Zf - the Holy Grail for monochrome enthusiasts ?

[Albert Macfarlane]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

 

[BostonBoy]

Albert - dead on. The dedicated B/W mode makes the camera interesting to me, plus I do not have a 24MP Z Model yet. Personally I think Nikon also made the right choice to implement a FAS for this retro model - fold it over and you really get the retro feel. So I don’t know what the fuzz is all about.

That being said - I want to touch the camera first before I make my call. I‘ve ordered the Df blind in silver which turned into a plastic fantastic desaster for the know reasons. Nikon almost lost me there after riding a ~4 year marketing campaign delivering very little outcome.

This time around, they might have hit the nail on the head. Just my 2 Euros.

 

[MoreorLess]

Personally I think in camera B&W Jpegs sometimes act as a good preview, I'd generally look to do my own RAW conversion afterwards, being able to quickly jump to B&W sounds like a nice option though.

 

[MrHollywood]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

Yep!

I'm kinda shocked no one is talking about the monochrome modes! Looking forward to seeing what they can do!

Robert

 

[MrHollywood]

Personally I think in camera B&W Jpegs sometimes act as a good preview, I'd generally look to do my own RAW conversion afterwards, being able to quickly jump to B&W sounds like a nice option though.

If Nikon did some magic with the B&W modes, some folks will use the Zf extensively in those modes.

Fuji and Ricoh have quite a following with that and did a wonderful job. Yes, you can always do great conversions, but if the built modes do a lot of the heavy lifting, they can be an amazing artistic tool.

Robert

 

[anotherMike]

No

It is possible that better B&W emulation via the ZF modes will allow for previews that are closer to what you might want to end up at with your own monochrome conversion, as others have pointed out, but there is no magic that is going to let a ZF "beat" a proper post process B&W conversion from a higher resolution body like a D800E/D850/Z7/Z8 etc. And for something to be considered "the holy grail", that's what would have to be done, or it's not the holy grail.

Not saying it might not allow some who don't want to spend the time in post to arrive at a B&W look they like, but that's also not in my eyes a component of a "holy grail" camera.

I do expect it will be a nice addition for some folks.

I shoot about 40% of my own work in monochrome, at a very high level, but this body isn't for me. Of course I hope it does well for Nikon overall, that's not the point of my reply.

 

[MrHollywood]

No

It is possible that better B&W emulation via the ZF modes will allow for previews that are closer to what you might want to end up at with your own monochrome conversion, as others have pointed out, but there is no magic that is going to let a ZF "beat" a proper post process B&W conversion from a higher resolution body like a D800E/D850/Z7/Z8 etc. And for something to be considered "the holy grail", that's what would have to be done, or it's not the holy grail.

Not saying it might not allow some who don't want to spend the time in post to arrive at a B&W look they like, but that's also not in my eyes a component of a "holy grail" camera.

I do expect it will be a nice addition for some folks.

I shoot about 40% of my own work in monochrome, at a very high level, but this body isn't for me. Of course I hope it does well for Nikon overall, that's not the point of my reply.

Yup...I agree PP B&W will always be better via a full RAW file, but some folks do shoot more "casually" in B&W and still might find those modes of some use.

If the modes look good, it'll be a nice feature for me. I have no use for a Zf since I own a Z9 and other cams, but I'll probably buy one after the dust settles and retire my fun Zfc.

Robert

 

[Truman Prevatt]

Fujifilm grabbed a loyal following with their "film simulations" which have both color and B&W settings for jpeg while capturing Raw. These film simulations are available on all Fuji cameras including the medium format GFX. In their B&W simulations they also have grain and simulations and filter simulations, e.g., yellow filter, red filter, etc.

In reality often using a B&W film simulation is a good computational tool for your photography. The Zf reminds me quite a bit of the Fuji XPro with its retro look with dials and mechanical settings. Of course the Zf is an emulation of the classic Nikon FM while the Fuji XPro is an emulation of the classic rangefinder.

 

[mrbr]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

IMO it is propably one or more new monochrome picture controls with some extra (new) possibilties ....

We have to wait for a detailed review to learn more.

Existing nikon camera's already have a monochrome picture control , so you can transform each camera to a B&W camera , but raw files wil be recorded in individual R, G and B values. See eg The Photo-Mode i Menu (nikonimglib.com)

--
Greetings,
Marc

 

[ANAYV]

No secret sauce here.

Just in camera processing.

My Z 50 has a few settings for different type B&W (via 'effect' setting on mode dial).

