So, the ZF ...

[Frank Fremerey]

Nikkor-N 5cm f/1.1 + Zf, see below. This is a late '50s lens so 65+ years old -- food for thought?
(on a side note: the greyish spots seen here and there are snowflakes in the air -- not dust on the Zf sensor!!)

The first lens I tried was a very ild Nippon Koakgu 3.5/55 on the ZF. A micro nikoor and it really blew me away given how cheap it is nowadays

[richardHaw]

at f/1.1

dream lens is shi1t compared to this, the Zunow is not so bad either, but the Nikkor is better, of course!!!

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I did not get it so far that those without any letter can't be used. I might have overlooked it but it says nothing like that in the reference manual.
Did anybody try this so far? what happens (damage? camera just not working?)

The Zf manual says the following "Power Sources EN‑EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery: EN‑EL15c batteries can be used with Nikon Z f digital cameras. EN‑EL15b and EN‑EL15a batteries can also be used. Note, however, that fewer pictures can be taken on a single charge than with the EN‑EL15c (0 Battery Endurance). "

It does not list EN-EL15 (without the small letter) as being compatible. The same text is present on the Z8 manual and on that camera some people have reported that it doesn't work correctly on EN-EL15 batteries, with results such as does not allow the camera to be turned on, into a few pics can be taken, depending on the battery sample.

However, I have not seen actual user reports of the EN-EL15 (no letter) on the Zf itself. I assumed that since it has the same text as the Z8 manual, and uses the same Expeed 7 processor, the compatibility behaviour would be similar. Since Frank was suggesting the battery performance on the Zf was poor, it brought to my mind those reports on the EN-EL15 not working on the Z8 and lack of compatible accessory status in the manual as a possible explanation. Certainly my own experience with the Zf has been that it has very good battery performance using the a/b/c types and not that different from the Z6 II. However, I have only used the officially compatible batteries on the Zf.

[Birna Rørslett]

I've -- unwitttingly -- committed the sin of putting EN-EL15 first generation batteries in my Zf.  Several times, and the camera works without hiccups. Only difference is a shorter battery life than seen with the EL-EN15c.

[Fons Baerken]

Same here, three cameras, D850, Z7_2 and Zf in use 3 en-el15 non descript, 2 b's and 2c's. Without issues!

[Snoogly]

I wonder how folks here have been mapping the buttons when using MF lenses.

After some experimentation for manual focus I settled on:

Function: Preview
AEL/AFL: 200% zoom
Shutter: half press exposure lock (mainly for when using AF)
Playback: My Menu
Display: Playback (and remapped in playback mode to return to shooting)
Movie: Auto ISO, etc
ISO dial: on C

Playback switched to Display button as it’s a more intuitive location.

Above settings saved to a micro SD card, and slightly different settings for AF saved to another card. It’s a faff, but I load settings from the cards when I switch from manual to AF, and back. Micro SD cards as they are cheap as chips, but housed in full size SD adapters for ease of saving/loading settings.

Tiny blobs of sugru on AEL/AFL, Playback, i, and Display buttons. Makes a huge difference, as thumbs don’t need to hunt for buttons.

LCD screen reversed.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Same here, three cameras, D850, Z7_2 and Zf in use 3 en-el15 non descript, 2 b's and 2c's. Without issues!

Of those cameras, the EN-EL15 is listed as compatible with the D850 and Z7 II, but not on the Z8 or Zf as per the respective manuals of the cameras. 

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I've -- unwitttingly -- committed the sin of putting EN-EL15 first generation batteries in my Zf.  Several times, and the camera works without hiccups. Only difference is a shorter battery life than seen with the EL-EN15c.

Not a "sin", but it may or may not work correctly.

I am guessing that the Expeed 7's power consumption may exceed the capabilities of the EN-EL15 in some situations and this lead Nikon to remove it from the supported batteries list. There was some discussion of this when the Z8 was announced that they had to do some tricks to make the Z9 internals work on the smaller battery and the exclusion of some earlier models of the battery probably was a result of this testing. However, the Zf probably consumes less power than the Z8 as it doesn't support as high resolution and high fps rate modes in video or stills.

But, if it works for you, by all means use it. I use my EN-EL15's in my D850's and the newer a/b/c models in the mirrorless cameras that are more power hungry.

[BruceSD]

Other than a malfunction, I don't imagine putting the wrong battery in a camera would do any actual/permanent damage to it.

[Birna Rørslett]

The Zemlin one seems to be universally admired.

https://www.zemlinphoto.com/product/nikon-z8-z9-eye-cup-eyepiece/515?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=109&page=2&limit=10

I just ordered one, and I found shipping to Japan to be cheaper ordering from the web site, rather than his eBay store. Depending on where you live, I'd recommend comparing shipping prices before ordering.

Do note this eye cup does NOT fit properly on the Zf. It will not lock into position and there is a real danger of losing it quickly under field conditions. The Zemlin works perfectly on the Z9, though, where it locks securely.

[Snoogly]

I hadn’t noticed that the eye cup won’t lock into place!

I just reached out to the Zemlin man and asked if he can recommend a DIY modification to enable it to lock.

Looking at the Zemlin and Nikon there are no obvious differences that might prevent the lock pin from engaging.

[Birna Rørslett]

The Zemlin locks firmly on the Z9, but only sits tight on the Zf. Perhaps the locking pin hole needs to be relocated?

[Snoogly]

Zemlin man says:

"The fit on the ZF should not be an issue. I have a Zf body and the eyepiece fits fine. I suspect there's a minor 3D printing flaw in the first layer around the small hole for the lock pin. Take something like a paper clip and just run it around in the little hole on the back of the eyepiece to make sure it's clear for the lock pin. Any issue should be isolated to the first layer of the print, so very thin and easy to push out.

Let me know if that doesn't work for you."

[Snoogly]

Success. I went at the tiny hole with a narrow file, and now the eyepiece locks into place. There is no ‘click’, but the button is raised and the eyepiece can’t be turned.

[Birna Rørslett]

Same experience here. The reassuring 'click' is missing, but apparently the eye cup now is locked in place.

Zemlin should adjust his 3-D printing scheme, customers will have eye cups falling off and got lost due to this inaccuracy. Most people don't read NG -- unfortunately.