When the Nikon Zf was introduced, many photographers, even those who don’t use Nikon, praised the company for trying something different. The company managed to blend retro design with modern tech, making life easier for many users. It now appears that Nikon may launch a new feature that can help photographers better with their JPEGs.
According to Nikon Rumors, the company unveiled a new feature that they are still testing for the Zf: date stamp. This is only seen on prototypes by Phototrends during the CP+ show in Japan last month. The feature does what it sounds like: it prints the date directly at the bottom right of the image. And it does so in orange-red colors, which were seen in film compact cameras.
The date is imprinted as an inscription on JPEG files, and the default color is orange-red. If you move the camera to the black-and-white position, the stamp becomes white, preserving the monochrome photo’s aesthetic. It is also designed to complement Zf’s film grain feature, with the two creating a complete anaglog look right out of the camera.
The Zf is a camera that does not take itself too seriously. It is a mirrorless with a SLR design, designed to attract younger creators or millennials who want a different camera. A date stamp feature, if launched, would further add value for users who want an analog aesthetic in a digital camera. It also showcases Nikon’s ability to innovate and include features that possibly could benefit their users, even after they have purchased the device.
If launched, this feature can also be useful for those who use the camera to document family life, travel, or personal projects chronologically. This can also be helpful if your EXIF files are stopped. Parents photographing their children, or people taking the camera for travel work, will also build a visual diary. Then comes the nostalgia market, which is driven by such trends. Many smartphone users also rely on apps that provide the same date stamp, but it is often incorrect.
At the moment, we are unsure if this will be available for users anytime soon. Given that it was shown at CP+, there is a chance Nikon wants to gauge its users’ interest in the idea. The only thing we can do is wait and watch. If Nikon does roll this out, it will be one of those small firmware additions that quietly becomes one of the most-used features that makes photography fun again.