Nikon’s retro-themed Zfc mirrorless camera has a nice design, but what about its features? They’re surprisingly similar to another Nikon DX mirrorless camera, the Z50. No, the two cameras don’t look the same, but many of their specs are identical. This article covers what you need to know.
Let’s start by taking a look at both cameras side by side. Here’s the front view, to scale:
Top view, to scale:
And rear view, to scale:
As you can see, the designs are very different overall. The Zfc has many more dials along the top of the camera, while the Z50 has Nikon’s usual Z-series control layout (though a less advanced version than on some Z cameras, with no AF-On button or joystick). The Nikon Zfc doesn’t have a built-in grip, which may make it uncomfortable for using heavy lenses for long periods of time, although there are some aftermarket grips available that can solve the problem.
Despite the surface differences, the two cameras have nearly the same specifications. Here’s how they compare:
Nikon Zfc and Z50 Specifications
| Camera Feature | Nikon Zfc | Nikon Z50 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | June 29, 2021 | October 10, 2019 |
| Sensor Resolution | 20.9 megapixels | 20.9 megapixels |
| Low-Pass Filter | No | No |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | No | No |
| Sensor Size | 15.7 × 23.5 mm | 15.7 × 23.5 mm |
| Image Size | 5568 × 3712 | 5568 × 3712 |
| Pixel Size | 4.22 µ | 4.22 µ |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | 100-51,200 (204,800 extended) | 100-51,200 (204,800 extended) |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 6 |
| Viewfinder | Electronic / EVF | Electronic / EVF |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 2.36 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 1.02× (0.68× FX equiv.) | 1.02× (0.68× FX equiv.) |
| Built-in Flash | No | Yes |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Storage Media | 1× SD, up to UHS-I compatible | 1× SD, up to UHS-I compatible |
| Max Continuous Shooting Speed | 11 FPS (12-bit raw), 9 FPS (14-bit raw) | 11 FPS (12-bit raw), 9 FPS (14-bit raw) |
| Shutter Speed Range | 1/4000 to 900 seconds; time and bulb modes | 1/4000 to 30 seconds; time and bulb modes |
| Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter | Yes | Yes |
| Exposure Metering Sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Focus Points | 209 | 209 |
| Eye AF | Yes; includes animal eye AF | Yes; includes animal eye AF |
| Eye AF in Wide Area AF Mode | Yes | No |
| Autofocus Detection Range (Standardized to f/2 Lens, ISO 100) | -2.5 to +19.5 (-4 to +19.5 EV with Low Light AF on) | -2 to +19 EV (-4 to +19 EV with Low Light AF on) |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 4K UHD @ 30p | 4K UHD @ 30p |
| 4K Video Crop Factor | 1.0× | 1.0× |
| HDMI Out / LOG | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| HLG / HDR Out | No | No |
| Eye AF in Video | Yes | No |
| Articulating LCD | Yes, fully articulating | Yes, tilt only |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Size | 3.0″ diagonal | 3.2″ diagonal |
| LCD Resolution | 1.04 million dots | 1.04 million dots |
| Continuous External Power | Yes | No |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Battery | EN-EL25 | EN-EL25 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 300 shots | 300 shots |
| Video Battery Life | 75 minutes | 75 minutes |
| Control Layout | Retro; two command dials; dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation dials; hand grip available separately | Low- to mid-range; two command dials; built-in hand grip |
| Weight with Battery and Card | 445 grams (0.98 lbs) | 450 grams (0.99 lbs) |
| Dimensions (L×H×D); Depth Excludes Protruding Viewfinder | 135 × 94 × 44 mm (5.3 × 3.7 × 1.7 in.) | 127 × 94 × 60 mm (5.0 × 3.7 × 2.4 in.) |
| MSRP As Introduced | $960 body only; $1100 with 16-50mm lens | $860 body only; $1000 with 16-50mm lens |
| Lowest Price Seen | $960 body only (see current sales) | $900 with 16-50mm lens (see current sales) |
The Nikon Zfc and Z50 are very similar cameras. Most of the specifications above are exactly the same, with the two biggest differences being the Zfc’s retro theming and fully articulating rear LCD. The only meaningful advantage to the Z50 (other than price) is the inclusion of a pop-up flash.
