What is the best Nikon camera for photographing landscapes? The answer isn’t so simple. After all, a good camera for daytime landscape photography may not be the right choice for something like Milky Way photography. But if you’re interested in photographing landscapes and want to understand Nikon’s options, this guide should help!
I’ve personally used nearly all of Nikon’s DSLR and Z mirrorless cameras, past and present, during the course of writing reviews at Photography Life. What I’ve found is that every single modern Nikon camera can be used to take high-quality landscape photos, without exception. Still, some are better-suited to the task than others. This article explains how they stack up, based on my experience.
The rankings below are obviously subjective, but it should give you a good idea of which Nikon cameras are better than others for landscape photography. Note that I’ve ranked the following cameras by quality and not by price, so depending on your budget, some of the later cameras on the list could easily be the right choice for you.
#1: Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8
By almost every metric, the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9 are Nikon’s best, most advanced cameras yet. Even though both are primarily geared toward sports and wildlife photographers, they also have Nikon’s most advanced features for landscape photography. I ranked them as tied for first place because they have essentially the same features as one another – especially where landscapes are concerned – but have different form factors.
Alongside the 45-megapixel sensor and base ISO of 64, the Nikon Z8 and Z9 have some features found on few, if any, other Nikon cameras. These include amazing astrophotography features like illuminated buttons, “starlight view” autofocus, and a dim red-light mode for the rear LCD. There’s also a dual-axis tilting LCD and a sensor curtain to protect from dust – a common issue for landscape photographers shooting at f/11 or f/16.
The Nikon Z9 would almost be in second place in my rankings for one reason: It’s chunky. But because it offers the same features as the Z8 (plus a few small extras like GPS), it really depends on what form factor you prefer. Some landscape photographers will be happier with the extraordinary battery life on the Z9 and the bigger grip, while backcountry landscape photographers will prefer the lighter Z8 body. If you’re still wondering which of these cameras to get, you can check out our Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z9 comparison.
Or, you could simply get the Z8 because it’s less expensive at $4000 vs the $5500 of the Z9. (The rankings in this article don’t take price into account – just pure quality for landscape photography.)
#2: Nikon Z7 II
Another excellent option for Nikon-based landscape photographers is the Nikon Z7 II. Like the Nikon Z8 and Z9, it has a 45-megapixel sensor with a base ISO of 64. The Nikon Z7 II is also much lighter than the Z9, weighing just 705 g / 1.55 lbs.
As much as I like the Nikon Z7 II, it could be better for landscape photography if it stole a few features from the Z9. For example, the Z7 II’s autofocus system usually can’t autofocus on the stars, and it doesn’t have illuminated buttons for Milky Way photography. Plus, the rear LCD has single-axis tilt rather than dual-axis tilt, which isn’t helpful for low-angle vertical photos from a tripod.
That said, the Z7 II is still a phenomenal camera for landscape photography. It could easily be #1 on this list if you prefer minimal weight rather than maximal features. It’s also about $2500 less than the price of the Nikon Z9. That’s a lot of money to put toward good lenses (or travel).
#3: Nikon Z7
This one was a very close call between the Nikon Z7 and the #4 camera on this list, the Nikon D850. Frankly, I could have flipped a coin between these two, but I’m leaning slightly in the Z7’s direction because it has access to the newest Z lenses, some of which are great options for landscape photography with no F-mount equivalent (like the 14-30mm f/4 S).
One drawback of the Nikon Z7 is that it only has one memory card slot. This was solved with the Z7 II, but it makes the Z7 less attractive for multi-day landscape photography trips, where you’ll appreciate the peace-of-mind of a backup memory card. The Z7 also lacks some refinements that the Z7 II later added, like a “clean” view of your composition on the rear LCD. (The icons for your camera settings cover a small part of the frame at the bottom.)
But considering the headline features – the light weight, 45-megapixel sensor, base ISO 64, and broad lens selection – it’s hard to rank the Nikon Z7 outside the top 3. The camera isn’t available new in all markets any longer, but it’s selling for good prices on eBay at around $1400 (eBay Partner Program affiliate link – you can support Photography Life by buying anything through this link, not just the Z7!)
