Melville, NY—Today Nikon unveiled the Nikon Z f. The full-frame mirrorless camera boasts a timeless aesthetic and Nikon’s next-gen camera technology, derived from the Z 8 and flagship Z 9.
“It’s exciting to see the leaps in innovation that propelled the Z 9 trickling down, making the latest technology and features more accessible than ever before inside the Z f, a camera which is a beautiful marriage of form and function,” said Jay Vannatter, executive vice president, Nikon Inc. “The Z f is more than a means to simply capturing an image. Using the camera is an experience unto itself, one which not only sparks creativity but also elevates the user’s intent with its advanced performance and feature set.”
Nikon Z f Technology
The Z f employs an Expeed 7 image-processing engine. The processor enhances response time, burst speed as well as AF (autofocus) performance. Moreover, the interchangeable-lens camera adds features to create an entirely new category of Z series full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Further, its 24.5-megapixel, full-frame BSI (backside-illuminated) CMOS sensor captures accurate colors and high definition with minimal noise and enhanced dynamic range, even in challenging light. The sensor pairs with an AF system that offers 3D Tracking technology plus subject detection developed with Deep Learning tech. Consequently, it can detect and lock on to nine different types of subjects. The new camera finds people, dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains and planes. It also detects the world’s smallest size of a face in the frame (according to Nikon, as of September 20, 2023)— approximately 3% of the frame’s longest side.
In addition, the AF system uses 299 AF points in auto area AF, covering 96% of the horizontal axis of the frame. As a result, it is easier to lock on and track a subject, even near the viewfinder’s edge. Furthermore, you can go fully manual, and the Z f uses eye/face-detection in MF mode. It recognizes the eye and allows you to magnify the area on the screen to secure focus.
More Processing Power, More Performance
What’s more, using its additional processing power, the Z f achieves 5-axis in-camera vibration reduction (VR) image stabilization equivalent up to an 8.0-stop increase in shutter speed. This is the best among Nikon Z series cameras. It is also the first camera to support focus-point VR, which minimizes blurring at the focus point rather than the center of the frame. And it does so even when the subject is positioned near the edge of the viewfinder.
The camera is also capable of high-speed continuous shooting at 14 frames per second. Or up to 30 fps when set to high-speed frame capture+ (C30) mode. When using this mode, there is also a pre-release function that starts recording before the shutter is fully pressed. What’s more, the additional processing power in combination with the BSI sensor improves low-light performance. It raises the standard ISO range from 100 to 64,000 to capture fine details, textures and less noise even in challenging lighting.
In addition, for those who want fidelity while reducing moiré, false colors and noise for immersive depth, the Z f is the first Nikon camera capable of pixel-shift shooting that creates images up to 96MP. A solution for landscape, architecture and commercial artists, the system subtly shifts the sensor position when capturing between 4, 8, 16 or 32 RAW (NEF) files. Thus, it acquires more accurate color information and ultra-high resolution.
Video Features
In addition to high-res still images, the Z f provides video frame rates and resolutions up to 4K UHD 30p oversampled from 6K. It also records 4K UHD 60p (DX-mode) and 1080/120p video for up to 125 minutes. Plus, it is the first Nikon camera to feature video recording in shutter-priority auto mode. So, you can select the shutter speed, while the camera adjusts the aperture and ISO.
The camera is also capable of in-camera, 10-bit H.265 recording. As a result, you can record full-scale video directly to the camera without using an external recorder.
Additional Features
The Z f is also the first full-frame Z mirrorless camera with a vari-angle touchscreen. The touch-sensitive LCD measures 3.2 inches diagonally. And in another Z series camera first, it supports touch Fn for adjustment of camera settings while framing pictures in the viewfinder. Consequently, you can move the focus point via the LCD screen while looking through the viewfinder. Further, it features a 0.5-inch, 3.69M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with color balance and 13- level manual brightness controls.
Another nicety is starlight view mode. It boosts display brightness for users to visually confirm composition in extremely dark scenes. It also achieves sharp focus with the low-light limit extendable down to -10 EV. 
The camera also offers advanced features for dedicated portrait photographers. They include a skin softening function as well as a portrait impression balance function. Additionally, the new rich tone portrait picture control setting better captures details of a subject’s complexion.
Further, the camera has two memory card slots. One is compatible with widely available UHS II SD cards and the other with Micro SD cards. The ILC also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality along with a USB Type C connector, a Type D HDMI connector and a stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm; plug-in power supported).
The Nikon Z f Story
Nikons states that the heart of the Z f is “fusion.” It’s an idea embedded in the name while paying homage to important models through Nikon’s history. It represents the fusion of past, present and future. With a classic exterior design reminiscent of the FM2, the Z f links to Nikon’s imaging heritage. Its magnesium alloy body features a glossy finish, which is highlighted with a classic Nikon logo. Moreover, the characters on the mechanical dials for shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation are all etched to provide a tactile response. Nikon also gave the feel of the shutter-release button consideration.
Notably, the Z f includes a physical switch to engage a dedicated B&W photo mode, which enables multiple monochromatic picture controls. In addition to the sharp, dynamic and higher-contrast “monochrome” mode in picture control, the new “flat monochrome” mode reproduces tones with a smooth gradation from shadow to light. They are richer in mid-tones for a warm, soft impression. In addition, the new “deep tone monochrome” mode expresses high contrast and highlights by bringing more emphasis to dark tones; it keeps mid-tones dark and with fewer blocked shadows.
The Build
In addition, to its magnesium alloy front and top covers, the camera is engineered with dust and drip resistance. It has seals on the exterior cover joints, shutter-release button and vari-angle mechanism. Additionally, an electro-conductive coat keeps the surface clean from dust while a fluorine coat facilitates cleaning.
In addition to offering the basic black body, Nikon is letting users express their own style through six different color options. These premium exteriors render the embossed artificial leather sections of the camera in three expressive colors (indigo blue, sepia brown, Bordeaux red) as well as three deep, warm natural colors (sunset orange, moss green, stone gray). However, Nikon will sell these color options in limited quantity exclusively through the Nikon Store. 
Nikon will release the Nikon Z f in mid-October 2023. It will have a suggested retail price of $1,999.95 for the body only. Bundled with the retro-styled Nikkor Z 40mm f/2.0 SE lens, it will have an SRP of $2,239.95. With a Nikkor Z 24–70mm f/4 S lens, it will have an SRP of $2,599.95.
Moreover, Nikon will make the additional color options available as body-only for an SRP of $2,099.95 each, exclusively from the Nikon Store.
