What's with this 'new' retro-look.. I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series of full-frame mirrorless cameras and they're really pushing this 'retro-look'. I don't know, but...

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series of full-frame mirrorless cameras and they're really pushing this 'retro-look'. I don't know, but first off, one of the reasons, at least this is how I see it, in going mirrorless was so that camera designers would no longer be locked into a configuration dictated by the optical path of a mirror and viewfinder.

And to make this 'retro-look' even more pronounced, it appears that they're moving more of the controls back to dedicated knobs on the top of the camera. All they're missing is a faux film-advance and hinge on the side of the body.

Now I'll be the first to acknowledge that the LCD screen-based menu systems on many digital cameras can be frustrating (after all, I own Sony cameras ;-) but things have gotten better and with the introduction of customizable buttons (my Sony a6500 has three), you can at least program the most common option settings that you need quick access to.

Anyway, what do others think of this effort...

Disclaimer: I've never owned a Nikon, film-based or otherwise, and have been mirrorless since 2013 when I bought a Sony NEX-3N. My current mainline camera is a Sony a6500, but I've still got an a6000 and a A65 DSLR, which are occasionally called into service.

To see what I mean about this Nikon 'retro-look', here's what the new Zf looks like. Note that it's also available in all-black so at least they're not going all the way back into camera history to get this new look:

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

OldCADuser wrote:

I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series o... (show quote)

If you could buy a 57 Chevy Bel Air hardtop with fuel injection off the showroom floor right now would you be excited... I would depending on price Ha Ha.

BebuLamar

None of the old cameras have the EC dial located where the Zf and Zfc have its EC. What it means that the EC is so important today but was important in the old days.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

OldCADuser wrote:

I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series o... (show quote)

Actually, it's only available in black, with various colors of leatherette available.

The funny thing to me is that the target market is young folks from 25-35 or so, but they are getting gobbled up by older folks who already have much better cameras. I took a stroll thrugh the detailed information on the NikonUSA website this morning, and while there are a couple of features and specifications that are interesting, for the most part, this camera is operationally pretty unremarkable. Some of the most interesting and eye-catching specs, on closer examination, are applicable only in very limited situations or in ery particular circumstances. And while the video capabilities seem very impressive, the camera uses only an SD and a Micro SD card, none of the more modern, more capable options.

I do own and use Nikon cameras. I would prefer that they focus on designing and making more useful mainstream cameras, or that they would focus this energy and money on supporting the millions of F mount cameras that are still in service and will remain so for many years. This is not a camera that I will buy.

delder Loc: Maryland

OldCADuser wrote:

I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series o... (show quote)

Well, my idea of Retro Digital was the Kodak 420 Series. Never owned one [$$$$] but have had one in my hand.
Kodak's FIRST [Salable] Digital camera was ACTUALLY a DIGITAL film back for a Nikon film camera.
THIS would be a TRUE Retro look, and we could put our legacy Nikon film gear back in service!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sales (marketing) gimmick for a "nostalgia look".

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

larryepage wrote:

Actually, it's only available in black...

Technically you're correct, the Nikon Zf is only available in black, but the Nikon Zfc is the same camera in chrome, and in fact, was introduced first, I guess to help reinforce that 'retro-look'. Note that the last chrome camera I had was a Minolta XG-M which I bought in 1982.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

OldCADuser wrote:

I just saw an advert for the new Nikon Zf series o... (show quote)

First, the Zf is not a series of cameras but a single full frame body. It is visually similar in many respects to the slightly smaller crop sensor Z fc released two years ago. While they look somewhat similar to each other, they are substantially very different camera bodies with regard to overall build, and internal functionality.

I have owned a Z fc for two years now, and have a much renewed love for photography as a result. While my previous cameras allowed me to capture very satisfying images, the Z fc is the most enjoyable camera I've ever used. So much so, that I went full retro and only use it with prime lenses, the majority of which are manual focus only.

My favorite walk around combination is the Z fc with the Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2. It is a tiny, all metal, fast manual focus/manual aperture prime lens designed specifically for the Nikon Z mount, under license from Nikon, with electronic contacts to pass aperture and metadata to the body. It is a very compact and light camera / lens combination, weighing only 22 oz. The lens, is all metal and glass, and is a fraction of the size and weight of any auto focus 35 mm f/1.2 lenses. Once you learn how to do it, manual focusing on a modern mirrorless camera is easy, fast, and accurate.

Retro camera styles are not some new fad. Many, if not most, of the Fujifilm bodies have been retro designed for years.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

Sales (marketing) gimmick for a "nostalgia look".

It is more than that. It is extraordinarily enjoyable to use. I have owned the crop sensor Z fc version for 2 years and have never enjoyed my many years of digital photography as much as I do now. I may decide to invest in this new full-frame version with its superior build.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

Sorry about the mix-up with the Zf and Zfc. I didn't drill-down far enough to realize that the 'c' probably stood for 'cropped' and not 'chrome', but you have to admit, they look nearly identical (but the 28mm lens should have been a hint since that's a bit odd for a full-frame prime lens):

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

mwsilvers wrote:

It is more than that. It is extraordinarily enjoyable to use. I have owned the crop sensor Z fc version for 2 years and have never enjoyed my many years of digital photography as much as I do now. I may decide to invest in this new full-frame version with its superior build.

If it makes you feel good, have at it.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

With me, it's not "The Look" that counts
Given a choice, I'm not a fan of the Retro-Look
I have always shot Canon no matter what they looked like & to the best of my knowledge they have not "yet" gone "Retro" -- But who knows
But to illustrate how much I really don't care --
If they offered no choice & went back to that "look" & offered a camera that had features & capabilities, I really wanted ---
What the hell I would purchase it & enjoy using it!!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

OldCADuser wrote:

Sorry about the mix-up with the Zf and Zfc. I didn't drill-down far enough to realize that the 'c' probably stood for 'cropped' and not 'chrome', but you have to admit, they look nearly identical (but the 28mm lens should have been a hint since that's a bit odd for a full-frame prime lens):

The fc in Z fc actually stands for "fusion casual", not cropped. While the Zf and the Z fc do look very similar, especially to the casual observer, they are actually quite different with regard to build and functionality,

The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 prime lens, shown mounted on the Z fc in your attached image, is actually a full frame lens available in two optically identical versions. The version in your image was designed specifically with a retro look for use with the Z fc and will no doubt also be used by some people on the new Zf.

The same is true for the Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 shown on Zf in your attachment. The retro version of it in the image was originally designed a year ago to match the Z fc.

I own both of these two full frame retro look prime lenses for my Z fc.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ken_stern wrote:

With me, it's not "The Look" that counts... (show quote)

I don't care what my camera looks like either. As long as it takes nice pictures and is easy to use.
If Canon came out with a body that looked like an AE-1, Ftb, or F1 I would not buy it based on looks.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

I don't care what my camera looks like either. As long as it takes nice pictures and is easy to use.
If Canon came out with a body that looked like an AE-1, Ftb, or F1 I would not buy it based on looks.

Of course, to be successful a new camera must be able work the way you want it to and give you the results you expect. I can say that after 2 years with the Z fc I get images that exceed my expectations and I enjoy using it more than any other digital camera I've ever owned. I expect that the new Zf will take both the image quality and the enjoyment I've had with the Z fc to the next level. I certainly understand that visually, and ergonomically the Zf / Z fc bodies not the best cameras for everyone, but for many of us they are dream to use.