#4: Nikon D850
If you’re a DSLR fan at heart, the Nikon D850 could easily jump higher than #4 in your ranking. After all, it has amazing battery life, a rugged build quality, and even illuminated buttons for astrophotography. Just like the #1, #2, and #3 cameras above, the D850 has a 45-megapixel sensor with a base ISO of 64. In practice, all four of these cameras have the same image quality – so it all comes down to their other features.
The two main issues with the D850 for landscape photography are the moderately high weight and the lack of access to native Nikon Z lenses. It could be the case that neither of those issues matters to you. I’m particular, there are a ton of good F-mount lenses for landscape photography, and you may never feel that “the grass is greener” with the newer Z-series glass.
It’s also true that the Nikon D850 is a better sports and wildlife camera than the Z7 or Z7 II. So, if landscape photography isn’t your only concern, the versatility of the D850 could put it at the top of your list. (The Z9 still beats the D850 in versatility, but it’s much more expensive.)
All in all, even though the Nikon D850 is more than five years old, it’s one of the most appealing cameras available today. That’s a huge testament to the quality of this DSLR.
#5: Nikon Zf
The Nikon Zf is the first camera in this list that has less than 45 megapixels – it’s 24 megapixels, to be exact. This alone may make it a questionable choice for some landscape photographers who are detail junkies and love making huge prints.
However, the Nikon Zf also has a lot of surprises up its sleeve, including the ability to take higher-resolution, pixel-merged images up to 96 megapixels apiece (with full RGB data per pixel). In our tests, it only works well if the subject is completely stationary and you’re shooting from a tripod. That said, it’s still an exciting feature for landscape photographers.
The Zf also has many of the most advanced features of the Nikon Z system, including autofocus algorithms borrowed from the Z8 and Z9, as well as a fully articulating touchscreen. The beautiful form factor of the camera and extensive analog-style controls will also win over a lot of hearts. Finally, the Zf’s implementation of in-body image stabilization is better than any of Nikon’s previous cameras, so if you shoot a lot of handheld landscapes, it might be my #1 choice.
#6: Nikon D810
Now that we’re out of the top four, the cameras on this list are starting to have some more compromises. In particular, we’re done with Nikon’s 45-megapixel sensors. But Nikon does have one other camera with a base ISO of 64 and class-leading dynamic range: the discontinued Nikon D810.
The 36-megapixel sensor in the Nikon D810 holds up extremely well today, and I’d prefer it over any of Nikon’s 24 megapixel sensors as a landscape photographer. With the D810, you can get image quality and dynamic range that rival the best cameras of 2024. Considering that the D810 was released in 2014, that’s pretty remarkable.
Unfortunately, the Nikon D810 lags in other areas. Its rear LCD is fixed in place and can’t tilt at all. Also, the camera’s low-light autofocus has room for improvement, and there’s no built-in focus stacking feature. The camera doesn’t even have a touchscreen! (Although, if you’re like me, maybe you disable touchscreen on your cameras anyway.)
The good news is that the Nikon D810’s used prices are excellent. You can find it on eBay for about $700, which is much less than any of the cameras above. If you don’t mind the weight of a DSLR – and you don’t need any of the Z mirrorless lenses – I think the Nikon D810 is the best value on this entire list.
#7: Nikon Z6 II
Although the Nikon Z6 II has a 24 megapixel sensor and base ISO 100 instead of 64, don’t count it out for landscape photography. It still has good dynamic range, and 24 megapixels is plenty for most prints. Meanwhile, almost all of its remaining features are the same as the #2 camera on this list, the Nikon Z7 II.
There’s another reason to consider the Nikon Z6 II for landscape photography: high ISO performance. It’s not something that matters most of the time for tripod-based landscape photography, I admit. But if you’re photographing the Milky Way, the Nikon Z6 II is one of the best choices on this list – and it’s not bad for other landscapes, either.
