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Home → Cameras and Lenses

Nikon Z7 II vs Z9 Specifications Comparison

By Spencer Cox 31 Comments
Last Updated On January 27, 2022

As the Nikon Z9 gradually makes its way into the hands of more and more photographers, I’m sure that some of you are weighing whether to buy it or Nikon’s previous flagship mirrorless camera, the Z7 II. These two cameras are different in a lot of ways, but they do share some key specifications behind the scenes. Which one is right for you? Let’s look at their features side-by-side to help answer that question.

Nikon Z7 II vs Z9 Size Comparison to Scale
Nikon Z7 II vs Nikon Z9 size, to scale

Specifications of Nikon Z7 II and Z9

Camera FeatureNikon Z7 IINikon Z9
AnnouncedOctober 14, 2020October 28, 2021
Sensor Resolution45.7 MP45.7 MP
Sensor TypeBSI CMOSStacked BSI CMOS
Sensor Size35.9 × 23.9mm35.9 × 23.9mm
MountNikon ZNikon Z
Low-Pass FilterNoNo
Sensor Pixel Size4.35µ4.35µ
Image Size8256 × 55048256 × 5504
In-Body Image StabilizationYesYes
Image ProcessorDual EXPEED 6EXPEED 7
Continuous Shooting Speed9 FPS (14-Bit raw); 10 FPS (12-Bit raw)20 FPS (No limitations); 30 FPS (Full resolution JPEG); 120 FPS (11 Megapixel JPEG)
Buffer49 (14-Bit lossless compressed raw); 77 (12-Bit lossless compressed raw); 200 (JPEG fine, large)79 (14-Bit lossless compressed raw); 685 (High efficiency star raw); 1000+ (High efficiency raw); 1000+ (JPEG fine, large)
Native ISO SensitivityISO 64-25,60064-25,600
Boosted Low ISO SensitivityISO 32ISO 32
Boosted High ISO SensitivityISO 102,400ISO 102,400
Dust Reduction / Sensor CleaningYesYes
Sensor Dust Cover at ShutdownNot built inYes
Shutter TypesMechanical, Electronic, EFCSElectronic Only
Viewfinder TypeElectronic Viewfinder / EVFElectronic Viewfinder / EVF
Viewfinder Coverage and Magnification100%, 0.8×100%, 0.8×
Viewfinder Resolution3,690,000 dot3,690,000 dot
Built-in FlashNoNo
Storage Media1× CFe (Type B) with XQD compatibility; 1× SD UHS II2× CFe (Type B) with XQD Compatibility
Fastest Shutter Speed1/8000 sec1/32,000 sec
Longest Shutter Speed900 sec900 sec
Flash Sync Speed (Non-High-Speed)1/2001/200
Exposure Metering SensorTTL exposure metering using main image sensorTTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Autofocus SystemHybrid PDAF; 493 AF pointsHybrid PDAF; 493 AF points
AF Detection Range (f/2 Standardized)-3 to +17 EV (Down to -4 EV with low-light AF)-5 to +20.5 EV (Down to -7 EV with starlight view)
Eye-Tracking AFYesYes
Subject Detection AFYes, three subjects (people, dogs, cats)Yes, nine subjects (people, dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, trains, planes, bicycles)
3D Tracking AF ModeNoYes
Focus PeakingYesYes
Video Maximum Resolution4K up to 60 FPS, 1080p up to 120 FPS8K up to 30p (up to 60p with future firmware update)
Video Compression4:2:2 (10-bit if over HDMI); MPEG-4/H.264Apple ProRes 4:2:2 HQ (10 bit internal), H.265/HEVC (8 bit /10 bit internal), H.264/AVC (8 bit)
Log RecordingN-logN-log
Audio Recording OptionsBuilt-in stereo microphone; External stereo microphone (optional)Built-in stereo microphone; External stereo microphone (optional)
Headphone JackYesYes
LCD Size and Type3.2″ Tilting Touchscreen3.2″ Dual-Axis Tilting Touchscreen
LCD Resolution2,100,000 dots2,100,000 dots
Built-in GPSNoYes
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery Life, Stills360 shots (CIPA); 420 shots (rear LCD only); 440 shots (rear LCD only, energy saver on)700 shots (CIPA); 740 shots (rear LCD only); 770 shots (rear LCD only, energy saver on)
Battery Life, Movies105 minutes (rear LCD); 100 minutes (EVF)170 minutes (rear LCD); 170 minutes (EVF)
Button IlluminationNoYes
Weather Sealed BodyYesYes
USB Version3.1 (Type C)3.1 (Type C)
Weight (with Battery and Card)705 g (1.55 lbs)1340 g (2.95 lbs)
Dimensions134 × 101 × 70 mm (5.3 × 4.0 × 2.8 inches)149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mm (5.9 × 5.9 × 3.6 inches)
Price Upon Introduction$3000$5500
Price Today$3000 (check price)$5500 (check price)

