The Z f is where classic Nikon analogue camera design meets advanced Z series tech for next-level performance. It’s the perfect fusion of past and present.
Download user manual – PDF format: Nikon-Zf
The black finish on the precision-milled brass mechanical control dials reveals an attractive patina over time. The more you use your Z f, the more it becomes one of a kind.
The Z f’s analogue looks and control dials might remind you of 35mm SLR cameras from back then, but this full-frame mirrorless camera is powered for now—and ready to meet your creative needs. The 24.5 MP full-frame CMOS sensor combines with the EXPEED 7 engine and the light-gathering advantages of the wider Z mount to give you more freedom to create. Sharpness, contrast, colour accuracy, dynamic range, focus precision, low-light performance—you get the tools you need to craft your unique style.
Fully rotating vari-angle monitor
The first fully rotatable touchscreen vari-angle monitor in a full-frame Nikon Z camera makes it easy to shoot from any angle while maintaining a clear view of the frame. Plus, you get a whole new way to assign shooting functions with Touch Fn. Touch FN lets you assign key controls to nine customisable areas on the bright, high-res touchscreen. It’s a flexible and intuitive way to operate the camera: you only need to tap on an area to move your focus point, switch between your subjects’ eyes, select grid displays, activate a virtual horizon, and more. With Touch FN activated, you can even be looking through the viewfinder to compose your image while using your thumb to specify the focus on the monitor.
Technical Specifications
TypeDigital camera with support for interchangeable lenses
Lens mount Nikon Z mount
Image sensorFX, CMOS, 35.9 mm x 23.9 mm
Total pixels 25.28 million
Dust-reduction systemImage sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (requires NX Studio)
Effective Pixels 24.5 million
Image Size (pixels)
| [FX (36 x 24)] selected for image area:
(L) 6048 x 4032 ( 24.4 million) (M) 4528 x 3024 ( 13.7 million) (S) 3024 x 2016 ( 6.1 million) [DX (24 x 16)] selected for image area: (L) 3984 x 2656 ( 10.6 million) (M) 2976 x 1992 ( 5.9 million) (S) 1984 x 1328 ( 2.6 million) [1:1 (24 x 24)] selected for image area: (L) 4032 x 4032 ( 16.3 million) (M) 3024 x 3024 ( 9.1 million) (S) 2016 x 2016 ( 4.1 million) [16:9 (36 x 20)] selected for image area: (L) 6048 x 3400 ( 20.6 million) (M) 4528 x 2544 ( 11.5 million) (S) 3024 x 1696 ( 5.1 million) |
Image formatsNEF (RAW): 14 bit; choose from lossless compression, high efficiency (high), and high efficiency options
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression; size-priority and optimal-quality compression available
HEIF: Supports fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression; size-priority and optimal-quality compression available
NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
NEF (RAW)+HEIF: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and HEIF formats
Picture Control SystemAuto , Standard , Neutral , Vivid , Monochrome , Flat Monochrome , Deep Tone Monochrome , Portrait , Rich Tone Portrait , Landscape , Flat
Creative Picture Controls (Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Somber, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Red, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, Carbon); selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Note: Choice of Picture Controls is restricted to Standard, Monochrome, and Flat when HLG is selected for tone mode during still photography.
MediaSD , SDHC (UHS-II compliant) , SDXC (UHS-II compliant) , microSD (micro Secure Digital) , microSDHC (UHS-I compliant) , microSDXC (UHS-I compliant)
Dual card slot1 Secure Digital (SD) card and 1 micro Secure Digital (SD) card
Either card can be used for overflow or backup storage, for separate storage of NEF (RAW) and JPEG or HEIF pictures, or for storage of duplicate JPEG or HEIF pictures at different sizes and image qualities; pictures can be copied between cards.