Other advantages in favor of the Zfc include extended shutter speeds in manual mode (up to 900 seconds), slightly better low-light AF detection, and eye AF in wide-area and video modes. None of these features are going to be critical for most photographers, but they might help justify spending the extra $100 on the Zfc rather than the Z50.
Which One Should You Get?
Even though some specifications differences exist here and there, the biggest and most obvious reason to get the Zfc over the Z50 is if you want the retro styling and the dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation dials. On the flip side, the biggest reason to get the Z50 over the Zfc is price.
While both cameras are currently selling at similar prices new ($960 for the Zfc and $860 for the Z50), the Z50 has been out for longer than the Zfc. If you’re willing to buy used or refurbished, you can save hundreds of dollars on the Z50, while the newer Zfc is still selling for higher prices on the used market. So, buying the Z50 used is the main route I’d recommend.
If you’re going to buy either camera new, though, I suggest the Zfc over the Z50. It’s not much more expensive at that point but adds useful handling features (the dedicated dials) as well as a few other advantages here and there, like the fully articulating rear LCD. However, you’re certainly not giving up much if you opt for the slightly cheaper Z50, so there’s no need to agonize over the decision either way. Find a good price on either and move on. (Or consider the full-frame Nikon Z5 instead in the first place.)
It’s impossible to review the Z fc without making a comparission to the Z50
My first Nikon camera was a full frame mirrorless body (after coming over from Canon not so long ago) and I was really impressed by Nikon, so much so I aslo got mysel a Z50 as my everyday carry around and now my Z fc has replaced it.
TBH it took me some time to get to grips with the Z fc, compared to the other Z bodies, but I have to say for its intended purpose (every day carry around) I don’t really miss the second FN button or the missing U settings. However the proximity of the back wheel and the EC dial does take some getting used to and already I’ve lost count the number of times I accidentally moved the EC dial which brings me to my biggest gripe. There is no indication of what the current EC value is if you look through the EVF, only the [+/-] symbol appears but no value and someone like myself who requires reading glasses and doesn’t like having to part from the EVF when shooting to inspecting the dials this is somewhat of an oversight; To workaround this add EC as one of the configuable (i) menu items which will then show you the EC value, but it’s an extra step. Other than that the Z fc can feel light to hold especially with some of the heavier/longer lenses, even though it weighs more or less the same as the Z50; I guess it’s probably more psychological because the Z fc lacks the ergonomics of the other Z cameras but still something worth mentioning.
Those who like the retro look of the top dials but also want the ability to use the front and back wheels to change values quickly can do so for shutter speed and aperture, but not for ISO which is controlled by the larger dial located to the left of the EVF, that is if you are not planning on shooting using Auto ISO. Again this takes some getting used to and I kinda wonder if Nikon could have swapped the ISO dial with the Shutter dial to make it controlable with the right hand thumb but overall this is a minor gripe. I also don’t like the battery door which feels quite plasticy and comes across as somewhat fragile. However, if you look at the table in the above OP and focus on all the green sections which stand out for each camera I don’t think many (anyone?) would choose the positives of the Z50 over the considerably more positives found on the Z fc and this is clearly why we are asked to pay a little extra for.
Adding an inexpensive gip like the one from Smallrig which not only blends in nicely with the retro styling but also has an Arca plate is a no-brainer and if you look around it’s possible to find a Z fc kit for a right bargain these days like I did together with the 28mm SE lens.
IMHO the Z fc is a welcome addition to the Nikon Z line and it will appeal to a broad range of users
Although it’s Achilles’ heal similar to the Z50 is the number of available DX lenses and lack of VR that would allow us to make better use of all the full frame lenses which more often than not don’t seem to have stabilisation nowadays.
PS Arguably the lack of DX lenses and VR is nothing new and the existing kit lenses will be plenty for most, but for me personally my biggest regret is not having VR on the Z 24-70/2.8 which would have made a killer combo together with either the Z fc or Z50 but I’m going off topic now.
How do I score the Z fc overall?
Probably somewhere around 8 out of 10, similar to the Z50 which likely gets a point or half a point less by comparisson.
The biggest difference is that the Nikon Z-FC has no user User settings, while the Z50 has 2 user settings (this means 4 different settings for video and photo)s and you need that… and has only one FN button …. and the Nikon z50 has 2, FN1 and FN2. It is a no-brainer that the Nikon Z50 is so much better. You can use for the not articulating display, a mirror, or a specific android app and put your mobile on your camera…
Better is subjective, but I wouldn’t say that the Z50 is “so much better” although I have to agree with you somewhat in that the Z50 feels better ergonomically and it has a lot of similarities taken from Nikon’s high end cameras.
