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Will We Ever See a Full Frame Nikon Zf Camera?

Chris Gampat
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08/04/2022
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Nikon zfc review product images 5.61-25s320

Last Updated on 08/05/2022 by Mark Beckenbach

Every now and again, I’ll look at our site’s archive of camera reviews. And every time I see the Nikon ZFc, I think about how disappointed our staff was. Nikon made a small attempt at something that could’ve been a million times better than what was released. I mean, why make a Nikon Z50 and then give it retro ergonomics that feel plasticky? So with that in mind, I still wonder if the Nikon Zf will one day appear in the market. And here’s what I think Nikon needs to do.

Take Inspiration from the Higher End Nikon F Cameras

When you look at photographers who own vintage Nikon cameras, what do they own? Are they going for the cheaper, more plasticky cameras? Or are they reaching for the ones that have a bit more heft and reliability? Take a look on Instagram or anywhere else and you’ll find that everyone reaches for higher-end cameras. Nikon F cameras have skyrocketed in price over the years because of demand. They’re in the hands of many happy photographers who love shooting with the camera. More importantly, they’re often paired with equally appealing lenses and nice film. 

When Nikon came out with the ZFc, it took inspiration from a camera that isn’t considered to be iconic. But just have a look around the web: photographers want something akin to the Nikon F. And more importantly, Nikon is aware of this. In 2018, they literally did sponsored content with GQ around the Nikon F. But that didn’t happen with the Nikon ZFc. Why?

A higher-end Nikon Zf camera should be modeled after the Nikon F. With that said, it should have some of the things that make the Nikon F such an iconic and great camera.

Use Solid Materials in the Nikon Zf

Yes, I’m talking about metal. The Nikon F is extremely rugged, and it’s also not electronic. I’m not saying they should go that far. Anyone who says that they wouldn’t buy it is probably from Gen X or too old. But there’s something to be said about the fact that photographers often feel left out of the conversation these days. Creating a metal camera with a bit of heft to it as a bespoke product for photographers would get them buying the Nikon Zf in droves if Nikon can produce enough. 

Please understand, I’m not necessarily asking for a heavy camera. Cameras can be heavy, but how they distribute the weight is a key part to this. If the Nikon F doesn’t need a grip of some sort, why would a modern Nikon Zf?

What comes to mind with a full-frame Nikon Zf is brass, first and foremost. More importantly, make it patina over time. 

And get this, I don’t necessarily want them to make it cheap. I’d want them to make it pricier so that it’s a sustainable product for their future.

Don’t Skimp on Weather Resistance

The Nikon ZFc doesn’t have weather resistance that’s worth talking about. But the Nikon ZF should build it into the camera! Weather resistance doesn’t necessarily have to do with taking a camera into the rain. Instead, it’s about long-term durability. How long will the camera last? A few years at least. Even if you never change the lens on the camera, the durability and the reliability would be quite profound.

Take the Z5, Z6 II, or Z7 II’s Internals

Do we need to say more about this? I think Nikon has recycled older cameras in one way or another. And if they don’t care enough about the ZF then they could just recycle said parts. No one will buy the Nikon ZF for innovation, and the consumers know that. They’d buy it for the experience and feeling.

But if they would be trying to make it innovative, then they’d have to give it the Nikon Z9’s autofocus. I’d hope at least that they keep a physical shutter for the overall experience.

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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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