This article is being written in December of 2025, but is being published in February 2026. And around a year ago, I bought the Nikon Zf. The reasons were plentiful: I wanted a full-frame retro camera that I could afford, and that looked good. So after looking on eBay, I found a great deal for a grey colored body. It’s not the Leica M11-D that I really wanted. And in some ways, I still yearn for a camera like that. However, in many other ways, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what the Nikon Zf has given me, despite a consistent problem that has led me to lose faith in Nikon’s ability to address it.
Let’s start, though, with what’s awesome about this camera. There’s excellent high ISO output, and you can combine that with various imaging recipes. Nikon has further embraced this approach as time has passed. Additionally, the autofocus is very good despite what memes online might have you think. There’s also some weather resistance. Perhaps what’s best about the Nikon Zf though is that it feels like a real retro camera and not like an excuse for one. When I hold it in the winter’s day, it’s got a cold metal feeling that I love about several of my favorite cameras. Plus, the dials and knobs all feel like a tactile symphony of awesomeness.
Nikon also has a wide range of great lenses available from Tamron and a few other third-party manufacturers. You can even adapt Sony E mount lenses to the Nikon Z system and still get autofocus. What’s more, I can give Leica M-mount lenses autofocus abilities too. That increases the amount of autofocus lenses by a whole lot. On top of that, Nikon makes a few really nice small primes and useful zooms that I love carrying around.
I can also attach a grip if I want and have used it for professional paying gigs. Surely, it’s a very versatile and great camera in so many different ways.
One of the biggest problems has been mitigated with a clip-in sensor filter that protects the sensor from dust. Unlike a few other Nikon bodies, the sensor does not receive protection via the sensor shield by default when the camera is powered down. However, the biggest issue has to do with flash sync — and it happens even when using Nikon’s own flashes. It’s not an absolute deal breaker for me, but it shouldn’t happen at all from a brand like Nikon. Meanwhile, lower end Nikon cameras don’t have the same issues with flashes that our staff has encountered.
I only ever really enjoy using the Nikon Zf with small lenses and I only end up using a zoom lens if I really need to. The smaller the overall package, the better it is. And the more I want to carry it around.
So do I have buyer’s remorse? No way. And I doubt Nikon would do enough to make me want to upgrade in the future. To me, it’s still the best camera they’ve made. If you can find it at a good price, get it. I wish they’d have used more brass and let the camera get more patina though.