The reasons I like this channel's test are 1. Fair and unbias 2. Respect to all brands 3 From the standpoint of view of a general photographer. Appreciate
Snap Countess, As always an EXCELLENT unbiased review. I currently own both the Z7 and Z7 II. I have noticed the much improved autofocus speed and tracking capability of the Z7 II. I may be giving KEH a call soon.
That buffer improvement over the buffer of the original Z 7 is absolutely insane, given that it is such a high resolution sensor. I could see that being a deal maker for some. Though, for someone who's shooting mainly portraits, I'm definitely sticking to my original Z 7. The auto-focus of the camera, running on the latest firmware, never once let me down. So, in my opinion, if you're into sports, wildlife, ect, the Z 7 II might be the better option. For stills, the original Z 7 is still the better option when you take your budget into consideration. Great, to the point, review. A thumbs up for me, miss.
So, the 1.10 FW update for the Z6II and Z7II has been FANTASTIC. Noticing a huge improvement to AF tracking and sharpness. Definitely thrilled with the changes I've seen in using my Z7II and can't wait to put this thing to the test on wildlife and birds in flight...
I am average amateur photographer, no video.. As soon as I saw the cost and bigger size, I bought a discounted Z7 2. Love it. Does all I want. 26 , 40, 85 are the new lenses and they re great. Leica and G lenses have adapters and U1 is set up for zoom focus.
I hate to say it because I have 3 Nikon bodies and lots of Nikon lenses, but the Canon R5 just blows this into the weeds. I have a Sony A9 for sports and that thing is amazing. I hope Nikon gets it together because that is where the heart is.
The Canon is also £1,200 more than the Z7II, and the A9II is £1,300 more, so it's not really comparing like with like. I have always seen the Z7 as a mid-range body, rather than a flagship. A fairer comparison would be with the A7iv or the Canon R6.
@@Gynra The Z7ii is $3,000 US and I paid $3500 US for an A9. For $500 more the A9 is a lot better. And no warped pictures using the electronic shutter. That's worth $500 more. If you're spending $3,000 for a camera I would spend $500 more to have my action shots in focus and no warped pictures (rolling shutter). My friend has a Z7ii so I have compared. If I wasn't shooting sports I wouldn't care.
@@justpray365 A9 was $4500 when it came out. Z7 isn’t a class leading sports camera, but with the low FPS who would think it was designed for that anyways. A9 would be better for sports but Z7ii is better for other types of photography such as landscapes, studio, or large prints.
@@justpray365Yes, but equally I could buy a Nikon D4 for around £2,000, and that camera is well able to handle fast action and wildlife. My point was about comparing new cameras in similar price brackets, not what is available at any given price point. I do know that for my photography (landscape and portraits), the Z7 is a better fit than the A9. I don't even need a Z7 II. Your needs are clearly different.
@@lilnape2604 That is all true. If I didn’t do sports I wouldn’t own an A9. And I didn’t until the price came down. But once you shoot something moving fast with a stacked sensor with the electronic shutter and there is no rolling shutter, you get hooked.
Honestly, the only two reasons I could see someone upgrading is if they needed any of the following : dual card slots (because maybe they shoot professionally and cannot afford a loss of images), vertical grip, or USB power, or if you plan on recording video (as AF-F is new for the Z II's in video mode). Beyond that there isn't much reason to upgrade, unless you want to upgrade in the hopes that Nikon will perfect the AF system using dual processors, which they might, but as of right now, it's very similar to that of the original Z's (minus the AF-F for video use which is new in the Gen 2's). I was on the fence but ultimately upgraded one body (the Z6 to a Z7 II) but kept my original Z7 body as a backup body. For me, it came down to wanting a high resolution body for landscape and architecture (as i may wish to print large prints later). And as far as high ISO noise performance, IMO the benefits of the Z6 (ie. pixel size) were sort of negated by the use of an AA filter, which I felt impacted IQ slightly and that while the Z7 is noiser at the same ISO the higher resolution gives me a better place to start (as we all know, NR involves blurring the image a little to reduce/get rid of noise, and I felt that in the end, there wasn't much of a benefit of the Z6's lower resolution for high-ISO because I could do some NR on a Z7 image and get roughly the same results. But I would have the option (with lower ISOs) to get higher resolution, crisper images that I could then crop later if I needed to and still end up with a decnet sized image. That and I never needed any of the video functions of the Z6 and I mainly got it because it was cheaper, but looking forward, did sort of also want two bodies with the same resolution so I could mount two different lenses (say a 70-200 on one, and a 24-70 on the other) but still get the same resolution images from either body. My hope is that Nikon makes use of the seconed processor in the Z II bodies in that it can add additional features (and possibly even 8k recording) at some point in the future via firmware updates. I suspect the Z II