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Nikon Z fc

 
Nikon Z fc front
 
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 445g - 135 x 94 x 44mm
  • Released June 2021
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Nikon Z fc overview

Nikon Z fc is Nikon's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera originally announced on June of 2021. It features a 21 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 5568 x 3712.

The Z fc is rated #15 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and all-around #108 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can check our Advanced camera filter to find camera ratings based on your personal factors.

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Below is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon Z fc family

The Nikon Z fc is part of a family of cameras. You can read the detailed range underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-Z30 front thumbnailNikon Z30
Z fc vs Z30
21MPAPS-C11.0 fps2022
Nikon-Z-fc front thumbnailNikon Z fc21MPAPS-C11.0 fps2021
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Nikon-Z50 front thumbnailNikon Z50
Z fc vs Z50
21MPAPS-C11.0 fps2019

Nikon Z fc Pros and Cons

Below is a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Nikon Z fc based on aspects which are oftentimes seen as essential in a camera.

comes with face detect focus
comes with HDMI out
comes with microphone support
comes with tracking focus
connects via bluetooth
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW files
fully articulated screen
great ISO range (51,200)
great min ISO (100)
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
manual focus
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
screen has good resolution (1,040 k dots)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
selfie friendly screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports focus by touch
supports phase detect auto focus
touchscreen
does not have headphone support
low battery power (300 per charge)
more heavy than competition (445 grams)
no image stabilization
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Nikon Z fc Sensor info

The specification of the sensor on the Nikon Z fc is 23.5mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 369 mm² sensor is able to resolve 5568 x 3712 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 21 megapixels and includes a native ISO range of 100 to 51200. This ISO can also be increased digitally to a high of 204800. RAW photos are saved which means that the user has wider margin for error.

Nikon chose to skip the anti aliasing filter for the Nikon Z fc. This can result in more sharper photographs but may cause moire in certain conditions.

The picture underneath displays the Z fc's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The Z fc sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is outlined in green.

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To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon Z fc dimensions

Nikon Z fc is 0.98 lb (445g or 15.70 oz) and the sizing of the camera is 135mm x 94mm x 44mm (5.3" x 3.7" x 1.7"). The weight of general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329g and the Nikon Z fc is more heavy when compared with other rivals.

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Underneath is a shot of the Nikon Z fc beside a softdrink so you can have a sense of its scale.

Nikon Z fc dimensions scale

The top view underneath will highlight the button design on the Z fc.

Nikon Z fc topview buttons dials

Nikon Z fc Lens info

The Z fc works with the Nikon Z mount and has 31 lenses available in the market. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the Z fc.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-50mm-F1.8-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.8 S50mmf/1.8415g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-100-400mm-F4.5-5.6-VR-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S100-400mmf/4.5-5.6 1355g
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Venus-Laowa-Argus-33mm-F0.95-CF-APO-Z-Mount lensVenus Laowa Argus 33mm F0.95 CF APO33mmf/1590g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-40mm-F2 lensNikon Nikkor Z 40mm F240mmf/2 170g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-70-200-F2.8-VR-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 70-200 F2.8 VR S70-200mmf/2.8 1440g
Samyang-MF-14mm-F2.8-Z lensSamyang MF 14mm F2.8 Z14mmf/2.8810g
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Nikon-Nikkor-Z-50mm-F1.2-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.2 S50mmf/1.21090g
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Nikon Z fc Connectivity

The Z fc has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can copy pictures and in some cases change settings without connecting directly to the camera.

A few applications even stream a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external monitor. Almost all cameras enable you to recharge the battery with the USB socket.

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Nikon Z fc Video info

The highest video resolution on the Nikon Z fc is 3840 x 2160 and it can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p will provide an exceptional resolution for video recording. You can easily crop to Full HD to get clearer results. Beware of the substantial file sizes and make sure you get decent SD cards that have fast write speed. Although the camera features a microphone jack, it is lacking a headphone jack which means that you won't have the ability to check your audio levels.

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Nikon Z fc Weather Sealing

Nikon Z fc doesn't include weather sealing so damp conditions might ruin the camera.

Nikon Z fc Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon Z fc features a 3" fully articulated display screen boasting a resolution of 1,040k dots.

It has a selfie friendly display to shoot self portraits and group photos if required. Moreover the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can easily change focus points and adjust settings with your fingers.

Nikon Z fc screen and viewfinder C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon

The View Finder specs regarding Nikon Z fc are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 2,360k dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.68x

Viewfinders are very handy for sunny outdoor situations which might make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Nikon Z fc Shutter info

Nikon Z fc is able to shoot continuously at 11.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Nikon Z fc Flash and Hot shoe info

Nikon Z fc boasts external flash ability but is lacking built in flash.

Nikon Z fc Autofocus info

Nikon Z fc boasts both Phase Detect AF along with Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker and accurate when compared with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera features Face detect making it helpful for portraits.

The AF system features 209 focus points to pick from. Nikon Z fc has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers to adjust focus. It also has Tracking AF for moving things. Nikon Z fc can use manual focus if required for low light situations or you want to have more exact control on focus.

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Nikon Z fc Battery life

The battery power (EN-EL25) in the Nikon Z fc is built to last for 300 photographs based on the CIPA measurements which is lesser compared to its competitors. The typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has the highest (750) battery life for this type of cameras.

Following is a number of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that come with the best battery life:

Nikon Z fc for different styles of photography

The following graph displays a summation of the Nikon Z fc for different styles of photography. To check out more, check out the specific section underneath.

Nikon Z fc Portrait photography information

The Nikon Z fc has a points total of 82 which is brilliant, meaning that it is a wonderful fit to use for portrait photography. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor resolution, RAW support together with the ability to utilize external lighting.

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has manual focus
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files

Nikon Z fc as a Street photography camera

Coming in at a nice rating of 74, the Nikon Z fc is a good option to use in street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (445 grams)

Sports photography with Nikon Z fc

A above average sports photography points total of 68 indicates the Nikon Z fc is a fine fit for shooting sports. A camera really should have great tracking and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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MP count good (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low battery power (300 per charge)

Nikon Z fc Travel photography highlights

Weight is extremely crucial when getting a travel camera. In general, the Nikon Z fc gets a very good 72 as a travel camera which is a good option to take on your holidays.

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has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good MP (21 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (445g)

Nikon Z fc Landscape photography features

For anyone who is planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon Z fc with it's very good grade of 75 for a landscape camera is a very decent choice amongst it's competition.

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focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery (300 per charge)

Nikon Z fc Vlogging factors

A vlogging camera ought to come with a moving display screen, mic port and if possible image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Nikon Z fc is a fine pick as a vlog camera as it comes to a nice rating of 74.

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display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
offers face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (445 grams)

Nikon Z fc Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the Z fc, here is a selection of the highest rated cameras which fall under the category of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The diagram down below provides you a summary of the Z fc compared to it's highest ranked competitors shown earlier.

Here are a few more cameras you might see as alternative options. To see a full comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Nikon
Model
Nikon Z fc
Class
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released
2021-06-28
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area
369.0mm²
Sensor resolution
21MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
5568 x 3712
RAW images
Highest native ISO
51200
Highest boosted ISO
204800
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
209
Lens
Lens mounting type
Nikon Z
Available lenses
21
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Type of display
Fully Articulated
Display sizing
3 inches
Display resolution
1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.68x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
445g (0.98 lb)
Physical dimensions
135 x 94 x 44mm (5.3" x 3.7" x 1.7")
Other
Battery life
300 photos
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL25
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Card slots
One
Retail price
$949