Nikon Zf Shooters Already Had the Film Camera Aesthetic…
Just without the built-in simulations we all love about the Fujifilm X100 series.
That is, until now. Nikon has finally released the ability to create and install custom film simulations directly within your Nikon Zf—and it’s a game-changer.
It’s hard to scroll Instagram, Threads or YouTube lately without seeing a Nikon Zf. The camera has absolutely taken social media by storm over the past year. Whether it’s people raving about its timeless design, street photographers posting buttery SOOC JPEGs, or camera nerds adapting vintage Nikkor glass, the Zf is everywhere.
And it’s not hard to see why.
The Zf strikes that rare balance between nostalgia and performance. Tactile dials. A full-frame sensor. A form factor that feels more like a vintage film camera than a modern mirrorless. It looks like the kind of tool you’d take on a photo walk with no destination in mind.
But if you were wanting JPEGs with character straight out of camera—you still had to admit one thing: Fujifilm did it better.
Fujifilm Owned the Vibe. Until Now.
Fujifilm’s X100 series built its cult following on two things: a beautiful design, and film simulations that made editing optional. Classic Chrome, Eterna (my personal favorite), Velvia—these weren’t filters. They were color profiles with soul. If you nailed your exposure and light, your JPEGs looked like they were pulled from a dusty shoebox of prints from 1986.
For a while, Nikon Zf owners had to work harder to get that same magic. Sure, you could mess with every slider in Lightroom or build your own presets, but it felt more like a workaround than a workflow.
Not anymore.
Nikon Just Leveled Up: Custom Film Simulations Are Here
With a quiet update and zero fanfare, Nikon now offers official support for creative Picture Control Recipes on the Zf. You can download curated simulations that transform the look of your photos—no editing needed. Think Fujifilm-style film simulations, but with Nikon’s full-frame sensor and signature color science.
These aren’t just contrast sliders and saturation bumps. These are carefully crafted profiles with:
- Custom tonal curves
- Fine-tuned color channels
- Unique white balance settings
- Built-in grain simulation
- Ready-to-use metadata like sharpening and ISO behavior
Just like Fujifilm, you can now load up your favorite “film stock,” shoot intentionally, and walk away with finished JPEGs that match your creative vision—without ever opening Lightroom.
A Workflow Built for Creators
This is a big deal not just for the aesthetic, but for the workflow. Because let’s be honest—editing is often the biggest bottleneck in photography. Hours sorting RAW files. Dozens of adjustment sliders that I don’t know what they mean. Trying to get the colors just right… and usually failing.
Now? You set your look before you shoot.
Whether you’re a street shooter, landscape photographer, or an all-around photographer this change saves time. You can focus on the moment, not the monitor. It’s not just about the vibe anymore—it’s about efficiency. Fujifilm users have been raving about this freedom for years, and now Nikon shooters finally get a taste.
Official Simulations You Can Try Today
Nikon has already released a solid variety of recipes, including:
- Kota Green by Takasu Tile
- Honey by Ian Harland
- Cinematic Blue by Brandon Woelfel
- USA Film Black and White by Vincent Versace
- Hidamari Color by Haruka Koharu
You can install these via Nikon’s Imaging Cloud. Once they’re loaded, you can access them in-camera, switch between them on the fly, and even tweak them to suit your taste.
User-Generated Simulations You Can Try Today
It didn’t take long for talented creators to release their own film simulations and profiles. A few of my current favorites are:
- Kodak Portra 800 by Stephen Morais
- Filmstills Portra by filmstill_
- Classic Negative by Eduard Raos
Nikon vs. Fujifilm: Let’s Talk Competition
This new feature does more than enhance the Zf. It places Nikon in direct competition with Fujifilm’s X100 series for the first time—especially for the SOOC (straight out of camera) crowd.
And honestly? Nikon’s got a strong hand:
- A full-frame sensor means better depth of field and low-light performance.
- Interchangeable lenses let you shoot wider, tighter, or vintage glass.
- Now with film simulations baked in, Nikon finally delivers on the promise of analog soul + digital speed.
If Fujifilm’s X100V is the compact king of character-rich photography, the Zf is now the full-frame contender with muscle and mood.
My First Shoot with the New Recipes
This week, I threw on the Nikon 40mm f/2 SE, loaded up a few highlighted creator recipes and went out without a plan. The light was soft, the city was buzzing, and I shot everything SOOC JPEG for the first time since owning the Zf.
The results? Vibrant where I wanted pop. Moody when I needed depth. I barely touched my RAWs.
It was the first time I felt like the Zf wasn’t just my favorite looking camera—it was also my favorite shooting camera.
Ready to Try It Yourself?
If you own a Nikon Zf, now’s the perfect time to update your camera and experiment with these recipes. Whether you use Nikon’s presets or dive into the community-made ones, you’ll be amazed at how much creative freedom it unlocks.
Because now, Zf shooters don’t just get to look like they shoot film.
They get to shoot like it, too.
Resources to Get You Started
- Official Nikon Picture Control Recipes
- Fujixweekly’s Nikon Z Film Simulation Recipes
- Facebook Group – Community of Zf photographers sharing their recipes
- Reddit: r/Nikon_Zseries – Explore community-made recipes and reviews
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