Nikon Z fc Silver 2021
Combining a 20.9MP DX CMOS sensor with EXPEED 6 processing, it delivers superb image quality and 4K video from a body featuring tactile analog dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation. The fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen, built-in stereo mic, and external microphone jack make it a capable vlogging tool, while its 390g weight and weather sealing add practical portability. This camera is best for vloggers and travel photographers who prioritize a classic shooting experience and direct social media sharing via Nikon SnapBridge.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Nikon Z fc is a stunningly pretty camera with a retro soul and modern image quality that's an absolute joy to use. Its best trick is making photography fun again, but the lack of in-body stabilization and so-so battery life are the trade-offs. If you want a camera with personality that takes great photos, this is an easy recommendation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous retro design with tactile, satisfying manual controls. 94th
- Excellent image quality from the 20.9MP sensor. 94th
- Fully articulating touchscreen is perfect for vlogging and tricky angles. 93rd
- Compact and lightweight, a joy to carry around all day. 93rd
Cons
- No in-body image stabilization, a real miss for handheld video.
- Autofocus can struggle in dimly lit scenes.
- The body feels a bit slick without the add-on grip.
- Battery life is underwhelming at just 300 shots per charge.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q2 202685/100
Buyers praised the retro design, image quality, and ease of use. Common concerns included lack of IBIS, dust issues, and need for a grip.
- Retro design and analog controls praised for nostalgia and fun.
- Great image quality and sharpness, especially in daylight.
- No sensor cleaning; swapping lenses risks dust spots on images.
- No IBIS; 4K video needs gimbal for smooth clips.
- Q1 202680/100
Buyers praise the Z fc's image quality, retro design, and compact build. Long-time Nikon users are surprised by its low-light performance and ease of use. A minor complaint centers on the kit lens lacking a clickable aperture ring.
- Image quality is sharp, clean, and great for portraits, travel, and everyday shooting.
- Design and feel highly praised: compact, lightweight, solid build with attractive retro styling.
- Kit lens aperture control is clickless and too sensitive, frustrating for manual mode use.
- Low-light performance and noise handling exceed expectations, even for pro use at ISO 10,000.
- Q4 202585/100
Buyers praise retro design and photo quality, but some find build material adequate and wireless transfer frustrating.
- Retro design with analog dials and knobs is highly appreciated.
- Photo quality and feature set satisfy most users.
- Build quality is adequate but some wish for higher-grade materials.
- Wireless photo transfer is frustrating and unreliable for some.
- Q2 2025100/100
Buyers love the retro design, image quality, and value. The camera is praised as a fun, stylish everyday carry that exceeds expectations.
- Retro style and build quality are highly praised, not cheap plastic.
- Image quality exceeds expectations, especially with good lenses.
- Great value for money, compact and easy to use.
- Seller experience positive: early delivery, good packaging, fair price.
- Q3 202267/100
Buyers praised the camera's cute design and ease of use, but noted ergonomic issues and limited manual controls.
- Attractive design that invites use and rekindles photography passion.
- Poor ergonomics cause hand cramping and difficulty with one-handed use.
- Manual adjustments often require touch-screen menu, frustrating photographers.
- Image quality drop from D7100; cropping yields poor results.
- Q2 202280/100
Buyers praised the Zfc's retro style, fun factor, and image quality, but noted battery life, kit lens vignetting, and slow autofocus in low light as drawbacks.
- Retro design and fun shooting experience highly appreciated.
- Compact and lightweight, ideal as a carry-around camera.
- Battery life shorter than DSLR; users advised buying extra batteries.
- Kit lens vignetting and low-light autofocus were common complaints.
- Q1 202286/100
Buyers praised the Z fc's retro design, ease of use, and image quality, but noted the need for a grip and some build concerns.
- Retro design and controls are fun and intuitive, bringing back old-school dials.
- Image quality is excellent for the price, with sharp photos and film-like 4K video.
- Grip is awkward without an add-on; recommended for extended use or larger lenses.
- Build quality could be more substantial; thin metal frame and cheap kit lens noted.
- Q4 202171/100
Buyers praised the retro design, autofocus, and compact size, but noted flash incompatibility and lack of a grip.
- Retro design and nostalgic feel are highly appreciated.
- Excellent autofocus and image stabilization for handheld shots.
- Incompatible with most speed lights; HSS and iTTL issues reported.
- No grip on the right side; aftermarket parts needed for comfort.
- Q3 202197/100
Buyers in Q3 2021 overwhelmingly love the Nikon Z fc for its retro design, joy of use, and travel-friendly size. Many note it's not a pro camera but a fun, nostalgic experience.
- Retro styling and nostalgic feel praised, reminiscent of classic film cameras.
- Compact size and portability make it ideal for everyday carry and travel.
- Tactile manual dials and controls enhance the photography experience.
- Some find build quality cheap (plastic battery door) and kit lens mediocre.
