We finally get to have a go with Nikon’s retro-inspired mirrorless camera, but is it just a Z 50 in a vintage chassis?
£899/$959.95 (body only) The Nikon Z fc’s retro good looks are inspired by a 1980s SLR, but beneath that vintage veneer is a mirrorless camera that’s almost identical to 2019’s Z 50. Here’s how they compare...
The Nikon Z fc is built to capitalize on consumers’ appetite for retrothrowback products and as soon as we held the camera’s angular magnesium-alloy chassis in our hands and twiddled the machinedaluminium dials, we were sold. Such is the beauty of the body and physical nature of the controls, you can lose yourself marvelling at the design and twisting knobs long before switching the camera on. Beneath the retro-chic veneer, you’ll find an APS-C mirrorless camera that’s almost a reskin of 2019’s Nikon Z 50. And while the Z fc does feature some welcome updates, the biggest differences are the aesthetic of the body and the presence of the first fully articulated rear LCD screen on a Z camera.
Despite the similarities to its modernlooking APS-C sibling, the Z fc could be considered the spiritual successor to the Nikon Df. This 2013 full-frame DSLR bears little relation to its smaller 2021 counterpart, bar its vintage looks and the ‘f’ in its name (which stands for fusion). But while the Df courted a more professional audience, the ‘c’ in Z fc stands for casually.
The burning question then is whether or not the Z fc’s style is enough to compete with the Z 50’s lower price tag...
Key features
The Z fc isn’t a carbon copy of the Z 50, but when you look under the hood it’s pretty darn close. Both cameras share the same 20.9Mp APS-C CMOS sensor with low-pass filter and Nikon’s EXPEED 6 image processor. The Z fc also gets the Z 50’s excellent 209-point hybrid AF system and comes equipped with Eye-detection AF and Animal-detection AF (for stills and video). Just like the Z 6/7II it also boasts Wide-area AF for humans and animals, and beats the Z 50 in low-light performance (-4 EV), by focusing down to -4.5EV.
Both cameras share the same, highly respectable 11fps max continuous shooting speed, along with identical 4K video recording capabilities. That means the Z fc can record UHD 3840x2160 footage at a max 30fps using the full width of the sensor, so your 4K footage isn’t cropped to a narrower field of view.
While the Z fc inherits the Z 50’s 0.39inch 2360k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, it does offer something different when it comes to the rear LCD screen, a fullyarticulating touchscreen display. It’s a tad smaller than the screen on the Z 50 (3-inch vs 3.2-inch) but arguably more practical, especially for selfies and vlogging.
This marks the first time Nikon has put a vari-angle screen on one of its Z cameras, and it’s something the Z 50 could have benefitted from.
A notable omission from the Z 50 is the Z fc’s lack of a built-in flash. This isn’t particularly surprising, since it would have slightly compromised the camera’s good looks. While this will inevitably deter some, if you really can’t do without flash, at least there’s a handy hotshoe mount. Diving into the menu system reveals a few more subtle differences, such as the inclusion of Focus Shift Shooting (not available on the Z 50). It’s also worth pointing out that the Z 50’s Scene modes (SCN) are absent, but not necessarily missed. If you’re operating the Z fc fully automatic, you’re not getting the full-retro experience…
Build and handling
This is where the Z fc differs from every other camera in the current Nikon line-up. That angular chassis screams vintage Nikon SLR and is specifically modelled after the 1982 Nikon FM2 (complete with classic etched Nikon logo). In fact, the controls on the top panel are laid out just like the 1980s SLR and, for many, this handsome trio of machined-aluminium dials will be worth the price of admission alone.
Our unit featured a black leather-look texture and at the time of writing is the only colour available from major Uk-based camera retailers. However, the Nikon USA website is offering six additional colour variants, which we can only imagine will make their way to UK shores eventually.
