Nikon Z7 II Review

Other Cameras vs Nikon Z7 II

Let’s take a look at how the various mirrorless cameras on the market compare to the Nikon Z7 II in specifications.

Nikon Z7 vs Nikon Z7 II

Much of this review so far has covered the differences between the Nikon Z7 and Z7 II, including a full comparison chart on the first page. But if you’re still trying to decide between them, here’s what we would recommend.

First, if the price is an issue, just go for the Nikon Z7 (or the Nikon Z6 II). The Z7 II is currently selling for $3000, while the original Z7 is $2500 but often goes on sale. There’s a lot to be said for keeping the extra $500, or spending it on lens or tripod upgrades instead. As this review has hopefully made clear, the Nikon Z7 and Z7 II have identical image quality, so you’d get better image quality by spending the money on other accessories instead.

If you already have the Z7, the Z7 II’s features might look pretty tempting. However, cameras depreciate in price so quickly that you’ll probably only get about $1600-1700 if you sell your Z7 used, so the upgrade isn’t going to be cheap. If you really need some of the Z7 II’s fixes, like the dual card slots or clutter-free live view, perhaps it’s worth it. But our usual suggestion is to skip one generation when upgrading camera bodies, and that still holds true here. For most photographers who use the Z7, waiting until the Z7 III is the way to go, even if it takes a few years to arrive.

For any other photographers deciding between the Nikon Z7 and Z7 II, we lean toward recommending the Z7 II. It fixes almost all the major flaws of the Z7, and it feels like a more future-proof camera as a result. They’re both great cameras, and you can’t go wrong either way, but that’s our general recommendation.

Nikon Z6 II vs Nikon Z7 II

The Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II are very similar cameras. Most of the differences above are quite minor if they’re even visible in the real world at all. There are only four substantial differences: sensor resolution, base ISO, frame rate, and buffer capacity.

The Z7 II has more resolution and a lower base ISO of 64 rather than 100, which makes it the better camera of the two for getting maximum image quality. However, the differences are only visible at the margins. With the Z7 II, you’ll be able to print images about 37% wider (assuming optimal technique) and get about 2/3 of a stop improvement in dynamic range when shooting at base ISO.

With the Z6 II, you can shoot 14 FPS rather than 10 FPS, helpful for high-speed applications like sports and wildlife photography. The buffer on the Z6 II is larger as well: 124 rather than 77 images before your frame rate drops. Given those differences, even ignoring price, we would recommend the Nikon Z6 II for many sports and wildlife photographers over the Z7 II, unless you tend to do a lot of extensive cropping.

For landscape photographers chasing after maximum image quality, if the price is no object, the Z7 II is the better camera of the two. But because of the price difference, it may be smarter to get the Z6 II and spend the extra $1000 elsewhere – again, perhaps on a sturdier tripod or a better lens.

Read more about the Z6 II in our complete Nikon Z6 II review.

Canon EOS R5 vs Nikon Z7 II

For most applications, the Canon EOS R5 is clearly a more advanced camera than the Nikon Z7 II. That’s especially true if you need to shoot action photography, where the Canon offers a whopping 20 FPS when using the electronic shutter, along with a 180-image buffer. Given that the two cameras have essentially the same resolution, it’s remarkable how much more data Canon is able to push through the imaging pipeline to allow literally twice as fast of a frame rate.

Video shooters will also most likely prefer the features of the Canon EOS R5, which can shoot 8K video, a truly astonishing resolution. (Each frame in 8K DCI video is 35.4 megapixels, while each frame in standard 4K video is “only” 8.3 megapixels.) Even if you don’t need to shoot 8K, the Canon EOS R5 can also shoot 120 FPS slow motion 4K video, while the Nikon Z7 II maxes out at 60 FPS slow motion 4K. The Nikon Z7 II is no slouch in the video department, but it’s hard to compete with features like 4K 120p.

In this comparison, there are only two major factors in the Z7 II’s favor: base ISO 64 and price. At base ISO, the Nikon Z7 II has a better dynamic range than the Canon EOS R5 by about 2/3 of a stop, which could matter for some landscape photographers in high-contrast scenes. But the biggest reason to choose the Z7 II between the two – assuming you’re not tied to either brand already – is that it costs $900 less than the Canon EOS R5, at least at the time of this review’s publication.

Also keep in mind that camera companies leapfrog each other all the time, and it may not be a good idea for existing Nikon users to jump ship, even if they’re interested in shooting 20 FPS at 45 megapixels. Chasing the latest and greatest can burn a hole in your pocket without really improving your photography, and Nikon is sure to come out with something similar before too long. But make no mistake – at the moment, the EOS R5 is near the top of the mirrorless game, at least in terms of pure features. (The Nikon Z9 takes things even further, but it’s $5500.) For more on how the Canon EOS R5 handles, see our full review here.

