New Nikon user here. I recently bought the Zf because the design makes me happy. Decades ago I shot with F3 bodies and lenses for location and studio shoots, but wandered off to other brands over time. The Zf is what brought me back into the Nikon fold with the Z-System, which I have completely embraced. Is the Zf perfect? No, but then again I never thought it was. No camera ever is, not even Leica. But the images I’m getting are making me a believer in the Z-System, no matter which body or ergonomics they come up with.
Nice review - helps me lean more into my decision to get this rather than the z6iii. Knowing it can handle that much use/abuse in a pro environment is pretty cool. Great breakdown on the key points.
I love ergonomics, but im a child of the 80s😂 Never cared for these modern grips. My main system is m4/3 olympus/oms, but this camera and a voigtlander 40mm 1.2 just lives on it.
Just had a repair estimate come through and luckily it’s still covered under warranty (it’s actually only just covered so very lucky). “Estimate camera to fit new Main PCB, perform complete calibration through adjsutment software, check all functions and clean. Repair, replace and adjust printed circuit board.” Total = £500 if not under warranty 😳
1yr ZF owner. You are spot on with everything. One thing i would mention is that its HEAVY! lol. The thing is built like a tank, a good thing. Yes, I agree that it can take a beating. However, I shoot in NYC and Guyana not in harsh climates. THanks for the review, love your content, subscribed. Thanks.
There's one less Fn button, but now also additional buttons that can be customized (that weren't in the Z6) including Disp button and AE-L/AF-L button (previously called AF-ON). You can set these to customize to "select focus areas faster" OR you can actually set it to go straight to a specific AF mode & area. I have the Shutter Button set to Wide-L and so when my subject starts moving erratically or if it suddenly gets crowded, I switch to pressing the AE-L-AF-L button to go straight to 3D-tracking and lock on to the subject.
as a Canon shooter, it wouldn't make financial sense for me to switch systems.....but Id love to try this camera. How has the autofocus been for people / weddings? Id love your opinion on that, as a lot of what you hear on youtube seems pretty inflated. Thanks!
Compared to the Z6 (which was my main body before the Zf) the autofocus is miles ahead. I can actually use and trust the face and eye detect. I haven’t missed any important shots using it. It’s still not as good as Sony or Canon however, it’s really close. And yes, the reason why I made this video is because most reviews of the Zf on RUclips are from people who only used it a couple of times and causally rather than professional situations. Thank you for your comment!
Hey you could always rent one out 👍. I’m actually planning on doing that sometime soon as I’m already quite invested in the Fuji system. Just wanting to test it out 😅
Both are great cameras. 1) I would choose the nikon for better support an firmware updates as Sony will abandon you when there firmware fails and your camera is broken 2) I would choose nikon as it is way superior for being weather sealed .... by far. Sony has a weather sealing problem 3) I think how the Nikon zf is build overall is much better than the Sony. hope this helps
Just to add as well, the Zf gives you up to 14 fps continuous shooting and the a7r3 is 10. Not a huge difference but since you’ll be shooting fast moving animals you’d probably like to have the extra shots per second.
I’ve used it the last year for events, weddings and portraits and my two Zfs have been great. The only issue I have had with it is that it will suddenly go black. Screen will go black and the only thing I can do is to take the battery out and put it back in. I have checked online and have not found much on this issue. I have current firmware. Then I thought maybe it was a few 3rd party batteries I was using after the OG ones ran out but it still happens at least once during an event even thought I don’t use those anymore and only use Nikon ones.
I’ve had that same issue a couple times but I don’t think as often as you. Mine happens maybe once every 3-4 weddings. Just when I think it’s not happening anymore, it happens lol. Not an issue I have ever had with any other Nikon camera.
If you like the camera so much you should learn to pronounce its name correctly ! There is NO 'Y' in NIKON if you don't believe me ask NIKON its their company !
all BS man.. haha maybe you are a die hard fanboy hahaha..some people really dont care about the pronunciation and youre not even a japanese hahahahaha
New Nikon user here. I recently bought the Zf because the design makes me happy. Decades ago I shot with F3 bodies and lenses for location and studio shoots, but wandered off to other brands over time. The Zf is what brought me back into the Nikon fold with the Z-System, which I have completely embraced.
Is the Zf perfect? No, but then again I never thought it was. No camera ever is, not even Leica. But the images I’m getting are making me a believer in the Z-System, no matter which body or ergonomics they come up with.
Well said my friend! I’m getting into shooting film and I really want to get an F3 😁
Nice review - helps me lean more into my decision to get this rather than the z6iii. Knowing it can handle that much use/abuse in a pro environment is pretty cool. Great breakdown on the key points.
I love ergonomics, but im a child of the 80s😂 Never cared for these modern grips. My main system is m4/3 olympus/oms, but this camera and a voigtlander 40mm 1.2 just lives on it.
I definitely need to try the Voigtlanders!
