Just imagine a camera that fuses the soul of vintage photography with a higher resolution sensor, and yes, we are talking about the possibility of Nikon Z FR. We are actually waiting for the Nikon Z7 Mark III, but photographers are quite a bit excited about the next possible variation of the ultra-popular Nikon Z F camera. Leading to the success of ZF, there is a high probability that a higher-end variant of the existing ZF will be introduced.
The Nikon ZFR concept was not created by us; the credit goes to one of my favorite photographers, Matt Irwin. He is a Nikon Z system camera user as well as very close with Nikon, and just before this article, we had published his predictions related to the upcoming Nikon RED Raptor camera announcement, which was 100% true. So now, let’s discuss what he has said in the video related to the Nikon ZFR camera.
To me, the way that you make this a killer camera is you do something that Nikon has done already and has been greatly successful, and we’re also seeing other manufacturers do it. That is this—you put that more advanced, let’s say roughly 60-megapixel sensor, into a retro body, a ZF-style body, and we could call it the ZFR. – Matt Irwin
Nikon ZFR Specification
- 60MP sensor
- Retro ZF-style body
- Higher-quality sensor (possibly 16-bit or improved dynamic range)
- Aimed at photographers who don’t need high speed
- Could be called the “ZFR”
Let’s Discuss the Speculated Nikon ZFR Specs: What’s Under the Hood?
A 60-megapixel full-frame sensor is not new; it has been in the camera industry for approximately the past 5 years, starting from Sony A7R IV. Then we have it in the Sigma FP camera; we also have it in the Sony A7R Mark V, so it is quite a commonly used sensor by many, and it’s a decent upgrade from Nikon Z7 II. So yes, it’s a very good possibility that either the upcoming Z7 Mark III or the ZFR camera may use the same 60MP sensor.
Medium format cameras like Hasselblad X2D 100C and Fujifilm GFX 100 offer 16-bit RAW due to their larger sensor architecture. So at this point, I certainly disagree with Matt—16-bit color recording capability is only limited to medium-format sensors in the current generation. And if Matt is talking about utilizing the same 60MP sensor used in cameras like A7R IV or Sigma FP, it remains limited to 10-bit to 14-bit recording due to its semiconductor design, and there is no way to upscale it if Nikon uses the same variant of the 60MP sensor.
Now, there is a huge possibility, and if Matt is trying to hint that this camera can record 16-bit color depth, that indicates Nikon is working on a brand-new 60MP sensor, maybe with Towers Jazz or other semiconductor manufacturers. So there can be a possibility if it’s true. thenewcamera admin
Talking about the modest speed, 10 frames per second is more than enough for those who love to have a high-resolution body. And for those who need speed, yes, we do have cameras like Nikon Z8 and Z9. Without a doubt, they can go with these bodies.
8K video recording capability has now become the norm for professional full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Design is the main factor here. When you consider the design, it is loved by many professional photographers, and it is one of the best-selling cameras from Nikon to date. The only thing that I would love is if Nikon’s Design Department is able to add a proper hand grip to the ZF design, since we currently have to buy one from SmallRig. If they are able to do so, that would be great.
Nikon ZFR Arrival Date
Now, here is the million-dollar question—when will the Nikon ZFR arrive? According to Matt, the camera is expected to arrive sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. That clearly indicates that the ZFR-style camera is still in the development phase, and a lot of alpha and beta testing has to be done before it reaches a production model.
Final Thoughts: Is the Nikon ZFR Worth the Hype?
Nikon ZFR has a lot of potential just by its name alone. And once we heard about it, we thought, “Yeah, it is a huge possibility, and we have to cover this as soon as possible.” It actually shows Nikon’s vision of the future and how broad and versatile it is. And the good thing is, it’s not about replacing any existing prime cameras—it’s about creating a brand-new space for those who love to have a retro-style camera in their hands with a high-quality, full-frame sensor, which is still missing from the Fuji brand—either you have to pick an APSC, or you have to jump into a medium-format zone.
Having said that, the camera world is evolving, and we would love to see the ZFR camera from Nikon.
Let us know what you think! Does the Nikon ZFR camera look attractive with these specs, or would you love to see a different variant with a higher-resolution sensor? Let us know in the comment section. Stay tuned to thenewcamera.com for the latest updates!
Article Update Log: The article “Nikon ZFR – Specification, Rumors, and Release Date” was first published by thenewcamera.com team on March 13th, 2025
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source Matt Irwin Photography
