APERTURE NOTES

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Nikon Z f review: full-frame Z 9 tech in a dial-driven body

Nikon's heritage-styled full-frame body from 2023, the FX companion to the Z fc. Launched at $1,999.95 (body only). Who it suits: street, travel and manual-lens shooters who want controls they can read with the camera off.

October 23, 2026 · Camera · Review

Related on site: The APS-C original with the same dial layout: our Nikon Z fc review. More speed, a sharper finder and RAW video with the same 24.5MP format: our Nikon Z6III review.

A black Nikon Z f camera with a small pancake lens, seen from the front
Nikon Z f with the NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8.
Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

HIGHLIGHTS

Why it exists. Nikon Inc.'s release quotes Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President: "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." Nikon puts a 24.5MP FX sensor, Z 9-derived subject detection and 8-stop VR inside a dial-driven, heritage-styled body.

Nikon launched the Z f in September 2023 at $1,999.95 body-only. It is the full-frame companion to the APS-C Z fc: the same dials for shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation, but with a 24.5MP FX sensor and EXPEED 7 processing, subject detection from the Z 9, and 8 stops of in-body VR. A dedicated monochrome switch and a vari-angle 3.2-in screen round out the handling. The trade-offs are the second slot (microSD UHS-I, not a second SD), a 3,690k-dot finder and a 4K/60p video ceiling with no internal RAW video.

Our gallery comes from three photographers: a cast-iron bridge and the Titan crane in Clydebank; a cat and snow-covered bicycles in Helsinki; and an anemone and a grape leaf shot close. Who should buy it? Street, travel and manual-lens shooters who want physical controls. On FredMiranda, owners use it as a platform for manual-focus and adapted lenses, compare aftermarket grips, and keep an images thread going. For more speed, a sharper finder and RAW video, read our Z6III review.

The story

Nikon Inc. announced the Z f on September 20, 2023, describing it as a full-frame mirrorless camera with technology "derived directly from the acclaimed Z 8 and flagship Z 9" (Nikon Inc.).

Nikon set a suggested retail price of $1,999.95 for the body, $2,239.95 with the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE) and $2,599.95 with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S (Nikon Inc.).

Nikon's online manual lists the full figures, including the ISO ranges, the 273-point AF, the burst modes and the EN-EL15c battery ratings (Nikon specifications, battery endurance).

Specifications

Key specs for the Nikon Z f, from Nikon's Z f online manual and Nikon Inc.'s September 20, 2023 release. Source for each row in brackets.

Sensor24.5MP FX CMOS (35.9 × 23.9 mm); EXPEED 7 [Nikon manual, Nikon Inc.]
ISO (stills)100–64000; Lo to ISO 50 equiv., Hi to ISO 204800 equiv. [Nikon manual]
ISO (movies, mode M)100–51200; Hi to ISO 204800 equiv. [Nikon manual]
Autofocus273 focus points (single-point AF); detection range −10 to +19 EV [Nikon manual]
StabilizationIn-body VR, 8.0 stops; focus-point VR [Nikon Inc.]
BurstsCL 1–7 fps; CH approx. 7.8 fps; CH extended approx. 14 fps; C30 approx. 30 fps [Nikon manual]
Video4K UHD to 60p; Full HD to 120p; MOV/MP4; H.265 8/10-bit; N-Log [Nikon manual]
Viewfinder3,690k-dot OLED, 0.8× [Nikon manual]
Screen3.2-in vari-angle touchscreen, 2,100k dots [Nikon manual]
CardsSD (UHS-II) plus microSD (UHS-I) [Nikon manual]
BatteryEN-EL15c. CIPA: viewfinder only 410 (energy saving ON) / 360 (OFF); monitor only 430 (ON) / 380 (OFF); movie approx. 90 min [Nikon manual]
Size / weight144 × 103 × 49 mm; approx. 710 g with battery and card (630 g body only) [Nikon manual]
Announced / priceSep 20, 2023; $1,999.95 SRP body-only, $2,239.95 with NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE), $2,599.95 with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S (US) [Nikon Inc.]

Sample photos

Six photos taken with the Nikon Z f by three photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Wikimedia Commons

A white iron footbridge over a stream in a wooded park
f/3.5, ISO 400, 1/10 s, 35mm: the Linn Park bridge with an adapted lens (Super-Takumar 3.5/35).
Photo: Alex Noble via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)
A blue cantilever crane beside a river under a cloudy sky
f/8, ISO 100, 1/400 s, 40mm: the Titan crane in Clydebank (NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2).
Photo: Alex Noble via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)
A cat walking through snow in a courtyard
f/2.8, ISO 110, 1/80 s, 70mm: a cat in the snow (NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8).
Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
Snow-covered bicycles parked against a weathered red wall
f/2.8, ISO 160, 1/160 s, 145mm: snow-covered bicycles in Helsinki (NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8).
Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
A pink Japanese anemone among tall green stems
f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/80 s, 40mm: a Japanese anemone in Lisbon (NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2).
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A yellowing grape vine leaf against blurred green foliage
f/2, ISO 100, 1/200 s, 135mm: a grape vine leaf at f/2 (Samyang 135mm f2).
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Nikon: Launched at $1,999.95 in 2023 (US, body only); $2,239.95 with the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE), $2,599.95 with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S.

Verdict

Who it's for: street, travel and manual-lens shooters who want full-frame image quality and physical shutter, ISO and exposure-compensation dials.

Need faster readout, a 5.76M-dot finder or internal RAW video? See our Nikon Z6III review.

Pros

  • 24.5MP FX sensor with EXPEED 7 and Z 9-derived subject detection
  • 8.0-stop in-body VR
  • Dedicated dials and a monochrome switch
  • 3.2-in vari-angle touchscreen; 4K UHD 60p with N-Log

Cons

  • Second slot is microSD (UHS-I), not SD
  • 3,690k-dot finder
  • No internal RAW video
  • About 710 g with battery and card
Check price: Amazon (new, body) Check price: Amazon (Renewed, body)

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Further discussion

Sources