File systemDCF 2.0, Exif 2.32, MPEG‑A MIAF
Viewfinder1.27-cm/0.5-in. approx. 3690k-dot (Quad VGA) OLED electronic viewfinder with color balance and auto and 13-level manual brightness controls
Frame coverageApprox. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical
MagnificationApprox. 0.8x (50 mm lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint21 mm (-1.0 m-1; from rearmost surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)
Diopter adjustment-4 to +2 m-1
Eye sensorAutomatically switches between monitor and viewfinder displays
F mount NIKKOR lenses (mount adapter required; restrictions may apply)
Shutter typeElectronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane mechanical shutter; electronic front-curtain shutter; electronic shutter
Accessible via main command dial: ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ to 30 s in steps of ¹⁄₃ EV (extendable to 900 s in mode M), Bulb, Time, X (flash sync)
Flash sync speedX= ¹⁄₂₀₀ s; flash synchronizes with shutter at speeds of ¹⁄₂₀₀ s or slower; faster sync speeds are supported with auto FP high-speed sync
Release modeSingle frame , continuous low-speed , continuous high-speed , Continuous high-speed (extended) , high-speed frame capture with Pre-Release Capture , Self-timer
Approximate frame advance rate
Up to 30 fps
Continuous low-speed: Approx. 1 to 7 fps
Continuous high-speed: Approx. 7.8 fps
Continuous high-speed (extended): Approx. 14 fps
High-speed frame capture (C30): Approx. 30 fps
Maximum frame advance rate as measured by in-house tests.
Self-timer2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
Exposure Metering
TTL metering using camera image sensor
Metering method
Matrix metering
Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 12 or 8 mm circle in center of frame or weighting can be based on average of entire frame
Spot metering: Meters circle with a diameter of approximately 4 mm centered on selected focus point
Highlight-weighted metering
Metering Range
-4 to +17 EV
Figures are for ISO 100 and f/2.0 lens at 20 °C/68 °F
mode
AUTO: auto, P: programmed auto with flexible program, S: shutter-priority auto, A: aperture-priority auto, M: manual
Exposure compensation-3 to +3 EV (-5 to +5 EV when exposure compensation dial is rotated to C) in steps of ¹⁄₃ EV
Exposure lockLuminosity locked at detected value
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)ISO 100 to 64000 (choose from step sizes of ¹⁄₃ and 1 EV); can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1, or 1.7 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 64000; auto ISO sensitivity control available
Note: ISO sensitivity is limited to 400 to 64000 when HLG is selected for tone mode.
Active D-LightingAuto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, and Off
Multiple exposureAdd, average, lighten, darken
Other optionsHDR overlay, photo mode flicker reduction
Autofocus systemHybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist
Detection range-10 to +19 EV
Measured in photo mode at ISO 100 and a temperature of 20 °C/68 °F using single-servo AF (AF‑S) and a lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.2
Single-servo AF (AF-S) , continuous-servo AF (AF-C) , full-time AF (AF-F; available only in video mode); predictive focus trackingManual focus (M):
Electronic rangefinder can be used
Number of focus points available in photo mode with single-point AF selected for AF-area mode and FX selected for image area
AF-area modePinpoint (available in photo mode only), single-point, dynamic-area (S, M, and L; available in photo mode only), wide-area (S, L, C1, and C2), and auto-area AF; 3D-tracking (available in photo mode only); subject-tracking AF (available in video mode only)
Focus lockFocus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF/AF‑S) or by pressing the AE/AF lock (Protect) button
Camera on-board VR
5-axis image sensor shift
Lens on-board VR
Lens shift (available with VR lenses)
Flash controlTTL: i‑TTL flash control; i‑TTL balanced fill-flash is used with matrix, center-weighted, and highlight-weighted metering, standard i‑TTL fill-flash with spot metering
Flash modesFront-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off
Flash compensation-3 to +1 EV in steps of 1/3 EV
Flash-ready indicatorLights when optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes as underexposure warning after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoeISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)i-TTL flash control, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, modeling illumination, FV lock, Color Information Communication, auto FP high-speed sync
White balanceAuto (3 types), natural light auto, direct sunlight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent (3 types), flash, choose color temperature (2500 to 10,000 K), preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored), all with fine-tuning
Bracketing typesExposure and/or flash , white balance , ADL