So glad I discovered your channel! Great video! I got the Z fc last week after pre-ordering it, and couldn't be happier. I love the handling (I'm surprised how well it handles despite not having a handgrip) and how light weight it is. Perfect walk around camera for causal use, but could also do more serious work too. My other cameras are a Z 6 and D850.
And I'm glad you discovered my channel! Welcome! Nice to hear from another Z fc owner. I used to own a D850 before moving to the Z7. Best DSLR there was and probably still is IMHO. :-)
Would this make a good camera for somebody that starts out just using it as a point and shoot but want to learn how to use the manual settings as you go
This was one of the best reviews on this camera, but I would love to see more photos with the 16-50mm and not all those expensive lenses. After all, most of us will buy the kit lens and we already know that if you pair an ok camera with very good glass you are going to get amazing results.
Thanks Nek, that's great to hear. Yes, I do very much appreciate your point regarding lens choice. The main reason I didn't shoot more with the 16-50mm is that I don't have a filter adaptor ring for that size lens (it's just 46mm), and I shoot a lot with filters. :-)
Hello, thank you for this review! The quality of your video is excellent, the part where you film yourself with the zfc + 24-70mm f4 is pretty astonishing. I find the quality akin to what we see on TV, for example a documentary film. The bokeh is not too harsh, which is a very good choice given the superb landscape behing you. The colors are excellent and it is really sharp.
Best review of this camera that I have seen, Julian. And thanks for looking past the "retro" look since so many reviews are seduced by the looks and fail to go into the depth you have. Wonderful shots you have captured (Monty great!) and thanks for offering the idea that this would be a great backup to Z7 and Z6. Wished that it had IBS(next version will)as well, but for landscape photography when the majority of shots would be on a tripod anyways, less of an issue. Have to plan a trip to Cornwall.
I have had a number of Nikon cameras from film to DSLRs and I love them, but, unfortunately, I never got past the Auto mode. My Nikons always gave me great photos, and I used them to photograph my paintings (I am an artist in oil), and needed a camera that provided sharpness, no distortion of the subject or painting I was photographing, and excellent color/value. Nikon has always delivered for me, so I can only imagine how much more I will get from my camera if I really take the time to learn how to use its many features with ease. I just received my new Nikon Z fc today, and I am excited to get started. I realized I had not ordered a memory card, so I did that today. Thank you for your video! This is my first mirrorless camera, and I think for a newby to the mirrorless cameras now available on the market, I have a good feeling about this one. It will be hard for me to get used to having another device (other than my iPhone) to take photos on the fly, and I hope that I won't get tired of this camera for most all my future landscape photos and photos of my family. Again, thank you for your video! I especially got a kick out of your "niggles."
Firstly, thanks so much for watching the video. I'm glad you enjoyed. Next, congratulations on your purchase of a Z fc. I hope you memory card has arrived. I'm sure you're going to love the Z fc. It's a great camera. I'm just getting mine ready for a long walk on Dartmoor this afternoon. It may take a little while to get used to compared to your phone, but given you've used Nikon DSLRs, I doubt you'll have too many problems. Have fun with it! :-)
@@jbairdexp I got the memory card and have been using the camera getting used to it. I noticed today that when I was taking pictures of my grandson, I adjusted the exposure so that it was correct, and then the exposure would change without my doing anything, either switch to too dark or too light and washed out, so I'd have to adjust it again to correct it. Have you had that problem?
Sounds like you might be shooting in one of the automatic modes? If you are the camera will change the exposure on what it thinks is best. For taking shots of people I would change the metering mode to centre/spot so the camera exposes for the face rather than the entire scene. Or shoot in manual mode.
My first camera in 1980 was the F3 so I really was drawn to the styling of this camera, besides of course all the other tech specs and the fact that I can use the Z lenses from my Z 7ii. Wanted a lightweight walk around camera for the city and family trips. Just got it a week ago and so far plan to use primarily the 16-50mm silver kit lens and my Z 50mm f1.8 (75mm) for low light city shots and portraits. I really like it and it's a perfect complement to the Z 7ii - thanks for the video to help confirm it was a good choice....
@@jbairdexp Julian, thanks. My post must have jinxed it. Camera died on me last night after only a week. Will return it. Have had many many Nikons over the decades and never had one go bad. Disappointed as I was looking forward to it. Still have my Z7ii...
@@gerryphilpott9766 So sorry to hear that. Can't say I've ever had any real failure of a Nikon. Shame it's a camera in short supply....will you get another one?
@@jbairdexp Neither have I. I love my Z 7ii for just about everything. I'll wait on the Zfc for a few months to see how it's going, or look at the XT-3 from Fuji as it is recently discounted and I can get one lens (24-120mm F4 eq) that will cover my needs for why I bought the Zfc. City/Family/Walk around.
Thanks. Excellent review of the use of the camera with just the right amount of tech specs and “what Nikon could have done differently.” It’s on my short list for the video and family reasons you bought it.
Great review, very interesting. I went through a similar sort of exercise. I already had a Z 5 and wanted a crop sensor Nikon to replace my D 7100 so, after much research, I decided on the Z 50. I just wondered why you went for the Z fc over the Z 50, especially as the z 50 is very similar but with better weather sealing (or so I've been led to believe) and a more robust body.
I bought the Z fc most for creating videos rather than shooting stills, and at the time the Z fc was the only Nikon Z camera that had a flippy out screen that also captured 4K video. I had the Z7 for stills photography.
I was a nikon user and for almost exact reasons as yours I bought an olympus em5 mark iii. It has more than all the features of zfc and z7 combined, plus amazing stabilizer and weather sealing. Lots of my landscape images taken by oly sell very well online. I still like this zfc for its look.
Thanks for watching Ben and for taking the time to leave a comment. We all pick our cameras for different reasons. As long as we have a camera that suits our needs, that's the main thing. 👍
Thanks for the video I've watched this after purchasing one and it's made me feel less anxious about whether it was a good move or bad move. Seems good enough for me
Thanks for the review. Personally I decided to bite the bullet and go fully mirrorless after having the Z7ii for a while and hardly getting my DSLR out. So I've sold the D850 and bought the Z fc as a second body. I can use all my Z and F lenses, it is small and light plus, silly as it may sound, that 'flippy' screen really helps when you're doing ground/low level macro shots in portrait mode. So far very happy I've made the switch although I think I may have to fork out another 120 quid for the R-1 grip and I find the F stop 'window' very small and hard to see.
Thanks for watching Robert, and nice to hear from another Z fc owner. :-) I completely agree with your thoughts on the flippy out screen. The f-stop window is a bit useless and perhaps why I completely forgot to mention it! :-)
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Thank you for this video. I have just bought this camera and will get it delivered in four days time. This is my first ever mirrorless camera, so looking forward to trying that out. Previously an avid film photographer, I had to sell most of my camera stuff a few years ago do to circumstances I won't go into, but am now slowly getting into photography again. I am mainly a portrait photographer but am also looking at shooting some local sports with it. I do not own any previous 'Z' lenses so bought the kit with the 16-50mm and 50-250mm and I am sure that's all I need for now. A lot of money to spend for someone like myself but still a good price for what, seems to be, a really good camera. Thanks again!
