If I had to name two cameras from Nikon and Canon that are very close together in terms of performance and price, it would be the Nikon Zf and the Canon EOS R6 II. They have almost exactly the same sensor resolutions and similar performance as well. In fact, I would have a hard time deciding myself which one to use. So, what should you get?
Nikon Zf vs Canon EOS R6 II Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon Zf | Canon EOS R6 II |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | September 2023 | November 2022 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 7 | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.5 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6048×4032 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.9µ | 6.00µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 64,000 | ISO 102,400 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | Yes | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | Yes (JPEG only) | Yes |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/16000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 900 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 14 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 14 FPS | 40 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | 14 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 30 FPS) | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | Over 200 frames | 75 frames (40 FPS), 110 frames (12 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 273 | 1053 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -8.5 EV | -5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes, externally |
| 6K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 60 FPS1 |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 180 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop) | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 125 min | 360 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | Micro SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million dots | 1.62 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.80x | 0.76x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million dots | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | Yes | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | EN-EL15c | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 360 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 380 frames | 580 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 430 frames | 760 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 710 g (1.57 lbs.) | 670 g (1.48 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 144 x 103 x 59 mm (5.7 x 4.1 x 2.3″)2 | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2000 (Check Current Price) | $2500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Nikon Zf Used Prices | Canon EOS R6 II Used Prices |
| 1The Canon EOS R6 II supports 6K video, but only with an external recorder over HDMI | ||
| 2The Nikon Zf’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 10mm were added to the Zf’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
Of course, the Nikon Zf and Canon EOS R6 II look different due to the retro design of the Nikon Zf. But otherwise, these two cameras are so close. Both have a 24MP full-frame sensor, both have decent but not top-notch autofocus, and both are about the same size.
When it comes to action, the R6 II has a few features that make it stand out, including the much higher burst mode in electronic shutter of 40PFS versus the 14FPS of the Zf. However, the Zf can also shoot in 14FPS with its mechanical shutter, compared to the 12FPS of the R6 II, which is relevant because neither camera has a fast, stacked shutter and thus in electronic shutter mode, you can get rolling shutter effects.
The R6 II also has pre-burst in Raw, whereas the Zf only does JPEG pre-burst. As a wildlife photographer, I can say that pre-burst isn’t that useful in most scenarios though, but on a few occasions it is, and having the benefits of Raw with pre-burst is a definite advantage.
The other area where the R6 II edges out the Zf is video. Most notably, the R6 II has no crop at 4K 60, whereas the Zf has a 1.5 crop, but no crop at 4K30. The R6 II also has almost three times the recording limit at 360 minutes over the Zf’s 125 minutes, though very few people will ever need this limit.
Overall, the R6 II is a slightly better camera than the Nikon Zf in most ways, but at $500 more. It’s also got a more traditional design, which means it will feel more comfortable to many shooters. Of course, there are also the lens ecosystem differences to consider as well. For still shooters, both are great cameras, but for video the R6 II is quite a bit ahead.
What does the Nikon Zf offer over the Canon EOS R6 II?
- High resolution sensor shift
- Lower price, costing $500 less
What does the Canon EOS R6 II offer over the Nikon Zf?
- Slightly better performance
- Better video
- Lighter weight (40g lighter. It’s a small difference, but every bit helps.)
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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