The Nikon Z fc | 10 Things to Know Before Buying

Here are ten things to know before buying the Nikon Z fc. Connor and Zach join the channel to talk about Nikon's newest Z series camera that has a retro look and feel. The Z fc is scheduled to be released in just a couple weeks, on July 28th, 2021! https://youtu.be/Vxor2jq99ac

The Nikon Z fc

We put together this Nikon Z fc camera review with a quick little list of things you should take into consideration if you are in the market for it. We are excited to get our hands on this compact retro camera!

The Nikon Z fc has a vintage look and feel, but it is weather resistant. The analog dials on top of the camera control things like your ISO and shutter speed. While it does have a retro look, it has a magnesium alloy chassis.

The Nikon Z fc is the first Nikon Z-series camera with a fully articulating flip-out touchscreen. The camera has a really nice 3.0" LCD display.

Now unfortunately this camera does not have any in-body image stabilization. This isn't a big shock since this camera is basically a rehoused Nikon Z50. The Z50 also did not have any IBIS. But just be warned that you are not going to get super smooth handheld shots.

This Nikon is capable of shooting Ultra Hi Def 4K video up to 30 frames per second. And you also get full HD 1080 shooting all the way up to 120 fps. However, there is a 30-minute record limit.

The Z fc has phase-detect autofocus with eye tracking for both humans and animals. The great thing about this system is that it works in both photo mode and video mode. This feature is a welcome addition to the Nikon Z series.

Since this camera is modeled on a vintage camera, there is no true grip on the body for your hands. It is a flat-shaped camera body, but it still feels pretty good to hold. But the good news is that Nikon is releasing a grip accessory for the Z fc. However, as of right now, that grip is not available in the US.

The Z fc has a 20.9 megapixel 6K sensor. Note: this does not mean the camera can shoot in 6K, just that the resolution of the sensor is a 6K sensor. Which of course was the same sensor that was found in the Nikon Z 50.

Since the Z fc is geared more to the consumer market, it only has one SD card slot. No surprise here, it's just worth mentioning.

Another cool feature of this camera is the microphone input. While this isn't a totally uncommon feature in most cameras on the market today, it is really nice to have. Especially considering this camera as mentioned in the point above is geared more toward consumers. Having professional-level sound capabilities in such a small form factor and price point is awesome. This means that the Z fc has potential to work great as a vlogging camera (especially with the flip-out screen as well.) And lastly, maybe the most important thing to note before the camera is released, is the cost! The Nikon Z fc will come in at just under $1000 when it officially releases towards the end of July. You can also purchase bundled with a 16-50mm kit lens for around $1100. Or upgrade to the 28mm kit lens package and you'll be paying just under $1200.

Are You Buying a Nikon Z fc?

Let us know your thoughts on this new camera! We'd love to hear what you think. And if you are planning to buy, be sure to sell your old used camera on Gear Focus! And don't forget to check out Zach and Connor's kit lens comparison.