p.4 #1 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
I'm selling my M10-P and keeping my Zf, not because the Zf is a better shooting experience but I can't justify keeping both based on the outcomes I get from the Zf.
I pretty much agree with everything you noted—your description is almost the exact replay of my experience. Only differences: I’m not bothered by the PASM switch (mostly stays on M) and not too bothered by the ergonomics, though I agree could be improved. The manual focus aids with the Voigtlander APOs are great. The IQ is phenomenal. One thing you didn’t comment on is the shutter, which I find very satisfying (sound and feel.)
p.4 #7 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Enjoyed your review. The key to me is the "painterly" but perfectly acceptable resolution quality of the sensor. Combined with the right lenses and I get a satisfaction I never had. The ergos are challenged but there is just enough control to overcome the gaps. I mapped the record button to control auto ISO. I use the Fn button to pull up my menu which has my top 8 control functions. The key to this camera is learn it and create the muscle memory. It will be a classic camera in the Nikon lineup for years to come.
I never thought I would use a 24 MP camera again until I started using this. Love the extra IBIS and low noise sensor. Low light shooting is wonderful. I know the Z6III is better for ergos but this inspires recreational shooting like no other camera I have used since my film days. Well done.
p.4 #8 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Scott - question for you: you mention in your review the camera auto-zooming when manual focusing - I have not been able to find a setting to enable this functionality, and I didn't think it existed on this camera. Where is that?
p.4 #9 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Jman13 wrote:
Scott - question for you: you mention in your review the camera auto-zooming when manual focusing - I have not been able to find a setting to enable this functionality, and I didn't think it existed on this camera. Where is that?
Yeah, I was under the impression it wasn't available. this was my biggest "miss" coming from Sony but green focus confirmation for most of my lenses has overcome that. I mapped zoom in to the front function button.
My biggest annoyance is the location of the play button and that it's not consistent with Z8, which you highlighted. Other than that, this stays in full manual, so the PASM doesn't bother me.
p.4 #10 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Jman13 wrote:
Scott - question for you: you mention in your review the camera auto-zooming when manual focusing - I have not been able to find a setting to enable this functionality, and I didn't think it existed on this camera. Where is that?
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Seabassius wrote:
Yeah, I was under the impression it wasn't available. this was my biggest "miss" coming from Sony but green focus confirmation for most of my lenses has overcome that. I mapped zoom in to the front function button.
My biggest annoyance is the location of the play button and that it's not consistent with Z8, which you highlighted. Other than that, this stays in full manual, so the PASM doesn't bother me.
Good review.
Sheesh did I dream that up or something? I'll have to look. I distinctly remember turning something like that off immediately but it's been a few months
Thanks for calling this out though, working on a YT video so this would be nice to show if it actually exists outside my mind.
edit: of course I can't replicate it, but in testing, the EyeAF is still jittery/jumpy as hell from person to person. perhaps I was accidentally hitting OK while using the dpad, becuase that will zoom in by default I believe. I reset that to recenter. Either way, edited that line out, thanks again.
Sheesh did I dream that up or something? I'll have to look. I distinctly remember turning something like that off immediately but it's been a few months
Thanks for calling this out though, working on a YT video so this would be nice to show if it actually exists outside my mind.
edit: of course I can't replicate it, but in testing, the EyeAF is still jittery/jumpy as hell from person to person. perhaps I was accidentally hitting OK while using the dpad, becuase that will zoom in by default I believe. I reset that to recenter. Either way, edited that line out, thanks again....Show more →
What I did is set the OK button to 200% zoom. When the camera autodetects eyes or subjects it will put the focus box over the target then I press OK and it zooms 200% on that spot for you to establish critical focus. Press OK again to zoom back out to normal magnification. Or, press the shutter fully to take the shot and the camera returns to normal magnification. Very handy.
p.4 #13 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Hey Scott. Seeing you posted this vid on Nov. 8 and opined that Nikon would probably have a good holiday sale do you foresee it being better than the $200 off going right now? Thom Hogan thought perhaps Nikon would dig deeper during the holidays if quarterly numbers aren't right.
p.4 #14 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
dsdickson wrote:
Hey Scott. Seeing you posted this vid on Nov. 8 and opined that Nikon would probably have a good holiday sale do you foresee it being better than the $200 off going right now? Thom Hogan thought perhaps Nikon would dig deeper during the holidays if quarterly numbers aren't right.