#8: Nikon Z6
If the Nikon Z6 II sounds appealing to you as a landscape photographer, you may want to look at the original Z6, too. Although it’s no longer available new from most retailers, there’s a healthy used market for the Z6 and some amazing prices to be found. With used prices currently around $900, the Z6 is a very good deal.
Compared to the newer Nikon Z6 II, the original Z6 has broadly similar features for landscape photography, including the same 24 megapixel sensor. It lacks a second memory card slot, though, and has some of the same “first gen” issues that I mentioned regarding the Z7 a minute ago (like the clean live view display).
Still, the Nikon Z6 is a very capable mirrorless camera. If nothing else, it’s an appealing choice for a backup / travel / astrophotography camera to pair with something else like the Z9, Z7 II, or D850.
#9: Nikon D780
Coming in at #8 is the Nikon D780 – a DSLR that borrows many of the best features from the Nikon Z6 and Z6 II. It’s a great jack-of-all-trades camera, and it’s one of Nikon’s lightest DSLRs ever. Like the Z6 and Z6 II, the D780 has Nikon’s newer 24 megapixel sensor with excellent high-ISO performance.
I ranked the Nikon D780 at #8, but it could jump higher depending on your needs. It’s basically a “DSLR Nikon Z6 II,” after all. The D780 has great battery life and an optical viewfinder, but it lacks access to Nikon’s mirrorless lenses. It’s up to you whether that tradeoff favors the D780 or the Z6 / Z6 II.
#10: Nikon Z5
If your priorities are light weight and low price, the Nikon Z5 might strike the perfect balance for your needs. This camera definitely lacks some features for fast-paced sports and wildlife photography, but that’s not what this article is about! For photographing landscapes, it’s on a very similar level as the Nikon Z6, Z6 II, and D780.
The biggest drawback compared to those cameras is that the Z5 has Nikon’s older 24 megapixel sensor, which has slightly worse dynamic range and high ISO performance. But it’s still a full-frame sensor, and the differences will be hard to notice outside of Milky Way photography.
The Nikon Z5 also has some nice features like dual card slots and in-body image stabilization – better than expected for such an inexpensive camera. The fact that the Z5 is “only” #9 on the list shows that Nikon has a lot of good options for landscape photographers to choose from. It’s not a slight against the Z5 itself.
#11: Nikon D800 / D800E
When the Nikon D800 and D800E were originally announced in 2012, they were a bit of a revelation. 36 megapixels! In a world where 12 megapixels was the norm, and 24 megapixels was the limit, Nikon seemed crazy (albeit in a good way).
As of 2024, the Nikon D800 and D800E are definitely out of date and seriously showing their age – but that’s mostly true of their features for sports and wildlife photography. For slow-paced landscapes, these cameras are still good choices today.
You won’t get many of Nikon’s newer or more advanced features – no touchscreen, focus stacking, or even electronic front-curtain shutter – but you will get a camera with excellent image quality. 36 megapixels is enough for large prints, and I don’t think that most landscape photographers need more than that.
#12: Nikon D750
For years, the Nikon D750 was the best all-around camera that Nikon users could buy, thanks to its combination of great image quality, price, and features. Although it’s been surpassed in recent years (after all, it came out in 2014) it remains a strong camera for landscape photography even in 2024.
At the heart of the Nikon D750 is a 24 megapixel sensor, albeit the older-generation version that has slightly worse high-ISO performance. The camera has a single-axis tilting LCD, dual memory card slots, and good low-light autofocus. If you find a good deal on the D750, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it as a landscape photographer.
#13: Nikon D610 (and D600)
Did you forget about these cameras? Well, that’s probably what Nikon wants. The Nikon D610 only exists in the first place because the original Nikon D600 was plagued by sensor oil and dust issues; Nikon needed to reset their PR with a new model name.
