While the Nikon Z fc’s specification may be very similar to the Z50’s, its design and control layout is very different. That’s because Nikon has based it upon the Nikon FM2, a film SLR dating from the 1980s. Consequently, the Z fc’s top plate has dials for setting the sensitivity (ISO), shutter speed and exposure compensation. Aperture is set using the front command dial and there’s a small LCD screen on the top of the camera that shows the selected setting.
As with other Nikon Z-series cameras, it’s also possible to set the aperture using the manual focus ring or dedicated control ring of the mounted lens. I elected to do that as it adds to the retro vibe and seems natural with the Z fc.
Anyone taking a quick glance at the Nikon Z fc is likely to think it’s a film camera. Beauty is subjective, but I think it looks great, very stylish. Its monocoque magnesium-alloy chassis also gives it robust feel while the control dials, which are milled from solid aluminium seem made to last. However, at 390g body-only, the Z fc is actually 5g lighter than the Nikon Z50, so it won’t weigh you down.
Nikon has also weatherproofed the Z fc to the same standard as the Nikon Z5. That means it should be OK in light rain and drizzle, but if there’s a heavy storm then a rain cover would be a sensible precaution.
In keeping with the FM2, the Z fc has a flat front and back. This isn’t an issue with the compact Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR or the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) mounted, but a little more grip would be nice with a longer or heavier lens. Nikon has thought of that too as the optional Extension grip GR-1 adds a grip to the front of the camera, fixing on the base plate without blocking access to the memory card and battery ports.
In a break from tradition, the Nikon Z fc has a switch to select the exposure mode which can be set to Auto, program (P,) shutter priority (S), aperture priority (A) or manual (M).
As there’s no auto setting on the shutter speed dial, aperture priority and program mode can only be set by the exposure mode control. Fujifilm X-series cameras like the X-T3, X-T4 and X-Pro3 with traditional exposure controls take a different approach. They don’t have an exposure mode dial, the control lays entirely with the shutter speed dial and aperture ring which have ‘A’ for auto settings that set the camera to select that parameter automatically.
The downside of Nikon’s approach is that you could glance at the shutter speed dial and think that you have a specific value selected, and if the exposure mode dial is set to program or aperture priority, the Z fc will set the shutter speed itself. The upside to Nikon’s approach with the Z fc is that it’s quicker to switch between the exposure modes.
The shutter speed dial has whole-stop markings from 4 seconds to 1/4000sec, but there’s also a 1/3-step setting, that switches to using a command dial to set the shutter speed in 1/3EV steps. In addition, there are markings to set the camera to the flash sync speed (X), time mode (T) and Bulb (B) mode.
Although the Z fc’s shutter speed dial has a lock button, it only operates when the dial is rotated to the 1/3 Step, X, T or B positions. That means you can adjust the shutter speed quickly and easily in whole stops with no need to press the central button.
There’s also a central lock button on the sensitivity dial but it has to be pressed before it can be adjusted from ISO 100 to 51,200 in 1/3EV steps – plus H1 and H2. An optional lock would’ve been nice, but the metal dial is deep and has a knurled edge, which makes it easy to rotate with your left thumb and middle finger while you press the button with your index finger.
It’s a shame that Nikon hasn’t given the Z fc an auto setting on the sensitivity (ISO) dial. Instead, Auto ISO mode has to be set via the main menu. This means that if you’re not alert to the fact that Auto ISO is activated, the camera may use a different shutter speed to the one set via the ISO dial.
Other Nikon Z-series cameras, including the Nikon Z50, have a dedicated ISO button and when this is pressed, rotating the front command dial activates and deactivates the Auto ISO setting. I was hoping that it would be possible to assign one of the options in the ‘i’ menu to adjust Auto ISO, or to customise a button the reach it, but it’s not listed under the customisation options.
Nikon has proved itself a good listener, so I hope that a firmware update will enable the Auto ISO control to be assigned to the ‘i’ menu and one of the customisable buttons. In the meantime, if you like to use Auto ISO sometimes, it’s worth assigning it to the My Menu section of the main menu.
At the far right end of the top plate, the exposure compensation dial can be set in 1/3EV steps from -3EV to +3EV and there’s a ‘C’ option that enables a wider compensation range.
Screen and viewfinder
In a first for the Nikon Z-series, the Z fc has a vari-angle screen on its rear. This is a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot touchscreen that displays the same interface as Nikon’s other Z-series cameras, but it can be flipped out and angled up or down for easier viewing. It can also be rotated to face forwards so it is of use for shooting selfies or vlogging.
I’m a fan of vari-angle screens because they are helpful when you’re shooting in portrait orientation as well as landscape orientation, so I welcome this move from Nikon.
As with other Nikon Z- series cameras, the Z Fc’s screen is also responsive to touch and you can navigate the menu and make setting selections with a tap on the screen. This makes the camera quicker and easier to use than camera’s with less touch control.
One thing I’d like to see, however, is the ability to set the AF point with the screen while looking in the viewfinder.
Like the Z50, and unlike the Z5, Z6 II and Z7 II, the Z fc doesn’t have joystick. This means that when you’re looking in the viewfinder, the AF point is moved using the navigation pad. It’s not a drama, and many photographers are used to that, but a joystick or touchpad control can make it a bit quicker.
Like the Z50, the Z fc has a 0.39-inch 2,360,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, however, in a nod to the FM2, the eyecup is circular. If you wear spectacles you may need to move your head to see the corners of the frame. The solution is to either take off your glasses and adjust the diopter or remove the eyecup.
Crucially, the screen and the viewfinder both give a good preview of the images, matching the colour and exposure of the results.
Build and handling summary
While I’ve raised a few niggles with the Nikon Z fc’s handling, overall, using it is a pleasurable experience. It’s especially enjoyable to use it in manual exposure mode, which fits well with its billing as a digital version of the Nikon FM2, while the vari-angle screen proves its worth for low and high-angle photography.