Nikon retro-inspired camera

[olakiril]

I think a full-frame version will come in about a year. Add $ 1K to the price.

I think so as well. I just hope they keep the size small and they don't add a grip.

It seems doubtful to me that Nikon would spend all the research time and design it with that large Z mount, only to put a small sensor inside.

I don't think they had much choice. F is pretty much dead, and fixed lens is a tiny market with no extra dough from lens sales. I am pretty sure at least part of their target market was FF Z owners.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I do hope they come out with a full frame version although the cost would likely be beyond what I would spend on a digital camera.

You know, the last professional F-mount camera was the F6, and if they shoehorned the Z7 full frame sensor into a slightly larger Zfc-type body—ZF7 has a rather nice ring to it, doesn't it?

 

[JeffS7444]

There certainly has been a yearning for "slow life", in upscale magazines like Kinfolk, the pages of Beams at Home, and exemplified in Nikon Japan's product page:

https://www.nikon-image.com/sp/zfc/

Even the very organizations which made life un-slow are hip to the idea, with products like Apple's sleep aiding Watch (though they never go so far as to suggest that a person switch off their technology when retiring for the evening!)

I think Zfc does have a certain appeal, but think I'd better have a more steady income before indulging in $1100 whims!


Meanwhile, I think after posting this message, I shall shut down my computer and spend an hour or two away from the internet, notifications, apps and fitness-trackers, just wandering around outside with a camera of some sort, and seeing what transpires.

 

[agentlossing]

The coloured versions would be primarily intended for the Japanese market, much like Fuji did with the pink and green Natura S film cameras, and Panasonic did with the original G micro four thirds cameras. Panasonic also made the GM1 and GM5 with bright orange and red versions which made their way to Australia. Wish I had bought another GM1 or GM5, they are awesome little cameras.


GM1 - Lumix by Lumix by Archiver, on Flickr

I had that there kit. It was a sweet kit, very underrated. Nice to see that burnt orange GM1 again!

 

[BWF]

Such a lens does exist already, this is the Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G. But you need an F-mount to Z-mount adapter. The combo will probably look just ugly.
By making a 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom first, Nikon does not really tell that the new Z-fc is designed for prime and fast lenses. That mock-up of the Nikkor Ai-S 28mm f/2.8 which you can also buy as a kit lens is a joke. The predictible lack of good lenses for this new DX Z-mount system makes it DOA already.

Yes I agree that’s what I mean - it must be native to Z or it will be silly. 🙂 I used to love the AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G on my old D5000 a decade ago. I’d shoot that if it was native to Z Mount.

 

[cboy]

The fact that Z50 is cleaner at the back than the Zfc, tells me Nikon had started designing this long before the Z50. Other than aesthetics, with cameras that have no grip, buttons at the back are making the handling while not pushing them much more tedious.

The viewfinder looks tiny...it overlooks one of the main points of manual/slr photography which is the viewing experience. Is this a cash grab for nikon ie a z50 shell?

 

[Pál_K]

To me, many buttons on the right side is a mistake and invites inadvertent presses. Look at the back of a D700:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Nikon_D700_Gehaeuse_Rueckansicht_01_08.jpg

Nikon got that right.

 

[farlymac]

There are only two things on the Zfc that I see as an improvement over the Z50 (which I was already willing to buy), and that's the fully articulated screen, and the improved AF. The USB cable charging I'll never use, and the 900 second exposure timing in Manual mode very rarely, so it's not much of an upgrade in my opinion.

And for the dials, unless you shoot in Manual all the time they become redundant because once you set the M-A-S-P switch to something other than M or S the shutter speed dial is useless. Since the lenses (DX Z or F) don't have aperture rings you already need to use the front control dial all the time. So many a time will come that looking to see what the shutter speed dial is set at from the top of the camera means also checking one or two other settings first to see if it is relevant.

That said, the "1/3 Stop" setting on the shutter speed dial is a nice addition. But I still see myself using the Control/Command dials more than the Shutter Speed dial. It's something I've gotten used to on my other digital Nikons.

The Zfc is a true to form rendition of the FM2/FM3A, and in some of the photos looks absolutely stunning, while in others it looks contrived (when you drop the highlights the silver paint makes it appear to be all plastic). So I don't want to buy this on looks alone. Another thing that gives me second thoughts is it's close to the same price as a Z5. And if I go that route instead, why not just move on up to a Z6II? The only thing I would be missing is the articulated screen, but gaining IBIS.

