The Nikon Zf pairs a full-size SD slot with a smaller microSD slot, and how you configure them affects more than storage. Here's how to set overflow, backup, and RAW/JPEG splits properly, plus a backup-mode setting that can silently stop 4K60p video recording.
Like other newer Nikon cameras, the Nikon Zf has a built-in battery check feature. This isn't so much about showing how much charge is left in the battery (although it does that). More interestingly, it can tell you when the battery has reached the end of its working life and is ready to be put out to pasture.
Unlike many other recent Nikon cameras, the Nikon Zf has only one method for formatting the memory cards. Here's how to do it.
A collection of real-world Nikon Zf sample images, shot in RAW across the mixed and variable lighting typical of street and travel photography, then lightly processed to show the camera's true output.
The Nikon Zf's native ISO runs from 100 to 64,000 — but what does that look like on an actual sensor? Here are unedited, straight-out-of-camera RAW and JPG samples across that range, with downloadable files for your own side-by-side comparisons.
Straight-out-of-camera Nikon Zf images from ISO 3200 up to 64,000, shot side by side so you can judge for yourself where the noise becomes a problem — with the native ISO range and full RAW files included.
The Nikon Zf has excellent composition tools, but they are turned off out of the box. From the classic Rule of Thirds to the new vertical video guides added in Firmware v3.00, here is the two-step process to get them on your screen.
Unlike the Z8, the Nikon Zf exposes its sensor every time you change a lens. Here is how to ensure the ultrasonic cleaning cycle runs automatically to try to keep those pesky dust bunnies from spoiling your shots.
The new v3.00 firmware adds Film Grain and Bird Detection to your Zf, but you have to install it manually. Here is the step-by-step guide to updating without bricking your camera or losing your settings.
Changed a Nikon Zf setting and can't remember the original value? Here's every menu's default for Firmware v3.01, plus the new menu items v3.00 added, so you can roll back just what you need.
The Nikon Zf isn't just for single frames. With its compact size and excellent stabilization, it is a surprisingly capable tool for shooting high-resolution panoramas on the go. Here is the setup I use to capture them without a tripod.
Back-button focus is one of the most useful ways to configure a camera, allowing you to lock focus and reframe without the camera hunting every time you press the shutter. But because of its minimalist, retro design, the Nikon Zf is missing a dedicated AF-ON button. Fortunately, getting this functionality back is just a quick two-step menu tweak. Here is exactly how to repurpose the Zf's AE-L/AF-L button for focus, and how to configure an alternative button so you don't lose the ability to lock your exposure.
The Nikon Zf pairs a fast UHS-II SD slot with a slower UHS-I microSD slot, a mismatch that can quietly cripple your buffer or video recording if you pick the wrong cards. Here are the best cards for each slot and how to avoid the Backup Mode bottleneck.
My name is David Coleman, and this is my site. I take photos for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Underwater. And a bunch of places in between. I'm based in Washington, D.C.
This site is where I post practical photography help, tips, and troubleshooting.
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