And thank you for watching Anna. Great to hear you are getting into photography again. I'm sure you'll love the Z fc. As I said in the video, it's a feature packed camera so plenty of room to grow into, especially coming from film and going mirrorless. Both the lenses you have picked will likely serve you very well for years. I'm very much enjoying the 16-50mm myself. I'm testing a couple of 3rd party lenses at the moment, one of which you might be interested in for portraits, so stay tuned. Happy shooting! :-)
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@@jbairdexp I shall definitely stay tuned for a video on 3rd party lenses. I’d love a ‘nifty fifty’ eventually :) I’m so pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the 16-50mm as I was wondering about it but, as it’s a fairly new release, I couldn’t find too much information about it. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it :)
I love this camera , I preordered it and still waiting to get it , I love the retro style and video , time lapse feature, I wish if Nikon’s add IBIS , I love the new eye detection and face detection, I am wild life photographer, that featured will help me for sure , plus C caple ,easy to charge even when you use it like on timlapse situation 🤗, thank you so much for sharing this nice video about that awesome Nikon Zfc 💞
Hi Julian, a very thorough review and enjoyable to watch. I'm still in the cheap seats with a D3500, but its very interesting to understand the more superior kit, so I'm better prepared for when I can afford some. Keep up the good work, I learn all the time from your videos ... and thanks for sharing.
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the review. The D3500 is a good camera and capable of producing great shots. Thanks for watching and thanks for the support. :-)
Thank you Clive....I don't have the camera to hand, but I'm pretty sure can....in fact, you can see it in the video here - th-cam.com/video/PuoWRkGFAvI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mxW7yYDZ1_vbi3Hp&t=1126 Hope this helps! :-)
Very exciting Colin, I hope you get your camera soon. I did originally order the camera kit with the 28mm lens, but the body only was more readily available and jumped in with that. I may well pick up the 28mm at a later date though. :-)
Great review Julian. I'm looking to buy a mirrorless camera and this model falls within my budget. Stills are more a priority than video and being a hillwalker, landscapes rather than portraits. Researching the market, I'd narrowed the choice down to Fuji's XT30 / XT3. A lot of similarities in design, the retro style with the dials appeals to me , there's probably little difference in image quality, I imagine. I'm sure there will be some camera comparisons out there in due course...
Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed the review. To be honest, there really isn't such a thing as a bad camera these days. They all produce great images. Much of it comes down to how the camera feels in your hands. Good luck with your search! :-)
Thanks Julian, I enjoyed the video. I love the retro dials as I used a Nikon F for many years. I now use Olympus E-M5 mk 3. I changed to Oly for reduced weight from DSLR in 2012 in early days. Obviously I will not be changing but if I were to be buying now the IBIS and full weather sealing would be deal breakers. I love being able to leave tripod behind if I am not taking time exposures. Sorry for the rant. I really think Nikon has a good camera and I don't think anyone would be disappointed from what you have said.
Hey Donald, don't apologise...didn't sound like a rant to me....like I said in the video, everyone has different requirements! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. :-)
Hi Julian, thanks for the great video. I have a Z fc and was wondering what are the exact model/system of filters you use in this video. I've been on the Kase website but the options are a bit confusing and I want to be sure I get the right system.
Hi John, glad you like the video and congrats on your Z fc. I use the Kase Filters K9 100mm system - kasefilters.com/kase-wolverine-100mm-system/ref/JulianB/ The Kase Armour 100mm system is the same but it uses magnetic filter holders instead. :-)
Looks every bit as good as it should be Julian. I am stuck in old F-mount territory and cannot justify the switch. I have a full frame and a crop sensor that use the same battery so the DX camera is a good 2nd body on long distance trips. I find using FX lenses on the DX body gives great image quality. Looks like the same applies with the Z series too. Those 14-30mm image look very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Tor. Finally having a camera for video that shares the same lenses as my other cameras is proving to be very beneficial (and more cost efficient). :-)
Hi Julian, your landscape pictures on this camera are amazing, and I appreciate you taking the time to gather your thoughts on the camera for your personal use, it was super helpful. I'm currently shooting with a D500 and I'm absolutely in love with it, but there are times where I wish I could carry a smaller and lighter body; video capability is an added bonus for me, but it is certainly nice to have. Considering that the camera does not have an output for audio, I was wondering if you tried connecting a USB-C headphones jack dongle to the usb port to see if it allows for audio monitoring?
Thank you so much, glad you liked the images. I haven't tried using USB-C connected headphones but I'm pretty sure I read or watched somewhere that it doesn't. I can't test either as I don't currently own that type of adapter. :-)
Hi Julian, nice review on the quite tempting Zfc but I’ll continue to flesh out my Z6ii kit for now. I’ve been watching some of your 5 minute video around Cornwall and have been to Trevose Head and Bedruthan Steps this week. I am now thinking of treating myself to a new tripod and although I also watched your K&F tripod video, I’m more interested in the Gitzo (mountaineer?) you use. I’d be interested to know which one you use and if you have any quick thoughts on it. So nice to watch someone shoot in areas you know or can get to easily and isn’t a full time photographer. Thanks for sharing your work!
Hi Simon, glad you liked it, thanks. :-) OK tripods, I use the Gitzo (GT2532) for most of my landscape work. I use the K&F as my video tripod. However, if I want a lightweight, more compact setup, I will use the K&F as my main tripod.
Thanks very much for the video - Really useful. Have you got any advice on where I can learn properly about using the different dials etc? I’m just starting out and it’s rather daunting! Thank you
Hey Helena, glad you enjoyed the video. :-) I can totally appreciate how it might all seem daunting at first. Everyone starts at the same point though, so you're not alone. There are so many ways to learn these days. If you want learn the basics then FroKnowsPhoto does an excellent, and free, introduction course - froknowsphoto.com/11days But if you want to focus on something like landscape photography, I can probably make a few more specific recommendations, particularly if you live in the UK. :-)
Looks like a nice addition Julian, I shot Nikon for about 40 years and only changed to Fujifilm a couple of years ago as Nikon did not have an affordable Mirrorless back then, although I am seriously considering switching back to Nikon. Thanks for sharing, PS I love the styling very similar to my XT30.
Thorough review Julian, really wish I only wanted a camera for those subjects! Tooth fairy has paid a visit, I need to get my thinking cap on 😁 next vlog…how big can I print from my Z fc … EDIT…I pulled the trigger on a Z fc 😁
Thanks Julian for the great review and the beautiful landscapes! I really enjoyed watching this video and it was an opportunity to discover your facebook page and blog. I'm excited about this camera and I'm seriously considering buying it for travel photography and for video recording. One thing I couldn't find in the manual or anywhere else: Does the Z fc record video in full manual mode? I need to have a manually set aperture and shutter and just use the ISO to adjust brightness. Thanks!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it and that you found my blog as a result. 👍 Yes, you can record video in manual mode. It's what I do. I set exposure to 1/50th, dial in the aperture I want, and then use the ISO to get the correct exposure. 😎
Looks like it plays well with the 14-30 -- fair to assume that the same is true for the other lenses? Also -- Monty seems like a very cool, chill, dog. Neat shot.
Thanks for watching. Yes, no issues with any of my other lenses. It just happens that the 14-30mm is my favourite! Monty is a legend...glad you like the shot. :-)
Thanks for watching Philip. I wasn't aware that the Z50 was messing focus shift....it seems that Nikon have decided to include as much as possible in terms of functionality with the Z fc. :-)
Excellent review. Wish we could get away from the term crop sensor though. It's APSC. Crop sensor could refer to anything below full frame, not just APSC. In fact to be really picky, if you're a medium format photographer then full frame is a crop sensor :-)
Thanks Julian, an interesting review and reason you bought this camera. Have you tried the 50-200 kit lens thats offered? I’m considering this model or Z50 to go with my Z7, which like you I mainly use for landscape work. Keep up the good work, I do enjoy your videos although it can be expensive as I bought the 24-200 after seeing your review!!
Thanks for watching David. No, I haven't tried the 50-200. As you know I have the 24-200 so there seemed little point in purchasing a lens that covers the same focal range. Apologies that my channel is costing you money though! lol :-)
How unfortunate! Last week after much contemplation, I finally took the plunge and traded in my D700 for an Z7ii with kit lens and 14-30, primarily for landscape photography. If only you had released this video earlier I could have saved some money. I have had a hard look at the Z50 but decided on the Z7ii as I never thought that the former would be so good for landscapes.
