Photo: Abby Ferguson As a tech journalist and photography educator, I've been lucky enough to get my hands on a variety of cameras. While each differs somewhat regarding menu systems, button placement and ergonomics, they are mostly subtle differences that haven't drastically altered my shooting style or process.
That was not the story with the Nikon Zf, though, which surprised me by how much it changed the way I photograph.
The Nikon Zf has been available since October 2023, but I only recently had a chance to use it for the first time. As someone who learned photography on film (with a Pentax K1000, to be precise) and still shoots film, I have admired the camera's looks since it was first announced. I'm a sucker for that vintage film camera vibe, after all. Plus, I like having physical dials for my exposure settings, mainly for nostalgia.
My first time using the Zf was on a hike. It was a last-minute decision to bring it, so I didn't put any thought into using it instead of my trusty Sony a7 III. I knew the physical dials would change how I interacted with the camera and assumed there would be an adjustment period, but that was all. I certainly didn't set out with the intention of using the camera differently or think that my fundamental process would change. I simply tossed the Zf in my backpack as I would any other camera and set off.
Almost immediately, though, I noticed that the way I interacted with the camera was altered. In many ways, it felt much more like using a film SLR than a mirrorless camera. For starters, I exclusively used the viewfinder, not the rear display, to compose my images. That hasn't been the case since I switched to mirrorless many years ago.
The more significant change, though, was that my process slowed down.
The more significant change, though, was that my process slowed down, and I was much more selective about what I took photos of. On that hike, I took less than half of the images I typically take on a hike of a similar distance. Of course, some of this could be attributed to the location and general mood that day, but I was also distinctly aware of a shift in my mindset.
When I take photos during hikes with my Sony, I snap away. I pay attention to composition and subject matter, but it's often a more rushed process. I'm willing to take a handful of shots to get the composition or exposure right instead of slowing down and getting one shot that does what I want. I even take quite a few photos while still walking and not looking closely at the display. With the Zf, though, I was much more intentional about getting the composition where I wanted it in the first frame. I also didn't take photos at all unless I was excited about the scene, and I didn't take any frames while walking.
Photo: Abby Ferguson
Overall, using the Zf was much more reminiscent of how I shoot with film when I have limited frames to work with, and each one costs a dollar or so. Whether it was the physical dials and their placement that made me slow down, the vintage design that tricked my brain into thinking I was shooting film or a combination of the two, I'm not sure. But it was truly surprising how a very modern mirrorless camera could shift my process so dramatically.
Of course, Nikon isn't the only camera company offering vintage design and dedicated control dials. It wasn't even the first. This design choice has been a trend in recent years, and cameras from other companies could indeed provide the same effect.
No matter what the cause, the Zf brought back a sense of mindfulness to my photography that I had missed when shooting with digital cameras. In fact, I recently came back to shooting film after years away because I missed the push to slow down. Whether or not this change is sustainable as I keep using the camera remains to be seen. It could also be that I can put that mindset into practice with other cameras without control dials now that I am more cognizant of the change. No matter what, it was a refreshing change that certainly made me more aware of my approach and how different tools can shape my process.
. dpreview.com2025-3-19 15:30