Which Camera Should You Get?

Anyone who’s heard of these two cameras probably knew what the results were going to be ahead of time: The Z9 is clearly more advanced than the Z7 II. This is especially true in how quickly the Z9 can push data through the imaging pipeline, with more than double the FPS in 14-bit raw, a much larger buffer, and 8K rather than 4K video.

Nikon Z9 for Video
The Nikon Z9 shoots 8K video compared to 4K on the Nikon Z7 II (a difference of about 33 versus 8 megapixels for each frame of the video)

Although the Nikon Z7 II is only ahead of the Z9 in size and weight (and some photographers may even disagree with that, preferring the Z9’s bigger grip and heft), that doesn’t make the Z7 II a bad camera. For one thing, it’s $2500 less expensive than the Z9 – money that can go directly to getting better lenses to maximize the quality of this 45-megapixel sensor. On top of that, even though the Z7 II doesn’t beat the Z9 in a lot of categories, it does tie it in some important areas, especially regarding the image sensor.

Specifically, the Z7 II and Z9 sensors both have a 45-megapixel resolution, a base ISO of 64, and a high ISO of 25,600. The biggest difference is that the Z9 has a stacked sensor, while the Z7 II does not. The purpose of a stacked sensor is to improve readout speed, which helps with the Z9’s fast frame rate. But in terms of image quality, it doesn’t offer an advantage, and the two cameras are comparable in that regard.

Nikon Z7 II Image Samples #31
NIKON Z 7 II + NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S @ 20mm, ISO 64, 1.3 seconds, f/5.6

For this reason, I consider the Z7 II to be almost as good of a landscape photography camera as the Z9. The lighter weight and smaller size make it easier to bring into the backcountry, although it misses out on a couple nice features like the dual-axis tilting LCD (useful for vertical compositions from a tripod) and illuminated buttons. Factoring in the Z9’s better low-light autofocus system and longer battery life, I think it beats the Z7 II in landscape situations head-to-head, but only ignoring price. I’d certainly rather shoot the Z7 II with a killer landscape lens like the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S than the Z9 with cheaper glass if budget is an issue.

For faster-moving genres, the comparison isn’t as close. If you need a high frame rate, big buffer, or cutting-edge autofocus system, the Z9 is clearly ahead. It’s not as though the Z7 II is terrible in any of these areas, but the Z9 is on another level. To shoot 20 FPS bursts of 45-megapixel raw photos with a 1000+ image buffer and no other limitations is really remarkable (pending our tests that the high efficiency raw on the Z9 loses no image quality).

LV_Nikon-Z9_18
Nikon Z9 + 500 mm f/5.6, ISO 2500, 1/2000 second, f/5.6
Copyright Libor Vaicenbacher

Frankly, the Z9 is a clear enough upgrade over the Z7 II that unless you’re a dedicated weight-minimalizer, the decision will simply come down to price. If you’re willing to spend $5500 on a camera, get the Z9. It’s the better camera in almost every way and is priced fairly for what you get. But if $5500 is a bridge too far, get the Z7 II, which is also priced fairly for its features. (If $3000 for the Z7 II is also too far, the original Nikon Z6 and Z7 are still amazing cameras and are selling for criminally low prices on the used market.)

Keep in mind that this isn’t meant to be a full review of the Nikon Z9 but simply a roundup of its key specifications and how they compare to a known quantity like the Z7 II. Though unlikely, there could always be some issue with the Z9 like the Nikon D600 dust problem that we detected many years ago that revises down our rating of the Z9’s capabilities. Although some of our team members have received their Z9 already for testing, it will still be some time before we’ve used the Z9 long enough to give it a fair and comprehensive review. Until then, if you’re planning to buy the Z9 but haven’t gotten in the long line yet, you can join the digital queue here.

