Nikon Z f
Big test
PRICE: £2299
NIKON.CO.UK
With its retro cool looks, full-frame sensor and a host of photo features, the Z f is sure to appeal to a wider audience than just image makers searching for a hit of nostalgia
native ISO range that tops out at 64,000. Add pixel shift high-res shot, pre-capture mode, continuous Raw shooting at 12fps, dual card slots and subject detect even in manual focus, you’ll appreciate that the Z f is a thoroughly modern machine. The Z f’s weather-sealed body has a rugged feel, and it feels great in the hand. Its retro styling does mean the body shape is a tad boxy, which means the right-side handgrip is minimal. If you like to walk around with the camera in hand, the on/ off switch is perfect for quick-draw shooting, but an L-plate with a bigger handgrip would aid comfort. The camera’s retro roots are most evident on the top-plate, with a large shutter speed control and an even larger one for ISO, and both can be set – to C and 1/3 STEP respectively – to delegate the functions to other controls. It means you can check the key settings, even with the camera around your neck. There is something missing, though: the aperture value. Nikon Z lenses do not have an analogue aperture ring, so Nikon has provided an LCD f/stop readout on the Z f body. It’s quite small but it’s there.
WORDS & IMAGES BY WILL CHEUNG
IT’S NOT THE first time that Nikon has dipped into its history chest for inspiration, so the Z f is no surprise, joining the Z fc in its range with both models wearing a design inspired by the 1982 FM2 film SLR. If you’re in the market for a traditional- looking Nikon digital camera, there’s a choice: the Z fc, an APS-C format 20.8-megapixel model at £800 (body only) and the full-frame Z f, with more megapixels and a deeper feature list at £2299 (body only). If you prefer your imaging tech packaged in a more contemporary shell, the Z f (and Z fc) might not appeal, but there’s much more to it than its retro skin. Its 24.5-megapixel sensor works with Nikon’s Expeed 7 processor, there’s an eight-stop in-body image stabiliser and a
“YOU CAN CHECK KEY SETTINGS, EVEN WITH THE CAMERA AROUND YOUR NECK”
CHOICES, CHOICES Toggling between stills and video shooting is achieved via a simple lever at the base of the shutter speed dial
20 Photography News | Issue 112
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