So many things to think about.

PF

 

[jsrockit]

The viewfinder looks tiny...it overlooks one of the main points of manual/slr photography which is the viewing experience. Is this a cash grab for nikon ie a z50 shell?

Nikon is never going to concentrate on manual focus lenses...it's not what the general public wants... and of course it's a cash grab, or they are hoping for one, they are a business. Isn't that the point? The EVF is standard for this level of camera. Sufficient, but not excellent.

 

[willie_901]

Very nice! Looking forward to a full frame Zf.

Well, low probability events do occur - they just extremely rate.

 

[willie_901]

Nikon is never going to concentrate on manual focus lenses...it's not what the general public wants...

Nor will Nikon ever deliver an acceptable manual focus system.

Nikon makes no money when people use adapted, legacy or new mechanical, manual focus lenses. They have zero motivation to implement a sufficient MF option.

 

[olakiril]

Nikon makes no money when people use adapted, legacy or new mechanical, manual focus lenses. They have zero motivation to implement a sufficient MF option.

It could very well be the case that the market for MF lenses is not enough to justify another production line, but Zeiss did it. Not sure how successful that is but they are still in production.

For example, if Fuji released a manual version of their small primes I would buy all of them, as is I will buy none.

How on earth are they talking about "manual feel" for Zfc without an aperture ring or a proper manual focus mechanism? Had they released a proper manual SE lens I would buy the package even if I had no interest in their Z lineup.

It seems the Df/Zf lines are the result of two marketing groups clashing with each other.

 

[shawn]

How on earth are they talking about "manual feel" for Zfc without an aperture ring or a proper manual focus mechanism? Had they released a proper manual SE lens I would buy the package even if I had no interest in their Z lineup.

Get an adapter and put any MF and aperture ring lens you want on it. If you want small get the Fuji X mount to Nikon Z mount adapter and use any of the Fuji mount fully manual lenses on it.

Shawn

 

[kshapero]

Hmmm...The Df is full frame, takes all Nikon lenses w/o an adapter. Can be had cheap. What am I missing?

 

[keytarjunkie]

Hmmm...The Df is full frame, takes all Nikon lenses w/o an adapter. Can be had cheap. What am I missing?

Most of us here would prefer the Df, because we want to use manual focus Nikkor lenses on a digital camera with physical controls. This camera is not designed for us. Look at how Nikon is marketing it.

https://youtu.be/jCqmxaE-gbM

This camera is not a replacement for the Df. Instead Nikon wants to go after the Fujifilm market, but it will be a hard sell for Fuji users when Nikon has just one camera and a few small lenses (can you imagine mounting the 50/1.2 on this? just absurd). However, this little camera has created a huge amount of discussion, which I hope Nikon is aware of. I think a full-frame Zf would be possible if this succeeds, but I doubt we will ever see a true successor to the Df, for the reasons willie_901 mentioned.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

Hmmm...The Df is full frame, takes all Nikon lenses w/o an adapter. Can be had cheap. What am I missing?

Where are you seeing the Df for sale cheap? I haven't looked seriously, but I don't think I've ever seen a Df for sale at less than $1500.

 

[gavinlg]

Well, low probability events do occur - they just extremely rate.

.... I think a full-frame Zf would be possible if this succeeds, but I doubt we will ever see a true successor to the Df, for the reasons willie_901 mentioned.

IMO there's a clue in the name - ZFc. C denoting.... Compact? aps-C? If there was no intention of bringing a full frame version to the market, they would have just named it the ZF - but they put that C on the end for a reason 😉

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hmmm...The Df is full frame, takes all Nikon lenses w/o an adapter. Can be had cheap. What am I missing?

Just curious, where are you finding Nikon Df cameras cheap? Are you referring to the used market? Because the price for new purchase hasn't changed in the eight or so years it's been on the market. I'm really surprised, was thinking they would mark them down/clear them out, but they've been $2746 body only and $2996 body & 50mm lens since the beginning.

Best,
-Tim

 

[keytarjunkie]

IMO there's a clue in the name - ZFc. C denoting.... Compact? aps-C? If there was no intention of bringing a full frame version to the market, they would have just named it the ZF - but they put that C on the end for a reason 😉

I agree with you that this decision leaves the possibility of a Zf open, but it does not confirm it. If the Zfc does poorly, we probably won't see any more.

 

[JeffS7444]

Somehow I though this product announcement would make people happy, or at least not-disappointed. Oh well.