Parting Shot

Mike Harris reckons you have plenty to be happy about in 2020, whether you shoot mirrorless, DSLR or both

We share our enthusiasm for Nikon’s future

Being a Nikon user in 2020 is all about choice. The Big N might have turned up fashionably late to the mirrorless party, but in a year and a half it’s almost completely transformed its camera line-up. Whether you’ve chosen to embrace the Z mount, stick with the F mount or work with both, it looks like you’re covered for the foreseeable future.

Since late 2018 we’ve been treated to the company’s first full-frame mirrorless camera twice (kind of), its first APS-C mirrorless camera and even a DSLR with mirrorless technology (more on that later). If that wasn’t enough, video folks can now make use of an impressive Raw video output upgrade for the Z 6 and Z 7, and thanks to a firmware update both cameras are now Cfexpress compatible (more on page 42).

And let’s not forget the D6. Although we’ve yet to get our hands on it, we’re hoping Nikon’s long-awaited flagship DSLR will be the cherry on a multi-tiered cake.

The best of both worlds?

No camera embodies the diversity of Nikon’s camera line-up quite like the shiny new D780 (page 100). It’s the spiritual successor to the

D750 – the most popular full-frame Nikon DSLR ever – but comes with plenty of tasty mirrorless mod cons.

Nikon calls it: “A new kind of DSLR for a new breed of creator,” and it’s perhaps best described as the love child of the D750 and Z 6. The camera’s 24.5Mp sensor appears to be exactly the same as its mirrorless counterpart’s, and (when in Live View) the D780 boasts the same 273-point Hybrid AF system and is the first Nikon DSLR to feature Eye-detection AF.

The similarities don’t stop there. The D780 is Nikon’s best DSLR camera for shooting video. It can capture 4K UHD footage at up to 30fps, Full HD at up to 120fps and can output 10-bit video. As it stands the D780 costs more than the Z 6, but the gap closes a little when you consider Xqd/cfexpress vs UHS-II prices and the cost of an FTZ adapter.

Major differences include the D780’s dual card slots and better battery life, and the Z 6’s faster burst shooting and IBIS. Whether you’re interested in the D780, Z 6 or neither, we live in a time where plenty of great Nikon cameras exist. Right now, it doesn’t matter if you’re ready to embrace mirrorless or stick with the good ol’ DSLR. Either way, you’re going to be spoilt for choice.