Nikon Zf Review: The Good, the Bad — But Never the Ugly

I own the OM-3, the X-T5 and the X100VI — three of the best-looking cameras you can currently buy. I used to own the Olympus Pen-F, another design classic.

To my eye, the Nikon Zf might be the best looking of them all.

A beautiful camera makes you want to pick it up and use it. It makes you want to go out and shoot. But is the Nikon Zf just a pretty face, or is it genuinely as good as it looks?

Beyond the looks of a camera, there are photographers — myself included — who genuinely appreciate physical control dials. Perhaps it’s nostalgia. Perhaps it’s simply that we feel more connected to a camera when we can avoid menus and physically control shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation with dials. Whatever the reason, the Nikon Zf is Nikon’s take on this kind of shooting experience.

Affiliate disclaimer: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve personally used or genuinely believe is worth your money.

Design & Ergonomics

In terms of style, I don’t think anyone could argue that Nikon didn’t hit it out of the park with the Zf. Styled to resemble the FM2, it looks superb. The first thing that struck me, though, wasn’t the styling — it was the size. This is not a small camera in the way the OM System OM-3 is. At 144 × 103 × 49mm and 710g, made mostly from magnesium alloy, the Zf feels wide and hefty in the hand. The width in particular took me by surprise after using the Fujifilm X-T5 so regularly. In comparison, the Nikon feels a little too wide and slightly short in proportion.

However, the build quality feels excellent. Dense. Solid. The dials in particular feel better built than those on the Fuji X-T5 or the Fujifilm X100VI, with a more assured, mechanical click when turned. They feel like they belong on a camera at this level.

Weather sealing is officially described as dust and drip resistant, but in my use — from monsoon downpours in Southeast Asia to continuous drizzle in the Scottish Highlands — I’ve had no issues with water ingress at all.

The Zf takes the same EN-EL15C batteries as the Z6 III and Z8, which is perfect for Nikon shooters. Being able to swap batteries between bodies matters. It charges via USB-C. It has dual card slots.

But here’s the problem: the second slot is microSD.

On a camera of this level, I don’t want to be using microSD. I don’t want to buy microSD. I don’t want to carry microSD adapters. It feels out of place on a camera that otherwise feels premium and serious. That decision makes no sense to me.

On the top of the camera you’ll find physical ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation dials. All are well damped and feel properly built. The ISO and shutter speed dials both have locking mechanisms, although these only apply in certain positions. The shutter speed dial, for example, cannot be locked across the full 1/8000–4 second range. In practice, I haven’t found either dial particularly easy to knock, so this hasn’t caused issues.

The exposure compensation dial is slightly smaller than I’d ideally like, but it doesn’t protrude past the rear edge of the camera and isn’t prone to accidental movement. There’s also a small top LCD displaying aperture. The shutter release is nicely damped and not overly reactive, which makes half-press focusing confident and controlled.

Where things become more nuanced is in the implementation of the dials themselves.

Fuji removes PASM altogether. On the Fujifilm X-T5, if you move one dial off “A” and leave the others on auto, you’re automatically in shutter or aperture priority. If you control all three exposure variables physically, you’re in full manual. The dials behave predictably. The physical position is the mode. That creates absolute mental clarity. Muscle memory doesn’t need to be pre-conditioned with “what mode am I in?”

The Zf takes a hybrid approach. Under the ISO dial sits the MASP lever. Because Nikon’s current Z lenses don’t offer true aperture rings, you’re only ever physically controlling two of the three exposure variables unless you map a control ring. In Manual mode, everything works logically: shutter speed and ISO via the top dials, aperture via the front dial. But switch to Aperture Priority and the shutter speed dial becomes inactive. Switch to Shutter Priority and it works again.

It functions. But it isn’t as elegant.

Unlike Fuji’s implementation, the Zf’s dials are conditional. You do occasionally need to be aware of which mode you’re in before assuming how they will behave. Over time, I found myself shooting in Manual almost all the time simply to avoid that nuance. In Manual, the camera feels coherent. Outside of it, the logic isn’t as seamless.

So yes — the Zf looks fantastic and is beautifully built. But the dial implementation isn’t as pure as Fuji’s. It’s Nikon’s interpretation of tactile control, layered on top of a modern PASM foundation. For Nikon shooters, that familiarity may be reassuring. For those coming from Fuji, it will feel like a compromise.

How It Feels in the Hand

I mentioned earlier that the Nikon Zf doesn’t feel like a small camera — and that’s true. But what accentuates that even more is the tiny front grip and the way the camera actually sits in my right hand.

This is where I need to be specific.

My thumb naturally wants to rest between the AE-L button and the rear dial. As I arch my forefinger forward to reach the shutter button, there’s a noticeable gap between the palm of my hand and the side of the camera body. Combine that with the Zf’s 710g weight and the result is a feeling of very little purchase on the camera.

That’s a long way of saying: I don’t find the Nikon Zf comfortable to hold in its standard form.

It looks fantastic. It feels well built. But ergonomically, for me, it’s compromised.