I wouldn't say that. The Z7 II is a very different beast compared to the Z fc. As I said in the video, I thought it was fairly pointless to do a direct comparison. With the Z7 II and the 14-30 you have a fantastic landscape setup. You'll appreciate the extra resolution and ISO 64. :-)
@@SRC1711 Two different lenses that serve different purposes. What I will say is that you will benefit greatly from having as much Z glass as you can get. I haven't heard a Z mount lens that isn't sharper than its F mount equivalent.
I strongly recommend the 10-20 AFP VR DX lens for either the Z50 or the Zfc. I have been using it sucessfully with the D5600. The lightest landscape camera kit, I would say. The results are surprisingly sharp!
Granted, both the D500 and D850 were, and will probably remain some of the best DSLRs out there. But tech moves on. That aside, how everyone defines best is also personal. Depends on what you are looking for in a camera. :-)
Hi David, yes, sure you can ask! It's a standard K&F head that comes with the tripod and the Z fc has a Small Rig bracket attached which has a built in arca-swiss compatible plate - amzn.to/3tHt18t
Sorry David, I got my previous response incorrect. The tripod bit is right, but the plate on the camera is the plate that came with my Benro geared head.
Hi Julian, thanks for a clear and objective video on the Z fc. I’m a newbie, but I want to do video and every day family photos. In terms of video, I’m considering starting a channel. I’ve been looking at the Z 50, but as you noted, the Z fc has several improvements. You mentioned the dials (reminds me of an old Olympus SLR I bought from Dixons, 40 years ago!) and you mentioned the command menu. I’m guessing the command menu will override the dial settings. My question is, does the Z fc have the same auto set programmes that are for various types of photos/videos that Z 50 has? Thanks
My pleasure glad you liked it. In terms of the command dials and the physical dials, it does depend on the dial, but for the one that does shutter speed, you turn the physical dial to a certain setting then that allows you to use the command dial. Not sure about the auto-programme modes to be honest. I would expect so but you can get manuals for both cameras on line, so a quick search on both should give you the answer you are looking for. I would be surprised if they don't have the same modes though. 👍
Hi, I just bought this camera with the Nikon Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) lens. Do you reckon I should buy the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50 f3.5/-6.3 SE VR lens while I am at it so I have another lens option? I will mostly use this camera for day to day use, so do you think the 28mm 2.8 lens does the job? By the way, great video. Well done review!
Thanks Haaken, glad you enjoyed the review. :-) Options are always good, and I think the 16-50mm is a great lens. So you'd have a fast prime with the 28mm, and a more versatile, but variable aperture zoom lens. Seems like a good combination to me. BTW - I would have purchased the 28mm with my Z fc, but at the time I would have had to have waited for both of them because the lens was delayed so I just went body only (and bought a used 16-50mm). Hope that helps.
How did you adjust the video taken with the Z fc in post? It looks amazing for such a small device that cannot record in log. Which picture control setting did you use while recording?
I do very little to nothing with the video out of the Z fc in post. Maybe if I get the exposure a little wrong I might perform an exposure adjustment. I almost always shoot in Standard picture profile. I rarely feel the need to grade my footage. And to be honest, the Flat picture profile doesn't give you that much more wiggle room in post. I'm normally happy with the way it looks straight out of the camera.
Hi Julian - Come back to this video to refresh my memory. I want to pick up a second camera - contemplating this the Nikon Z fc or Nikon z5 - What's your thoughts on the fc 6 months later?
Hey, still very happy with it. As with any camera, there are a couple of minor niggles, but these are generally inherent with Nikon cameras than anything specific with the Z fc. It could perhaps do with another custom function button. And if you shoot as much video as I do, the battery is a bit small. As you can fold away the LCD screen (so you can't see it), I sometimes forget the switch the camera off as there are no proper indicators to tell you the camera is off.. Overall though, I do love it.
@@jbairdexp Ah ok, think I'll go down the z5 route - want to keep the z6 on the 200-500 and pair another camera with the z24-120. Cheers for your input mate!
@@danielalt7508 Hi Daniel, unfortunately I don't get given cameras to test, so I generally only do videos on cameras I own. (Exceptions being the Z9 and GFX100S I rented/loaned). All I can really do is share my experiences of using my own cameras rather than do comparisons and make recommendations. That aside, I love my Nikon Z fc and I continue to use it to this day to make all my TH-cam videos. But how it compares to the XS10 I don't know. :-)
I really liked your video.. I was looking for videos to help choose between z5 and z6 but this sorta throws zfc in the mix. So here I ask you.. zfc or z5 simply coz they are very close in terms of cost .. your opinion?
Thank you, glad you liked you like my video so much. For me, the decision to purchase the Z fc was focused around its video capabilities. In particular, the flippy out screen which is really useful for solo video creators like me. If the primary use your camera is going to be for stills, and you can budget for the lenses, then I'd take any of the full frame Z cameras over the Z fc....not that the Z fc is poor when it comes to stills...far from it. It's a hard question to answer as I'm not you, so best I can suggest is to look at the capabilities of each camera, the lenses available and pick the best one for you. At the end of the day, none of the Z cameras are bad, it's just some of them will do some things better than another. Which ever you buy, you'll still end up with a great camera.👍
@@jbairdexp yup very subjective but I feel like your video and answer has pushed me to go for z5 with zfc as a second body for Christmas if I am a good boy .. lol. Seriously thanks for the reply .. subbed.. and appreciation from 🇧🇷
@@saopaulosoul8714 Will that would be a great camera combination. I have both the Z7 and Z fc, and wouldn't be without either. Let's hope you are on Santa's good boy list then! And thanks for subbing....welcome to my channel. :-)
Cheers Andrew, great to hear you liked the review so much. 👍 I bet you can't wait for tomorrow! Ireland I'm ashamed to say is a place I have yet to visit....I must change that! :-)
Hey Andrew, a good question! In the context of this video, crop refers to the sensor size. In short, you have full frame digital cameras which have a sensor size of 35mm. Crop sensor cameras (DX, ASP-C) have a smaller size sensor. I think this video will explain it better - th-cam.com/video/7oNd6U-qry0/w-d-xo.html However, if you are new to photography, do not worry about your sensor size. Crop sensor cameras are more than capable of capturing wonderful images. Something like the Nikon Z fc will offer you years of progression for your photography.
you mention that you have focus peaking on the Zfc, are you sure? I can't find how to do that. I thought it's only available for Z6 and Z7. Can you share how you activate the peaking mode, please? Thanks.
Julian, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Nikon Z fc. Your use case for the camera is exactly what I was thinking about doing. The time-lapses look amazing, and the stills are what I have come to expect from Nikon. I have a couple of questions for you. Have you tried low-light video recording, and if so, what are your thoughts on the quality and usability of the footage? Do you know, or have you tried powering the camera from the USB-C port? Thanks again for sharing your experiences with the camera. Monty poses so well for you.
Hey Craig, thanks for watching. I haven't used the video in really low light, but I don't anticipate any problems. I have however tried powering the camera with USB-C....works a treat...I powered it using USB when I plugged it in as a webcam. Monty is a pro-poser for sure! :-)
Hi Michael, generally speaking, yes. The camera has plenty of automatic modes and functions, but at the same time the manual controls are there as well. So you should be able to get good shots out of the box, but there is plenty of room to expand your skills as you progress.
I realise that you are a landscape photogpaher, but may I ask what you do with all the photos? Do you sell them? Put them in a photo book Print them and put them on your walls Just keep them on a hard drive? Just asking...
