Leaked Nikon Zf images reveal minimalist design with 1970s SLR flair, while video hints at presence of IBIS ^↺

Nikon has long been rumoured to be launching the Zf — a full-frame mirrorless camera with tactile, analogue controls and retro-inspired looks — before the end of 2023. Naturally, the rumour mill has been ablaze with everything from spec sheets to launch date speculation. The latest to come out of the Nikon Zf's corner of the internet, though is a set of alleged leaked images and a video of the camera, shared by Nikon Rumors.

The leaked images of the Nikon Zf body don't offer a particularly good look at the top of the camera, where the majority of the knobs and dials are, but they allow us to glean much of what the camera will look like and how it will handle.

On the top, three dials, a shutter button with an on/off collar switch, and a video record button are visible. The dials seem to follow exactly the same layout as the APS-C Nikon Zfc, meaning the two immediately adjacent to the EVF tower are likely shutter speed and ISO with their respective PSAM and video/photo selector secondary functions. The third dial on the top should, then, be exposure control.

There are also two additional scroll wheels, one on the front of the grip and one on the back, rounding out what appears to be a fairly decent assortment of analogue controls to go with the retro looks.

While fans of the legendary Nikon Df may be more or less satisfied with the controls on the new Zf camera, the size of the grip, and the resulting handling and ergonomics, will almost certainly be found wanting. At least the fully-articulating screen on the back of the Zf should remedy those complaints somewhat.

Perhaps more interesting than control layouts and ergonomics is a Twitter video of the Nikon Zf, which gives us further clues about what's inside. The shaky handling of the camera in the video produces a distinct rattling noise that is indicative of IBIS. While IBIS is almost a given for a camera that is rumoured to cost around the US$2,000 mark, it's good to have some sort of confirmation that the Zf will be a decent all-rounder.

Overall, the Zf looks to be stacking up to be a sharp camera, disappointing ergonomics aside. Its fully-retro FM-inspired looks may have been the right choice, given that they lend the camera an air of timelessness and sophistication, in spite of an apparent abundance of plastic.

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