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The New Nikon Zf Firmware is Bigger Than We Thought

Chris Gampat
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Last updated on 04/09/2025
04/10/2025
9 Mins read
A Nikon Z fc camera with a large lens sits partially in a bag, with light and shadows on it.
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Very recently, Nikon announced firmware 2.0 for the Nikon Zf. It incorporates a very large number of changes for photographers — though it also adds things for video shooters and even some oddities that I wouldn’t have even thought of when using the camera. This firmware came a few days after a report we issued around the use of high speed sync flash with the Nikon Zf. And so, as always, we’re updating our Nikon Zf review. The updated text is below.

To view our entire Nikon Zf review, please visit this link. Also, if you’re considering purchasing it, you can do so by visiting this link. As of today, two of the Phoblographer’s staff have worked on the Nikon Zf review.

Ease of Use Update April 2025

A Nikon camera with a wide lens rests on a green bag with brown leather straps.
The Nikon Zf with a manual focus 50mm f1.1 lens.

Firmware 2.0 was issued, and you can download it from here. But here are the relevant notes of the update.

Note: Users of the following software will need to update to the latest versions.

  • • NX Studio version 1.7.1 or later, NX Tether version 2.2.0 or later, IPTC Preset Manager version 1.3.0 or later, SnapBridge version 2.12.0 or later, NX MobileAir version 1.2.0 or later

Note: The changes listed below under “Still Photography”, “Video Recording”, “Playback”, “Controls”, “Displays”, and “Network” are detailed in the Supplementary Firmware Update Manual.

Note: Due to the addition of new menu items, some Custom Settings menu items have been renumbered.

■ Still Photography

  • • Added support for the Nikon Imaging Cloud service.
    • – Importing imaging recipes (image editing settings published on Nikon Imaging Cloud) to the camera is now available.
    • – Uploading images taken with the camera to Nikon Imaging Cloud and automatically transferring them to other cloud services is now available.
  • • Added support for importing Custom Picture Controls based on “Flexible Color” created in NX Studio.
  • • Added [Birds] to [AF/MF subject detection options] > [Subject detection] in the photo shooting menu.
  • • Added [Large] to the size options available for [Secondary slot function] > [JPEG primary – JPEG secondary] in the photo shooting menu.
  • • Added new bracketing increments for use during auto bracketing with [AE & flash bracketing], [AE bracketing], or [Flash bracketing] selected for [Auto bracketing set]. This change also applies to [Interval timer shooting] > [Options] > [AE bracketing] > [Increment].
  • • Long exposure noise reduction is now enabled when the following menu items are set to [ON]:
    • – [Interval timer shooting] > [Electronic shutter options] > [Electronic shutter]
    • – [Time-lapse video] > [Electronic shutter options] > [Electronic shutter]
    • – [Focus shift shooting] > [Electronic shutter options] > [Electronic shutter]
  • • Flash mode is now set to off when [Focus shift shooting] > [Interval until next shot] is set to [0] during focus shift.

■ Video Recording

  • • Added support for the Nikon Imaging Cloud service.
    • – Importing imaging recipes (image editing settings published on Nikon Imaging Cloud) to the camera is now available.
  • • Added support for importing Custom Picture Controls based on “Flexible Color” created in NX Studio.
  • • Added [Birds] to [AF/MF subject detection options] > [Subject detection] in the video recording menu.
  • • Added low ISO sensitivity options to [ISO sensitivity settings] > [ISO sensitivity (mode M)] for use during N-Log video recording.
  • • Added [Hi-Res Zoom] to the [VIDEO RECORDING MENU].
  • • Added a [Hi-Res Zoom speed] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of g7.
  • • Added options for customizing the brightness information display to g15 [Brightness information display] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added a function to include file names used in the camera when recording videos to an external recorder that supports file name transmission via HDMI. The following Atomos external recorders support this function (as of March 2025).
    • – Ninja V *
    • – Ninja V+ *
    • – Ninja (2023 models)
    • – Ninja Ultra
    • – Shogun (2023 models)
    • – Shogun Ultra
    • – Shogun Connect *
      * Some recorders may require an ATOMOS OS upgrade or paid activation of the recorder. Contact ATOMOS for details.

■ Playback

  • • Added [Customize retouch options] to [Retouch] in the playback “i” menu.
  • • Added [Auto image rotation] in the playback menu.
  • • Added [Auto series playback options] to [Series playback] in the playback menu.
  • • Added a width of 4608 pixels to the size options available for [Resize (current picture)] and [Resize (multiple pictures)] for [Retouch] in the playback “i” menu when RAW images are displayed.

■ Controls

  • • Separate settings are now available for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO sensitivity control] in the photo shooting menu when the ISO sensitivity dial is set to C or to a value of 100 to 64000.
  • • Added [Save and load power zoom position]* to f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added a [Zoom ring control (PZ lens)] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of f11.
  • • Custom Settings f12 and g8 in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] is now [Assign power zoom]. In addition, [Power zoom speed] has been divided into two items: [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] and [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)]*.
  • • Added [Focus point border width] to a10 [Focus point display] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added an [Easy ISO] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of b3.
  • • Added an [Exposure delay mode] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position d5.
  • • Added [Half-press to cancel zoom (MF)] items to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in positions d18 and g16.
  • • Added to the custom control roles assignable via the following items in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU]. New reset options have also been added.
    • – f1 and g1 [Customize i menu]
    • – f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls]
    • – f3 [Custom controls (playback)]
      Note: Added an advanced feature of [Exposure setting (mode M)] to Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] > [Command dials] > [Exposure setting] and exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity can now be set using the command dials in photo shooting in mode M.
      Note: The command dial roles in mode S can now be switched using Custom Setting g2 [Custom controls] > [Command dials] > [Exposure setting] when recording video.
  • • Added [Double-tapping operation] to f4 [Touch Fn] > [Assign touch Fn] > [Move focus point] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Made updates to [Non-CPU lens data] in the [SETUP MENU].
  • • Increased the character limit from 3 to 256 for “Category” entries in IPTC presets.
  • This feature is available with NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lenses (as of March 2025).