Just had a repair estimate come through and luckily it’s still covered under warranty (it’s actually only just covered so very lucky).
“Estimate camera to fit new Main PCB, perform complete calibration through adjsutment software, check all functions and clean.
Repair, replace and adjust printed circuit board.”
Total = £500 if not under warranty 😳
I really love these cameras too and so much so that I now shoot with two ZF bodies at weddings. They just ‘fit’.
1yr ZF owner. You are spot on with everything. One thing i would mention is that its HEAVY! lol. The thing is built like a tank, a good thing. Yes, I agree that it can take a beating. However, I shoot in NYC and Guyana not in harsh climates. THanks for the review, love your content, subscribed. Thanks.
Mic stand for the win 🏆 💪🏾
🤣 I was waiting for somebody to notice lol
There's one less Fn button, but now also additional buttons that can be customized (that weren't in the Z6) including Disp button and AE-L/AF-L button (previously called AF-ON). You can set these to customize to "select focus areas faster" OR you can actually set it to go straight to a specific AF mode & area. I have the Shutter Button set to Wide-L and so when my subject starts moving erratically or if it suddenly gets crowded, I switch to pressing the AE-L-AF-L button to go straight to 3D-tracking and lock on to the subject.
Yes you’re absolutely right! It isn’t as comfortable for quick shooting but it’s definitely a plus
Zf can focus down to -10ev i beleive thats even lower than the z8 👍
I shoot exclusively SIGMA ART Primes as well with my ZF... You need to try the 24mm 1.4 and the 135mm 1.8
Been wanting to try the 135mm for a while!
@RiyardRamnath the 135mm is magical, I prefer it over my 85mm 1.4
Great Video 💯
Nice overview, thank you
Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙏
as a Canon shooter, it wouldn't make financial sense for me to switch systems.....but Id love to try this camera. How has the autofocus been for people / weddings? Id love your opinion on that, as a lot of what you hear on youtube seems pretty inflated. Thanks!
Compared to the Z6 (which was my main body before the Zf) the autofocus is miles ahead. I can actually use and trust the face and eye detect. I haven’t missed any important shots using it. It’s still not as good as Sony or Canon however, it’s really close. And yes, the reason why I made this video is because most reviews of the Zf on RUclips are from people who only used it a couple of times and causally rather than professional situations. Thank you for your comment!
Hey you could always rent one out 👍. I’m actually planning on doing that sometime soon as I’m already quite invested in the Fuji system. Just wanting to test it out 😅
You use the ftz II adapter? Thank you
Yes I use both the version 1 and 2 of the ftz. No issues with either
That 85 is HUGE jeez
It’s a chucky boy for sure
Right now im confused between newer nikon zf vs older a7r3 which are of same budget. I shoot wildlife mostly and i appreciate all ur opinions
Both are great cameras. 1) I would choose the nikon for better support an firmware updates as Sony will abandon you when there firmware fails and your camera is broken 2) I would choose nikon as it is way superior for being weather sealed .... by far. Sony has a weather sealing problem 3) I think how the Nikon zf is build overall is much better than the Sony.
hope this helps
@BugsTours thanks mate, it does help 🤗
Just to add as well, the Zf gives you up to 14 fps continuous shooting and the a7r3 is 10. Not a huge difference but since you’ll be shooting fast moving animals you’d probably like to have the extra shots per second.
I’ve used it the last year for events, weddings and portraits and my two Zfs have been great. The only issue I have had with it is that it will suddenly go black. Screen will go black and the only thing I can do is to take the battery out and put it back in. I have checked online and have not found much on this issue. I have current firmware. Then I thought maybe it was a few 3rd party batteries I was using after the OG ones ran out but it still happens at least once during an event even thought I don’t use those anymore and only use Nikon ones.
I’ve had that same issue a couple times but I don’t think as often as you. Mine happens maybe once every 3-4 weddings. Just when I think it’s not happening anymore, it happens lol. Not an issue I have ever had with any other Nikon camera.
I’ve had this recently too and sent my body back to Nikon to check it out. It was right in the middle of a wedding ceremony 🤯
@@RiyardRamnathYea, it stopped when I tried native batteries but found that it still does happen occasionally.
@@joedanielphotographyOh! Please share what they said or the outcome?
Are you from Trinidad 🇹🇹??
Yup!
❤😂
Your voice is quite pleasing. I guess you could kill the music in the background. :-)
If you like the camera so much you should learn to pronounce its name correctly ! There is NO 'Y' in NIKON if you don't believe me ask NIKON its their company !
K
@naduncan100 shut up
all BS man.. haha maybe you are a die hard fanboy hahaha..some people really dont care about the pronunciation and youre not even a japanese hahahahaha
@@RiyardRamnathDon’t learn English from Americans, they are idiots who don’t know correct English.
Yes it’s “nee - koh - n”. I wonder why many pronounce it is “nigh - kON” 🤔