The Nikon Zfc has formally arrived in all its retro glory, with the mirrorless digital camera sporting a classic design that harks again to the glory days of Nikon movie cameras throughout the Nineteen Eighties.
A compact, beginner-friendly digital camera that is successfully a redesigned model of the present Nikon Z50, the Nikon Zfc adopts related seems to rivals just like the Fujifilm X-T30 and Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV – and if you happen to’re a fan of that look, the Zfc might effectively be a powerful rival to these cameras.
Nikon’s mirrorless cameras have largely been full-frame affairs, such because the Nikon Z6 II, that are geared toward skilled hobbyists or professionals. However, just like the Nikon Z50, the Nikon Zfc is a extra accessible digital camera, utilizing a smaller DX-format sensor (Nikon’s title for APS-C sensors) that makes it compact and comparatively inexpensive.
Beneath its retro pores and skin – which Nikon says is impressed by the Nikon FM2 SLR from 1982 – the Nikon Zfc is nearly equivalent to the present Nikon Z50, providing the identical 20.9MP DX sensor, Expeed 6 processor and autofocus efficiency.
However there are a couple of key variations too. The Nikon Zfc will get a vari-angle touchscreen, which differs from the tilt-only show seen on the Z50, and will likely be excellent for vlogging. The brand new digital camera additionally has a USB-C port for charging on the go, plus a spread of devoted management dials, together with ones for shutter velocity, ISO and publicity compensation.
To rejoice the Zfc’s classic seems, Nikon can also be releasing two new lenses with related retro styling. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Silver Version is, because the title suggests, a restyled model of the present Z-series equipment lens, which we have discovered to be a superb companion for the Nikon Z50.
There’s additionally a brand new Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE prime lens geared toward road photographers, which once more is impressed by lenses from the Nikon FM2 period. This affords an equal 42mm focal size in full-frame phrases, making it a powerful candidate for portrait and still-life capturing too.
That is the in-a-nutshell abstract of the Nikon Zfc, however what different options does it have, and the way a lot will it value? Here is every thing we all know concerning the thrilling new mirrorless digital camera…
Nikon Zfc launch date and value
The Nikon Zfc will likely be available for purchase from late July in a wide range of bundles. In case you simply need to purchase the digital camera body-only, it will value $959 / £899 / AU$1,499, however you can even purchase it with totally different lenses, or in a lens equipment with each wide-angle and telephoto zooms.
The best equipment for road photographers will probably be the Nikon Zfc with the brand new Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE prime lens, which collectively will value $1,199 / £1,129 / AU$1,899. In case you’d moderately go for the Zfc with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens, that equipment will set you again $1,099 / £1,039 / AU$1,699.
In Australia, there is a two-lens equipment additionally accessible for AU$2,000 that bundles the Zfc physique with the 16-50mm glass talked about above, in addition to the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR zoom.
Lastly, those that are ranging from scratch and wish most versatility could have the choice of shopping for the Nikon Zfc with each the 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and a Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR for £1,249 (round $1,740, AU$2,300).
That pricing compares fairly favorably to the Nikon Zfc’s closest rivals – the Nikon Z50, which can stay on sale, is now accessible for barely lower than its unique body-only launch value of $850 / £849 AU$1,399, whereas the older Fujifilm X-T30 (which seems similar to the Nikon Zfc), at present prices $799 / £849 / AU$1,059.
The Nikon Zfc is, then, within the combine for the title of greatest digital camera underneath $1,000 and greatest newbie digital camera. We have not but spent sufficient time with the digital camera to evaluate the place it deserves to be positioned in these lists, however here is the way it’s shaping up on paper…
Nikon Zfc design
For these with a penchant for classic movie cameras, it is exhausting to not be charmed by the Nikon Zfc’s design. It is impressed by the Nikon FM2 (under), a basic movie digital camera from 1982 that the digital camera large calls “a pivotal product in Nikon’s historical past”.
That is not hyperbole both – the Nikon FM2 inherited the genes of Nikon’s basic F sequence (beginning in 1959) however packaged them in a small, robust and compact physique. It was a triumph of simplicity, that includes a totally mechanical shutter mechanism that was able to quick 1/4000th of a second speeds.
Naturally, the Nikon Zfc options barely extra fashionable specs (see under), however the design means it affords a barely totally different capturing expertise to the in any other case related Nikon Z50.
