ReviewZf as my only digital body: a few months in

Sold the D750 and the 24-120 last month, so the Zf is now the only digital body in the house. Thought I'd write up how it's going for anyone on the fence, since it comes up here fairly often.

The dials are the reason I bought it and they haven't got old. ISO and shutter on top, exposure comp where my thumb expects it, and with the 40mm f/2 on the front the whole thing feels like a camera rather than a computer. On a fell walk it hangs off my shoulder all day and I genuinely forget it's there, which never happened with the D750 and the 24-120.

Things I'd change: the grip is shallow once you put anything bigger on it. The 24-70 f/4 feels front heavy, so I bought a small add-on grip and that's sorted it. I'd also have liked the AF point joystick a little firmer, but that's nitpicking. Battery gets me through a day on the moors with one spare in the pocket.

The black and white switch is a toy. I use it more than I'd like to admit.

If you mainly shoot slow things in nice places, it's a lovely camera. If you shoot your kid's football, buy something with a grip and stop reading reviews of this one.

Lovely camera, but you could have had all that on a used A7 III for half the money... and before you say it, yes, I know, the dials.

Genuinely though, good write-up. The bit about forgetting it's on your shoulder is the only review that matters. Most people's 'best camera' is the one they stopped noticing. Just saying

tomthurlow said:

before you say it, yes, I know, the dials

Yes. The dials. I did warn everyone I'd defend them...

the FM2 shape is why i keep looking at one. its basically my FM2 with autofocus isnt it

HannahC41 said:

its basically my FM2 with autofocus isnt it

More or less. A fair bit heavier, though, and you feel it at the end of a long day. The shutter speed dial and ISO dial are where your FM2 hands expect them, and the 40mm f/2 is about the same size as a 50 on the FM2, so it'll feel familiar straight away. Pick one up before you decide.

I tried in shop in Kraków and grip was too small for my hands even with small lens. My little finger was hanging under the camera. For street with 40mm I understand it, for mountains with 24-120 or a tele I would go crazy after one day.

But I agree about the dials, it is nice to see all settings without switching camera on. Maybe Nikon will make Zf with real grip one day, then I'm interested.