But that doesn’t make the D610 a bad camera. It has a very capable 24-megapixel sensor that mimics the Nikon Z5 and D750 in image quality. The D610 is also reasonably light for a full-frame DSLR, weighing 850 g / 1.9 pounds. Meanwhile, the original Nikon D600 is basically identical to the D610 in every way.
As for the downsides, the D600 and D610’s low-light autofocus leaves something to be desired, and it has a fixed LCD. But beyond that, it doesn’t lose much compared to the D750, at least for landscape photography. Considering the crazy low prices on the used market, the D610 would still be a good choice today if you’re on a budget. Even the D600 could be an option if you find a copy without the sensor dust issue.
#14: Nikon D5600
Now we’ve reached Nikon’s APS-C cameras (also known as their DX cameras) with a smaller sensor. These cameras don’t have as much dynamic range as Nikon’s full-frame cameras above, and they aren’t as good for Milky Way photography due to worse lens selection and high ISO performance. But they’re still good cameras in their own right.
The Nikon D5600, for example, has a fully-articulating LCD and a lightweight design that could make it an appealing choice for landscape photography. It also has a 24-megapixel sensor that’s capable of high levels of detail, even though it’s DX rather than full-frame. There are definitely better options, but I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the D5600 on a landscape photography trip.
Note that older cameras in the D5600 lineup are very similar – specifically the D5200, D5300, and D5500. All four of these cameras have similar features and share a 24-megapixel sensor, so they’re pretty interchangeable. Actually, the Nikon D5300 may be the best of the bunch for landscape photography because it has a built-in GPS.
#15: Nikon D7200
Also in the world of DSLRs, the Nikon D7200 takes the #14 spot on this list. Even though it’s a more advanced camera than the D5600, most of its improvements aren’t geared toward landscape photography. Not to mention that the Nikon D7200 is larger and heavier than the other APS-C cameras on this list, and it has a fixed LCD that can’t tilt or flip.
That said, the D7200 has the same great 24-megapixel sensor as the Nikon D5600, a more advanced control layout, dual memory card slots, and better weatherproofing. If those concerns outweigh the D7200’s higher weight and fixed LCD for you, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it instead.
#16: Nikon Zfc
As with the Nikon D5600, the Nikon Zfc is a crop-sensor camera with a fully articulating LCD. This time, though, it’s mirrorless rather than DSLR, and it has a 20 megapixel sensor rather than 24.
The reason that I ranked the Nikon Zfc lower than the D5600 and D7200 for landscape photography is because of lens selection. Even though Nikon’s existing Z DX lenses are good, there aren’t many of them. Huge gaps remain, especially on the wide angle side of things (pretty important for landscape photography)!
Most likely, Nikon wants you to fill these gaps by using the FTZ adapter with older F-mount lenses. But at that point, you’ve lost the weight / size advantages over something like the D5600 in the first place. The Nikon Zfc is hardly a bad camera, and I would probably rank it higher than the D5600 if there were more native Z DX lenses. But there aren’t, so this is where I’m ranking it.
#17: Nikon Z50
Very similar to the Nikon Zfc is the Nikon Z50. Aside from the Zfc’s retro-like design, the biggest difference is that the Z50’s rear LCD tilts along a single axis, rather than articulating fully. Compared to the Z50, the Nikon Zfc also has manual shutter speeds up to 900 seconds (rather than 30 seconds), and the low-light autofocus is a smidge better.
These aren’t major differences, but they all lean in favor of the Zfc. If you find a good deal on the Z50, go for it – otherwise, the Zfc is a slightly better choice for landscape photography.
#18: Nikon Z30
Rounding out this list is the Nikon Z30. It’s not the worst landscape photography camera that Nikon has ever made (see the “Other Cameras” section below) but it also doesn’t bring much to the table compared to the cameras above.
Like the Nikon Zfc, the Z30 has a 20-megapixel sensor, a fully articulating LCD, and a lightweight design. It’s actually the smallest, lightest Nikon camera on this list, which is great for landscape photography. Unfortunately, the Z30 is so small because it doesn’t have a viewfinder! The only way to compose is via the rear LCD.
