NIKON Z 7II
With double the processing power and a second card slot, the Nikon Z 7II looks like a solid upgrade
With double the processing power and a second card slot, the Nikon Z 7II looks like a solid upgrade. How will it fare in our big review?
Although Nikon took its time to get serious about mirrorless cameras, when it introduced the Z 6 and Z 7 in August 2018, it managed to avoid giving them a ‘first generation’ feel. Instead, they felt like fully rounded, competent cameras for enthusiast and professional photographers. In fact, there was only really one aspect that drew criticism – the one memory card slot. Nikon’s explanation was that by opting for an XQD card slot (a firmware upgrade later made this compatible with CFexpress cards as well) the cameras had a very secure form of storage, and their size could be kept down. For some this was persuasive, but others, especially wedding photographers and anyone shooting once-in-a-lifetime-moments professionally, wanted the reassurance of a second card. Consequently, one of the key upgrades that the Z 7II (and Z 6II) makes is the addition of a second card slot. Rather than go for two XQD/ CFexpress card slots, Nikon has opted for an XQD/CFexpress and SD/SHC/SDXC UHS-II card pairing. As SD-type media is more widely available and more affordable than XQD/ CFexpress, it’s a popular decision. One card can be set to act as an overflow or a back-up to the other, or RAW files can be saved to one card and JPEGs to the other.
In another doubling move, Nikon has also given its second-generation full-frame mirrorless cameras a second Expeed 6 processing engine. That gives the Z 7II a number of performance enhancements over the Z 7, including pushing the maximum continuous shooting rate from 9fps with the original camera to 10fps. That rate can also be maintained for up to 77 12-bit lossless compressed RAW files, which is about three times the number of shots possible with the Z 7, making the Z 7II a better option for sport and action photography.
As Nikon has used the same full-frame 45.7MP backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor for the Z 7II as is in the original Z 7, the new camera has the same hybrid autofocus
The Z 7II does a great job of keeping a fastmoving target sharp
hardware, with 493 AF points covering approximately 90 per cent of the imaging area. However, the dual Expeed 6 processors enable the Z 7II to focus in lower light than the Z 7. In the default arrangement it’s sensitive down to -3EV, but when Low Light AF mode is activated, it goes down to -4EV. That’s a noticeable improvement, and the Z 7II’s AF system seems faster and more decisive in lowlight conditions.
The extra processing power also extends the eye detection to video as well as stills, and it can be switched between human and animal eye detection. While this is useful when the subject is stationary or moving slowly, our tests found it unreliable when the subject moves quickly, so it’s often best to use Singlepoint AF, Dynamic-area AF or Wide-area AF (Small) and keep the active AF area over the subject in the frame as you shoot. With the AF point over the subject, the Z 7II does a great job of keeping a fast-moving target sharp. Despite the extra processing power, Nikon
hasn’t mentioned any changes to the noise reduction algorithm used by the Z 7II, and the sensitivity range remains the same as the Z 7 – ISO 64-25,600, expandable to ISO 32-102,400.
I recommend staying within the native range and making ISO 6400 the maximum setting if possible. Once the sensitivity hits ISO 16,000, JPEGs lose detail, and the shadows can look a bit mushy, making RAW files a better option.
As usual, Nikon’s Matrix Metering mode proves a dependable choice, but the brightness of the subject under the active AF point can influence the exposure. However, as the viewfinder gives an accurate preview of the final image, you can adjust the exposure compensation accordingly to get the result you want.
The viewfinder is also useful for assessing which white balance setting to use. There are several Auto White Balance options, so it’s worth tinkering to see which works best for the shooting conditions. Generally, in natural light, A1 ‘Keep over atmosphere’ or Natural Light Auto work well.
Nikon’s DSLRs and full-frame mirrorless cameras have a good reputation for dynamic range, and the Z 7II continues this trend. This means that it captures a wide range of tones, and if you need to underexpose a low-ISO image a little to protect the highlights, you can expect to be able to brighten the shadows. In fact, in our tests we found we could brighten them by 4EV or more with only a slight increase in the level of noise visible at 100 per cent on screen. That could be very useful for landscape photographers.
Like the Z 7, the Z 7II has five-axis in-body image stabilisation. When shooting with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, we achieved a hit rate of 50 per cent when using a shutter speed – 5EV lower than you’d normally expect to get away with handheld. That means you won’t need to carry a tripod quite as often as you might be used to.
Nikon’s DSLRs and full-frame mirrorless cameras have a good reputation for dynamic range, and the Z 7II continues this