■ Displays

  • • Added focus-distance information to the focus distance indicator displayed during manual focus.
  • • Live view display zoom is now up to 400%.
  • • The option selected for [Viewfinder display size] (formerly [Finder display size (photo Lv)]) in the [SETUP MENU] now also applies in video and playback modes.

■ Network

  • • Added a [Nikon Imaging Cloud] item to the [NETWORK MENU].
    • – Firmware can now be downloaded directly from Nikon Imaging Cloud.
  • • Added features to [Connect to FTP server] in the [NETWORK MENU].
  • • ATOMOS AirGlu BT accessories and MC-N10 remote grips can now be used together.
  • • A warning now appears when the connection to an ATOMOS AirGlu BT accessory is unstable or disrupted.

■ App-Related Changes

With NX MobileAir:

  • • the camera live view display for photo mode now shows NX MobileAir status, and
  • • camera settings saved to a memory card using [Save/load menu settings] can now be downloaded to the smart device or copied from the smart device to the camera memory card using NX MobileAir.

■ Other Changes

  • • Changed the video low-capacity warning so that it is now displayed in white on a red background when there is less than one minute remaining. The warning is now also displayed when recording is not in progress.
  • • The RGB histogram is now easier to view when [Mode 1] or [Mode 2] is selected for d12 [Warm display colors] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Fixed the following issues:
    • – Some operations would prevent the focus points from being displayed or cause delays in monitor display.
    • – The monochrome option would not be available in the “i” menu when B&W (black-and-white photo mode) was selected.
    • – The exposure compensation icon appeared in the settings display for g2 [Custom controls] > [Command dials] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
    • – Files could not be uploaded if the destination folder name contained half-width spaces when an FTP server was added in the connection wizard in [Connect to FTP server] > [Network settings] in the [NETWORK MENU].
    • – The camera would sometimes stop responding if the monitor was closed while zooming in the image during playback when connected to an external monitor or recorder via HDMI.
    • – The displayed images would be corrupted when zooming in during playback with the camera monitor closed and the camera connected to an external monitor or recorder via HDMI.
    • – The values on the control panel would remain on after the camera was turned off and the lens was removed while the camera was connected to SnapBridge via Wi-Fi and upload of pictures to smart devices was enabled even when the camera was off.
    • – Renamed d13 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].

Now here’s what’s relevant for photographers:

  • Nikon Imaging Cloud services for presets
  • Birds only autofocus
  • Long exposure noise reduction with electronic shutter
  • Retouch customizations in playback mode
  • Focus point border width in a10 menu item
  • Double tapping operation
  • Live view display zoom with manual focus lenses that can go to 400%. Half press the shutter to cancel the zoom in.
  • Exposure delay mode
  • ISO can be added to the command dials. But this kind of defeats the point of the camera.

Something that I’m really happy about is the new retouch functionality. The Nikon Zf adds this cool thing called overlay which basically lets you make a multiple exposure photo in-camera after you’ve shot the images. It’s really, really fun. However, it only does it as a JPEG file.

Camera displaying network settings menu, resting on a canvas bag in bright sunlight.
The Nikon Zf menu options with firmware 2.0

A note, I couldn’t get this to work:

  • Added [Double-tapping operation] to f4 [Touch Fn] > [Assign touch Fn] > [Move focus point] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].

Setting up Nikon Imaging Cloud is only a pain in the ass if you’ve forgotten your Wifi password and sometimes it can tell you that the encryption key is too long or too short – even when you know that you’ve gotten it right. Next you have to enter a user code. It’s really easier to do this from a computer than it is from a phone. When you select a recipe, you then need to sync your camera to download the new picture control. Now if you go back to the camera and into the Nikon imaging cloud menu, you can sync the connection and then the camera will download the recipes. They’ll appear in picture controls after that.

This is a major pain to learn and a million times more difficult than it is with LUMIX Lab with Panasonic, for example.

Focusing Update April 2025

Bird only autofocus is a nice addition, and it’s really useful in case a squirrel happens to walk into the scene. But personally speaking, I’ve always just used the direct focusing point with animals because you get the best results. The bird-only setting is probably best used with full-area autofocus mode — at least in practice. However, it also offers a boost to standard bird photography.

A Nikon ZF camera with a green strap rests on a brown bag with leather buckle details.
The Nikon Zf with a manual focus 50mm f1.1 lens.

The focus border width increase is one of the best and nicest new additions. The world is becoming more and more visually impaired because we’re staring at screens all day. So with a thicker focusing point, it becomes easier to see against the background of the scene.

With manual focus lenses, the 400% zoom-in effect is a very nice addition. To enable the camera to get out of that by half-pressing the shutter, go to setting D18 in the custom functions menu. Thanks so much to our Nikon reps for helping with this.

Image Quality Update April 2025

Some photographers might also really be a fan of the long exposure noise reduction with the electronic shutter. Personally speaking, all of that sounds very odd to me. First off, the Nikon Zf has some of the best high ISO output of any camera on the market right now. On top of that, one of the reasons why you buy this camera is for the mechanical shutter. I wouldn’t bother shooting in electronic shutter mode with it.

On top of that, the only picture control recipe that I wanted was from Vincent Versace. So truly, this service needs more photographers on it to give better presets. At the same time, I tend to use NIKON PC instead for this.

autofocus point firmware nikon nikon imaging cloud nikon imaging space nikon zf presets
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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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