikkormat of 2023 really brings in the brainless fanboys.
Thanks a lot for your thoughts Nigel. This appears to be a superb, affordable camera having the features that I am missing on the first generation of Z6/7. The retro feeling is awesome too. One thing though that puzzles me is the lack of sensor locking and the difficulty that this would bring when trying to wet clean the sensor. From a practical perspective this may be a little bit problematic. Your thoughts?
I have several Nikon DSLRs and a Z6. I'm seriously thinking about selling all of them and ordering the Zf.
As a Fuji user (former Nikon) i must say a really nice camera. Just way to expensive here in Germany. Unfortunetely there are no Z lenses with aperture ring to complement the retro body.
Thanks Nigel, great review. I have read/watched a bunch of reviews of the Zf. At the end of the day, technically, it is way ahead of the Z6/Z6ii, Z7/Z7ii(except or MP). I think that point is missed by many of the "tops of the waves" reviewers. However, it comes in a retro format. But the format (as you have shown) doesn't affect the performance. I am on the fence, and I just dropped a bunch on a new lens, so I'll have to wait and see.
Yes, for most of us it's plenty. I've recently purchased an old Fujifilm S3 Pro with a 6 mpix CCD sensor and I've just realized how much lazier I've become using higher mpix cameras. With higher mpix sensors you can always crop, re-center and adjust the horizon. Using an older camera, you have to do it before you press the button. 24 mpix is great for file sizes and also allows for some cropping and adjusting, just enough to not get too lazy.
I have some A3 prints with an S3 pro that stand up well compared to my 24 mpxl stuff.
been waiting for this for a while. nikon rumours had talked about this
I replaced my N90s film camera with a Z5 this year. I love the Z5 so easy to use and the grip fits my hand perfectly. No retro for me since I just stopped using a retro camera. 😂
I love the weight compared with my D850, however I could see an immediate difference between your two prints. As you hinted, it’s in the rocks, the depth and richness of the colors and shadows. I’m assuming you edited each print exactly the same? Could be a great camera to play with. Thanks, Nigel!
I'm new to all the nikon side of things. Looking at this camera it reminds me of the Fujifilm XT series. And I love it! Yet another camera on the never ending wish list 🙄
Thats why I'm so in love with fujifilm 😅
Me too!!! :)
Let us not forget that pro photographers were once using the Nikon D3 for pro photography. 12MP was plenty and is still considered to be the sweet spot for file size. I have added the ZF to my arsenal of Nikon bodies for its specific features that will aid in shooting various subjects. I am not at all concerned about the MP size of any new camera body sold today as it would be more than enough for all of my applications.
I think you took a big chance on placing your apple on that rock the hill looked pretty steep to me! I am sure you remember that incident! Now that camera looked good and it certainly done its job but it was in a experts hands, and yes you was right its a great feeling to have a new piece of kit in your hands and other people will probably agree with me the first few shots will be very good and then it will be back to the norm of just ok pictures! A camera like that certainly does appeal to me but I have not bought a new camera for years, people often come up to me when I am out and say blimey that's old, I never know whether they are talking about the camera or me! Those prime lenses looked useful too! Thank you for showing us this camera and lets see how much the cost is in the shops or online.....Thank you.
I learnt photography in the early 2000s with a Centon K100, that had dials on top, so it would going back to my photographic roots albeit with a modern twist if I were to consider buying a Nikon Zf in the future, which is sorely tempting. To be honest, I'd get it for the dials alone.
You mentioned the grip earlier. Wex is providing a SmallRig grip specifically for the Zf free with all pre-orders at the moment, although you do have to screw it on to the base plate.
Having watched Ricci's video this morning, I think the Zf could be a really good landscape camera, particularly given the image quality up to A2 is near enough indistinguishable from a Z7ii. It will also make a great travel and general purpose camera, particularly if you team it with a nifty-fifty.
as a Sony shooter (don’t hate me) i use the A9 24mega pixel
and the A7r4 60 mega pixels the main difference is the files are HUGE off A7r4 the lower mega pixel is much better with high ISO when printing unless you pixel peep you can’t see a great deal of difference 🤷♂️
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 📸 Introduction and Overview
01:15 🌸 Exploring for Compositions
02:13 📷 Nikon ZF Features
03:55 🏞️ Exploring Landscape Shots
06:17 🎥 Video Features and Ibis System
07:28 📸 Retro Styling and Ergonomics
08:56 📷 Ibis System Performance
12:11 🖼️ Comparing Prints: Megapixels
15:13 🖨️ Printing and Camera Considerations
Made with HARPA AI
Thought you would want to try the 96mpx pixel-shift for landscape and compare with your Z7II.
What a nice spot to hang out! I enjoyed your video clips throughout, as I always do. I just took the ZF for a spin and it wasn't for me. I think the build quality is what the Zfc should have offered. However, Sony and Canon customizability offer a HUGE advantage. I needed at least 2 function buttons. Nikon could "add a button" by having the Menu button also access MyMenu with a long or double press. I'm surprised that more cameras don't utilize this simple solution.
The ZF is just too bulky, and it should have had a few more MP's (33.) The ZF and Z8 (tried that too) are more customizable than the other Z's, but there are still basic functions you can't program everywhere. I was hoping it would at least have one recall settings option since it doesn't have user modes or banks too. The 3D face detection doesn't kick in soon enough, not even as soon as my Z7II or Z30, ignores one of my test subjects (a test photo,) and always prefers one of the subjects. This happened with the Z8 and the ZF btw. I'll be trying out whatever affordable Nikon body they release next. I spotted the Z7 image right away, and that was probably the lack of an AA filter. ;)
If you want to talk about a comfortable camera, the R8 is the most comfortable I've ever held, and I (as a LONG time Nikon shooter) found the top "front dial" better than Nikon's.
