What is the Nikon Z f really like to use? Quickfire Q&A with content creator Davide Anzimanni

What camera kit do you tend to travel with? 

I use the Nikon Z f with the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE. I love the 40mm lens because the lens is so sharp and the bokeh looks unbelievable. It’s definitely my favourite lens at the moment. I use the DJI Mavic 3 and DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro drones to broaden my creativity and horizons even further.

What’s your favourite time of day to shoot and why?

I adore blue hour. When the sun dips below the horizon, you can use the light in such a perfect way and play with composition.

What’s one tip you would give to aspiring travel photographers?

Try, make mistakes, and try again. There is no magic formula.

What settings do you normally use on the camera?

I shoot in RAW and in full Manual mode. My usual filmmaking settings are:

Preferred resolution: 4K
Shutter speed: 25fps at 1/50
Aperture: wide open for maximum shallow depth of field 
ISO: 400, up to 3200 for night-time scenes 
White Balance: true colour

Do you film video handheld or with a gimbal?

It depends on the type of video, but 70 per cent of the time I use a gimbal. If I want to create an emotional video, then I prefer not to use any stabiliser. For a guide to filming with a gimbal, click here.

Colour is very dominant in your work. How important is editing for you?

I shoot in RAW and all the pictures I take are then edited via Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. I never show a file that has not been edited.

What was your experience of the Nikon Z f?

The quality of the new camera is just incredible, especially as it gets dark. The shadow recovery is amazing. It produces so little noise, even with high ISO, and the image, particularly with subjects, appears very sharp with amazing background blur.

The Nikon Z f is unique and iconic. I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable with this camera. At first, you might feel a bit worried about the non-digital settings but, after a short time, you get used to them. In fact, they perform better this way, especially when conditions change rapidly. You can change the ISO much faster than with conventional cameras, for example. The Nikon Z f is undoubtedly an exceptional camera.

What lenses did you try with the Nikon Z f?

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE. I love shooting with wide and ultra-wide lenses, but the best lens depends on what’s in front of you.

Did the Nikon Z f enable you to do anything new? 

Yes, achieve more precision and attention to detail. I’ll always be grateful for this experience with Nikon!

You shoot a lot in low light – how did the camera perform? 

The camera’s performance has been exemplary. I would never have guessed you could get such quality. It’s now my go-to camera.

Follow Davide’s adventures here.