Adding a grip does help ergonomically and I can live without the second FN button or the U settings. Clearly there are pros n cons with the Z fc vs Z50 which helps to differentiate between the two models.
Personally having owned a Nikon Z full frame camera prior to acquiring the Z50 I found it extremely easy to use while the Z fc takes some getting used to, but I’m liking it nethertheless. I guess time will tell which one I end up prefering, but for now I am keen to use the Z fc as my everyday carry around.
Which small flash light do You recommend for the Z fc?
I love the tiny Nikon SB400
Does it correct ? ZFC without low pass filter?
Yes, that’s correct. Neither of these cameras has a low pass filter.
What about weather sealing?
Both of them are weather sealed, according to Nikon. The level of sealing should be about the same, but we’ll know for sure once the Zfc starts shipping and we can test it.
I pre-ordered the Zfc right away, but the more I think about it I might actually hold off for now. I already own a Z50 which is pretty great in it’s own right. I’d be lucky if I got $500 for my Z5 after eBay fees and then to turn around and spend twice that on the Zfc body… not sure it’s worth it. I might just wait for the non-SE version of the 28mm to drop and buy that instead.
Soencer. Does the Zfc not bracket flash and exposure like the Z50. I bought the Z50, and it’s a terrific camera in many respects, but I was disappointed to find this restriction. My older DSLRs all bracket flash and exposure. I’m pretty sure the full frame Zs do too … This has meant that the Z50 has not been as useful to me as it might have. Also can you comment on any U1/U2 ability in the menus if not in hardware ?
Hi Fred, According to Nikon UK:
Z 50 Bracketing types
Exposure, white balance, ADL
Z fc Bracketing types
Exposure and/or flash, white balance, ADL
www.nikon.co.uk/en_GB…tech_specs
You’re right that the current specs on Nikon’s site don’t say the Zfc has AE or flash bracketing. But Nikon’s press release for the Zfc also incorrectly said that it only has 9 megapixels… so it’s not hard to imagine that the bracketing omission is just a typo. I’d be very surprised if the Zfc doesn’t have it.
Spencer, I answered Fred’s question, but it’s awaiting moderation: any idea what caused this?
Regarding the press release stating a 9 MP sensor: the wording was changed to 20.9, however, the “209-point hybrid AF” was also changed to “20.9-point hybrid AF” :-) This error has been corrected as of 2021-07-03.
www.nikonusa.com/en/ab…-TECH.html
Hi Pete, I restored your comment. Something seems wrong with our comment plugin at the moment – several comments have been erroneously deleted, including yours. Working on fixing that now.
I own a Z50 as well as a Z5. Each for different purposes. I am very happy with the Z50. So much so I sold a Leica CL and lenses and now use the Z50 for crop sensor work (using the 24-200 zoom and soon the upcoming 28mm lens introduced alongside the Zfc). I plan on using the new 50mm macro on my Z5.
If I had to pick again I’d maybe consider the Zfc only because it has the articulating rear LCD. Otherwise the Z50 if perfectly fine and would still be my first pick for a small sensor Nikon body.
Glad you’re liking the Z50! These are all great cameras and it’s hard to go wrong.
Hi Gary
How does that combo work for you ? I have a Z5 but looking to add Z50 or Zfc to use with 24- 200 i have. Using Z 24 -50 on Z5 which is a great carry round option.Appreciate any comments/thoughts
I’m so ticked that they took the flash off the Zfc. To me, that’s a must and a deal breaker. How else are you supposed to stop action inside a house at night? Or fill in a face with light at dusk or a backlit sunset on vacation?
What ticks me off even more is that this proves that with a firmware update that Nikon could provide the Z50 with better AF and shutter speed so that it’s on par with the Zfc.
Why oh why Nikon did you remove the flash?!! Spending $$$ on an external flash that’s half the size of the camera that i have to lug around and hope I have time to dig out when I need it is totally not the same as having a convenient pop-up flash already included in the camera. My 10yo said it just shows that the aim is for video instead of photographers. I know that was the case with the Sony a6600 (which I also thought was a dumb decision to remove the flash since it prevented me from upgrading to that camera when it came out) but the tactile design of the Zfc should appeal to photographers first, I would think. I guess I need to hope that Nikon will push those firmware updates to the Z50.