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Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Nikon Mirrorless, Nikon Z, Nikon Z7 II, Nikon Z9

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a macro and landscape photographer based in Denver. My photos have been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and exhibitions in London, Malta, Siena, and Beijing. These days I'm active on Instagram and YouTube.

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31 Comments
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Pat
Pat
February 10, 2022 2:09 pm

The Z7II was NEVER Nikon’s flagship camera. Period!

1
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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Pat
February 10, 2022 3:40 pm

I never said it was their flagship camera, but of course it was their flagship mirrorless camera.

Oxford Dictionary: “The best or most important thing owned or produced by a particular organization.”

1
Reply
Joachim
Joachim
Reply to  Spencer Cox
February 14, 2022 5:12 am

Well Spencer, strictly speaking, the Oxford dictionary’s definition excludes the Z7 II completely. Just because Nikon woke up too late and presented an expensive and an less expensive mirrorless body, that doesn’t make the expensive one automatically a flagship. More likely it was the playground for stupid early adopters like myself to realize how much failures of the first mirrorless project 1 could be repeated.

And the general tendency of Nikon is something I really like to see go down the drain. Because I was waiting very long to see a mirrorless with a fully articulating screen, I overcame my promise to myself “never again a Nikon” and ordered a Zfc. Just to realize that Nikon decided to rely on Google translate for the reference manual in German. A market with 100 million potential buyers is no longer important enough to “waste some money” on professional translators. Camera went back to the dealer.

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Pete A
Pete A
Reply to  Joachim
February 15, 2022 11:03 am

So, you didn’t think of downloading the manual BEFORE buying the camera. Well done!

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Richard
Richard
Reply to  Joachim
February 15, 2022 2:47 pm

Hi Joachim. It’s obvious from your post that you write, and therefore read very good English. Why would you need the manual in German ?

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Reply
Fabio Terlizzi
Fabio Terlizzi
January 27, 2022 6:10 am

Hello Spencer, thanks for the article.
I think there’s a typo in the Z9 announcement date.

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Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Fabio Terlizzi
January 27, 2022 10:22 am

Maybe it’s supposed to say October 2021 instead of October 2022, or maybe I’m from the future. Both possibilities are equally likely. But I fixed it just in case :)

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Pieter Kers
Pieter Kers
January 26, 2022 2:35 pm

Not clear from the specs above, but I very much like the faster than 1/200s readout of the sensor. I do a lot of photography of events that have to be photographed in silence and show the usual stoboscopic stripes in the image due to the slow readout of the electronic shutter in combination with the projection/badly dimmed led lamps.
Since the dynamic range is a bit less than the Z7 and it has the same amount of pixels, i still have to wait for a Z8 ; 60MP or more; a fast electronic shutter a la Z9 and the 10 pin connector upfront for my remote (or better built in)+ same battery as the d800-Z7
PS 8 is not a lucky number in Japan so its name will be someting else…

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Pete A
Pete A
Reply to  Pieter Kers
January 26, 2022 3:52 pm

“PS 8 is not a lucky number in Japan so its name will be someting else…”

Quote from Wikipedia:
“Japanese superstitions
Lucky numbers
• 7 is an important number in Buddhism, and is also considered lucky.
• 8 is considered a lucky number due to its shape.”
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/…ns#Numbers

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Pieter Kers
Pieter Kers
Reply to  Pete A
January 28, 2022 4:55 am

my mistake!;
Jim Kasson just checked the electronic readout and comes to 1/270s
par example : the Z7/D850 has one of 1/16th of a second- great improvement here!

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Lazaros
Lazaros
January 26, 2022 2:00 pm

There is an error in the specs. The Z7II focuses down to -3EV and Z9 to -5EV both without low-light AF enabled and having a f2 lens.
It is Z7 that focuses to -2EV

www.nikonusa.com/en/ni…-TechSpecs
www.nikonusa.com/en/ni…-TechSpecs

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Lazaros
January 26, 2022 7:54 pm

Thank you, just made those corrections!