I do all of those things! :-) If you have a look through my channel you'll find videos on creating photo books, printing and displaying photographs etc. But for the most part the photographs are captured for me rather than for commercial gain. I just like taking photos and sharing my stories on TH-cam :-)
I personally love the retro style and for me the perfect way to make me think more about my settings. My wife has preordered her version to back up her Z6 and we can’t wait to get our hands on one. I bought myself a fugi X100V last year when it came out because I wanted a small pocketable retro camera but can see myself selling this for the Zfc. Very enjoyable video and thank you for your thoughts 👍
suddenly everyone's complaining about camera size and weight.. the Z50/fc yes, if you go casually shooting outside, some landscape, trips and"family"photos.. but the D500 blows it and alwaya will.. action, sport, wildlife, landscape, you name it.With a bad back, I would rather take the Z50/fc on a mountain.. but the D500 gives the confidence as solid and reliable gear, and the AF is second to none.. f**k me if I m not right.
Can you make your content inclusive by formatting the auto captioning into closed captioning please? it is extremely hard to watch it relying only on the auto captioning sadly (I'm Profoundly Deaf), hence why I and others don't subscribed.
Hi Edward, thanks for highlighting the requirement for accurate captioning. I have previously written captions for videos before, but as an amateur photographer who does this in his spare time, I sometimes have to rely on auto captioning. I do appreciate this makes my videos less accessible or inaccessible to some viewers though.
@@jbairdexp they're easier nowadays than in the past, other youtube have managed to do so, it doesn't need to be 100% perfect, just simply formatted; th-cam.com/video/tWbNrm7Jo5c/w-d-xo.html
@@edscoble Hi Edward, it still takes a lot of time to do, especially on a longer form video like this. However, I would like this video to be accessible for as many people as I can, so I am now actively working on correcting the captioning for this video. I'll let you know when it's complete. Thanks again for raising this. I can't promise I'll manage it for every video, but I will raise the priority of captioning in my videos. :-)
Hi Edward, just to let you know that I've published a revised set of captions. Sorry it's taken so long. At 3700+ words, it takes a bit of time. Hope you find them useful.
@@jbairdexp I really appericate this, as this not only made it accessible for those like me but also will increase your view count and everyone else actually will find it useful (such as watching on the train with no headphone, or someone whose first language isn't English, etc.), i hope you'll be able to make it a regular access
The problem with Nikon is the lens prices. Have a few very good ones but that ecosystem was killed by Nikon and are not compatible with Z. The body okay, but investing my hard earned money again in basically the same lenses is silly and not sustainable 😮. I should punish them and switch to Fuji 😊.
There's always the the FTZ adaptor and there are plenty of 3rd party Z mount lenses which offer great value (some of which I use myself). The good thing is that we have choice....lots of choice.....even Fuji ;-)
Nikon has so manu FM & FE shell bodied because they couldn't film cameras. To survive Canon & Nikon have to sell beginners & amateurs cameras. Because no fools or pros want to pay a pro camera hitting over $8911.00. Have to seen an 80ws speedlite that Canon wants $1,100.00?
You can check out my other Nikon Z mirrorless gear in this handy playlist - th-cam.com/play/PLJU6FMi6Tvo-KpVXfLc8t8i86HfBo1S8t.html
Definitely the most practical review of the Zfc and really is a cost effective second Z camera.
Thanks Scott, much appreciated. :-)
So glad I discovered your channel! Great video! I got the Z fc last week after pre-ordering it, and couldn't be happier. I love the handling (I'm surprised how well it handles despite not having a handgrip) and how light weight it is. Perfect walk around camera for causal use, but could also do more serious work too. My other cameras are a Z 6 and D850.
And I'm glad you discovered my channel! Welcome! Nice to hear from another Z fc owner. I used to own a D850 before moving to the Z7. Best DSLR there was and probably still is IMHO. :-)
Would this make a good camera for somebody that starts out just using it as a point and shoot but want to learn how to use the manual settings as you go
Thank you for the most useful review I've seen of this camera to date!
Thank you, most kind of you to say! 😎😀
This was one of the best reviews on this camera, but I would love to see more photos with the 16-50mm and not all those expensive lenses. After all, most of us will buy the kit lens and we already know that if you pair an ok camera with very good glass you are going to get amazing results.
Thanks Nek, that's great to hear. Yes, I do very much appreciate your point regarding lens choice. The main reason I didn't shoot more with the 16-50mm is that I don't have a filter adaptor ring for that size lens (it's just 46mm), and I shoot a lot with filters. :-)
Yes 🔥
Agreed! best video for the Z fc yet - thanks Julian!
Hello, thank you for this review! The quality of your video is excellent, the part where you film yourself with the zfc + 24-70mm f4 is pretty astonishing. I find the quality akin to what we see on TV, for example a documentary film. The bokeh is not too harsh, which is a very good choice given the superb landscape behing you. The colors are excellent and it is really sharp.
Thank you so much! Glad you like the review and appreciated the video quality. :-)
What a cracking bit of kit.
It's nice to see that all of the Z7 lenses are compatible.
Eye detection looked brilliant.
Nice to see Monty posing again.
Cheers Tim, yep I'm pretty happy with it. Ticks a lot of boxes. Monty is a pro-poser! lol
Rly great review, I couldn't find anywhere if z fc has focus shift. That is awesome news for me. Thanks mate.
Thank you! Glad I could help and that you enjoyed the review. :-)
Excellent review, in one of the most beautiful locations imaginable! Most enjoyable Julian
Thank you so much Craig! Much appreciated and yes, Dartmoor is a special place. :-)
Best review of this camera that I have seen, Julian. And thanks for looking past the "retro" look since so many reviews are seduced by the looks and fail to go into the depth you have. Wonderful shots you have captured (Monty great!) and thanks for offering the idea that this would be a great backup to Z7 and Z6. Wished that it had IBS(next version will)as well, but for landscape photography when the majority of shots would be on a tripod anyways, less of an issue. Have to plan a trip to Cornwall.
Thank you David, most kind of you to say! Glad you found it useful and enjoyed the photos. :-) You'd love Cornwall.
I have had a number of Nikon cameras from film to DSLRs and I love them, but, unfortunately, I never got past the Auto mode. My Nikons always gave me great photos, and I used them to photograph my paintings (I am an artist in oil), and needed a camera that provided sharpness, no distortion of the subject or painting I was photographing, and excellent color/value. Nikon has always delivered for me, so I can only imagine how much more I will get from my camera if I really take the time to learn how to use its many features with ease. I just received my new Nikon Z fc today, and I am excited to get started. I realized I had not ordered a memory card, so I did that today. Thank you for your video! This is my first mirrorless camera, and I think for a newby to the mirrorless cameras now available on the market, I have a good feeling about this one. It will be hard for me to get used to having another device (other than my iPhone) to take photos on the fly, and I hope that I won't get tired of this camera for most all my future landscape photos and photos of my family. Again, thank you for your video! I especially got a kick out of your "niggles."
Firstly, thanks so much for watching the video. I'm glad you enjoyed. Next, congratulations on your purchase of a Z fc. I hope you memory card has arrived. I'm sure you're going to love the Z fc. It's a great camera. I'm just getting mine ready for a long walk on Dartmoor this afternoon. It may take a little while to get used to compared to your phone, but given you've used Nikon DSLRs, I doubt you'll have too many problems. Have fun with it! :-)
@@jbairdexp I got the memory card and have been using the camera getting used to it. I noticed today that when I was taking pictures of my grandson, I adjusted the exposure so that it was correct, and then the exposure would change without my doing anything, either switch to too dark or too light and washed out, so I'd have to adjust it again to correct it. Have you had that problem?
Sounds like you might be shooting in one of the automatic modes? If you are the camera will change the exposure on what it thinks is best. For taking shots of people I would change the metering mode to centre/spot so the camera exposes for the face rather than the entire scene. Or shoot in manual mode.
Always enjoy your videos, I’ve just bought a z50 as my first mirrorless camera, it’s amazing!
