Nikon Z FC is a high-performance APS-C format camera with great-looking retro styling that will likely capture the fancy of serious digital photographers already shooting in crop format and wanting to switch into a mirrorless camera system.
The Nikon Z FC specs are impressive enough even without the fun retro look (it looks similar to a Nikon FE or FM from the 1970s and 80s), but the specs are what will cement this camera in your thoughts if you’re trying to upgrade to a high-performance crop-format mirrorless camera.
Table of Contents
- Nikon Z FC Specs
- Nikon Z FC Sensor
- Nikon Z FC Specs for Video
- Nikon Z FC Lenses
- Nikon Z FC Price
- Nikon Z FC Final Thoughts
Nikon Z FC Specs
Shopping for a newer camera can be both exciting and a little bit scary. Part of the worry for most of us concerns prices and our personal photography budget. Online platforms such as MPB that specialize in used photographic gear are a photographer’s dream camera store since they allow you to get your upgraded equipment at a substantial savings.
Speaking of savings, you can trade-in your old gear or sell it to MPB and apply the money you get towards a Z FC or any other gear you need. It’s a win-win.
I’ll provide some helpful details on that in just a bit, but first, let’s examine the awesome Nikon Z FC specs.
The Nikon Z FC is an APS-C format camera, called crop format by some and DX-format by Nikon. Compared to the Full Frame format cameras (FX in Nikon language), the Nikon Z FC has a 1.5X crop factor for lens comparisons.
Shopping for a newer camera can be both exciting and a little bit scary. Part of the worry for most of us concerns prices and our personal photography budget. Online platforms such as MPB that specialize in used photographic gear are a photographer’s dream camera store since they allow you to get your upgraded equipment at a substantial savings.
Speaking of savings, you can trade-in your old gear or sell it to MPB and apply the money you get towards a Z FC or any other gear you need. It’s a win-win!
I’ll provide some helpful details on that in just a bit, but first, let’s examine the awesome Nikon Z FC specs.
The Nikon Z FC is an APS-C format camera, called crop format by some and DX-format by Nikon. Compared to the Full Frame format cameras (FX in Nikon language), the Nikon Z FC has a 1.5X crop factor for lens comparisons.
Nikon Z FC Sensor
At the heart of this camera is the Nikon Z FC sensor. Its physical size is 15.7mm x 23.5mm. The native ISO is 100 to 51,200, but it is expandable to 204,800, though pics at that high of an ISO with a crop sensor will have a lot of noise artifacts.
The processing engine attached to this CMOS sensor is the Nikon Expeed 6 image processor. It produces JPEG image files that look natural with nicely neutral colors. It also outputs RAW files in either 12 or 14-bit in what Nikon labels as NEF files. A 1- bit RAW image file has a ton of information in it for pulling out detail, exposure values, and color information.
Learn More:
- Should You Buy a Full Frame or Crop Sensor Camera?
- Save Money by Buying these Used Photography Accessories
- Why You Need at Least Two Cameras
Nikon Z FC Specs for Video
One of the best things about the Nikon Z FC specs is the Nikon Z FC video capabilities.
The camera is capable of recording in 4K video at 30p and Full HD at 120p. For a camera intended for serious enthusiasts, the great thing about the Nikon Z FC video capabilities is that it uses the entire sensor area for 4K, so there is no further crop factor.
Nikon Z FC Lenses
When Nikon designed their entry into Full Frame mirrorless cameras, they centered it around a brand-new lens mount system, the Z-Mount. Nikon Z-Mount lenses have a very wide rear opening, allowing for extremely fast lenses.
The Nikon Z FC is an APS-C format (crop format, DX-format) camera, so any native lenses made for Nikon’s FX format Z series of cameras will have a crop factor of 1.5X compared to how they work on Full Frame. There are also a few DX-format Z-Mount lenses (like the Nikkor DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 shown above) with more coming soon.
Another option, especially useful if you’re upgrading to this camera from a previous DX Nikon DSLR and already have several lenses, is to use Nikon’s own lens adapter to mount your F-Mount lenses on this Z-Mount camera. FTZ and FTZ-II are the model numbers from Nikon.
Since the Z FC is a mirrorless camera with a shorter flange to focal plane distance than single-lens reflex cameras, you could mount almost any older or current lens designed for an SLR or DSLR if you had the right adapter. Since third-party makers already have a lot of adapters out, you have a lot of options concerning lenses.
Nikon Z FC Price
The Nikon Z FC specs are pretty impressive, especially since this camera is priced so reasonably for the enthusiasts market. You can save money from its already reasonable price by looking for used versions of this camera.
Introduced in the Summer of 2021, the Nikon Z FC and its lenses like the Z DX 16-50mm, Z DX 18-140mm, and Z DX 50-250mm zoom lenses can be found in excellent condition as used equipment. I prefer using the online platform MPB for a lot of my purchases of new (to me) cameras, lenses, and other accessories.
The savings from brand to new to like-new but used is pretty noticeable and is most welcome to many photographers. Since MPB specializes in used photography gear, you could save even more money by trading in your current cameras or lenses and using that value against your new purchase.
MPB is a great source of used equipment for a few other reasons, too. They thoroughly inspect every single item they take in, list clear descriptions of the item’s actual condition, offer a 7-day return window on most purchases, and also have a 6-month warranty on them as well.
Nikon Z FC Final Thoughts
My final thoughts on the Nikon Z FC specs, prices, and how usable an upgrade it is from your previous Nikon enthusiast or beginner DSLRs is that the Nikon Z FC is a fine camera. Its video specs are awesome, the camera handles well, and it delivers excellent images.
Some photographers may prefer the less retro styling of other Nikon mirrorless cameras, such as the Nikon Z50 with its large handgrip and menu-driven controls. But the Nikon Z FC - with its dials and buttons - will definitely appeal to many other serious photographers. It’s a great camera, and you can find it at a great price as an excellent condition used camera.