Thanks for the video, and for pointing out your areas of disappointment. I am very interested in the Zf - I currently own Nikon DSLRs and Fujifilm mirrorless and can't decide which path to continue on - but am concerned about the lack of a joystick to move the focus selector. I have used other cameras with touch screen focus area selectors and when using the camera with my eye to the viewfinder to compose, my nose or cheek would move the AF box. Has this happened to you?
Thanks for watching. I have never really had that problem. You can disable the touch focus if you don’t want it. While there is no joystick, you can move the focus point around with the buttons in the back. It is not as fast, but, to be honest, I’ve always preferred the buttons, because I find them more accurate. Hope that helps.
To be fair, the tech in this camera is like a hundred times better compared to a similarly priced DSLR that was released 5 years ago, heck even the D6 would be no match for the ZF, Nikon has to cut some corners, and the lack of charger is one of them. Yeah I live in Canada too and this camera is worth $3,000 incl. Tax which is on the borderline pricey side
I agree with most of it. Of course the tech is better, even though those DSLRs were latest tech at the time of their release. In 5 years Zf will be old tech. I don’t agree completely that Nikon has to cut corners. If that was the case, in 20 years we’d have incredible tech inside a cardboard case with cardboard buttons. Like you said, it’s on the pricey side, so I expect it to look and feel pricey as well. And like I said, it’s still a very good camera, but those couple of things bugged me a bit.
Great honest review! I would really appreciate if you elaborate more on the camera’s flaws in your future videos, to set my expectations correctly. E.g. the Nikon’s notorious limitations of buttons customization…
It’s so interesting to see quite a lot of very different videos about this camera with very different opinions😅. Personally I was very tempted when the Zf was announced, because I own a Nikon FE2 film camera from the 1980‘s and I really like the design and the limited but very well implemented functions of this camera. But, to be honest, after watching several unboxing videos and first reviews and especially holding the Zf in my hands at a local camera shop, I am a little disappointed. Yes, the Zf looks great, but looking closer one can easily see, that it’s “just” some kind of Z6III in a stylish dress. It is equipped with all bells and whistles of a modern multifunctional digital camera, including a bunch of video functions, while I hoped (quite naive, obviously) that Nikon would provide something like a Leica M10 … but with autofocus. Additionally there are just two lenses (40mm and 28mm) with a design that fits the design of the Zf. And speaking of lenses: the Z-mount is so big that it’s almost impossible to build a small camera (the Zf is huge!) with small lenses. I like to travel with my gear and I prefer small cameras with small lenses. So, technically the Zf is probably a great camera and a nice step forward for Nikon. But I am glad not to have preordered the camera.
I haven’t watched too many videos on ZF, so I don’t know what the popular opinion is. It is kind of like Z6III, but every new camera will have new tech. I’ve never had a Leica, so I’m not familiar with them. I really wanted 10-bit video and ibis and I do like the style. Some people will like the camera, some won’t. It’s a modern camera with a retro look and feel.
It depends. If stills are more important and you need the extra resolution, the Z7 II is the better option. If you shoot video and you’d like to have better video internally, then the Zf, especially if you don’t mind the shallow grip.
Given that this camera is priced identically to the Z6II, plus offers the new Expeed 7 processor from the Z9/Z8, several of the new features from the Z9/Z8, new AF algorithms, new tech not found in any other Nikon (e.g. Focus Point IBIS and -10EV AF detection performance) all wrapped up in a fairly solid retro body that heavily mimics the original FM/FE 35mm cameras and sports real brass dials...I don't really think the price is an issue here. I actually think the camera offers extremely good value for money. Enjoy!
Oh, I don’t necessarily think that the price is an issue. I agree it has the latest Nikon tech. Maybe I didn’t express my opinion correctly. I just think that the materials used on some parts of the camera don’t match the price tag. If I close my eyes and hold the camera, it doesn’t feel like a premium product. But it’s not a big deal, just a minor annoyance. Thanks!
@@visualsbyst "If I close my eyes and hold the camera, it doesn’t feel like a premium product." Compared to what? The camera uses real brass dials on the top plate.
@@visualsbyst I own both systems. I see no meaningful differences between the vulcanite on either of those cameras. Overall, the Zf feels a bit more solid than the X-T5, but they both feel fine. The only retro camera that feels perhaps a bit more solid than the Zf is the Leica M.
@@RobertFalconer1967 I don't know about the X-T5, but the X-T3 felt softer. I recently held the X-t30 ii at a store and it also felt very nice and soft. Zf doesn't.
So many pros with few cons. ZF is the best camera in this price range.
It is very good, yes.
Thanks for the video, and for pointing out your areas of disappointment. I am very interested in the Zf - I currently own Nikon DSLRs and Fujifilm mirrorless and can't decide which path to continue on - but am concerned about the lack of a joystick to move the focus selector. I have used other cameras with touch screen focus area selectors and when using the camera with my eye to the viewfinder to compose, my nose or cheek would move the AF box. Has this happened to you?
