Today, many photographers are getting what they asked for: the Nikon Zf in silver. We reviewed the camera in 2023 and found it to be really one of the best Nikon cameras out there. Everyone wanted a silver edition, and now it’s here. Additionally, Nikon is giving the camera the ability to add film grain to the look. I really do wonder now, though: does this mean that we’re at the end of the lifespan of the Nikon Zf and that’s why they’re doing this special variant?
In addition to the chrome silver look, the company is adding new look options in the form of Cognac Brown, Teal Blue, and Mauve Pink.
The new film grain feature is apparently coming later this year via a firmware update. Photographers will be able to add three different-sized grain options with six different application strengths. This is fascinating — as these days, I’d think that people instead want digital grain that you’d see from older cameras like the Nikon D700.
According to the press release, “The new Nikon Z f Silver Edition will be available in late September for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $2,199.95, or $2,299.95* for the new premium exterior options.” Want one? Check Amazon.
This is all wonderful, but I really now wonder if it’s too late. Photographers wanted a silver edition a long time ago. And now that it’s been almost two whole years, I wonder how much longer of a lifespan the Nikon Zf has. I’m sure that some of you will mistake that statement for a complaint because of how your mind is wired — but I assure you that it isn’t. The Nikon Zf has access to Nikon Imaging Cloud — something that the Z8 and Z9 don’t have. On top of that, it still retains some of the best high ISO output of any 24MP camera that we’ve tested.
But to be very honest, Nikon took too long to get this done. I bought my black version and I don’t think that I’ll switch it. If anything, I wonder why Nikon didn’t use the sensor in the Z7 II in this camera instead. A silver variant should’ve been released earlier and film-grain firmware should’ve also been released earlier. On top of that, Nikon still hasn’t addressed our concerns around high speed sync flash and the dials not working on the Nikon Zf. In our conversations, they’ve kept blaming the problem on Profoto but in fact, they’re seeing it in their own tests.
I really hope that Nikon finally gets it together and stops trying to focus so hard on the creator market.