Nikon Creates Retro Full-Frame Mirrorless

2023.09.20

Nikon just launched their second Retro-Styled Mirrorless Digital Camera, this time a Full-Frame model with an all-new imaging pipeline in a familiar design similar to the APS-C Nikon Zf C. This places it in a family of models with more native lenses designed for the Nikon Z-mount with a Full-Frame imaging-circle.

Available in 6 colors, the new Nikon Zf is about more than its looks alone. Its compact body is designed to have a mechanical appeal that invites experimenting with photography. With a choice of six colors, Nikon is adding playfulness to the mix.

The Nikon Zf is built around a 24 megapixels BSI-CMOS sensor with builtin Phase-Detect Autofocus. This is now the most sensitive AF system ever built as it can focus down to -10 EV. This sensor is mounted on a state-of-the-art 5-axis image-stabilization system which delivers 8-stops of efficiency, matching the very best IBIS systems. A system like that normally also serves to provide a dust-reduction function yet that has been omitted here. However, the IBIS system provides Super-Resolution capture of 96 MP images.

Outside of its appeal to photographers, the Zf packs quite a few video capabilities. It can record up to 4K at 30 FPS by downsampling the 6K width of the sensor or filming Ultra-HD at 60 FPS from an APS-C sensor-crop. To appeal to videographers, Nikon made the unfortunate choice to include a rotating rear LCD rather than the more convenient and stable tilting model. The camera can record Time-Lapse Video directly plus supports an Interval-Timer and Multiple Exposure. The camera captures both HDR merged in-camera and 10-bit HEIF images.

This camera offers hybrid controls that combine dual control-dials with three dedicated dials for ISO, Shutter-Speed and Exposure-Compensation, plus a 4-way switch that relaces the traditional mode-dial yet simplifies the use of direct dials. An 8-way controller at the back allows focus-point selection, while plenty of extra buttons can be found all over this mirrorless digital camera. The Nikon Zf is equipped with a large 3.7 megapixels 0.5" EVF showing 100% coverage at 0.8X magnification and an essential Eye-Start Sensor.

One advantage of retro design, other than the abundance of mechanical controls, is that it makes cameras more compact. In fact, this model is just under 5cm in depth and weighs 630g, making it among the lightest Full-Frame cameras with builtin Image-Stabilization and an EVF, both features that dramatically improve the usability and performance of a digital camera. With its 8-stop of IBIS, the Nikon Zf has more stabilization capability than optical image-stabilization in any lens ever made! To manage its compact size, Nikon opted for asymmetric dual card slots. One is a fast SDXC UHS-II slot, while the second is a Micro SDXC UHS-I slot. Using an UHS-II card allows the Nikon Zf to reach a deep buffer of over 200 JPEG images or 186 Losslessly Compressed RAW files. This extends to 200 for HEIF images and High-Efficiency (Compressed) RAW files.

The Nikon Zf is expected some time next month for $2000 USD or $2700 CAD. Preorders are already accepted by B&H Photo and Adorama. These reputable affiliates of ours help you be one of the first to receive the camera.

NOTE Original news article updated to include HDR capability and buffer-depth information.

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