The Nikon Zfc’s prime plate options three dials (shutter velocity, publicity compensation and ISO), and a small window that shows the aperture.
Like Fujifilm’s X-series, this provides you a extra handbook capturing expertise, and it additionally means the Zfc is the primary Nikon Z-series digital camera that helps publicity compensation in ‘Auto’ mode, so you may rapidly have the ability to create results like silhouettes by underexposing, with out leaving the consolation of ‘auto’ mode.
Alongside these dials, the Zfc additionally options a few smaller touches which can be nods to the Nikon FM2. The digital viewfinder has a round eyepiece (in contrast to the extra fashionable rectangular one on the Nikon Z50), whereas the emblem on the entrance is straight from Nikon’s Nineteen Seventies-80s period.
Whereas it lacks superior climate sealing, which suggests you may need to watch out about utilizing the digital camera within the rain, the Zfc’s magnesium alloy physique must also be sure that it is robust sufficient to face up to some bangs and knocks.
Nikon Zfc specs and options
The Nikon Zfc is a mid-range mirrorless digital camera that has virtually equivalent specs to the Nikon Z50, which arrived in October 2019.
Whereas which may appear barely disappointing, contemplating digital camera tech has moved on a good bit within the final 18 months, the Zfc’s specs stay very aggressive at its value level – and we additionally stay followers of the Nikon Z50, except for its dearth of native lenses (extra on that later).
The Nikon Zfc is powered by a mixture of a 20.9MP DX sensor and Nikon’s Expeed 6 processor. Whereas the latter is present, pricier Nikon mirrorless cameras just like the Nikon Z6 II use twin Expeed 6 chips to assist quicker burst capturing and extra highly effective video options.
The Nikon Zfc definitely is not a slouch in these departments, although, providing a most of 11fps steady capturing and the flexibility to shoot 4K/30p video and not using a crop. Nonetheless, it sadly nonetheless solely accepts UHS-I reminiscence playing cards, which suggests your buffer will replenish comparatively rapidly in comparison with cameras that settle for quicker UHS-II playing cards. In case you’re after a sports activities digital camera, there’ll probably be higher decisions than the Nikon Zfc.
Nonetheless, that is not actually the Zfc’s goal market, and as an all-purpose digital camera for capturing a mixture of photographs and video it is shaping up effectively. It has the identical 0.39-inch, 2.36 million-dot viewfinder because the Z50 (pretty commonplace at this value), and Nikon’s newest hybrid autofocus system, which serves up Eye-Detection AF for each people and animals.
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Apart from its design, the Nikon Zfc additionally delivers two fundamental bonuses over the Nikon Z50. Reasonably than a tilting rear display, it has a vari-angle show (the primary on a Nikon Z-series digital camera) which rotates round to the entrance for individuals who need to shoot video or stills to digital camera.
The Zfc additionally has a USB-C port (moderately than an older micro USB one), which helps direct charging from exterior Energy Supply (PD) batteries. That is helpful if you happen to’re trying to cost it out within the area or when capturing timelapses.
Speaking of connectivity, the Nikon Zfc additionally has a 3.5mm microphone enter, so you may plug in an exterior mic like a Rode VideoMic Go to enhance your video sound high quality. Whereas the Zfc lacks in-body picture stabilization, which is fairly widespread for a digital camera of this measurement, it definitely has the specs wanted to make it an honest vlogging companion.
Nikon Zfc lenses
Whereas it’s potential to make use of the Nikon Zfc with older F-mount lenses, by way of the elective FTZ adaptor, this can add bulk to its design – and the true enchantment will likely be teaming it with newer Z-mount glass.
Sadly, the choices right here stay very restricted for the Nikon Zfc, regardless of the arrival of the brand new Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE prime. That lens definitely seems promising, however in any other case your solely different native lens for DX-format cameras just like the Nikon Zfc and Nikon Z50 are the 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR.
We’re anticipating Nikon to flesh out its vary following the arrival of the Nikon Zfc, with rumors predicting the arrival of a 35mm f/1.8 prime in some unspecified time in the future, nevertheless it does stay a degree of weak spot in comparison with the likes of Fujifilm’s X sequence, which affords a a lot wider array of native glass and related retro appeal.
Nonetheless, if you happen to do have older Nikon F-mount lenses that you are looking to make use of with a more moderen mirrorless physique, then the Zfc might match the invoice properly – significantly because it has a retro design to match.
