Mirrorless Nikon Z 7II

£2,999/$2,997

Is this update enough to keep up with the competition?

www.nikon.co.uk

Specifications

Sensor: 45.7MP full frame CMOS, 35.9 x 23.9mm

Image processor: Dual-core Expeed 6 

AF points: 493-point hybrid phase/contrast AF

ISO range: 64 to 25,600 (exp. 32-102,400) 

Video: Uncropped 4K UHD up to 30p, cropped 4K UHD up to 60p 

Viewfinder: 3690k-dot OLED EVF, 100% coverage, 0.8x magnification 

Memory card: SD UHS-II, CFexpress (Type B) / XQD LCD: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2,100K dots

Max burst: 10fps mechanical shutter 

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, mini HDMI, GPS, microphone, headphone 

Size: 134 x 101 x 70mm

Weight: 615g body only (705g with battery)

The Z 7II is the follow-up to Nikon’s first fullframe mirrorless camera: the Z 7, launched in 2018. With a 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor at its heart, the Z 7II is Nikon’s new flagship mirrorless camera, created to take on the likes of Canon’s EOS R5 and the Sony Alpha 7R IV, while also designed to tempt DSLR owners to make the switch.

Sitting alongside the Z 7II is Nikon’s more enthusiast-orientated full-frame mirrorless camera, the 24.5-megapixel Z 6II (reviewed in Digital Camera 237). Costing significantly less than the pro-orientated Z 7II, the Z 6II is marketed as more of an all-rounder.

We’re big fans of the original Z 7 and, as the name suggests, Nikon hasn’t started from the ground up with the Z 7II. Instead, the company has listened to feedback and looked to iron out the weaknesses of the original, tweaking and refining to arrive at the Z 7II. Externally at least, the only giveaway that you’re dealing with the newer camera is the Z 7II badge. But with the mirrorless landscape changing dramatically in the last two years through a selection of new rivals, do the changes made to the Z 7II offer enough to put it ahead of the competition?