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Steve T
Steve T
January 26, 2022 12:16 pm

Perusing the spec chart, the differences between the two cameras are extremely minor unless you just have to have 20-30 FPS or you care about video ( most people don’t ). Unless you’re a pro action and sports photographer or just want to have the latest and greatest I don’t see a compelling reason, IQ being the same, to drop $5500 on a Z9 as fine a camera as I’m sure it is.

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Steve T
January 26, 2022 12:24 pm

The autofocus system is also meaningfully improved, but as you said, that’s mainly something for action and sports photographers to care about. Landscape and portrait photographers have already had great options for years, and the Z9 improves on them in some ways, but that’s not where most of its new improvements lie.

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Mike
Mike
Reply to  Steve T
January 30, 2022 6:57 am

Hi Steve, I have a Z6 and Z9. Recently sold off a second z6 to subsidize the Z9 a bit. Maybe just the tax portion anyway haha. It’s not just for action & sports. I’m a working do-it-all hybrid photographer. My focus is stills but I’m doing more and more video and more and more photo AND video on the same jobs. Weddings (P&V), headshots, commercial (P&V), corporate interviews, industrial (P&V), architecture, small business branding (P&V) as some examples. With the Z6, I owned an Atomos Ninja for getting better video quality. It was a love hate relationship. I loved what it did. Hated what it was and the process involved to get what I needed. When I preordered the Z9 I sold the Ninja (I have other monitors). Since getting the Z9 it’s like the universe knew and I’ve gotten jobs where the Z9 is perfectly suited and I couldn’t have done with the Z6 or 7. For example, I was recently hired by a hot tub company to shoot lifestyle photo and video of people using swim-in-place spas in our Canadian winter. Lots of snow, -15C, swimming outside.5 hours outside in -15C, getting stills, and 4K 24 and 120 N-log in camera. Stills to 128 GB CFx card, video to 512 GB CFx card. 40% battery used. It just made the shoot easy. It’s not even something I could have done 2 months ago. But, big battery, dual same slots, internal high bit video, beat hybrid abilities….. It’s not just about 20 fps (but that did come in handy shooting swimming). For the 90% stills shooter… Z7 is still fantastic.

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Dean M
Dean M
January 26, 2022 10:40 am

Spencer,
As an owner of the original Z7 who only takes landscape[e pictures. is their any reason to move up to the Z9 or Z7II?

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Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Dean M
January 26, 2022 10:49 am

While there are some reasons, they’re not enough to make me personally move from my Z7 to either of these cameras! I’d rather put the money toward lenses (or frankly these days, more film gear.)

The biggest reasons to get the Z7 II instead of the Z7 for landscapes are the option for a clutter-free live view display on the Z7 II, a fix to the oversensitive eye-proximity sensor on the Z7 II, and dual card slots if that matters to you. It also autofocuses in slightly lower light conditions (about one stop) and has a hair more battery life.

The biggest reasons for the Z9 instead of the Z7 for landscapes are all those same things, plus what I mentioned in this article: dual axis tilting LCD, illuminated buttons, even lower-light AF, and even longer battery life. But it does come at the expense of more weight, about 1.5 pounds / 665 g heavier than the original Z7.

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JPdJ
JPdJ
Reply to  Dean M
January 27, 2022 8:46 am

I had a Z 7 since firmware version 2 and at version 3 replaced it by a Z 7ii. In both cases, I bought a “mirage” – a promise of (much) better firmware. The current Z 7 firmware (3.3 or so) is a lot better again and maybe with that version, I would not have upgraded. The Z 7ii still holds the promise of the two Expeed 6 processors – I feel the Z 7ii still can do a lot better, e.g. in AF, even when it is very good today.
That would make the distance to the Z 9 smaller, though, and development for the single processor Z 9 has probably reduced the need to rewrite firmware for two processors.
But that is about speed and totally irrelevant to landscape photography.
If you need to spend money, buy an extremely sturdy tripod like a Gitzo Systematic V – these cameras have so much dynamic range that motion blur is a much bigger issue than we naively think (even with excellent IBIS). And shoot multi-shot panoramas that you stitch (Photoshop is the best). And upsample your shots with Topaz’s GigaPixel AI to maximum pixel size. Or process as 32 bits per channel in Photoshop. Take the invention of pixels or dots away from Windows/MacOS and graphics/printer drivers.
And study perspective and composition in order to enhance your ability to “see” better shots, when out there. The quality of your shots is (a) in your vision and (b) in post processing – like in Ansel Adams time.