Based on 118 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
That 20.9MP sensor paired with the EXPEED 6 engine delivers. Photos are sharp and vibrant, and the 4K video is crisp, landing in the 92nd percentile for video in our database. The 11fps burst is solid, middle of the pack, but don't expect it to be a sports monster. The autofocus with eye and animal detection is generally snappy, though it can hunt a bit when the lights get low. The real story here is the feel. The manual dials make you slow down and think about your shot, which is the whole point. Battery life is a weak spot at 300 shots, sitting below average, so grab a spare.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Sensor
| Type | CMOS |
| Size | aps-c |
| Megapixels | 20.9 MP |
| ISO Range | 100 |
| Processor | EXPEED 6 |
Autofocus
| AF Points | 209 |
| AF Type | Phase Detection: 209 |
| Eye AF | Yes |
| Animal AF | Yes |
| Subject Detection | Yes |
Shooting
| Burst (Mechanical) | 11 |
| Burst (Electronic) | 120 |
| Max Shutter | 1/4000 |
| Electronic Shutter | Yes |
Video
| Max Resolution | 4K |
| 4K FPS | 30 |
| 1080p FPS | 120 |
| 10-bit | No |
| Log Profile | No |
| RAW Video | No |
| Codec | H.264/MOV/MP4 |
Display & EVF
| Screen Size | 3" |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Articulating | Yes |
| EVF Resolution | 2.36 M dots |
Build
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.9 lbs |
| Battery Life | 300 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1 |
| HDMI | Micro-HDMI |
| Hot Shoe | Yes |
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the Z fc is a unique beast. The Fujifilm X-H2 and Sony a6700 outgun it on pure specs with higher resolution sensors and better video specs, but they lack the Z fc's analog soul. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a full-frame powerhouse in a different league for low light and speed, but it's also bigger and pricier. The Panasonic GH7 is the video king here, but if you're a stills-first shooter who loves a tactile experience, the Nikon is more engaging. It's not the best at any one spec, but it's one of the most charming cameras you can buy.
| Spec | Nikon Z fc | Fujifilm X-H2S | Sony a7R V | Panasonic LUMIX GH7 | OM System OM-1 | Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless |
| Sensor | 20.9MP aps-c | 26.2MP aps-c | 61MP full-frame | 25.2MP micro-four-thirds | 20.4MP micro-four-thirds | 20.4MP micro-four-thirds |
| AF Points | 209 | 425 | 693 | 315 | 1053 | 121 |
| Burst FPS | 11 | 40 | 10 | 75 | 10 | 15 |
| Video | 4K @30fps | 6K @120fps | 8K @60fps | 6K @120fps | 4K @60fps | 4K @30fps |
| IBIS | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 390 | 579 | 723 | 721 | 511 | 580 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | EVF | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Z fc | 82.8 | 87.9 | 91 | 94.3 | 93 | 85.7 | 46 | 85.4 | 42.9 | 94.3 | 93.2 | 34.2 |
| Fujifilm X-H2S Compare | 89.4 | 96.1 | 93.5 | 92.6 | 97.4 | 96.9 | 98.3 | 98.8 | 62.7 | 94.3 | 93.2 | 94.7 |
| Sony a7R V Compare | 94.8 | 99.1 | 96.3 | 76.4 | 95 | 77.6 | 93.3 | 85.4 | 98.6 | 94.3 | 97.3 | 98.4 |
| Panasonic LUMIX GH7 Compare | 86.7 | 88.9 | 96.3 | 94.6 | 97.1 | 61.6 | 90.4 | 85.4 | 91.8 | 94.3 | 75.8 | 96.5 |
| OM System OM-1 Compare | 95.3 | 97.5 | 83.7 | 93.9 | 84.4 | 46.8 | 95 | 85.4 | 91.8 | 86.4 | 82.5 | 86.8 |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Compare | 81.3 | 84.7 | 93.6 | 90.4 | 68.7 | 46.8 | 92.8 | 85.4 | 62.7 | 94.3 | 99.9 | 96.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing on this thing is all over the map, from a reasonable $650 to a frankly absurd $203,331 from some third-party sellers. Ignore the noise. At its real street price, especially if you can snag a kit with the 16-50mm lens, it's a fantastic value for a camera that's this much fun to shoot. You're paying for the experience and the looks as much as the sensor, and for travel and everyday shooting, it delivers. Just budget for an extra battery and maybe that grip.
Amazon.ca 1 offer From CA$1,500
B&H Photo 2 offers From CA$1,626
Canadacomputers 1 offer From CA$1,500
Price History
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Overview
The Nikon Z fc is a camera that knows exactly what it wants to be. It's a love letter to Nikon's film SLR days, wrapped around a modern 20.9MP APS-C sensor and the Z mount. The top deck is covered in physical dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure comp, and it just feels right in your hands, even if those hands might want the optional grip for a full day of shooting. Image quality is superb, straight out of the sensor, and the flip-out screen makes it a solid pick for vloggers who care about their aesthetic.
Common Questions
Q: Does the Nikon Z fc have in-body image stabilization?
No, it doesn't. The Z fc relies on lens-based VR, which is a real downside for handheld video and low-light stills if your lens isn't stabilized.
Q: Is this a good camera for beginners?
It can be. The dedicated dials make learning the exposure triangle very intuitive, but the lack of a full auto mode with some advanced scene detection might push absolute beginners toward a more hand-holding camera.
Q: What lenses work with the Z fc?
It uses Nikon's Z mount, so any NIKKOR Z DX or FX lens will work natively. You can also use older F-mount lenses with the FTZ adapter, which opens up a huge world of glass.
Who Should Skip This
If you primarily shoot fast action or serious wildlife, look elsewhere. The burst rate is fine but not class-leading, and the autofocus isn't built for tracking erratic subjects at high speed. If you need rock-steady handheld video without a gimbal, the lack of IBIS will drive you nuts, so check out something from Panasonic or Olympus instead.
Verdict
The Nikon Z fc is for the photographer who wants to fall in love with the process again. It's not a spec-sheet champion, and it won't impress your friends with spec-sheet numbers. But if you miss the click of physical dials and want a camera that makes you smile every time you pick it up, this is it. It's a brilliant travel companion and a capable vlogging tool, as long as you work within its limitations. Buy it for the feel, stay for the fantastic image quality.