That changed completely once I fitted the SmallRig L-grip. Once installed, the camera feels secure and properly balanced in the hand. I’ve never taken it off since fitting it, and I consider it essential if you plan to use the Zf seriously, especially with larger lenses.

If you’re considering the Zf, I’ve listed the exact grip I use — along with the other accessories I genuinely recommend — in my Best Accessories for the Nikon Zf guide. If you like the Zf’s style but you’re just starting photography, see my guide to the best cameras for beginners.

Without the grip, it’s style over comfort.
With the grip, it becomes usable for longer sessions.

The Zf features a fully articulating screen, and it’s a good one. But I would have preferred a 3-way tilt screen like the one on my Z8. For photography, the 3-way tilt design is simply better. It keeps the screen centred behind the lens axis and is faster to deploy for waist-level shooting in both horizontal and vertical orientations.

The Zf is a capable video camera, but everything about its styling and control layout suggests it’s aimed at photographers first. A 3-way tilt screen would have suited that identity better.

Switching between the Z6 III and the Zf also highlights a difference in EVF quality. The Z6 III offers a brighter, more refined viewing experience. The Zf’s viewfinder is perfectly usable — I’ve had no issue with it in real shooting — but it isn’t on the same level. It’s one of the things that stood out to me when comparing the Zf vs the Z6III.

Performance: Autofocus, Image Quality and Real-World Use

In terms of autofocus, the Nikon Zf is genuinely excellent.

Nikon has taken the Expeed 7 processor from the Z8 and applied all of those latest autofocus algorithms to the previous-generation Z6 II sensor. That means you get Nikon’s most advanced subject detection — people, animals, birds, vehicles — on a proven 24MP full-frame platform.

For everyday photography, travel and family work, it’s more than good enough. It rarely lets you down. Eye detection is reliable, tracking is confident and in normal use it feels modern and capable.

However, it is still a touch slower and slightly less decisive than both the Nikon Z6 III and the Nikon Z8. The Z6 III in particular feels a little more immediate when switching focus points or tracking movement. The difference isn’t dramatic, but when you move directly between bodies, it’s noticeable.

Image quality is superb.

Dynamic range is strong, colours are consistent and low light performance is excellent. ISO 6400 is essentially clean. ISO 12,800 is surprisingly good. Even ISO 16,000 produces files that are entirely usable with sensible exposure and processing.

In terms of raw image quality, the Zf is on par with the Z6 III. You are not giving anything up here in pursuit of styling.

Handling is where things become more conditional.

With the SmallRig L-grip fitted, the camera feels much more secure and balanced. Personally, I wouldn’t use the Zf without it. Once fitted, I’ve never taken it off.

Where the Zf really shines is with prime lenses.

Pair it with Nikon’s 28mm or 40mm f/2 SE lenses and the balance is excellent. Even up to the 50mm f/1.8 S, the camera feels cohesive and well matched. With these smaller lenses, the Zf feels purposeful and enjoyable to use.

Move beyond that, and it becomes more compromised.

I was recently out with the Zf and the 24–120mm f/4. It’s a very nice pairing optically and it worked well — mainly because for most of the time I was carrying the camera on a Peak Design Slide Lite rather than holding it in my hand. When the weight is supported by the strap, the combination feels manageable.

But if I were hand-holding that setup for extended periods, even with the grip extension fitted, I wouldn’t want to do it for too long. There still isn’t enough purchase on the body to make larger lenses feel comfortable over time. Eventually, that leads to fatigue.

With compact primes, the Zf feels balanced and cohesive.
With larger zooms, it becomes an ergonomic compromise.

Conclusion

The Nikon Zf is a wonderful camera.

It encourages you to get out and shoot. It doesn’t feel intimidating when you point it at your kids. It feels friendly. And the image quality from the 24MP full-frame sensor is genuinely superb.

But I wouldn’t recommend it as your only camera — unless you mainly shoot primes, or you’re willing to compromise on ergonomics because the looks and tactile controls matter that much to you.

Where the Zf really makes sense is as a second body.

For Nikon Z6 III, Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z9 shooters, it’s the perfect creative companion. If you’re still deciding where the Zf sits within Nikon’s wider lineup, I’ve broken down the strengths of each body in my guide to the best Nikon Z cameras for photography.

The Zf is something you can mount a prime lens on and head out just for the enjoyment of photography. For the experience. For the dials. For those days when the camera becomes part of the trip, rather than the sole reason for it.

It changes the feel of shooting, even if the files themselves are comparable.

It will also suit Fujifilm users who want to change — and I say change deliberately, not upgrade — to full frame while keeping physical control dials. But those users should be prepared for a less seamless dial experience than they’re used to. Fuji still implements tactile controls with greater clarity and elegance.

Overall, the Nikon Zf is a beautiful camera that offers excellent autofocus and image quality. It’s a pleasure to use with prime lenses. But Fuji does dials better, and the Z6 III is the more universally practical camera for most people.

The Zf isn’t the most sensible choice in Nikon’s lineup.

It’s the most distinctive one.