The Nikon Z f in 2026: Still Worth Buying or Time to Move On?

The Nikon Z f launched in October 2023, and the camera market has shifted considerably since then. New options from Nikon and other brands have changed what you're giving up when you choose that retro body.

Coming to you from Chris Tellez, this honest and detailed video breaks down exactly who the Z f makes sense for in 2026 and who should probably look elsewhere. Tellez has shot weddings, events, and portraits with this camera extensively, so his take is grounded in real-world use rather than spec-sheet comparisons. The Nikon Z5 II and Z6 III now occupy the same space the Z f once owned almost by default, and that changes the calculus significantly. The autofocus advantage the Z f had over older Nikon bodies is no longer unique to it. Competing options from Canon and Sony, like the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Sony a7 IV, are hitting similar price points with better ergonomics and more customizable button layouts.

Tellez is direct about where the Z f falls short for professional work. The limited number of mappable buttons makes it harder to adjust settings quickly while shooting, which matters on a wedding day when things move fast. Using it for a full event without an added grip is genuinely tiring, and Tellez says that by the end of a long shoot, the lack of a proper grip combined with the camera's weight adds up. For video, his recommendation is even more straightforward: just pick something else. The Z f can produce great footage, but the ergonomics put it at a disadvantage compared to almost any other option in its class.

Where the Z f does hold up is portrait and travel work. The retro design puts subjects at ease in a way a large, modern-looking camera simply doesn't. Tellez points out that it can function almost like an icebreaker, especially with people who aren't comfortable in front of a camera. At 24 megapixels, it's enough resolution for most portrait situations without files becoming unwieldy. As a travel camera, its compact rectangular shape without a lens is genuinely easy to pack, and it draws less attention than a larger DSLR-style body. Tellez also walks through how he pairs it with manual-focus lenses like the TTArtisan 40mm f/2.8 for that kind of shooting. His honest bottom line: the number one reason to buy this camera is that it's fun and it feels good to use. That's a real reason, but it's worth knowing what you're trading for it.

The second half of the video covers Tellez's full custom button setup on the Z f, including how he maps the front button, the AE-L/AF-L button, and the record button to streamline his shooting. He also explains how a recent firmware update changed how the front dial works with aperture-ring lenses, which is a meaningful workflow improvement that earlier Z f owners may have missed. Check out the video above for the full settings breakdown from Tellez.