When it comes to handling, it’s worth remembering that camera control schemes have moved away from top dials for a reason. They’re not nearly as accessible as a front and rear command dial – of which the Z fc still has two. And yet, if you insist on ignoring those beefy physical dials, you’re missing out on what this camera is all about. Think super-long, chrome-ridden Cadillac vs the Z 50’s practical and comfortable SUV. The Z fc isn’t a camera that’s going to accompany you during trudges through muddy fields and it might not be the practical camera that accompanies you on a serious shoot. But it
is a camera that begs to be picked up
and it is a camera that will delight those who remember the heyday of film, and intrigue those who never experienced it.
The Z fc feels high quality. The silver top plate is metal – though the bottom plate is plastic – and each aluminium dial rotates with intent via a satisfying click. We have no way of telling how they’ll hold up after extended use, but as of right now, you’re in no danger of accidentally nudging a dial and changing your settings. Next to the exposure compensation dial is an unusual two-digit LCD display. The sole function of this tiny window is to indicate the aperture, which gives you a quick reference point and does a good job of compensating for the lack of a dedicated aperture ring, missing from the Z-mount lenses, although the manual focus ring can be assigned this function when in AF mode.
On the rear of the camera, you’ll find a feature not present on any other Z camera: a fully articulating touchscreen. Out in the field it quickly becomes apparent how useful this is beyond just vlogging. The ability to flip out the camera when shooting at awkward angles can’t be understated, especially when using a device that’s suited to street and travel photography.
The button layout on the back is standard fare. You’ll find the same buttons as on the Z 50, but the layout is slightly different and the touch-assigned DISP, zoom-in and zoom-out icons are physical buttons.
The Z fc might just be the best-looking camera on the market right now, but this does impact the body’s real-world functionality. The large diameter of the Z mount and the lack of a proper hand grip provides precious little room in which to grasp the body with one hand. The supplied strap is essential then.
Performance
As you’d expect from a camera that shares the same sensor and image processor as the Z 50, image quality is very similar and virtually indistinguishable out in the field. DX cameras have had higher resolutions, but the payoff of a smaller 20.9Mp sensor is enhanced dynamic range and low-light performance, due to the marginally larger photosites spread across the same APS-C sensor size vs one of a higher resolution.
A resolution of 5568x3712 pixels isn’t a huge reduction on a typical 6000x4000 shot from a 24Mp sensor. Consequently the
Z fc is more than capable of resolving a great deal of fine detail. Crank the sensitivity past ISO3200 and noise is clearly visible when images are viewed at 100%. This can be smoothed out with High ISO Noise Reduction, but fine textures, like fabrics, can be lost in the process. And yet, even with noise reduction disabled, the grain is fine enough not to be distracting.
Dynamic range is excellent, especially with Nikon’s Active D-lighting enabled, and the Z fc’s default Matrix metering mode does a fine job of accurately exposing shots in tricky lighting scenarios. The camera’s AF capabilities are a slight step up from the Z 50. AF was extremely fast and reliable when shooting with the bundled DX 16-50mm kit lens, whether that be shooting in low light or when capturing fast-moving subjects.
The only real challenge when shooting comes down to the aforementioned grip (or lack of). At 575g (with DX 16-50mm attached) the Z fc is heavier than the Z 50 and we found ourselves supporting the camera with both hands for it to feel secure. Ultimately though, the FM2 didn’t have a grip either and in pursuit of delivering an authentic homage, we can’t fault Nikon here. But it’s certainly worth noting.
Verdict
The Nikon Z fc is an unapologetically retro camera with all the mod cons you’d expect from a mirrorless Z camera. The aluminium dials are a joy to operate and there’s an argument all future enthusiast Z cameras would benefit from having a fully articulating screen. We could split hairs over the lack of an in-built flash and ergonomic grip – both present in the cheaper Z 50 – but they might have compromised the aesthetics. Make no mistake, the Z fc looks so good it’s worth displaying when not in use.