Yeah, its retro aesthetic looks great, I learned photography in the analog age, but I really prefer a top plate lcd and some sort of protection in front of the sensor. Other than that, the flippy screen is a huge plus and if Nikon will put it on a Z6 iii I might actually switch.
Very attractive camera. I echo the comments of Alan. I started shooting with a Pentax Spomatic, so the tactile dials would move me back into my comfort zone.
I'm ❤ing my zf!!!!
The Nikon Df was 16 mp same as the D4 and D4s. One of the best sensors Nikon ever used. for the style of photography, the camera was built it was fantastic, low light outstanding. The 24 mp sensor is stunning, pixel peepers might want more but then they have other options, Z7/Z7ii and Z8/Z9.
Yeah only issue with the DF was it's terrible autofocus
@@CianMcsweeney Well I shot Birds in Flight, Wildlife and even sport with mine using a 300 f2.8. I shot sport and wildlife with Manual focus in film days. Today's obsession about auto focus is in most instances a matter of not fully understanding how to use the capabilities of the camera and the Focus system. I know we have Eye detection and all kinds of other applications that is so called AI driven, fact is that even these applications are not fool proof.
@@jakesdewet3567 Preaching to the choir here, I shoot Leica M quite often alongside Fujifilm. And I generally agree, for most situations, for my photography anyways, I prefer to manual/zone focus
Sony A7IV user here but also terrible fan of my old school X-T3 from Fujifilm. Both are great cameras having both their pros and cons but if I'm allowed to make an analogy with cars I would describe my Sony as a german car like a Mercedes doing almost everything flawless but being nothing apart from a perfect machine and the Fuji as an old time Alfa Romeo Spider that does not ever reach the level of the former one but man, how much you enjoy driving it along a coastal road feeling each bend in good weather...😅
hey NIgel great video thank you , i cant find the link to the original photos tho
I really enjoy the classic layout of the fuji x system, and now this. I am debating an upgrade between the XT5 and Zf, but I am struggling. Thoughts?
That 2" shot is still very good.
Great video, as usual. Thank you! I’m a landscape and architecture photographer as well. Have a Z9 but really interested in the ZF combined with the newly released 28-400 Z lens for one camera travel and walk around combo, also avoiding carrying a tripod with the great IBIS of the camera. What are your thoughts on this idea?
Thanks Nigel for your review and the heathers :)..I got the zf as my 1st mirrorless camera ..Can I ask how you mounted the Zf on portrait mode on top of the tripod? It didn't look like a ball head ..Thanks
I have the Z7II, Z50 and Zfc, all have a place depending upon what I am doing and where I am. The Z50 and Zfc give me lightweight options on a tough climb, long day or travelling on the plane. What they don't give me is full frame and weather proofing. No-one has mentioned weather proofing on the Zf yet. Should we assume it is the same as the Zfc, which I would not take out in the rain?
To me a really good grip is important, so I like the grip like the D5600, nice and deep. Whilst I appreciate the retro look, I actually prefer the non-retro look cameras, if I can call them that. This new camera will look great with a 28mm “pancake” or “muffin” lens or something similar but I think the non-retro looks better when using some long telephoto zooms and the like. I’m really waiting for the Z7III so I have a chance of getting a Z7II a bit cheaper. Cheers
Smallrig has a grip mount for the Zfc as of now. Probably they and some third party will come up qith similar accessories at an affordable rate. I have the Z6 II and a D7200. I was waiting for a crop sensor from Nikon with IBIS, now this seems alluring. Have to make sense before the purchase for sure.
@@alternativethoughts13 Good news is that smallrig already released a grip for the Zf too! Watch Matt Irwin's video about the camera!
I’ve got a Z6II, Df, and gave up my D3s to get the Z6ii. I also carry an XPro1 and Ricoh GRIII… I like the retro look, and I like using my FM and F100, but some of the ergonomic decisions on the Df were not great. I’d need to rent this one before thinking of buying one. But, I love the images I get out of my Nikons 😸
Nigel, thank you for your always interesting and informative photography videos! As a landscape and product photographer currently using the Nikon Z8 and a few superb Nikkor S lenses, I am researching this Zf as a "backup" or street camera. And since I sometimes print large (30" x 40"), it's refreshing to see that your print comparison between the Z7 and the Zf shows similar results. Question please...Do you feel that the Pixel Shift technology works well for a stationary scene, and what is your technique for acquiring sharp focus from foreground to infinity, in other words, where do you place your focus point in the scene...the hyperfocal distance? Thank you sir!
24MP is plenty for me...but still waiting for the Z6III...I wish I knew it was coming for sure.
I was kinda thinking about buying a Zfc to go along my Z6 because I was getting tired of logging around the heavy setup everywhere...
I might just replace the Z6 all together now.
If you really want higher quality then do what I do and use a 4x5 or larger format. I have been shooting for 5 plus decades and I believe in getting the shot no matter what camera I have with me.
I have the Z9 for all the heavy stuff, and a zfc for traveling. Should I be changing the zfc to to zf? That’s the question? Cropped vs full sensor?
card slot entry and L brackets ? any issues there or do you shoot slow enough that pulling the L bracket isn't an issue. Personal impressions - I was hoping to move up from my D750 soon - the 8 stops of IS may seal the deal even on lower pixel count. I don't do video so none of those things are important to me. The improved tracking for AF / and eye tracking will probably sell me. I'd love to see some output from the image shifting of pixels and the monochrome mode results ...