I'm getting itchy to order! lol
I more meant the refurbs hitting $1200 again. I bet it gets a BIT lower for black friday somewhere than the $1800, but I'd be scooping up a lightly used one here and saving another $200-300.
p.4 #15 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Great, honest video Scott!
I also really hope that the thicker focus box will eventually still come in a firmware update.
Another thing that my Z8 has, but the ZF doesn't is exiting the magnification when half pressing the shutter. Would be nice if they also added this to the ZF.
I've just returned from a 3-week photography trip.
The ZF was mainly a backup camera, but I did use it from time to time.
I have the 2 Neewer grips (I like the one with the little thumb rest the best), but even though they improve the grip on the camera... for me it makes the shutter button sit in a very awkward place.
On more modern cameras you have the shutter button right on the grip but when using a grip on the ZF you have to reach for the shutter button on top of the body.
This doesn't feel good at all for me. Really clunky. Maybe it's better for people with very long index fingers.
Because of this I prefer the experience without a grip, holding it by the lens (+ carrying it on a strap).
p.4 #16 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
I just made this comment in another post somewhere. This is how my Fujifilm cameras work. Zoom in with a dedicated button then zoom out by half pressing the shutter.
Doesn't seem like a big deal but it makes the workflow MUCH smoother. I really hope this comes to the ZF.
Jochenb wrote:
Another thing that my Z8 has, but the ZF doesn't is exiting the magnification when half pressing the shutter. Would be nice if they also added this to the ZF.
p.4 #17 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Good read on the updated Zf thoughts, thanks for sharing.
Initially I was annoyed with the implementation of the PASM and not having auto iso/auto shutter/etc like Fuji has. I still am a bit, but have learned to just use it how I normally would in my preferred aperture priority mode. I like the aperture display window a lot more than I thought I would.
Re: PASM switch...the one case it actually has been pretty useful is if I give my camera to someone else to try out or to take a photo of me/family. I can switch it to auto very quickly for them and the photos turn out great most of the time, quickly locking focus onto human subjects.
FWIW, I really love the 40/2. It probably is my favorite focal length, so that helps. I would be interested to try out a manual lens at some point too. I have a great Minolta 50/1.4 that I LOVE and should try to see if I can get an adapter for it. I wish we had access to more primes that small.
p.4 #18 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Jochenb wrote:
Great, honest video Scott!
I also really hope that the thicker focus box will eventually still come in a firmware update.
Another thing that my Z8 has, but the ZF doesn't is exiting the magnification when half pressing the shutter. Would be nice if they also added this to the ZF.
I've just returned from a 3-week photography trip.
The ZF was mainly a backup camera, but I did use it from time to time.
I have the 2 Neewer grips (I like the one with the little thumb rest the best), but even though they improve the grip on the camera... for me it makes the shutter button sit in a very awkward place.
On more modern cameras you have the shutter button right on the grip but when using a grip on the ZF you have to reach for the shutter button on top of the body.
This doesn't feel good at all for me. Really clunky. Maybe it's better for people with very long index fingers.
Because of this I prefer the experience without a grip, holding it by the lens (+ carrying it on a strap).
LeonD60 wrote:
I just made this comment in another post somewhere. This is how my Fujifilm cameras work. Zoom in with a dedicated button then zoom out by half pressing the shutter.
Doesn't seem like a big deal but it makes the workflow MUCH smoother. I really hope this comes to the ZF.
I tap to exit all the time on the ZF, forgetting it's not there. Annoying!
p.4 #19 · Hell froze over. My Nikon ZF impressions.
Dr_Fishy wrote:
FWIW, I really love the 40/2. It probably is my favorite focal length, so that helps. I would be interested to try out a manual lens at some point too. I have a great Minolta 50/1.4 that I LOVE and should try to see if I can get an adapter for it. I wish we had access to more primes that small.
