Nikon J2 Review
Aide Broeckel
Here we are in a new year and to start out this year of 2024 I already have my 2nd camera review here on these pages! One for the Nikon Zf (this review) and one for the Hasselblad 907x 100C that I just recently reviewed. I think in all of 2023 I did maybe 3 camera reviews so it appears that 2024 may see a return to me doing more with cameras as well as continuing my audio reviews.
This is what it is all about for me. If I am going to WANT to use a camera it must be one I enjoy using. It has to offer nice handling, have simple menus and a way to control it all without moving the viewfinder from my eye.
One of my fave cameras has always been the Leica SL and Leica SL2-S. I loved them for the 24 MP sensor, the feel of the body, the simple menus and the huge EVF. That camera gives a stunning experience, especially with older manual focus lenses. In some ways, at least for me, the Nikon Zf is a much lower cost competitor to the Leica SL2-S camera.
I feel the Zf needs some kind of grip to really feel comfortable but even without it is fun to use. I am being picky here and I am sure there are a multitude of grips available for the Zf.
On the bottom of the camera we get the battery compartment and also the SD card slots. This is another small con for me as you have to open the battery compartment on the bottom to get access to your memory card. I would have much preferred it on the side but that is just me being picky once again.
After a couple of days with the camera I started to get used to the feel and I appreciated the response of the Zf as it was excellent. The auto focus is very responsive and while not as instant as my Z9, the Zf could easily do all I need it to do. The Z9 for me is truly a bit overkill but I love it and use it several times per week for video only. I do not take the Z9 out much for photos and while I had the Zf here it was always the body I picked up to take out with me (for photos) due to the smaller form factor.
As I traveled around looking for photos the Zf was just such a pleasant camera to use. Each day that went by I felt attached to the camera more and more. When I placed a little manual Leica M mount lens on the Zf (via adapter) it turned into something I really could see myself getting into. I used to shoot the Leica SL2S with only manual M lenses and the Nikon Zf is right at home shooting in this way as well. I love using a body like this, with the manual dials and controls with a manual lens. Since the Zf has a huge EVF it makes manual focus a breeze.
I shot with the Voigtlander 35 f/1.2 in M mount and used a Leica M to Z adapter. I much preferred using this body with this small manual focus lens not only for the small size and jewel like build, but the images have that classic vibe as well, especially when shot at f/1.2.
So all three of these brands offer up bodies that take our brains back to the older days of photography. Nikon has the Zf, Fuji has their Xt5 and X100 series and Leica of course has the iconic M camera.
The Nikon is a killer body with a full frame sensor and a super fast and complete auto focus system. The Nikon Z line has some pretty stellar lenses as well and at this price point I feel that the Zf is one of the finest cameras you can buy today, for most people.
Yes, the Nikon Zf at $2k is a killer camera at a great price. I would choose it today over the Fuji and Leica I mentioned if I were looking for a classic body style and wonderful experience. Some may say that the Leica offers the best shooting experience but I disagree today in 2024. The fact that the Leica is limited in close focus and telephoto, the fact that it uses an ancient rangefinder system that can be full of flaws and issues. That RF system will need to be sent in for adjustment periodically, again, it is what it is.
As I wrote about last year in my Z8 and Z9 reviews, it was the Nikon Z8 that led me back to Nikon after a decade. I loved the Z8 so much that I bought the Z9 just so I could have the pro level body for shooting my YouTube videos. My plan was to keep the Z9 as my main video camera for the next several years and so far it has exceeded almost all expectations (audio preamps are worse in the Z9 vs the Zf for some reason).
So I have been back to Nikon, at least for video, full time. The Z9 stays indoors these days and is always attached to a tripod and I admit there have been days that I missed having a smaller body around for those days when I just want to head out and find some photographs.
That is the thing with the Zf. When you use it, you feel good and specs do not matter because you know it will do what you want it to do. Having it strapped around you is also nice as it looks good, feels light and is fast and responsive in use. There is absolutely nothing NOT to like about the Zf.