Thank Hilary and congrats on the purchase of your Z50. Happy shooting!
A clear talking short interesting film about the Nikon Zfc thanks
Thanks Cliff! :-)
Excellent video 😮!
Thank you very much. :-)
Great video explaining the camera features… recently purchased myself the Nikon Zfc and really happy with camera:))
Thanks Keith, I appreciate you watching and always good to hear from a fellow Z fc owner. :-)
My first camera in 1980 was the F3 so I really was drawn to the styling of this camera, besides of course all the other tech specs and the fact that I can use the Z lenses from my Z 7ii. Wanted a lightweight walk around camera for the city and family trips. Just got it a week ago and so far plan to use primarily the 16-50mm silver kit lens and my Z 50mm f1.8 (75mm) for low light city shots and portraits. I really like it and it's a perfect complement to the Z 7ii - thanks for the video to help confirm it was a good choice....
Cheers Gerry, always nice to hear from a fellow Z fc owner! Glad you are enjoying the camera. :-)
@@jbairdexp Julian, thanks. My post must have jinxed it. Camera died on me last night after only a week. Will return it. Have had many many Nikons over the decades and never had one go bad. Disappointed as I was looking forward to it. Still have my Z7ii...
@@gerryphilpott9766 So sorry to hear that. Can't say I've ever had any real failure of a Nikon. Shame it's a camera in short supply....will you get another one?
@@jbairdexp Neither have I. I love my Z 7ii for just about everything. I'll wait on the Zfc for a few months to see how it's going, or look at the XT-3 from Fuji as it is recently discounted and I can get one lens (24-120mm F4 eq) that will cover my needs for why I bought the Zfc. City/Family/Walk around.
Great video and review. If more review videos looked as good as yours, I might never leave TH-cam. Thank You!
lol, cheers Brian, you are too kind!! 👍😎
Thanks. Excellent review of the use of the camera with just the right amount of tech specs and “what Nikon could have done differently.” It’s on my short list for the video and family reasons you bought it.
Thanks Jim, great to hear you found the review excellent. Good luck with your decisions!
Great review, very interesting.
I went through a similar sort of exercise. I already had a Z 5 and wanted a crop sensor Nikon to replace my D 7100 so, after much research, I decided on the Z 50. I just wondered why you went for the Z fc over the Z 50, especially as the z 50 is very similar but with better weather sealing (or so I've been led to believe) and a more robust body.
I bought the Z fc most for creating videos rather than shooting stills, and at the time the Z fc was the only Nikon Z camera that had a flippy out screen that also captured 4K video. I had the Z7 for stills photography.
I was a nikon user and for almost exact reasons as yours I bought an olympus em5 mark iii. It has more than all the features of zfc and z7 combined, plus amazing stabilizer and weather sealing. Lots of my landscape images taken by oly sell very well online. I still like this zfc for its look.
Thanks for watching Ben and for taking the time to leave a comment. We all pick our cameras for different reasons. As long as we have a camera that suits our needs, that's the main thing. 👍
I have two D850s and Its always intrigued me to buy a street camera but this one really has me excited
I used to own a D850 - best DSLR ever (probably). There's a lot to like about the Z fc. :-)
Great photos and videos. Think you have made the most sober review of this camera here on TH-cam, good job.
Thanks for watching and glad you liked the video. :-)
Thanks for the video I've watched this after purchasing one and it's made me feel less anxious about whether it was a good move or bad move. Seems good enough for me
Thank you for watching. I still use my Z fc on a regular basis. It's a great camera. :-)
@jbairdexp that's good to hear. I'm going to try macro on mine with the dcr 250 raynox wish me luck 😅
Thanks for the review. Personally I decided to bite the bullet and go fully mirrorless after having the Z7ii for a while and hardly getting my DSLR out. So I've sold the D850 and bought the Z fc as a second body. I can use all my Z and F lenses, it is small and light plus, silly as it may sound, that 'flippy' screen really helps when you're doing ground/low level macro shots in portrait mode. So far very happy I've made the switch although I think I may have to fork out another 120 quid for the R-1 grip and I find the F stop 'window' very small and hard to see.
Thanks for watching Robert, and nice to hear from another Z fc owner. :-) I completely agree with your thoughts on the flippy out screen. The f-stop window is a bit useless and perhaps why I completely forgot to mention it! :-)
Thank you for this video. I have just bought this camera and will get it delivered in four days time. This is my first ever mirrorless camera, so looking forward to trying that out. Previously an avid film photographer, I had to sell most of my camera stuff a few years ago do to circumstances I won't go into, but am now slowly getting into photography again. I am mainly a portrait photographer but am also looking at shooting some local sports with it. I do not own any previous 'Z' lenses so bought the kit with the 16-50mm and 50-250mm and I am sure that's all I need for now. A lot of money to spend for someone like myself but still a good price for what, seems to be, a really good camera. Thanks again!
And thank you for watching Anna. Great to hear you are getting into photography again. I'm sure you'll love the Z fc. As I said in the video, it's a feature packed camera so plenty of room to grow into, especially coming from film and going mirrorless. Both the lenses you have picked will likely serve you very well for years. I'm very much enjoying the 16-50mm myself. I'm testing a couple of 3rd party lenses at the moment, one of which you might be interested in for portraits, so stay tuned. Happy shooting! :-)
@@jbairdexp I shall definitely stay tuned for a video on 3rd party lenses. I’d love a ‘nifty fifty’ eventually :) I’m so pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the 16-50mm as I was wondering about it but, as it’s a fairly new release, I couldn’t find too much information about it. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it :)
I love this camera , I preordered it and still waiting to get it , I love the retro style and video , time lapse feature, I wish if Nikon’s add IBIS , I love the new eye detection and face detection, I am wild life photographer, that featured will help me for sure , plus C caple ,easy to charge even when you use it like on timlapse situation 🤗, thank you so much for sharing this nice video about that awesome Nikon Zfc 💞
Thank you for watching and great to hear that you've ordered the camera....hope you don't have to wait too long. :-)
Hi Julian, a very thorough review and enjoyable to watch. I'm still in the cheap seats with a D3500, but its very interesting to understand the more superior kit, so I'm better prepared for when I can afford some. Keep up the good work, I learn all the time from your videos ... and thanks for sharing.
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the review. The D3500 is a good camera and capable of producing great shots. Thanks for watching and thanks for the support. :-)
Yes I personally am shooting with the d3500 as well. And been considering jumping to mirrorless. Stuck on the fence of this or the fujifilm xt4.
Great video Julian, Just one question: can you get s live histogram in the view finder on the zfc camera?
Thank you Clive....I don't have the camera to hand, but I'm pretty sure can....in fact, you can see it in the video here - th-cam.com/video/PuoWRkGFAvI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mxW7yYDZ1_vbi3Hp&t=1126 Hope this helps! :-)
Thanks for sharing this great review👍
And thank you for watching Michael! 👍
I’m from India.. Thank you 🙏🏻 for… valuable information sir… I recently bought Zfc. Enjoying photography with this
Hello India, always nice to hear from viewers all over the globe! Glad you enjoyed the video and that you like your Z fc. :-)
Awaiting delivery of mine to complement my Z7II, my reasons are all the same as yours plus I get a super low cost 28mm FX lens.
Very exciting Colin, I hope you get your camera soon. I did originally order the camera kit with the 28mm lens, but the body only was more readily available and jumped in with that. I may well pick up the 28mm at a later date though. :-)
Good looking camera so far and a strong addition to your kit bag 👍
Thanks for watching Andrew, and yes, a good addition to the kit bag. :-)
Thanks a nice review
Ive got a DSLR D5500 (with flippy screen) and keen to move to mirrorless.
So the Zfc will be great
Glad you liked it. The Z fc would be a great upgrade from the D5500. A big jump in capabilities and features. :-)
Not only is this an amazing review but I love the vibes that you’ve captured through the photos and music!