Sony A7r IV vs Nikon Z7 II

The Sony A7r IV was released in July of 2019, which makes it almost two years older than the Nikon Z7 II. Yet the two cameras are neck-and-neck in specifications, each with a few pros and cons of their own.

On one hand, if you’re after the maximum resolution, the Sony is pretty clearly the way to go. At 63 megapixels, it has the highest resolution of any full-frame camera at the time of this review’s publication, and the sensor-shift mode extends that to a ludicrous 241 megapixels. By comparison, the Nikon Z7 II’s 45-megapixel sensor somehow feels like low resolution, even though it’s not.

In other respects, the Nikon Z7 II is the more advanced camera of the two. It has better video features, base ISO 64, a bigger rear LCD and EVF, and an option for extended shutter speeds up to 900 seconds. The Sony is ahead in some other areas of its own, but other than a 47% longer battery life, most of them are minor factors in everyday photography.

Especially considering that both cameras cost the same (thanks to a recent discount from Sony), it’s a close call. If you’re choosing between these two, it’s important to look at other factors like lens lineup, accessory lineup, camera ergonomics, menu systems, and so on before making your choice. And if you’re already an existing Sony or Nikon shooter, we don’t recommend switching brands just to get the features on either of these two cameras.

Panasonic S1R vs Nikon Z7 II

Of all the cameras we’ve compared in this review, the Panasonic S1R is the oldest, released in February 2019. Despite the age of the camera, it doesn’t stack up badly against the Nikon Z7 II by any stretch. In a few areas – pixel shift, illuminated buttons, dual articulating LCD – it’s still clearly ahead.

However, the Nikon Z7 II wins in other important areas. For example, it can shoot at a higher frame rate and has a larger buffer, as well as offering base ISO 64 rather than 100. In short, the two cameras are trading blows, but neither is clearly better in overall features.

Given that, our takeaway is that the Nikon Z7 II is a more practical option for most photographers who are looking for a full-frame mirrorless camera. That’s because the Z7 II is substantially smaller and lighter than the Panasonic S1R, which is almost 50% heavier by comparison. Perhaps even more important is that the Nikon Z7 II costs $700 less than the Panasonic S1R at the moment. If the two cameras were the same price, it would be a closer matchup, but as it is, we recommend the Nikon. (See our full review of the Panasonic S1R.)

How Does the Nikon Z7 II Compare?

The Nikon Z7 II has great features and is neck-and-neck with much of its competition. But it also faces intense pressure on all sides, which may have the effect of limiting the Z7 II’s long-term sales.

Specifically, it’s being pressured from above with the $3900 Canon EOS R5 outclassing it in many of the most important specifications. Although a performance increase isn’t unexpected given the price difference, the Canon EOS R5 takes that to another level: double the FPS and more than double the buffer capacity of the Z7 II. Not to mention the inclusion of DCI 8K video, which is more than four times as much resolution as the Nikon’s 4K.

The Z7 II also faces pressure from the identically priced Sony A7r IV. The differences aren’t as large this time, but the Sony’s higher resolution sensor (63 megapixels versus 45) and sensor-shift mode directly target the Z7 II’s core audience of landscape and architectural photographers. Existing Nikon shooters are unlikely to jump ship – nor existing Sony shooters, for that matter – but first-time mirrorless buyers will face a tough decision between the two.

Lastly, the Z7 II faces pressure from below, with the Z6 II costing $1000 less than the Z7 II, yet offering most of the same features. Only those photographers who are willing to spend $1000 to get 45 megapixels rather than 24, and base ISO 64 rather than base ISO 100, are likely to pick the Z7 II over the Z6 II. Even aside from the price, the Z6 II’s higher frame rate and larger buffer may convince a lot of photographers that it’s the better buy.

To sum up the main issue, the Z7 II simply fits into a difficult spot on today’s market: almost directly between the Nikon Z6 II and Canon EOS R5 in price, but clearly closer to the Nikon Z6 II in features. That’s not to say the Z7 II is a bad camera, or even that it’s overpriced – it’s not. Instead, more than anything, it’s a testament to how crowded the full-frame mirrorless market has become. It can be difficult to choose the right camera with so many high quality options out there.

On the next page of this review, we’ve summed up the pros and cons of the Nikon Z7 II and whether it’s the right camera for you. So, click below to go to the next page of this review, “Our Verdict.”