Thanks for watching. I have never really had that problem. You can disable the touch focus if you don’t want it. While there is no joystick, you can move the focus point around with the buttons in the back. It is not as fast, but, to be honest, I’ve always preferred the buttons, because I find them more accurate. Hope that helps.
To be fair, the tech in this camera is like a hundred times better compared to a similarly priced DSLR that was released 5 years ago, heck even the D6 would be no match for the ZF, Nikon has to cut some corners, and the lack of charger is one of them. Yeah I live in Canada too and this camera is worth $3,000 incl. Tax which is on the borderline pricey side
I agree with most of it. Of course the tech is better, even though those DSLRs were latest tech at the time of their release. In 5 years Zf will be old tech. I don’t agree completely that Nikon has to cut corners. If that was the case, in 20 years we’d have incredible tech inside a cardboard case with cardboard buttons. Like you said, it’s on the pricey side, so I expect it to look and feel pricey as well. And like I said, it’s still a very good camera, but those couple of things bugged me a bit.
congratulations. i got Zf with 28-75mm kit.
Great honest review! I would really appreciate if you elaborate more on the camera’s flaws in your future videos, to set my expectations correctly. E.g. the Nikon’s notorious limitations of buttons customization…
Thank you very much! I will make a lot of videos on this one and will try to elaborate more on exactly what you suggested. Thanks for the suggestion.
It’s so interesting to see quite a lot of very different videos about this camera with very different opinions😅. Personally I was very tempted when the Zf was announced, because I own a Nikon FE2 film camera from the 1980‘s and I really like the design and the limited but very well implemented functions of this camera. But, to be honest, after watching several unboxing videos and first reviews and especially holding the Zf in my hands at a local camera shop, I am a little disappointed.
Yes, the Zf looks great, but looking closer one can easily see, that it’s “just” some kind of Z6III in a stylish dress. It is equipped with all bells and whistles of a modern multifunctional digital camera, including a bunch of video functions, while I hoped (quite naive, obviously) that Nikon would provide something like a Leica M10 … but with autofocus.
Additionally there are just two lenses (40mm and 28mm) with a design that fits the design of the Zf. And speaking of lenses: the Z-mount is so big that it’s almost impossible to build a small camera (the Zf is huge!) with small lenses. I like to travel with my gear and I prefer small cameras with small lenses.
So, technically the Zf is probably a great camera and a nice step forward for Nikon. But I am glad not to have preordered the camera.
I haven’t watched too many videos on ZF, so I don’t know what the popular opinion is. It is kind of like Z6III, but every new camera will have new tech. I’ve never had a Leica, so I’m not familiar with them. I really wanted 10-bit video and ibis and I do like the style. Some people will like the camera, some won’t. It’s a modern camera with a retro look and feel.
This is a hell of a camera.
If the nikon z 7ii would be priced on 250 USD more than this zf, wich one would be the best option?
It depends. If stills are more important and you need the extra resolution, the Z7 II is the better option. If you shoot video and you’d like to have better video internally, then the Zf, especially if you don’t mind the shallow grip.
@@visualsbyst that grip is infamous. It wouldn’t be as much hesitation with a nice grip I think.
Sure. But it wouldn’t be the same camera with the grip. If it wasn’t the retro camera that it is, it would have just been the Z6III.
Given that this camera is priced identically to the Z6II, plus offers the new Expeed 7 processor from the Z9/Z8, several of the new features from the Z9/Z8, new AF algorithms, new tech not found in any other Nikon (e.g. Focus Point IBIS and -10EV AF detection performance) all wrapped up in a fairly solid retro body that heavily mimics the original FM/FE 35mm cameras and sports real brass dials...I don't really think the price is an issue here. I actually think the camera offers extremely good value for money. Enjoy!
Oh, I don’t necessarily think that the price is an issue. I agree it has the latest Nikon tech. Maybe I didn’t express my opinion correctly. I just think that the materials used on some parts of the camera don’t match the price tag. If I close my eyes and hold the camera, it doesn’t feel like a premium product. But it’s not a big deal, just a minor annoyance. Thanks!
@@visualsbyst "If I close my eyes and hold the camera, it doesn’t feel like a premium product."
Compared to what? The camera uses real brass dials on the top plate.
@@RobertFalconer1967 Compared to Fujifilm, for example. I'm talking about the leatherette.
@@visualsbyst I own both systems. I see no meaningful differences between the vulcanite on either of those cameras. Overall, the Zf feels a bit more solid than the X-T5, but they both feel fine. The only retro camera that feels perhaps a bit more solid than the Zf is the Leica M.
@@RobertFalconer1967 I don't know about the X-T5, but the X-T3 felt softer. I recently held the X-t30 ii at a store and it also felt very nice and soft. Zf doesn't.
Who is Zed? Zee be here, not this Zed.
Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.
Your video is very dark.
it's fine, the info is more important