The Nikon Zf also has some powerful video specs and honestly it is a camera that would do very well for my YouTube videos. I started to tell myself that the Z9 is overkill for me so I sat down one day and set up the Zf just like my Z9 in regards to video settings. I shoot in 4k at 24 fps and all cameras today that shoot video can do this without issue at all. With that said, not all cameras are the same when it comes to video. Some focus horrible and cause frustrations while others have funky color science and this makes more work. I have found that the Nikon Z9 delivered much better skin tones than my old Sony FX3 and the Zf footage looks almost like the Z9 footage, but a tad less sharp. As for focus, the Zf is amazing but the Z9 is even quicker. I love the flip out LCD as this is great for self shooting and the Z9 does not have this. Also, not sure if there is something off with my Z9 but the Zf audio mic preamps sound much better than the ones in my Z9. So yea, audio is better when using an external mic with the lower cost Zf. The sound is richer, fuller, deeper and has way less noise on the Zf vs the Z9.
There is not a ton to say about the Nikon Zf because it is simply a mirrorless camera that delivers on all fronts. It does what it is designed to do without headache, issue or problems. The 24MP sensor is fantastic and offers up a great mix of beautiful colors, resolution, low light performance and even video. It does these things with the best of them. The body is a touch small for my small hands, and my pinky finger hangs down below the camera. I feel I would need a grip to have perfectly comfy shooting. I am not a fan of having the SD card slot under the camera by the battery but it is what it is, and it works. That is just a personal nitpick.
The pros far outweigh those small cons though as this is a beautiful camera through and through. The IBIS works so much better than the Sony bodies, the EVF is big and detailed, there are controls and dials for all you need on the camera body itself, much like a Leica M or one of the vintage inspired Fuji bodies. The Nikon Zf has a full frame sensor which is nice as it brings more of the good like dynamic range (which is very good here), less noise (which is always good) and the ability to have that full frame look, which is a thing.
I have enjoyed the Nikon Zf tremendously and while I only had it here for a couple of weeks, it has started the old brain into thinking I may want one for myself. I can see owning a Zf with say a 24-70 f/4 and 2-3 manual lenses like those from Voigtlander. Having the 15, 35 and a 75 would be awesome. Maybe even the 50 f/1 or finding an old Noct Nikkor again. THIS is where I feel the most joy will come from using the Zf, at least for me. If I wanted to use those large Z lenses I would choose a Z6, Z7, Z8 or Z9 as those bodies are larger and fit those lenses better.
The X100 is still APS-C and honestly, I have no interest in it at this time. Fuji blacklisted me over a decade ago due to telling the truth in a review so I would have to buy any Fuji to review it. I will not be doing that. The Nikon Zf, for me, is far superior to any X100 variant. Similar size, but way more versatile.
Great to se another camera review on your site! Planning on buying the Zf eventually, but have been holding off. Coming from a Z6 I think of it as an upgrade and want the retro styling, but not decided yet. Also tried the X-T5 but found out that APS-C ang 40MP was not for me.
thanks for your enjoyable work!
Off topic: Have you heard of Joe Marquez from Hawaii (the smoking camera)? He had some nice articles on your site and has stopped publishing pictures 2019. He just disappeared from the web (or I use the wrong search terms).
Hello once again to all! Today I am going to write about my experience with the Nikon Z8 camera from the viewpoint of an ENTHUSIAST. That is exactly what I have been for the last 25 years now (with a brief stint or three of pro work throughout the years).
I am a guy who loves cameras, who loves gear and who loves taking photos to make memories of those slices of my life that I may forget in my older years. I appreciate the gear as much as the process of going out and finding images, but these days I am very picky about what I actually buy for my own use. It would take a lot to pull me from the Leica SL series that I have owned and shot for the last eight years. Also, I am not one who stresses or worries about tech specs. Instead, I place value on ay camera that feels good in the hand, has class leading AF for photo and video, is simple to use, works great for small manual adapted lenses and can do top shelf photo as well as video without issues.
I have always loved shooting manual focus lenses wether vintage or new modern vintage. With mirrorless we can shoot almost any lens we desire and the Nikon Z8 can handle just about anything with the right adapter. The sky is the limit as to what kind of lens you can use with these modern day cameras.
This camera has been hyped to no end by the countless number of YouTube influencers out there these days. The raves by the very few I trust made me very curious about this mini Z9. I wondered how it would compare to my beloved Leica SL2S that I have had since it was launched (in both black and reporter).
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