nikon

I always want to call this camera Nikon KFC, but this Nikon Z-fc. Let's decipher these mysterious letters in the title.

• Z indicates belonging to the mirrorless line;
• f — fusion. In Russian it is translated as "alloy" or "mixture". This refers to a mixture of new technologies and a retro case;
• c - casual. That is, a model for everyday use.

In my opinion, the most revolutionary and noteworthy innovation of this camera is full swivel screen.

For cameras Nikon swivel screen is a rarity. All the reviews focus on the retro design, but the screen deserves no less attention.

Finally, Nikon introduced a full-fledged blogging camera. They had problems with this. The closest brother Nikon z50 - has a screen that turns down. But I would not call a full-fledged blogging model Z50. This flap screen design will not work properly with tripod or steadicam.

Nikon Z-fc received stuffing from Nikon Z50:

• APS-C sensor at 20,9 megapixels (CMOS without backlight)
• Photo shooting speed up to 11fps (12bit RAW) and up to 9fps (14bit RAW)
• video modes 4K 30fps, FullHD up to 120fps
• Shutter speed range from 30 seconds to 1/4000
• sync speed with outbreaks 1 / 200 (what's cool)
• 209 focus points with 87% sensor coverage
• AF sensitivity in the dark down to -4,2 EV (which is cooler than many Sony full frame cameras)
• Electronic viewfinder 2.36M dots
• Bright 3.0" screenNikon Z50 3.2 inches) and a resolution of 1 million points
• Nikon Z-FC 445gr with battery (Z50 weight 450g)
• Release date Nikon Z-fc June 2021, Nikon Z50 October 2019
• And there and there is a popular battery Nikon EN-EL25

What has changed: Nikon Z50 had a microUSB connector without the ability to charge, Nikon Z-fc received USB-type C with the ability to charge and power the camera.

Nikon Z50 had a built-in flash, KFC - sorry - Z-Fc The built-in flash has been removed.

Both cameras do not have low-pass filters, which gives outrageous, even - in my opinion - sometimes excessive sharpness of both photos and videos. But these Nikons catch moiré be healthy. In my review on Z50 I showed it.

An important advantage of the Nikon Z50 is a much more comfortable grip. Nikon Z-fc is essentially devoid of a handle.

For a video blogger, a swivel screen is more important than a crank. But for comfortable photography with different optics, grip is very important. With light optics like the standard Nikon Z 28mm f2.8, it will be comfortable even without a handle. It becomes inconvenient with heavy lenses. But you can buy overhead handle and partly correct this problem.

Compatible lenses

Nikon is scolded for a small assortment of mirrorless optics. But it is not so.

The main criticism is that Nikon has only 3 lenses for the mirrorless crop:

• Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
• Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
• Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR

But to them you need to add almost 30 full-frame lenses on the Z-mount.

You also need to add lenses to this Viltrox for Z-mount with a good picture and attractive prices. There are already 24mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8. A complete set of standard fixes for all occasions.

And, of course, through the Nikon FTZ adapter (Nikon F to Nikon Z) - you can use all NIKKOR F-mount lenses, of which there are hundreds on Nikon.

Therefore, to say that there is no choice of lenses for the Nikon Kfc / Z50 is wrong.

As whales, 16-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 VR or Z 28mm f2.8 are offered. But I would take 16-50mm and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2.0 S.

About retro design

The design of the Nikon Z-Fc follows the legendary Nikon FM2, released in 1983. The time difference between them is almost 40 years! This is what these models look like side by side.

Nikon FM2 is a full-frame film reportage camera from the last millennium. The Nikon FM2 camera is remembered for being indestructible. This is a kind of Kalashnikov assault rifle among cameras. Simple and therefore reliable.

Nikon Z-fc is a little scolded for the lack of dust and moisture protection rubber bands. It's petty, really. Nikon FM2 could work without batteries at all. Full mechanics, no electronics. Rather, the battery was still there - for exposure metering. But it was possible to shoot without it, in a completely manual mode. No mirrorless camera can boast of such reliability, no matter how much dust and moisture protection they put in there.

When viewed from the top, both cameras are similar, but the FM2 is a bit chubbier. Do not forget that on the left is a full frame with a mirror, on the right is a crop without a mirror.

Weight Nikon Z-Fc 445g with battery. Weight Nikon FM2 540g.

Retro design is an amateur thing. From a practical point of view, this is an outdated and less ergonomic design. But it has its own charm.

Note for experienced Nikonists

Some Nikonists with old cameras asked me on channel questions about Z50, Z-fc. The questions are similar and sound something like:

• Is it worth it to change old DSLRs (like Nikon d3000) on the new Nikon mirrorless cameras?
• Is it true that new crop mirrorless cameras shoot like a full frame?

New crops do not shoot fundamentally more beautiful and better than old crops. The beauty of a photo is 90% dependent on the subject and the quality of the lighting.

On the other hand, new cameras allow you to shoot at higher ISO, there is better color reproduction (it depends on what you compare it to), autofocus is more convenient, they are lighter and more compact, there are better opportunities for video shooting. So upgrade worth of course. But here they do not become a full frame in any way because these models are newer and the mirror was removed there.

Regarding Fujifilm

When it comes to modern retro cameras, mirrorless cameras from Fujifilm. In Western reviews, this Nikon is compared with Fuji X-T4 or X-T30 II. The previous X-T3 for those reviewers no longer exists ... although this is the same X-T4 with minimal differences.

I think that Z-fc is closest in X-T30 (first, second - it doesn't matter). In terms of weight and dimensions, the Z-fc (445g) is somewhere between the X-T30 (383g) and the X-T3 (539g). But in terms of screen and viewfinder resolution, as well as video bells and whistles, the Nikon Z-fc is still closer to the younger Fuijifilm models. By the way, the X-T30 screen cannot be turned away.

The X-T3/X-T4 have a cooler screen with a viewfinder and these cameras weigh more. These are more advanced models. Both in appearance and performance. Nikon Z-fc, unlike the older Fujifilm, does not have 4K 60fps, Log profile, records in 10bit 4:2:2 and stupid matrix stub from X-T4.

I have not yet tested the Nikon Z-fc on overheat in 4K, but the Fujifilm X-T30 does it pretty fast. The video is very sharp here and there.

But all these cameras are united by TWISTS on the top panel. The design is similar.

Summarizing

I think Nikon has released an interesting and competitive camera. I repeat what I started with, the rotary screen is a force.

It's a pity that Nikon, as always, is lousy with marketing. They put out a really good one blogging camera and just a stylish camera.

But the titles of the reviews on the Internet are rather impersonal:

• Nikon Z fc mirrorless camera review with APS-C sensor
• Nikon Z fc retro mirrorless review
• Nikon Z fc mirrorless camera review and test
• Nikon Z fc camera review APS-C with retro design

It is clear from these headings that it is - mirrorless and it has a retro design. Everything. At the same time, Sony trumpeted everywhere about their next stump Sony ZV-E10that this is the BEST CAMERA for blogging in 2021/2022. Simply the best, that's all. In fact - garbage, but what advertising! Nikon is the opposite.

Nikon Z fc - a very decent camera for a wide range of tasks, and reviews about it are dull and insipid. No more hype and “the best camera for bloggers”. So it goes.

Date of writing - April 2022