The Nikon Z fc is a triumph of design that offers a different shooting experience to the Nikon Z50 at a great price. The vari-angle screen is also an inspired choice that embodies Nikon's old-meets-new 'fusion' concept. More advanced photographers might miss the lack of weather-proofing and a larger full-frame sensor, especially considering current native lens availability. But for everyone else, the Z fc is a great mix of retro design and mirrorless shooting power.

Beautiful design; Useful vari-angle touch screen; A well-struck balance of old and new; Great value;

Needs more native lenses; Grip less suited to large lenses; No UHS-II support

It should come as no surprise that Nikon, one of the original 35mm film SLR makers, made such an enjoyable, timelessly classic camera as the Nikon Z fc

Impressive photo & video quality, Timeless design & good user experience, Solid durability, Portable & versatile, Competitive value among retro style category & price point

Adequate autofocus & speed, could be improved, Native Z-mount lens selection is still limited, but expanding, Battery life is adequate, in-camera charging is usable

The Nikon Z fc is a desirably retro-fashioned yet affordable entry point into Nikon’s growing Z series mirrorless camera lineup, providing access to a growing number of lenses and accessories.

Stylish design, Growing lens lineup, Manual controls, Touchscreen

‘Only’ an APS-C sensor, Lacks the waterproofing

As always, there is the conflict of interests involved in seeing a product that “I want” as well as considering "I need", and the Nikon Z fc very definitely falls into the highly desirable category of "I want".

Beautiful retro design, Control via analogue dials, Fast and accurate AF, Very high build quality, Excellent ergonomics, Good quality video, Excellent EVF

No inbuilt VR, No weather resistance, Some controls too easily nudged

20.9MP CMOS sensor; Burst shooting up to 11 fps with full AF (9 fps with 14-bit Raw); Oversampled UHD 4K video at up to 30p, using the sensor's full width; Fully-articulating 1.04M-dot rear touchscreen; 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder;

20.9MP CMOS sensor; Burst shooting up to 11 fps with full AF (9 fps with 14-bit Raw); Oversampled UHD 4K video at up to 30p, using the sensor's full width; Fully-articulating 1.04M-dot rear touchscreen; 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder;

Introduction; Sample photos; Build quality and handling; Buffer depth; Image quality; ISO control weirdness; Cold ducks; Lens options; Autofocus; Video performance; Should you buy it?;

Introduction; Sample photos; Build quality and handling; Buffer depth; Image quality; ISO control weirdness; Cold ducks; Lens options; Autofocus; Video performance; Should you buy it?;

If you are buying your very first camera with interchangeable lenses, the Nikon Z fc is a solid choice. It will take excellent, perfectly exposed pictures in nearly any situation. And it will earn you some oohs and aahs because of the cool retro styling.