Thank you, that is most kind of you to say! 👍😀
Julian, for longer battery life you can plug a usb external battery and power the camer that way, granted another wire in front of the flip screen.
Cheers Gerald. Powering the camera with USB is also useful when using the camera as a webcam.
Great review Julian. I'm looking to buy a mirrorless camera and this model falls within my budget. Stills are more a priority than video and being a hillwalker, landscapes rather than portraits. Researching the market, I'd narrowed the choice down to Fuji's XT30 / XT3. A lot of similarities in design, the retro style with the dials appeals to me , there's probably little difference in image quality, I imagine. I'm sure there will be some camera comparisons out there in due course...
Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed the review. To be honest, there really isn't such a thing as a bad camera these days. They all produce great images. Much of it comes down to how the camera feels in your hands. Good luck with your search! :-)
Thanks Julian, I enjoyed the video. I love the retro dials as I used a Nikon F for many years. I now use Olympus E-M5 mk 3. I changed to Oly for reduced weight from DSLR in 2012 in early days. Obviously I will not be changing but if I were to be buying now the IBIS and full weather sealing would be deal breakers. I love being able to leave tripod behind if I am not taking time exposures. Sorry for the rant. I really think Nikon has a good camera and I don't think anyone would be disappointed from what you have said.
Hey Donald, don't apologise...didn't sound like a rant to me....like I said in the video, everyone has different requirements! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. :-)
Thank you for this review Julian, this was really helpful! ☺️
That's great to hear, thanks! :-)
Hi Julian, thanks for the great video. I have a Z fc and was wondering what are the exact model/system of filters you use in this video. I've been on the Kase website but the options are a bit confusing and I want to be sure I get the right system.
Hi John, glad you like the video and congrats on your Z fc. I use the Kase Filters K9 100mm system - kasefilters.com/kase-wolverine-100mm-system/ref/JulianB/ The Kase Armour 100mm system is the same but it uses magnetic filter holders instead. :-)
@@jbairdexp Thanks Julian!
Nice review but as always I’m ever impressed by your filmmaking for your videos… excellent
Thanks Ian, and great to hear you appreciate the effort I put into the production of my videos. :-)
Looks every bit as good as it should be Julian. I am stuck in old F-mount territory and cannot justify the switch. I have a full frame and a crop sensor that use the same battery so the DX camera is a good 2nd body on long distance trips. I find using FX lenses on the DX body gives great image quality. Looks like the same applies with the Z series too. Those 14-30mm image look very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Steve, nothing wrong with old f-mount! Good glass rules so yes, FF Z glass on a crop body will make the most of that DX sensor. :-)
Thanks. I'm also looking at the fc for video/vlogging. I have a GH4, but it doesn't pair well with my Z6II :)
Cheers Tor. Finally having a camera for video that shares the same lenses as my other cameras is proving to be very beneficial (and more cost efficient). :-)
Hi Julian, your landscape pictures on this camera are amazing, and I appreciate you taking the time to gather your thoughts on the camera for your personal use, it was super helpful.
I'm currently shooting with a D500 and I'm absolutely in love with it, but there are times where I wish I could carry a smaller and lighter body; video capability is an added bonus for me, but it is certainly nice to have. Considering that the camera does not have an output for audio, I was wondering if you tried connecting a USB-C headphones jack dongle to the usb port to see if it allows for audio monitoring?
Thank you so much, glad you liked the images. I haven't tried using USB-C connected headphones but I'm pretty sure I read or watched somewhere that it doesn't. I can't test either as I don't currently own that type of adapter. :-)
Hi Julian, nice review on the quite tempting Zfc but I’ll continue to flesh out my Z6ii kit for now.
I’ve been watching some of your 5 minute video around Cornwall and have been to Trevose Head and Bedruthan Steps this week. I am now thinking of treating myself to a new tripod and although I also watched your K&F tripod video, I’m more interested in the Gitzo (mountaineer?) you use. I’d be interested to know which one you use and if you have any quick thoughts on it.
So nice to watch someone shoot in areas you know or can get to easily and isn’t a full time photographer. Thanks for sharing your work!
Hi Simon, glad you liked it, thanks. :-) OK tripods, I use the Gitzo (GT2532) for most of my landscape work. I use the K&F as my video tripod. However, if I want a lightweight, more compact setup, I will use the K&F as my main tripod.
Thanks very much for the video -
Really useful. Have you got any advice on where I can learn properly about using the different dials etc? I’m just starting out and it’s rather daunting! Thank you
Hey Helena, glad you enjoyed the video. :-) I can totally appreciate how it might all seem daunting at first. Everyone starts at the same point though, so you're not alone. There are so many ways to learn these days. If you want learn the basics then FroKnowsPhoto does an excellent, and free, introduction course - froknowsphoto.com/11days But if you want to focus on something like landscape photography, I can probably make a few more specific recommendations, particularly if you live in the UK. :-)
Looks like a nice addition Julian, I shot Nikon for about 40 years and only changed to Fujifilm a couple of years ago as Nikon did not have an affordable Mirrorless back then, although I am seriously considering switching back to Nikon. Thanks for sharing, PS I love the styling very similar to my XT30.
Cheers John, yes a nice welcome addition to my kit bag. It will be a tough decision to move back to Nikon...I know Fuji owners love their cameras! :-)
Thorough review Julian, really wish I only wanted a camera for those subjects! Tooth fairy has paid a visit, I need to get my thinking cap on 😁 next vlog…how big can I print from my Z fc … EDIT…I pulled the trigger on a Z fc 😁
Thanks Paul.....good to hear that the tooth fairy has been....decisions, decisions, decisions eh! :-)
@@jbairdexp going to be interesting finding out how it feels on the end of a Nikkor 200-500 😅
@@CookedLight Very front heavy I would imagine! lol
Thanks Julian for the great review and the beautiful landscapes! I really enjoyed watching this video and it was an opportunity to discover your facebook page and blog.
I'm excited about this camera and I'm seriously considering buying it for travel photography and for video recording. One thing I couldn't find in the manual or anywhere else: Does the Z fc record video in full manual mode? I need to have a manually set aperture and shutter and just use the ISO to adjust brightness.
Thanks!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it and that you found my blog as a result. 👍 Yes, you can record video in manual mode. It's what I do. I set exposure to 1/50th, dial in the aperture I want, and then use the ISO to get the correct exposure. 😎
@@jbairdexp That's great news! Thanks again for being so helpful. :)
Looks like it plays well with the 14-30 -- fair to assume that the same is true for the other lenses?
Also -- Monty seems like a very cool, chill, dog. Neat shot.
Thanks for watching. Yes, no issues with any of my other lenses. It just happens that the 14-30mm is my favourite! Monty is a legend...glad you like the shot. :-)
I’d like to add this ZFc to my Z5 kit as soon as the budget allows. The Z50 has been passed over because of the lack of focus shift. Cheers Julian👍🙂
Thanks for watching Philip. I wasn't aware that the Z50 was messing focus shift....it seems that Nikon have decided to include as much as possible in terms of functionality with the Z fc. :-)
@M Tech As I said in the video, everyone's requirements and views will be different. :-)
Excellent review. Wish we could get away from the term crop sensor though. It's APSC. Crop sensor could refer to anything below full frame, not just APSC. In fact to be really picky, if you're a medium format photographer then full frame is a crop sensor :-)
Cheers Iain. I get your point...it's a tricky one to balance between being technically accurate and what is commonly used. :-)
Thanks Julian, an interesting review and reason you bought this camera. Have you tried the 50-200 kit lens thats offered? I’m considering this model or Z50 to go with my Z7, which like you I mainly use for landscape work. Keep up the good work, I do enjoy your videos although it can be expensive as I bought the 24-200 after seeing your review!!