Although landscape photographers tend to use the rear LCD pretty often, there are plenty of situations where a viewfinder makes a difference. For example, in bright conditions, the rear LCD may be hard to see properly. And if you’re shooting handheld, it’s easier to keep the camera stable if you can hold it to your eye. That’s why I’d prefer any of the cameras above instead of the Z30.
Other Cameras
It might seem like I’ve gone through Nikon’s entire camera lineup here, but there are plenty of Nikon cameras that I haven’t talked about yet. Many of them aren’t targeted directly at landscape photographers, but they’re still highly capable cameras. In no particular order, here are my thoughts on some of them:
- Nikon D3X: A 24-megapixel, full-frame camera in a near-indestructible package. Even though used prices on the D3X are pretty good, there are lighter, less expensive Nikon cameras with better image quality. For example, I recommend the D800 or D800E instead if you’re intent on buying an old, high-res Nikon. The Nikon D810 also sells for about the same price as the D3X used.
- Nikon D500: Even in 2024, this camera is easily in the top 5 of Nikon’s cameras for sports and wildlife photography. But if you’re only focused on landscapes, it doesn’t make much sense compared to other options. For example, you can save money and weight – and get a bit more resolution – with something like the Nikon D7200 instead. Or even a full-frame mirrorless Z5. Of course, if you already have a D500, there’s no need to switch; it’s still capable of high-quality landscape photos.
- Nikon D7500: Read my thoughts about the D500; I could say the same things about the D7500, too. Don’t get me wrong, the D7500 is a great jack-of-all-trades camera, and it’s an improvement over the D7200 for sports and wildlife photography. But if you’re asking just about landscape photography, there isn’t much reason to pick the D7500 over the D7200.
- Nikon D3500 / D3400 / etc.: These cameras are very light, inexpensive DSLRs with good image quality (at least on the later models with the 24 megapixel sensor). But they have pretty bad ergonomics, and I’d prefer the better build quality of the other cameras above for landscape photography in rainy or dusty conditions.
- Nikon D4 / D5 / D6: These cameras are so heavily specialized for sports and wildlife photography that they just don’t make sense for a landscape-oriented list like this. They’re huge, heavy cameras with lower-resolution sensors. That said, they have great high ISO performance and build quality, so there are some specialized landscape photography applications where I’d be happy to have one with me.
Nikon has made other cameras in the past – the D700, the Coolpix A, the Nikon 1 lineup, point-and-shoot cameras, etc. – that don’t warrant much of a mention for landscape photography. It’s not that you can’t take good landscape photos with these cameras. It’s just that they’re designed for other purposes, or that they’ve been surpassed by newer Nikon cameras.
Conclusion
If you’re a landscape photographer who’s looking for a Nikon camera, maybe your first takeaway from this article is that there are a million options. But I hope that your second takeaway is that you learned something useful for making your decision!
Of course, this list is just based on my personal experiences and impressions, and the best camera always depends on your situation as a landscape photographer. Based on how your prioritize image quality, weight, and modern features, your rankings could easily shift. The same is true if one of these cameras has an unique feature that’s critical to your work. Or, maybe it could shift if you already have one of these cameras and want to justify your purchase :)
If you have any questions about these cameras or my ranking system, feel free to ask me below. As I said in the introduction, I’ve personally used almost all of these cameras, so hopefully I can help if you’re wondering about any of them. I’ll try to respond to every comment and answer your questions to the best of my ability.
I would like these kinds of articles better if you/any author didn’t rate them. Rating their individual features for a particular use case is good, but rating the collection of features, all cameras, and lenses for that matter, being compromises of one sort or another, you’re just telling us what features are important to you. Absolutely nothing personal, but I really don’t care about that, just as you shouldn’t care about my preferences.
