The Nikon Zf is a great all-around full-frame camera from Nikon with retro-styling, but the Sony a1 is one of Sony’s flagship cameras, containing everything that Sony could think of. The price difference of over four thousand dollars more for the a1 is quite staggering also. So, which one should you get?
Nikon Zf vs Sony a1 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon Zf | Sony a1 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | September 2023 | January 2021 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 7 | BIONZ XR |
| Resolution | 24.5 MP | 50.1 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6048×4032 | 8640×5760 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.9µ | 4.16µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | No |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 64,000 | ISO 32,000 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | No |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | Yes (JPEG only) | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/32000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 900 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 14 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 14 FPS | 30 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | 14 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 30 FPS) | Compressed raw at 30 FPS (uncompressed and lossless compressed raw at 20 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | Over 200 frames | 155 frames (30 FPS), 238 frames (20 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 273 | 759 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -8.5 EV | -4 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/400 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes, externally |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 30 FPS |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 120 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 240 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop) | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 125 min | 780 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | CFExpress Type A, or SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | Micro SD (UHS-I) | CFExpress Type A, or SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million dots | 1.44 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Single Axis |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.80x | 0.90x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million dots | 9.44 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Battery Type | EN-EL15c | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 360 frames | 430 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 380 frames | 530 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 430 frames | N/A |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 710 g (1.57 lbs.) | 737 g (1.62 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 144 x 103 x 59 mm (5.7 x 4.1 x 2.3″)1 | 129 x 97 x 81 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.3″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2000 (Check Current Price) | $6500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Nikon Zf Used Prices | Sony a1 Used Prices |
| 1The Nikon Zf’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 10mm were added to the Zf’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
I think there is very little doubt over which camera wins: for $6500, you are getting a lot with the a1. It’s got a 50MP stacked sensor that can shoot at a staggering 30FPS. This combined with Sony’s legendary autofocus ensures that the Sony a1 will obliterate the Nikon Zf when it comes to autofocus performance in the most demanding of scenarios.
In my mind, there is really no point in wondering: if you’re considering these two cameras, the a1 simply won’t let you down for sports or birds in flight. The huge 50MP resolution is also amazing for cropping, and only the Z9 and Z8 can compete with the a1.
The Nikon Zf is of course a great camera too. While it cannot be as fast as the Sony a1, the Zf can handle action in a pinch. And in perhaps 70% of all scenarios, you’ll get the shot with both cameras. In the last 30% of cases like swallows in flight and other complex situations, the a1 will give you more shots with more detail.
The Zf does have some cool features that the a1 does not, like pre-capture where photos are captured before the shutter button is pressed, albeit you only get this feature with JPEGs. This can get you some unique shots sometimes, though situations where you would need this feature are not extremely common.
And of course, the Zf is a great all-purpose camera. When you look at the price difference of four thousand dollars, it’s clear that if you don’t need the ultra-fast capabilities of the a1, then that money could take you on two trips around the world or get you a high-end prime lens like the Nikon 135mm f/1.8 Plena with some cash left to spare.
What does the Nikon Zf offer over the Sony a1?
- Higher resolution rear display, with about 1.5x more dots, making image review in the field easier
- Much lower price, costing $4500 less—you could buy a bunch of cool lenses!
What does the Sony a1 offer over the Nikon Zf?
- Way better autofocus with a higher burst rate (30FPS versus 14FPS)
- 2.04 times more megapixels (24.5MP vs 50.1MP)
- Higher resolution electronic viewfinder, with about 2.6x more dots, making shooting more enjoyable
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 70 more shots according to CIPA measurements
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
Photography Life is part of the eBay Partner Network and B&H’s affiliate program. When you make a purchase through the affiliate links in this article, we can be compensated with a percentage of each sale. If you found this comparison useful, buying anything through these links allows you to support Photography Life at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our efforts!