Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z fc→Nikon Nikon ZR
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Z fc. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Nikon ZR
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Resolution25MP vs 21MP (+4MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate20fps vs 11fps
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Battery life390 shots (CIPA); ~90-125 min continuous recording vs 300 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2025 vs 2021)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Z fc | Nikon ZR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | -1.8 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.7 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | +3.2 | ||
| Documentary | +3.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | +1.7 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +1.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z fc | Nikon ZR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.5MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled (uncropped), 1080p/60p | 6K/60p, 4K/120p, internal R3D NE/N-RAW, ProRes, 10-bit N-Log, 32-bit float audio | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect AF with eye/face detection | Hybrid phase-detect AF with subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS (Synchro VR) | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 20fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA); ~90-125 min continuous recording | ↑ |
| Weight | 445g (with battery and card) | 630g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 4.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-I) | CFexpress Type B + microSD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z fc and Nikon ZR next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Nikon ZR against your specific genres — not just specs.
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