This is perhaps just a spinoff of those settings

As mentioned...it's only available In jpeg..so limited use for many folk shooting RAW.

 

[mrbr]

No secret sauce here.

Just in camera processing.

My Z 50 has a few settings for different type B&W (via 'effect' setting on mode dial).

This is perhaps just a spinoff of those settings

As mentioned...it's only available In jpeg..so limited use for many folk shooting RAW.

If you shoot raw ( +jpg) you can choose a monochrome or creative picture control ... and what you will see on the camera will correspond with your choice ( eg monochrome ).

with NX studio you can change the choosen picture control to another in post processing if you want.

 

[SoCalAngler]

No secret sauce here.

Just in camera processing.

My Z 50 has a few settings for different type B&W (via 'effect' setting on mode dial).

This is perhaps just a spinoff of those settings

As mentioned...it's only available In jpeg..so limited use for many folk shooting RAW.

If you shoot raw ( +jpg) you can choose a monochrome or creative picture control ... and what you will see on the camera will correspond with your choice ( eg monochrome ).

with NX studio you can change the choosen picture control to another in post processing if you want.

You can also use the Nikon Picture Control Utility to create custom Picture Controls and load them into the camera or use with NX Studio.

It seems to me that new B&W effects may just be new picture controls added to the default set. If so, they could be created with the utility, just as folks have created multiple other picture controls, including monochrome variations.

We'll have the see the manual to figure out what is going on with these.

Regardless, it is nice that Nikon added some additional in camera monochrome options.

--
If cameras and lenses can have autofocus then why can't I?

 

[sprocket-docket]

Can you explain why you think this will be any different from every manufacturer's Bayer sensor B&W JPEG modes? I mean it will be nice if the B&W on the Zf is particularly good, but why are you talking as if it's something new?

 

[Rhaegar]

not with existence of actual monochrome cameras

 

[LennyLevino]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

It's not the same thing as a real monochrome camera (without a Bayer filter). These have 3x the resolution and light gathering compared to a Zf. This is just a black and white jpeg filter.

 

[Ainisru]

Personally I think in camera B&W Jpegs sometimes act as a good preview, I'd generally look to do my own RAW conversion afterwards, being able to quickly jump to B&W sounds like a nice option though.

If Nikon did some magic with the B&W modes, some folks will use the Zf extensively in those modes.

Fuji and Ricoh have quite a following with that and did a wonderful job. Yes, you can always do great conversions, but if the built modes do a lot of the heavy lifting, they can be an amazing artistic tool.

Robert

I have to also give a shout out to Panasonic's various monochrome profiles, they are just gorgeous.

The only time I bother trying B&W on my Nikon is if I have the Fujifilm Neopan picture profile from nikonpc.





The fact we finally have multiple B&W modes straight from the camera is such a nice addition.

--
I like cameras, they're fun.

 

[mobydick]

I really like what I have seen so far from the Zf. But this B&W mode seems to be just a user interface convenience, nothing technically advanced.

B&W is also available on the other Z cameras, although with fewer image processing presets.

 

[Michiel953]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

But how would this dedicated dial produce different results than the various Picture Control settings of other Nikon cameras?

 

[mrbr]

According to reports, the Zf has advanced monochrome capabilities, including three different black and white modes. Lucy Hamidzadeh (

) has posted impressive street photography from London using these effects, including lovely portraits. The sensor is of course a Bayer CMOS, and these effects are secondary to advanced in camera conversion, as found in some Fuji cameras. As others have pointed out, these monochrome outputs are only available in JPEG, and the Zf still records a RAW color version.

Does this mean that Nikon software engineers have found the secret sauce which lets the Zf challenge cameras with deBayered monochrome sensors and still record a color RAW version ? It would be a lot cheaper for a black and white fanatic than carrying a Leica monochrome plus a Leica color version round your neck.

But how would this dedicated dial produce different results than the various Picture Control settings of other Nikon cameras?

IMO probably they are new (creative) picture controls with new possibilities to fine-tune the result.

We have to wait for the Zf users manual and the first serious reviews to learn more.

--
Greetings,
Marc

 

[thorben19]

I used to be Nikon D800 Fan and then moved mirrorless to Sony A7 iii. I recently sold the Sony as I never seemed to enjoy how to use that device.

I am rather excited about a nice button-equipped Nikon with great autofocus.

The B&W mode I just simply can't comprehend. How can a Nikon Zf ever compete with ever updated and AI-supported Lightroom or Photoshop to make B&W in post processing. I am sure I am ignorant here, just really curious to understand what's the benefit to shoot in B&W.