Table of Contents
CAMERA BUYING GUIDES
- Best Point and Shoot Camera
- Best Mirrorless Camera
- Best Action Camera
- Best Cheap Mirrorless Camera
- Best DSLR Camera
- Best DSLR Camera for Beginners
- Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners
- Best Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera
- Best Lenses for Vlogging
- Best Mirrorless Camera for Professionals
- Best Mirrorless Camera for Vlogging
- Best Mirrorless Camera for Youtube
- Best 4k Mirrorless Camera
Because we are not breaking any new ground with the Nikon Z7 II, we have taken a more conservative approach. However, there is something that should make you feel more at ease about this situation. First of all, the camera is now more adaptable, and second of all, the Nikon Z system has developed significantly over the last two years.
There are increased Z lenses and improved accessories (including a new vertical grip). And now, with these enhanced cameras, most skeptics must contemplate the Nikon Z as a reliable system to embrace, even transitioning from DSLR to mirrorless.
We applaud that Nikon introduced the Nikon Z7 II at a price significantly cheaper than the Nikon Z7 when it was first released; its body-only price tag of $2,999 / £2,999 / AU$5,499 is competitive when compared to the costs of its rivals.
In addition, the Z7 II is compatible with memory cards of the SD and CFexpress formats, which are substantially more affordable than the XQD card type used by the Z7 (though the Z7 II will still take XQD cards, too).
Nikon Z7 II Price
See: Best Lenses for Nikon Z7 II | Best Memory Cards for Nikon Z7 II | Best Video Lenses for Nikon Z7 II | Best Gimbal for Nikon Z7 II | Best Flash for Nikon Z7 II | Nikon Z7 II Bundles Deals | Nikon Z7 II Black Friday Deals
Nikon Z7 II Video
You could save money by purchasing a Nikon Z7 that is two years old and costs less money, and for the most part, the shooting experience would be very comparable. Nevertheless, when everything is considered, the initial investment required to participate in the system will likely be the same.
In general, the Nikon Z7 II is a moderately updated version of its predecessor; nonetheless, the inclusion of twin processors, two card slots, better autofocus, and deeper buffers all contribute to the camera’s ability to compete favorably against other models that are marginally more expensive.
The broader picture also paints a positive image: Nikon has a fair track record of improvements via firmware upgrades, and the expanding Nikon Z system may be a winner. It is undoubtedly, one of the most remarkable cameras for photography. If you love Nikon’s design and lens system, it is undoubtedly, one of the best cameras for landscape photographers.
Nikon Z7 II Design
- Now incorporates support for two different types of card slots (SD UHS-II and CFExpress/XQD).
- Very similar in appearance to the Z7, with the same electronic viewfinder and screen.
- Excellent shape and control arrangement, respectively.
As a result of the Z7 II’s design being so comparable to its forerunner, a significant portion of what we discussed in our review of the Nikon Z7 is applicable here. Therefore, let’s concentrate on the minor alterations.
The grip also contains two batteries, providing an additional power source; the one on the exterior may be removed and replaced even while the camera is being used. This comes in quite helpful, particularly when capturing longer video segments.
Regarding battery life, the Z7 II has been upgraded from the Z7’s meager 330 shots to a more reasonable 420 photos. Again, this is an improvement over the Z7. This is primarily because of an updated battery model (known as the EN-EL15c), which features a USB-C port that enables it to be charged while the device is in use.
In other areas, we are operating on terrain that is known to us. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it – much like the Z7, the Z7 II fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, and the emphasized thumb grip provides a wonderfully secure grasp on the device.
Nikon Z7 II Features & Performance
- 493-point autofocus system with the ability to recognize human and animal eyes and faces
- Produces up to 200 JPEG photos at ten frames per second.
- Five-axis image stabilization
There is not much difference between the Nikon Z7 and the Z7 II regarding the features they provide. For instance, we continue to use the same 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor that has a native ISO range that extends from 64 to 25,600. (with extended ISO 32 to 102,400 settings). In addition, image stabilization of up to 5EV may also be achieved via sensor shift.
Still, noteworthy gains are the fruit of fitting in twin Expeed 6 image processors this time around – Nikon claims that this enhances processing power by up to 3.3 times. The dual image processors are housed within the camera’s image sensor.
One shooting mode that can use the increased processing power is the continuous high-speed shooting mode. The rate has been increased from 9 to 10 frames per second, but more crucially, the sequences may run noticeably longer before the camera begins to slow down (as we’ll find out in the following section). This is because when we were filming in more realistic environments, we always took longer sequences of shots.
It is now also possible to record internal video in 4K at 60 frames per second. At this level, a crop factor of 1.08x is used; nevertheless, this is not a deal breaker since films captured in 4K at 30 frames per second are taken from the entire sensor width.
Nikon Z7 II Image quality
- The identical image quality as the Nikon Z7, which leads its class in dynamic range
- The detail is crisp from the center to the periphery, thanks to Nikon Z glass.
- If absolute image quality is your primary priority, then the Nikon Z7 II is an excellent choice that won’t disappoint you.
