My first impressions of the Zf coming from the X-T5

I got my Zf last Tuesday with a 24mm f1.8, a week already.

I had the pleasure to take photos during my travel to Zaragoza and Barcelona.

I used to have an X-T5 + 18mm f1.4 (28mm FF equivalent) for 2 years.

Here are my first impressions:

The Zf pluses:

-Design wise it's sexier than the X-T5, more serious but in a good retro way.

-The EVF is a bit better and given the ''selfie'' screen I am now using the EVF 95% of the time with pleasure.

-The shutter sound is just delicious, just like old shutters of the 70s or 80s.

-Added a JCC thumb rest to the hand strap I use like this one and without the given smallrig grip, it was perfectly usable in streets with one hand.

-AF is not only faster than the X-T5 but nailed much more focus.

-Low light is amazing, while I could barely use ISO 6400 with the X-T5, with the Zf I can take ISO 8000, 12800... without fear of heavy noise, at 1600 and 3200 noise is so low it doesn't need AI noise removal , just a slight manual removal.

-The 24mm is very sharp , with beautiful bokeh , better than the 18 f1.4 , very nice sunstars...

The negatives:

-As expected the weight difference is here, but I knew it even before buying, and it doesn't bother me that much, I got used to it very quickly specially with the thumb rest. I will have to try with the smallrig grip too.

-The ''selfie'' screen , though I only use it now when taking photos with sunstars as I don't want to burn my eyes, I am a converted happy EVF user

-Some weird decisions from Nikon for controls: we can't use both the Shutter Speed dial and shutter speed on a custom dial, I guess I will have to get used to the SS dial only.

All and all very happy with the switch the Zf FF, it's breath of fresh air after 8 years with Fujifilm apsc

Good to hear and welcome here!

You might consider the 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2 muffin lenses too, as they are quite small and light. They are surprisingly good.

Oh, remember to update your gear list!

JacquesC said:

Good to hear and welcome here!

You might consider the 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2 muffin lenses too, as they are quite small and light. They are surprisingly good.

Oh, remember to update your gear list!

Click to expand...

Thanks1 Done for the gear list

the 26mm was more interesting than the 28mm but both lack good sunstar and are limited to f2.8. I hope Nikon will do a compact 24 or 26 or 28mm f2 , I can accept f2 instead of 1.8 , the difference is insignificant if it helps Nikon making a more compact and lighter lens than the 24 f1.8.

But anyway I really dig this 24mm f1.8 S, it's a stellar lens

vegetaleb said:

JacquesC said:

Good to hear and welcome here!

You might consider the 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2 muffin lenses too, as they are quite small and light. They are surprisingly good.

Oh, remember to update your gear list!

Click to expand...

Thanks1 Done for the gear list

the 26mm was more interesting than the 28mm but both lack good sunstar and are limited to f2.8. I hope Nikon will do a compact 24 or 26 or 28mm f2 , I can accept f2 instead of 1.8 , the difference is insignificant if it helps Nikon making a more compact and lighter lens than the 24 f1.8.

But anyway I really dig this 24mm f1.8 S, it's a stellar lens

Click to expand...

Glad to hear you like the Zf. My gf shoots with an XT-3 currently, which she likes for the most part, and I am planning to travel to visit her next year and will bring along my Zf and Z7, and will offer her the Zf to shoot with (she lives in China so buying a new camera on her salary is not possible, she bought the XT-3 second hand in 2023). What subjects do you primarily shoot with the 24mm 1.8 prime? I have the 35mm 1.8S and 50mm 1.8S and the 24-200mm VR zoom and the 24-70mm f4S zoom, and just picked up the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2, which I find to be absolutely amazing even wide open at f2.8.

camerosity said:

vegetaleb said:

JacquesC said:

Good to hear and welcome here!

You might consider the 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2 muffin lenses too, as they are quite small and light. They are surprisingly good.

Oh, remember to update your gear list!

Click to expand...

Thanks1 Done for the gear list

the 26mm was more interesting than the 28mm but both lack good sunstar and are limited to f2.8. I hope Nikon will do a compact 24 or 26 or 28mm f2 , I can accept f2 instead of 1.8 , the difference is insignificant if it helps Nikon making a more compact and lighter lens than the 24 f1.8.

But anyway I really dig this 24mm f1.8 S, it's a stellar lens

Click to expand...

Glad to hear you like the Zf. My gf shoots with an XT-3 currently, which she likes for the most part, and I am planning to travel to visit her next year and will bring along my Zf and Z7, and will offer her the Zf to shoot with (she lives in China so buying a new camera on her salary is not possible, she bought the XT-3 second hand in 2023). What subjects do you primarily shoot with the 24mm 1.8 prime? I have the 35mm 1.8S and 50mm 1.8S and the 24-200mm VR zoom and the 24-70mm f4S zoom, and just picked up the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2, which I find to be absolutely amazing even wide open at f2.8.

Click to expand...