Hmmm , not sure I agree with the D5600 being above the D7200 in this list – in fact I disagree completely –
DXO rate the D7200 in 4th place behind the D850 , D810 and the Z711 with a dynamic range rating of 14.6 – the D5600 comes in at 16th [ 14.0 ]
Thank you very much for your opinion. I was searching for over an hour for good comparisons on the Nikon lineup and finally added landscape to the search and your article was at the top of the list. Now I just need to save a bunch for one of the few I’m considering or somehow convince the wife for a birthday gift in lieu of any gifts for a few years!
Hi Spencer, I love the article. I’m beginning my photography journey and want to focus (no pun intended) on outdoor photography. I have a big pull to landscape photography as well as wildlife photography. Is there a camera that you would recommend as maybe an all around camera and lenses?
In my initial research I have been looking at Nikons , and specifically the d3300 caught my attention. Would you recommend a Nikon, Cannon or any other specifically?
Thank you for your time. I love reading Photography Life and have found so much useful information. Thank you for your time.
Matthew
Hello Matthew! I currently own the d5500 paired to the Nikkor 18-140mm lens and it works pretty decently for my love of landscape photography. The d5500 has a few additional features that may expand your photography experience a little better in my opinion. Whatever you do though, enjoy the love of your photography!
I have aD3400.you mentioned the later models having the better 24mp sensor. So its possible some D3400’s have different sensors?
No, that only applies to Nikon’s full frame (FX) cameras, for example, the D750 versus the later D780. Regarding the D3400, it has Nikon’s best DX sensor as of early 2023.
(Nikon’s 20 megapixel DX sensor found in, say, the D500 and Z50 is on about the same level as the D3400’s 24-megapixel sensor.)
Hello Spencer,
Great article. Re your comment on the Z7 lacking “a ‘clean’ view of your composition on the rear LCD,” I’ve found that if, in the Playback Menu > Playback display options, you leave “None (image only)” checked as one of the options, you’ll get a clean image as one of the playback views you can go through when you click up or down on the multi-selector pad.
That works for reviewing images, and that’s exactly what I’ve done for a workaround! However, in live view on the rear LCD there is no corresponding “none” option, unfortunately. Nikon fixed this partly with the Z7 II and fully with the Z9 at least.
The Nikon Zfc can use any Z mount lens so I don’t see that it has a lens availability issue. So far I have had great results with ff Z mount lenses.
Full-frame Z lenses work great on the Zfc, but the problem is on the ultra-wide side of things. Even something like the 14-30mm f/4 is a 21-45mm equivalent on the Zfc. A lot of landscape photographers work extensively in the sub-20mm range (full frame equivalent), so picking only full-frame lenses is pretty limiting.
Adapting is always an option. But until there are some native wide angle lenses, Z DX won’t be my top recommendation to Nikon landscape photographers. Not that it’s a bad system so far, Nikon just needs to flesh it out a bit more.
Viltrox 13mm 1.4 XF for Nikon Z mount. 20mm Equivalent on my Z fc and then I can slap it on my Z5 or super wide angle.
I like the points you pointed in your article that describe landscape photography but picking the best camera just based on the image quality only is not real life situation. Based on your criteria (IQ) – the identical or almost identical list of cameras will be for any other genre of photography. Just look the Nikon product line and you will find there not much difference. For me this is more complex question, which camera is the best for landscape.
I would split the problem on the categories.
1. How difficult and remote the place, and how long is planned to be in that landscape environment. Basically I would like to say, that taking picture from the top of the Longs Peak Mountain will be more reasonble wilth D850 than Z9. But if your landscape photography is limited by Central Park then obviously it will be Z9.
2. Based on the first factor, the second criteria for camera for me would be a weight. Again, climbing/backpacking mountains or remote places with 915gr Nikon D850 way easier than with Z9(1340gr)
3. Battery life. If I’m backpacking for many days without access to civilization I would rather use DSLR with much longer battery life comparing to Z system. I also need to carry less weight (number of batteries) to do the same number of shots. For example: d850- (1840 shots), Z9 – (740), d780-(2260), z7II-(440 shots).