3
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John W
John W
January 26, 2022 9:07 am

The one huge disadvantage with the Z9 is the bracketing system, which they inexplicably stripped down significantly with choices in number of shots, whether to start the bracket over or under exposed ( a big deal when you are shooting strobes outdoors,since your second shot in the bracket now has a much higher chance of failure) etc….

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Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  John W
January 26, 2022 10:12 am

Interesting! That would be a disadvantage, and an unusual one considering that Nikon has used a similar bracketing system for years in their other high-end cameras. We’ll be sure to test and mention that in our review.

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Rage 1968
Rage 1968
January 26, 2022 1:31 am

Waiting for the Z8 (≃Z9 without the grip) ; I prefer the characteristics of the Z9 (handling & controls: Menu banks better than U1,2,3 ; the top left dial e.g.). For me the Z7 (handling) relates more to the D780 than to a D850 successor.

2
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Rage 1968
January 26, 2022 10:22 am

It wouldn’t surprise me if Nikon does release a Z8 that is between the Z7 II and Z9 in features, but there’s no guarantee it will have the handling you envision. I recommend not planning around a camera that doesn’t exist, or it might disappoint you in one way or another.

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Reply
Rage 1968
Rage 1968
Reply to  Spencer Cox
January 28, 2022 2:54 am

Spencer, thanks for your response. I already have a Z7 in addition to a D850. Not seeing the point of switching to a Z7II as I do not need a useless & heavy grip for my trips, I’m waiting for the obvious release of a Z8 which will allow me to have the ergonomics of the pro cameras from Nikon (obvious, because my Nikon shop has already opened a waiting list for the Z8 ;-) ). All the best and thank you for all your reviews.

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Reply
John Gallagher
John Gallagher
Reply to  Spencer Cox
January 28, 2022 2:50 pm

I am with Spencer on this one, I see the Z7 ??? being uplifted to work with the Trickle Down Technology from the Z9.
My ‘Gut Feeling’ will be a model with an increased MP and slower FPS / Decreased Burst and Buffer, with a large selection of the Z9 AF.

The other consumer body level additions is a broad spectrum of options from historical offerings and will most likely be carefully selected to encourage a larger demographic of interest in the model

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Reply
Rage
Rage
Reply to  John Gallagher
January 30, 2022 9:41 pm

For a Z8 vs the Z9, my post is not based on the techno spec but only on handling
& controls without a grip (like the D850 vs the D5). Wait & see.

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Steve
Steve
January 26, 2022 1:28 am

Thanks for this comparison. I’m not sure the higher weight and larger size of the Z9 is seen as an advantage by everyone.. (I would not make it green in the table).

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Steve
January 26, 2022 10:06 am

You’re absolutely right, I marked that wrong. Meant to give the advantage to the Z7 II in both those categories. (Although I know that some photographers do prefer the Z9’s bigger size and weight.)

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Yveske
Yveske
January 26, 2022 1:28 am

How does the Z6II/Z7II compare to the Z9 with initial focus acquisition in low light ? This aspect is always forgotten, it is either AF with all the time in the world (landscape) or the machine gunning properties that get compared. I want to go Z, coming from D5 for use with fast action sports and dances in dim light places.

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Ben C. K.
Ben C. K.
Reply to  Yveske
January 26, 2022 9:11 am

The AF speed of the Z9 is probably a hair faster than the D6 in my experience (I have both), though it’s probably hard to tell the difference. However, the Z9 also has 3D tracking and active subject detection working all the time (if desired). The D6 and the Z9 have very similar AF speed, but the Z9’s AF is also much more intelligent. I haven’t used the Z6II/Z7II, but I can’t imagine their AF speed/tracking is anything close to the D6 or Z9. Bottom line, the Z9 AF feels like how a Nikon flagship AF should feel and it’s currently their best AF on any camera.

2
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Ben C. K.
January 26, 2022 10:23 am

Good info, thanks, Ben!

0
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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Yveske
January 26, 2022 10:07 am

Thanks for mentioning that, good point, it’s not always covered in reviews. We’ll include it in our Z9 review after thorough testing.

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Reply

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