Thanks for watching David. No, I haven't tried the 50-200. As you know I have the 24-200 so there seemed little point in purchasing a lens that covers the same focal range. Apologies that my channel is costing you money though! lol :-)
How unfortunate! Last week after much contemplation, I finally took the plunge and traded in my D700 for an Z7ii with kit lens and 14-30, primarily for landscape photography. If only you had released this video earlier I could have saved some money. I have had a hard look at the Z50 but decided on the Z7ii as I never thought that the former would be so good for landscapes.
I wouldn't say that. The Z7 II is a very different beast compared to the Z fc. As I said in the video, I thought it was fairly pointless to do a direct comparison. With the Z7 II and the 14-30 you have a fantastic landscape setup. You'll appreciate the extra resolution and ISO 64. :-)
I already have the 20 mm 1.8 Afs Fx, so need I upgrade to 14-30?
@@SRC1711 Two different lenses that serve different purposes. What I will say is that you will benefit greatly from having as much Z glass as you can get. I haven't heard a Z mount lens that isn't sharper than its F mount equivalent.
I strongly recommend the 10-20 AFP VR DX lens for either the Z50 or the Zfc. I have been using it sucessfully with the D5600. The lightest landscape camera kit, I would say. The results are surprisingly sharp!
There's a lack of DX Z mount lenses at the moment. I'm fortunate as I can use my FF Z mount glass.
Enjoyed a lot this video! Considering to buy one. Do you know if I can use my old lenses from the Nikon F3 with an FTZ adapter?
Hey Pedro, thanks for watching. I've not personally used the FTZ adaptor, but as far as I'm aware, it works with all F mount lenses.
Nikons best crop sensor camera is and will always be the D500. The cameras not a one of them can hold its game even close to what a D500 can do.
Granted, both the D500 and D850 were, and will probably remain some of the best DSLRs out there. But tech moves on. That aside, how everyone defines best is also personal. Depends on what you are looking for in a camera. :-)
Looks a great camera and if Fuji didn't exist it would be the camera I would shoot with.
Thanks. I understand....Fuji owners love their cameras. :-)
Hi Julian, can I ask what Arca Swiss plate you have on the K&F concept tripod
Hi David, yes, sure you can ask! It's a standard K&F head that comes with the tripod and the Z fc has a Small Rig bracket attached which has a built in arca-swiss compatible plate - amzn.to/3tHt18t
Sorry David, I got my previous response incorrect. The tripod bit is right, but the plate on the camera is the plate that came with my Benro geared head.
Hi Julian, thanks for a clear and objective video on the Z fc. I’m a newbie, but I want to do video and every day family photos. In terms of video, I’m considering starting a channel. I’ve been looking at the Z 50, but as you noted, the Z fc has several improvements. You mentioned the dials (reminds me of an old Olympus SLR I bought from Dixons, 40 years ago!) and you mentioned the command menu. I’m guessing the command menu will override the dial settings. My question is, does the Z fc have the same auto set programmes that are for various types of photos/videos that Z 50 has? Thanks
My pleasure glad you liked it. In terms of the command dials and the physical dials, it does depend on the dial, but for the one that does shutter speed, you turn the physical dial to a certain setting then that allows you to use the command dial. Not sure about the auto-programme modes to be honest. I would expect so but you can get manuals for both cameras on line, so a quick search on both should give you the answer you are looking for. I would be surprised if they don't have the same modes though. 👍
Thanks Julian for taking the time to answer. We need more calm, knowledgeable content from people like you.
Hi, I just bought this camera with the Nikon Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) lens. Do you reckon I should buy the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50 f3.5/-6.3 SE VR lens while I am at it so I have another lens option? I will mostly use this camera for day to day use, so do you think the 28mm 2.8 lens does the job? By the way, great video. Well done review!
Thanks Haaken, glad you enjoyed the review. :-) Options are always good, and I think the 16-50mm is a great lens. So you'd have a fast prime with the 28mm, and a more versatile, but variable aperture zoom lens. Seems like a good combination to me. BTW - I would have purchased the 28mm with my Z fc, but at the time I would have had to have waited for both of them because the lens was delayed so I just went body only (and bought a used 16-50mm). Hope that helps.
How did you adjust the video taken with the Z fc in post? It looks amazing for such a small device that cannot record in log. Which picture control setting did you use while recording?
I do very little to nothing with the video out of the Z fc in post. Maybe if I get the exposure a little wrong I might perform an exposure adjustment. I almost always shoot in Standard picture profile. I rarely feel the need to grade my footage. And to be honest, the Flat picture profile doesn't give you that much more wiggle room in post. I'm normally happy with the way it looks straight out of the camera.
Love the retro styling of this; reminds me of the Nikon FE & FM I owned before going digital. Shame the Z7ii doesn't have the 3x3 framing grid.
It's a cool looking camera for sure. I thought the Z7 II did have the 3x3 grid?
@@jbairdexp can't seem to find it in the menu system ☹️
@@paulburwood8231 I think you are right....had a look in the Z7 II manual and there is no reference to turning on a 3x3 grid. :-(
@@jbairdexp a real shame; hopefully it will be addressed with a firmware update.
@@paulburwood8231 You would hope so. No reason why it couldn't be pushed out to the Z7 as well. :-)
great camera, great review :)
Thank you Obed, most kind of you to say! :-)
Sticking with the Nikon D7500 which I find tougher against weather elements while offering better ergonomics.
Shoot with the camera that makes you happy and fits your needs. 😀👍
Hi Julian - Come back to this video to refresh my memory. I want to pick up a second camera - contemplating this the Nikon Z fc or Nikon z5 - What's your thoughts on the fc 6 months later?
Hey, still very happy with it. As with any camera, there are a couple of minor niggles, but these are generally inherent with Nikon cameras than anything specific with the Z fc. It could perhaps do with another custom function button. And if you shoot as much video as I do, the battery is a bit small. As you can fold away the LCD screen (so you can't see it), I sometimes forget the switch the camera off as there are no proper indicators to tell you the camera is off.. Overall though, I do love it.
@@jbairdexp Do you miss the IBIS? I have native Z lenses without VR so could be a problem for me.
@@GingerPhotographer Not really, as I very rarely shoot/video handheld. For anything properly casual I use the DX 16-50 VR lens.
@@jbairdexp Ah ok, think I'll go down the z5 route - want to keep the z6 on the 200-500 and pair another camera with the z24-120. Cheers for your input mate!
2:40 does this "record" in RAW meaning that the video can be shot in RAW ?
Hi Daniel, no, RAW only refers to sill images. You're not likely to see a camera at this price point having raw video recording.
@@jbairdexp Oh gotcha. Btw, have you tested the fujifilm xs10 and would you recommend it or nikon zfc for video making?
@@danielalt7508 Hi Daniel, unfortunately I don't get given cameras to test, so I generally only do videos on cameras I own. (Exceptions being the Z9 and GFX100S I rented/loaned). All I can really do is share my experiences of using my own cameras rather than do comparisons and make recommendations. That aside, I love my Nikon Z fc and I continue to use it to this day to make all my TH-cam videos. But how it compares to the XS10 I don't know. :-)
@@jbairdexp thank you.
I really liked your video.. I was looking for videos to help choose between z5 and z6 but this sorta throws zfc in the mix. So here I ask you.. zfc or z5 simply coz they are very close in terms of cost .. your opinion?
