Enter the retro-cool and featured-packed Nikon Z fc camera! Lovers and fans of Nikon are certainly familiar with the company’s rich history, and it is difficult not to get excited when the camera’s design team breaks out a brand-new digital camera with a look and feel that harkens back to the days of the Nikon film photography era and its line of 35mm cameras that set a photographic standard for decades. While it looks like it rolled fresh off of the Nikon FM2 production line, the new Z fc is a DX-sensor (APS-C) digital powerhouse with all of the features and specs you’d expect from a modern digital camera.
The Nikon Z fc is the newest member of Nikon’s mirrorless interchangeable-lens Z line of cameras. The Z fc’s APS-C sensor sports 20.9MP and is powered by the Nikon EXPEED 6 processor. ISO range goes from ISO 100-51200 with expandability up to 204800 when needed. Video shooters can enjoy 4K recording at 30 fps using the full sensor—no cropping. Slow-motion videos at 120 fps in HD 1080p are also available, as is 4K time-lapse shooting for up to 8 hours. The Z fc also features 20 creative shooting modes for those looking for some extra fun and magic in their shots, as well as human and animal eye-detect autofocus modes.
The Z fc’s USB-C charging and data port allows for tethered shooting, external powering of the camera, and battery charging. This allows you to shoot stills and videos well past your battery life as long as you are plugged into power. Also, the camera is ready to be your next awesome webcam with speedy USB-C data transfer and a built-in microphone jack.
The last time Nikon went retro it was with the Nikon Df camera—still available—that paired the D4’s full-frame sensor and processor with a retro design—even down to the non-italicized Nikon logo—a nice touch, and a feature seen on today’s new Z fc, as well. Riding atop the Z fc’s body are separate dials for dialing up shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation. A digital readout shows your selected settings so you can read them all before you bring the camera to your eye.
In incorporating the retro look with the Z fc, the DX sensor allowed the package to stay small and easily portable. Weighing only 14 oz, the camera features a 3" Vari-Angle LCD screen that flips out and faces forward for vlogging and selfie fun. The OLED electronic viewfinder clocks in at 2360K pixels, and the camera has a full Wi-Fi feature suite for transferring files or allowing the camera to be controlled remotely.
Being released along with the Z fc is a matching silver version of the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens, the smallest and lightest Z-mount lens available—weighing just 4.8 oz. Its 24-75mm full-frame equivalent field of view makes it a perfect all-purpose lens. This silver version is also available with the camera as a kit.
Another addition to the Z-mount DX lineup is the new Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR—the Z DX version of the “all-in-one-zoom.” With an equivalent focal length of 27-210mm that takes you from wide-angle to telephoto, this is an ideal travel companion to the Z fc and other DX Z system cameras.
Also available with the Z fc is a Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition lens that is a non-DX lens, suitable for full-frame Z cameras while giving Z fc shooters the normal field of view of a 42mm full-frame lens.
With the Z fc, Nikon brings a balance of features and tech to the DX side of the Z-mount system with the added flair of a beautiful retro design.
What are your thoughts on the new camera’s design and features? Let us know in the Comments section, below!