I had the 16mm f1.4 on fuji for years before the 18mm, it's a 24mm equivalent FF so I got used to this FOV and I like it, I used for nearly everything: landscape, street, tourism, conceptual portrait, even bokeh (close subjects)

vegetaleb said:

I got my Zf last Tuesday with a 24mm f1.8, a week already.

I had the pleasure to take photos during my travel to Zaragoza and Barcelona.

I used to have an X-T5 + 18mm f1.4 (28mm FF equivalent) for 2 years.

Here are my first impressions:

The Zf pluses:

-Design wise it's sexier than the X-T5, more serious but in a good retro way.

-The EVF is a bit better and given the ''selfie'' screen I am now using the EVF 95% of the time with pleasure.

-The shutter sound is just delicious, just like old shutters of the 70s or 80s.

-Added a JCC thumb rest to the hand strap I use like this one and without the given smallrig grip, it was perfectly usable in streets with one hand.

-AF is not only faster than the X-T5 but nailed much more focus.

-Low light is amazing, while I could barely use ISO 6400 with the X-T5, with the Zf I can take ISO 8000, 12800... without fear of heavy noise, at 1600 and 3200 noise is so low it doesn't need AI noise removal , just a slight manual removal.

-The 24mm is very sharp , with beautiful bokeh , better than the 18 f1.4 , very nice sunstars...

The negatives:

-As expected the weight difference is here, but I knew it even before buying, and it doesn't bother me that much, I got used to it very quickly specially with the thumb rest. I will have to try with the smallrig grip too.

-The ''selfie'' screen , though I only use it now when taking photos with sunstars as I don't want to burn my eyes, I am a converted happy EVF user

-Some weird decisions from Nikon for controls: we can't use both the Shutter Speed dial and shutter speed on a custom dial, I guess I will have to get used to the SS dial only.

Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by this but if you put the camera into Manual mode, you can shoot it similarly to how the Fuji X cameras worked, minus the aperture ring since Nikon doesn't have any lenses that have clickble aperture rings (although those with the accessory function ring can be set for aperture, but it's not clicky). but from what i could see atl east compared to an XT2 that i had, it can work much like that camera if you use it in full manual mode. Although I do wish Nikon would allow +/-1/3 SS increments using the command dial like you could on the Fuji's to fine-tune exposure instead of having to use resort to EC but that may be because in the film days (on the FM2 and really many film SLRs) you didn't have 1/3 stop or 1/2 increments on the dial,

vegetaleb said:

All and all very happy with the switch the Zf FF, it's breath of fresh air after 8 years with Fujifilm apsc

Click to expand...

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PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

sirhawkeye64 said:

Although I do wish Nikon would allow +/-1/3 SS increments using the command dial like you could on the Fuji's to fine-tune exposure instead of having to use resort to EC but that may be because in the film days (on the FM2 and really many film SLRs) you didn't have 1/3 stop or 1/2 increments on the dial,

Click to expand...

Which Nikon model are you claiming doesn't allow the selection of shutter speeds in 1/3 increments? My Nikon N70 back in 2000 had that feature...?

The Zf is a low light monster and nobody really talks about that in the reviews.

camerosity said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

Although I do wish Nikon would allow +/-1/3 SS increments using the command dial like you could on the Fuji's to fine-tune exposure instead of having to use resort to EC but that may be because in the film days (on the FM2 and really many film SLRs) you didn't have 1/3 stop or 1/2 increments on the dial,

Click to expand...

Which Nikon model are you claiming doesn't allow the selection of shutter speeds in 1/3 increments? My Nikon N70 back in 2000 had that feature...?

Click to expand...

Yes Newer cameras like the N series had that features among some others, but my point was more to the older cameras and in particular the F series (F/FM/FM2) for which the Zf was modeled after (FM2 I think) which I don't think had 1/3 increments. The N series is the more modernized version of the film camera using way more electronic controls (almost similar to how the modern DSLRs were, only they used film and not a digital sensor). But many cameras from the F/FM era did not have any other options for SS other than full stops.

yardcoyote said:

The Zf is a low light monster and nobody really talks about that in the reviews.

Click to expand...

I think part of that is because it's been beaten to death by the Z6 II reviews and most people know that Nikon re-used the sensor in the Zf.

vegetaleb said:

-The ''selfie'' screen , though I only use it now when taking photos with sunstars as I don't want to burn my eyes

Click to expand...

(confused look)

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

sirhawkeye64 said:

camerosity said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

Although I do wish Nikon would allow +/-1/3 SS increments using the command dial like you could on the Fuji's to fine-tune exposure instead of having to use resort to EC but that may be because in the film days (on the FM2 and really many film SLRs) you didn't have 1/3 stop or 1/2 increments on the dial,

Click to expand...

Which Nikon model are you claiming doesn't allow the selection of shutter speeds in 1/3 increments? My Nikon N70 back in 2000 had that feature...?

Click to expand...