4. Price. Obviously lower price is better.
5. Tech specs of the camera: resolution/dynamic range of the sensor/ digital noise in high ISO. So generally saying, the newer camera is, all that parameters should be better. But comparing sensors of Z6 and D600 or D850/Z7II it’s not huge gap between older DSLR and newer Z systems.
So, if I need to decide which camera is best for me to do landscape photography, I will look for a camera that would satisfy the best all 5 factors described above. In my humble opinion the best camera for long in time remote landscape photography will be: 1 – D850, 2- D780/D750, D610/D600. If this is short term in time landscape photography then I would choose. 1-D850, 2-Z7/Z7II, 3-Z9, Z6/Z6II. If this is city condition like a parks then pick Z9
Yeah, that’s fair. And some people just like DSLRs better than mirrorless. That said, I’ve gone on some long hikes back when I used the D800E, and my Z7 kit is a huge weight off my back by comparison. Even accounting for extra batteries, the weight advantage is definitely in mirrorless’s corner with a typical set of lenses.
I used the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 and Nikon 70-200mm f/4 for a nine-day hike in Iceland with the D800E. I actually had two D800Es with me, one for backup because it was such an important trip. I think it took years off my life!
Meanwhile, the Z7 with a 14-30mm f/4 and 24-200mm f/4-6.3 has better image quality throughout the zoom range, and weighs so much less even accounting for extra batteries. At least for me, I’d amend your final recommendations to put lighter cameras ahead of the D850 / D780 / D610 for long time, remote landscape photography. The battery difference in practice is much smaller than you’d think. I could deal with a week-long trip with the Z7 with two fully charged batteries, maybe 3 if it’s cold.
Nice list, and even better photos. Just goes to show that timing, location, composition and ‘story’ reign supreme over the technical details.
Having done some big prints in the last few years for promotional work (think tourism stands, trade fairs, printed works) it’s quite revealing how little most of the differences between cameras matter. I even had a DJI Mini 2 shot printed nearly 150 centimeters wide (this being a 1/2.3” 12 MP sensor). The printer wanted double confirmation that we were OK with the (very) low DPI. The result was perfectly fine for the intended use, as few people would have looked at it from closer than two meters away or so. If someone had cared to look they could – maybe – have told the difference between that print and the one from the D750 (24MP) next to it, but if anyone even did, nobody made mention of it.
There are definitely use cases for the Z9 and Z7 II, but unless you really know why you need them you probably don’t.
Thank you, David! I don’t think there’s a photographer out there who could tell the difference between the photos in this article, and say which one came from a “top three” camera on the list versus something near the very bottom. Admittedly, these are just 2000-pixel JPEGs, but I think the same thing could be said up to about 12×18“ prints. Technique and composition matter a lot more, even though some cameras obviously still have better features than others.
Interesting article, thanks Spencer! I have a specific question for you about your dynamic range comments regarding the 45 MP bodies. Basically, I thought dynamic range was determined by the pixel size (well capacity). As such, shouldn’t the best DR be for the 24 MP FF bodies like the Z6 series? Also, given the identical pixel size between the 45 MP FF bodies and 20.9 MP DX bodies, shouldn’t those have the exact same dynamic range?
Not trying to open a can of worms here, just curious.
Personally, the weight penalty of the Z9 and other FF bodies and lenses makes me less interested in them for landscape, but most of my work is backcountry and I don’t like carrying all the extra weight! Glad you noted that in your article, as it’s totally a personal preference.
Good question. In practice, I’ve found that Nikon’s 45 megapixel sensors have more dynamic range than their 24 megapixel sensors – actually, more dynamic range than any other full-frame camera at the moment. Whatever small loss in dynamic range would be due to smaller pixel sizes, is outweighed by the base ISO of 64.
This page of our Z6 review has some dynamic range tests that you might find interesting: photographylife.com/revie…nikon-z6/5
(The Z6 has the same dynamic range as the Z6 II, and the Z7 has the same dynamic range as the Z7 II.)