Nikon jumped into the mirrorless full-frame market two years ago with the Z 6 and Z 7. Today, the company is refreshing both. Inside, the new Z 6 II and Z 7 II aren’t staggeringly different than the models that came before, but Nikon has worked to address some critiques, bringing the dual memory card slots that event pros demand.
A Familiar Feel
Aside from their sensors, the two cameras share a lot in common with one another as well as their predecessors. Body design is identical, so you can move from one to another without missing a beat.
Each model features function buttons all around, including next to the lens mount, a tilting touch LCD, a large OLED viewfinder, and a magnesium alloy body protected from dust and splashes. If you’ve used a first-generation Z, everything feels familiar. The buttons that matter are in the same places, and the interface is consistent.
What’s different is the memory card compartment. Instead of a single slot, you now get two—one for high-end CFexpress Type B memory (XQD cards are still supported too), and a second for UHS-II SDXC memory. They let you save images to both simultaneously, all but eliminating the odds of losing irreplaceable shots due to memory card failure.
There’s also a new vertical shooting grip, another request from pros. The first-generation Z grip didn’t include any shooting controls—it just held an extra battery. Now the grip holds the shutter, focus, and function buttons you expect, a big plus for photographers who tend to use portrait orientation frequently.
Nikon has added a second image processor, doubling the power and promising generally snappier performance as a result. The image buffer has been improved as well, and Nikon promises reduced EVF blackout when firing the shutter in continuous drive.
How Many Megapixels?
The big difference between the two models is pixel count. The Z 6 II uses the same 24.5-megapixel BSI sensor as its predecessor, while the Z 7 II continues to use the Z 7’s 45.7-MP BSI imager. Both are stabilized by a 5-axis IBIS system.
The faster of the two, the Z 6 II delivers 14fps capture (using a single focus point) and 12fps with wider focus areas and subject tracking; the Z 7 II tops out at 10fps, regardless of focus area.
The Z 6 II’s sensor has also proven to be a bit better at high ISO than the Z 7 II, while the Z 7 II offers a lower native ISO 64 sensitivity—a big advantage for landscape photography and long exposure work. Both models support exposure times from 900 seconds (15 minutes) through 1/8,000-second.
The autofocus system is largely unchanged, but Nikon promises some level of improvement, including better performance in low light. Eye Detection settings are now available in the on-screen “i” menu, and you have the option of limiting the area of interest when using face and eye detection. These are tweaks, though, not an all-new focus system.
Both cameras offer 4K video capture. The Z 7 II supports 4K at up to 60fps (with a slight crop at the edges), and the Z 6 II can record at 30fps using the full width of its sensor. A firmware update, coming in January, will add 4K60 to the Z 6 II in a DX (Super 35mm) mode.
Both models output a clean 10-bit signal over HDMI, record internally at 8-bit, and support flat N-Log and HDR HLG profiles. Paid upgrades are available to add 12-bit output and Raw video support when using an Atomos Ninja V recorder.
Pricing and Availability
The Nikon Z 6 II is coming to market first, in November, for $1,999.95 (body only). It will also be sold in a kit along with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S for $2,599.95.
The Z 7 II follows in December, $2,999.95 (body only), or $3,599.95 bundled with the Z 24-70mm F4 S.
The MB-N11 grip works with either camera, and it goes on sale in November for $399.95.