Thank you, glad you liked you like my video so much. For me, the decision to purchase the Z fc was focused around its video capabilities. In particular, the flippy out screen which is really useful for solo video creators like me. If the primary use your camera is going to be for stills, and you can budget for the lenses, then I'd take any of the full frame Z cameras over the Z fc....not that the Z fc is poor when it comes to stills...far from it. It's a hard question to answer as I'm not you, so best I can suggest is to look at the capabilities of each camera, the lenses available and pick the best one for you. At the end of the day, none of the Z cameras are bad, it's just some of them will do some things better than another. Which ever you buy, you'll still end up with a great camera.👍
@@jbairdexp yup very subjective but I feel like your video and answer has pushed me to go for z5 with zfc as a second body for Christmas if I am a good boy .. lol. Seriously thanks for the reply .. subbed.. and appreciation from 🇧🇷
@@saopaulosoul8714 Will that would be a great camera combination. I have both the Z7 and Z fc, and wouldn't be without either. Let's hope you are on Santa's good boy list then! And thanks for subbing....welcome to my channel. :-)
Really, really, really great review and I’m only half way though it. I’m getting mine Wednesday. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪. Ill subscribe to your page
Cheers Andrew, great to hear you liked the review so much. 👍 I bet you can't wait for tomorrow! Ireland I'm ashamed to say is a place I have yet to visit....I must change that! :-)
What does crop mean? You mention it towards the end ? I’m new to photography and this will be my first proper camera
Hey Andrew, a good question! In the context of this video, crop refers to the sensor size. In short, you have full frame digital cameras which have a sensor size of 35mm. Crop sensor cameras (DX, ASP-C) have a smaller size sensor. I think this video will explain it better - th-cam.com/video/7oNd6U-qry0/w-d-xo.html However, if you are new to photography, do not worry about your sensor size. Crop sensor cameras are more than capable of capturing wonderful images. Something like the Nikon Z fc will offer you years of progression for your photography.
you mention that you have focus peaking on the Zfc, are you sure? I can't find how to do that. I thought it's only available for Z6 and Z7. Can you share how you activate the peaking mode, please? Thanks.
Hi Dian, sure, it's Custom Settings Menu | D9 :-)
Fantastic review, but I'd try to even the audio levels a bit, as the music part is 'attacking' me 😅
Noted! :-)
Can you tell me how well it shoots wildlife?
Unfortunately as a landscape photographer I'm not well qualified to talk about the cameras performance when shooting wildlife. :-)
How does an ND filter fit on the lens that comes with the z fc? I don’t understand that because I see no threads on it
The Nikkor Z 16-50mm comes with a standard 46mm thread on it.
Julian, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Nikon Z fc. Your use case for the camera is exactly what I was thinking about doing. The time-lapses look amazing, and the stills are what I have come to expect from Nikon. I have a couple of questions for you. Have you tried low-light video recording, and if so, what are your thoughts on the quality and usability of the footage? Do you know, or have you tried powering the camera from the USB-C port? Thanks again for sharing your experiences with the camera. Monty poses so well for you.
Hey Craig, thanks for watching. I haven't used the video in really low light, but I don't anticipate any problems. I have however tried powering the camera with USB-C....works a treat...I powered it using USB when I plugged it in as a webcam. Monty is a pro-poser for sure! :-)
Would you recommend this camera for a beginner ?
Hi Michael, generally speaking, yes. The camera has plenty of automatic modes and functions, but at the same time the manual controls are there as well. So you should be able to get good shots out of the box, but there is plenty of room to expand your skills as you progress.
You are a very likeable man. Know that you are loved
Cheers
I realise that you are a landscape photogpaher, but may I ask what you do with all the photos?
Do you sell them?
Put them in a photo book
Print them and put them on your walls
Just keep them on a hard drive?
Just asking...
I do all of those things! :-) If you have a look through my channel you'll find videos on creating photo books, printing and displaying photographs etc. But for the most part the photographs are captured for me rather than for commercial gain. I just like taking photos and sharing my stories on TH-cam :-)
I personally love the retro style and for me the perfect way to make me think more about my settings. My wife has preordered her version to back up her Z6 and we can’t wait to get our hands on one. I bought myself a fugi X100V last year when it came out because I wanted a small pocketable retro camera but can see myself selling this for the Zfc. Very enjoyable video and thank you for your thoughts 👍
I bet you are both excited to get your hands on one. Did you order a body only or one with a kit? Glad you enjoyed the video. :-)
which you prefer? z30 or zfc?
I don't own a Z30 so I can't make a personal comparison, but given the Z fc has a viewfinder and the Z30 doesn't, I'll take the Z fc.
The video AF looks very sticky on the Z fc. 👍
So far so good Victor. :-)
please state the settings on your photos
I do when they are relevant to the content of the video. :-)
d7200 is the best Nikon crop, amen!
Best is always subjective. :-)
suddenly everyone's complaining about camera size and weight.. the Z50/fc yes, if you go casually shooting outside, some landscape, trips and"family"photos.. but the D500 blows it and alwaya will.. action, sport, wildlife, landscape, you name it.With a bad back, I would rather take the Z50/fc on a mountain.. but the D500 gives the confidence as solid and reliable gear, and the AF is second to none.. f**k me if I m not right.
I guess I'm longer a weirdo? 😜
Have you ever recording 1hour 4K video by Zfc?
Hi, not in a contiguous block. And besides it has a max record time of 29 mins in 4K for a single clip.
Why keep buying crop @ss3d cameras systems in 2021? t
Why not? Not everyone can afford or needs a full frame camera. It's always good to have options IMHO. :-)
I went to check this camera out the other day it felt like a plastic toy compared to other nikon cameras.
It's definitely has more plastic than my Z7, but I wouldn't say it felt like a toy. :-)
Can you make your content inclusive by formatting the auto captioning into closed captioning please? it is extremely hard to watch it relying only on the auto captioning sadly (I'm Profoundly Deaf), hence why I and others don't subscribed.
Hi Edward, thanks for highlighting the requirement for accurate captioning. I have previously written captions for videos before, but as an amateur photographer who does this in his spare time, I sometimes have to rely on auto captioning. I do appreciate this makes my videos less accessible or inaccessible to some viewers though.
@@jbairdexp they're easier nowadays than in the past, other youtube have managed to do so, it doesn't need to be 100% perfect, just simply formatted; th-cam.com/video/tWbNrm7Jo5c/w-d-xo.html
@@edscoble Hi Edward, it still takes a lot of time to do, especially on a longer form video like this. However, I would like this video to be accessible for as many people as I can, so I am now actively working on correcting the captioning for this video. I'll let you know when it's complete. Thanks again for raising this. I can't promise I'll manage it for every video, but I will raise the priority of captioning in my videos. :-)
Hi Edward, just to let you know that I've published a revised set of captions. Sorry it's taken so long. At 3700+ words, it takes a bit of time. Hope you find them useful.
@@jbairdexp I really appericate this, as this not only made it accessible for those like me but also will increase your view count and everyone else actually will find it useful (such as watching on the train with no headphone, or someone whose first language isn't English, etc.), i hope you'll be able to make it a regular access
The problem with Nikon is the lens prices. Have a few very good ones but that ecosystem was killed by Nikon and are not compatible with Z. The body okay, but investing my hard earned money again in basically the same lenses is silly and not sustainable 😮. I should punish them and switch to Fuji 😊.
There's always the the FTZ adaptor and there are plenty of 3rd party Z mount lenses which offer great value (some of which I use myself). The good thing is that we have choice....lots of choice.....even Fuji ;-)
@@jbairdexp if one can afford it.... It's not like it has become cheaper right?
@@gabs0r nope, everything is more expensive these days. Even the cost of petrol makes me think twice before I head out with the camera!
Nikon has so manu FM & FE shell bodied because they couldn't film cameras.
To survive Canon & Nikon have to sell beginners & amateurs cameras.
Because no fools or pros want to pay a pro camera hitting over $8911.00.
Have to seen an 80ws speedlite that Canon wants $1,100.00?
I'm not sure I really follow your point?
Great vid, but stop swallowing your saliva mid sentence!
Possibly the strangest comment I've ever had....lol But thanks for the tip/heads up. :-)