It utilizes the same 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor used in the Nikon Z7, which garnered a lot of praise from us. In addition, because you have access to so many pixels, the APS-C crop mode offers a resolution of 19 megapixels, making it feasible to perform even more extensive cropping.
Combined with several of Nikon’s outstanding Z lenses and the large Nikon Z lens mount, you can achieve sharp detail from the center to the edges of the image with a reduced likelihood of experiencing the adverse effects of distortion and diffraction associated with using smaller lens mounts.
Noise levels are likewise well-controlled due to the back-illuminated nature of the sensor. For clear raw shots, we’d be happy to utilize ISO 1600, while ISO 6400 retains plenty of detail.
In conjunction with optical stabilization, sensor-based image stabilization makes handheld shooting far more effective. This is especially true at these unforgivingly high resolutions.
The outcomes will be determined by how far away your subject is, but generally speaking, we obtained three stops of stability using this method. Although you might be able to produce satisfactory images with shutter speeds as low as 0.5 seconds for objects that are far away, it is better to utilize 1/4 seconds as a safety precaution.
Nikon Z7 II Verdict
The Nikon Z7 II is a refined improvement over the original Z7 owing to the inclusion of two card slots and twin processors that enhance the camera’s overall performance. In other respects, it’s a delightfully familiar landscape, and the Nikon Z system is constantly expanding. We had hoped for a more substantial update, but it seems the transition to Nikon mirrorless is a safe bet, provided you have the necessary funds.
The Z7 only has one slot for XQD cards caused several people to raise their eyebrows, particularly those concerned about card mistakes. In addition, despite the card type’s dependability, it comes at an extremely high cost. Both issues have been resolved with the Z7 II camera, which features twin card slots compatible with CFexpress and XQD and SD UHS-II memory cards.
Additionally, the lack of control buttons on the Z7’s basic vertical grip made it unappealing to some customers, who felt it was overly simple. When shooting in portrait mode, the new grip for the Z7 II, the MB-N11, has the same button arrangement as the original grip. To double-check:
Nikon Z7 II Specs
| Body type | |
|---|---|
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 8256 x 5504 |
| Other resolutions | 5408 x 3600 (DX crop), 6880 x 5504 (5:4), 5504 x 5504 (1:1), 8256 x 4640 (16:9) |
| Image ratio w h | 1:1, 5:4, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 46 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 47 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Dual Expeed 6 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 64-25600 (expands to 32-102400) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 32 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 102400 |
| White balance presets | 12 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (6 slots) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis |
| CIPA image stabilization rating | 5 stop(s) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, normal, basic |
| File format | JPEGRaw (NEF, 12 or 14-bit) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive view. |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 493 |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3.2″ |
| Screen dots | 2,100,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.8× |
| Viewfinder resolution | 3,690,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 900 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
| Continuous drive | 10.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2, 5, 10, or 20 secs) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedHighlight-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | CFexpress Type B / XQD, UHS-II SD |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes (mini HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11ac + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (via MC-DC2 or smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | EN-EL15c lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 420 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 705 g (1.55 lb / 24.87 oz) |
| Dimensions | 134 x 101 x 70 mm (5.28 x 3.98 x 2.76″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Is Nikon Z7 II worth it?
Photographers who are looking for a high-quality full-frame mirrorless camera that is also equipped with sophisticated features and produces excellent images should consider purchasing the Nikon Z7 II.
Is Nikon Z7 II still worth buying?
It is still worthwhile to purchase the Nikon Z7 II because it is a comparatively new camera with many advanced features and capabilities that photographers can use.
What is the Nikon Z7 II good for?
The Nikon Z7 II is an excellent camera for photography, including event, portrait, street, and panoramic photography. Additionally, it is appropriate for use in video production.
Is Z7 II good for wildlife?
Even though the Nikon Z7 II can be used for photographing wildlife, it is possibly not the best option because its autofocus system is not as advanced as the autofocus systems of some other cameras that have been designed particularly for wildlife photography.
Is Nikon Z7 II made in Japan?
The Nikon Z7 II is manufactured in Japan; that is true.
Is the Z7 II suitable for low light?
Because of its sophisticated sensor technology and powerful processing capabilities, the Nikon Z7 II operates admirably even in low-light environments.
Is Nikon Z7 II good for bird photography?
When paired with the right lenses and exposure settings, the Nikon Z7 II has the potential to produce high-quality images of avian subjects.
Is the Nikon Z7 II good for astrophotography?
Because of its high-resolution camera, sophisticated image processing capabilities, and excellent low-light performance, the Nikon Z7 II is a perfect choice for photographers interested in astrophotography.
Does Nikon Z7 II have eye autofocus?
The Nikon Z7 II does have eye autofocus for both people and animals, making it much simpler to take headshots and clear photographs of wildlife.
Is Z7 II good for portraits?
Because of its high resolution, sophisticated autofocus system, and capacity to produce high-quality photos with outstanding bokeh, the Nikon Z7 II can be a good option for portrait photography.
What is the shutter life of the Nikon Z7 II?
The Nikon Z7 II has a shutter life estimated at approximately 200,000 actuation, which is on par with the shutter life of other cameras designed for professional use.
When was Nikon Z7 II released?
The Nikon Z7 II was made available for purchase sometime in November 2020.