I’m trying very hard to go back to Nikon but they are not making it easy. There’s not even a single prime lens in the DX lineup. They need a prime that’s somewhere in the 18-23mm range for walking around. And something like the old cheap 50mm 1.8mm that was a great entry level prime portrait lens that i had for my D90 and D7000 back in the day. And Nikon expecting consumers to use big, expensive FX glass doesn’t bode well for making DX consumers happy.
I thought I was a target consumer for APS-C, as just a mom who likes to take photos of her kids and family and vacations (and have the ability to take video but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory), but every year that goes by, it seems like that’s not what they are going for anymore. 😪
I’m thinking of going back to Fuji again. A xt4 arrives tomorrow for a test. I own the Z6ll and tried the Z50 for a week. I liked the built-in flash but the camera was too slow for my needs. I mostly want a travel-size system. I have a Fuji X100F – fixed 23mm lens – with built-in flash. It’s a joy to use. I think the smaller Fuji, the X 30 I think, was just compared to the Nikon Zfc and it was rated far higher overall. Best of luck in your photo journey.
If you think the Z50 is slow, I think you’re going to be disappointed with Fuji. As someone who owns Fuji and Nikon gear, I feel like the Nikon stuff is just overall more responsive. The AF system alone on the Nikon is much better… the EyeAF mode on my X100V is a joke compared to even the Z50. However, if you like single-point they’re both about the same.
Ben, thanks for the info. I’ll certainly consider that when I take it for a test drive. Mostly, I like the Fuji lens options for overseas travel, and I do like the Fuji retro ergonomics as compared to my Df way back then. I’ll still have my Nikon Z6ll which is awesome (just lacking glass).
Cheers
You could try the Leica S system. I used that for nearly 5 years. Takes great pictures of kids and family members. Not so great however for fast moving subjects.
“… but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory”
Both cameras can be set to record 1920×1080 (Full HD) video.
“I thought I was a target consumer for APS-C, as just a mom who likes to take photos of her kids and family and vacations (and have the ability to take video but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory)”
Why not use your smartphone for these purposes?
I mean… if we’re arguing 4k, my iPhone shoots 4k60.
Dear Mum,
I understand your predicament but to be honest, over the years of having a pop up flash on my cameras, I’ve hardly ever used them. I much prefer the look and results using off camera flash or bounce flash from a dedicated on camera flash, that is much more powerful than the pop up one.
Failing that, I’m sure you will enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of finding suitable flattering natural light.
Nothing is perfect but enjoy the journey.
Dear E House
you don’t need the flash, because the camera takes good photos with ISO 12800.
Just try it! Maybe in a month or two when you have the opportunity in a photo store to test the camera, do it!
With kind regards
Toni
Yes you can but the noise is terrible, just tried some test shots
The why I like and why I dislike Zfc camera:
-I love the retro design, it’s quite beautiful and has several handling benefits over the z50. It has a small upgrade in some features too.
-I don’t understand why Nikon felt the need to create a camera with this styling that goes into the same market as the Z50, making it more difficult for a buyer to choose from the Dx pool of mirrorless cameras. Still in terms of the design, I’m not sure it will grab many people that want a Nikon that just looks like what Fuji has been doing successfully for years (which also have all those retro lenses with manual apperture to go with them!!). Also, the lack of grip makes it worse for handling in all but street occasional photography situations, making it even more front ended with bigger/heavier lenses.
All in all, I can’t understand why Nikon felt the need to release a stilish Z50 II, when the DX lineup is lacking soooo many other cameras ( like D3500 or D500 mirrorless replacements), and it seems like they’re beating around the bush with these sort of releases. Now, I know this camera will be pretty cool, and a new camera is always great for a company that is lagging behing in terms of new releases, and maybe I’m biased because I really want to see new great products from Nikon soon!! :)
Nothing like armchair marketing experts to tell us how things should be.
Uh, the customers SHOULD have a voice in what they want. I personally would have liked to seen a Nikon mirrorless crop body that natively accepts F-mount DX lenses.
You can now buy a smallrig grip for the Zfc, I bought it from Amazon only £34.00, its perfect and fits seamlessly, would go as far as to say its bloody brilliant. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pr…#038;psc=1