Yes Newer cameras like the N series had that features among some others, but my point was more to the older cameras and in particular the F series (F/FM/FM2) for which the Zf was modeled after (FM2 I think) which I don't think had 1/3 increments. The N series is the more modernized version of the film camera using way more electronic controls (almost similar to how the modern DSLRs were, only they used film and not a digital sensor). But many cameras from the F/FM era did not have any other options for SS other than full stops.

Click to expand...

Yep, my Nikon FE doesn't either.

I think every camera that had a top plate shutter speed dial with marking doesn't have access to 1/3rd increments (that includes the F4)







--
(G.A.S. and collectionnite will get my skin one day)

yardcoyote said:

The Zf is a low light monster and nobody really talks about that in the reviews.

Click to expand...

This is a fact. I don't have any truly great astrophotography glass right now for full frame, but to get manual focus, I threw on an adapted FD 50mm 1.4 for the aurora. I was floored to find that even on that vintage, soft-ish lens, the focus peaking was picking up individual stars, enabling me to focus accurately with basically no effort at all. Wild. The Zf can see in the dark.

BeatX said:

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

Click to expand...

I am still editing my photos from my Spain travel, but here some edited with Photolab

Some have Classic Chrome applied thanks to Photolab





















--
My shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/jeffmerheb
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/147690104@N02/

vegetaleb said:

BeatX said:

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

Click to expand...

I am still editing my photos from my Spain travel, but here some edited with Photolab

Some have Classic Chrome applied thanks to Photolab

Click to expand...

You mentioned Classic Chrome. Does PL have some of the built-in camera profiles that would have been available for the camera? I have a Zf as well, but my version of PL5 is not compatible. Or did you also get DXO filmpack?

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

vegetaleb said:

-The ''selfie'' screen , though I only use it now when taking photos with sunstars as I don't want to burn my eyes, I am a converted happy EVF user

Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this is meant as a joke, but the viewfinder is an electronic one—a small display with a brightness that's only a fraction of the sun's intensity. So no, you won't burn your eyes. However, you could damage your camera's sensor, but that's a different issue altogether.

sirhawkeye64 said:

vegetaleb said:

BeatX said:

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

Click to expand...

I am still editing my photos from my Spain travel, but here some edited with Photolab

Some have Classic Chrome applied thanks to Photolab

Click to expand...

You mentioned Classic Chrome. Does PL have some of the built-in camera profiles that would have been available for the camera? I have a Zf as well, but my version of PL5 is not compatible. Or did you also get DXO filmpack?

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

Click to expand...

Dxo Photolab 8 Elite has mainly all the Fujifilm (in camera) films simulations that you can use with any photo of any brand.

I highly recommend this software

--
My shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/jeffmerheb
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/147690104@N02/

vegetaleb said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

vegetaleb said:

BeatX said:

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

Click to expand...

I am still editing my photos from my Spain travel, but here some edited with Photolab

Some have Classic Chrome applied thanks to Photolab

Click to expand...

You mentioned Classic Chrome. Does PL have some of the built-in camera profiles that would have been available for the camera? I have a Zf as well, but my version of PL5 is not compatible. Or did you also get DXO filmpack?

Click to expand...

Dxo Photolab 8 Elite has mainly all the Fujifilm (in camera) films simulations that you can use with any photo of any brand.

I highly recommend this software

Click to expand...

Hmm.... interesting. I always though those were dependent on the camera brand/model (as many developers call them "camera matching profiles" implying the profiles you could get in-camera but do depend on the camera brand/model). But good to know for future reference if I ever do decide to use PL again. The film sims of the Fuji cameras is one thing I do miss having moved on from Fuji now.

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

sirhawkeye64 said:

vegetaleb said:

sirhawkeye64 said:

vegetaleb said:

BeatX said:

Can You share some full resolution examples, from Your Nikkor Z 24/1.8 S (?)

Click to expand...

I am still editing my photos from my Spain travel, but here some edited with Photolab

Some have Classic Chrome applied thanks to Photolab

Click to expand...

You mentioned Classic Chrome. Does PL have some of the built-in camera profiles that would have been available for the camera? I have a Zf as well, but my version of PL5 is not compatible. Or did you also get DXO filmpack?

Click to expand...

Dxo Photolab 8 Elite has mainly all the Fujifilm (in camera) films simulations that you can use with any photo of any brand.

I highly recommend this software

Click to expand...

Hmm.... interesting. I always though those were dependent on the camera brand/model (as many developers call them "camera matching profiles" implying the profiles you could get in-camera but do depend on the camera brand/model). But good to know for future reference if I ever do decide to use PL again. The film sims of the Fuji cameras is one thing I do miss having moved on from Fuji now.

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

Click to expand...

Capture One has all these Fujifilm simulations but applicable only for Raw taken with Fujifilm cameras, but in the end it's just recipes of shadow, highlight, color temp and grain. At the beginning when the translation from xtrans sensor to softwares like dxo were difficult, they couldn't use Fujifilm recipes for other cameras, but now it's finally well decoded, and I guess dxo paid to Fujifilm to have the rights of using their simulations like that

--
My shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/jeffmerheb
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/147690104@N02/