bodies will have a longer lifecycle than the gen 1 Z bodies, which I expect Nikon will either discount in the coming years (from what they are now) or stop making within the next 2 years, whereas I could see them supporting the Z II bodies for at least the next 5 years. I will say though that in a way, I sort of wish I didn't buy the gen 1 Z bodies... as I feel the Z7 II's are the camera I really wanted (dual card slots, battery grip, etc) from the start, as from a feature standpoint (such as card slots, etc) they are on par with what I had which was a D750 (ie. the Z6 is now similar to the D750 in that it now has dual card slots and a grip option, along with USB power which the D750 didn't reaely have unless you used a dummy battery power brick). And I think many others feel the same way, that while the gen 1's aren't bad, the gen 2 is what people really wanted. I agree that any camera you buy today will be a great camera, whether that's a Sony, Canon, Nikon or something else. They all now have a decent assortment of lenses for most people (Nikon and Canon are obviously still filling in their ML options, but they will get there, and for probably 3/4 of the shooters out there, Native glass is available for those two brands, and hopefully third parties will also start making Z and RF lenses). Except for perhaps some specific needs (such as high frame-rate or high-res videos or super fast AF with good tracking abilities) all cameras--At least when it comes to stills--are great cameras and you really can't go wrong today with any camera on the market. I think the key is to just find a camera system that works for you and that you understand, and most importantly, does what you need it to. After all, the camera is really just a tool and what comes out of it is really mostly dependent on the person standing behind it.
Iv given up on photography vloggers , its become a " why you need the latest camera " market place , than photography vloggs , theres guys with film cameras fully manual with manual focus taking better photos than many of us could ever aspire to , because its more important these days to have the latest toy than learning how to use your last one !
I watched so many other youtube videos to decide about which camera Nikon Z6II or Nikon Z7II. This is was the most informative video, you should have more subscribers.
I think the reason for the 2 different cards are that the you have the faster XQD/CFexpress for main buffer cards. and the cheaper SD cards for storage to unload the main card off to, as a cheaper storage during travel or weddings. Also the option to only use SD cards might appeal for the more casual shooters, since XQD/CFexpress are a little on the pricy right now.
It also adds some flexibility in choice as in many parts of the world anything other than low capacity sd uhs 1 cards can be rather more difficult to obtain especially outside of major cities
I really appreciate your honest reviews of gear including this. Thank you. I have the Z6 and have really enjoyed it. I held off for a while after hearing critiques, and I can say that I think they were very nit picky. This camera is great. I might need to upgrade to the Z7II. Am I the only one who doesn’t care about tracking? I am an old film shooter and I feel like it’s my job to track the subject and I’m accustomed to doing it. Not knocking this system at all, just saying that it’s not something that I consider much when choosing a new camera.
I THOROUGHLY enjoy your review/commentaries. I love that you don’t exhibit a bias even though, like all of us, you have your favorites. Your personality adds a positive touch. Will Nikon be sending you a Z9 later this year?
The camera is as good as the photographer - this is the truth I learnt when I switch from an entry-level to an enthusiast model. But of course the better the camera is the better possibilities it gives.
Good video! Your skills in post editing/processing always impressed me. Unfortunately I don't have a limitless piggy bank either and have invested in another system.
I think about upgrading equipment when I have used all it was capable of. So, I used my D800 for eight years, then decided it was time move onto mirrorless and the new lenses Nikon was creating. A decider for me was using my existing lineup on the new camera. The only issue with my Z7 is the single card slot. But I would not move on to the Z7ii just for that, even though I shoot commercial work. I will await the Z9 introduction and decide on what I really need, or am simply enticed by.
Your review is great. It helped me justifying the Z 7ii purchase. I would love to see a good video/tutorial of how you set up your settings and U1-3 to try and set mine up the same way to get the most out of my Z 7II
It wasn’t until yesterday, when they finally fixed the focus on 2 of their Z body cameras! Bout time Nikon! Wish my Z6 had that AF!!! It’s all about the focusing distance, Eye AF, and AF Tracking.
Thanks Leigh, I'm super impressed with some of your shots in this video. Wow that Aurora shot! Very slick review. I still enjoy the Nikon V1, only 10mp but so much fun to use :)
Honestly, for the price itself makes the Z7II a must have mirrorless body to go for in todays market. Now with the optional grip, to me, makes it the almost perfect camera body. Coupled with the excellent Z lenses really compliment the Z7II overall. Better still, the FTZ can take all F mount lenses. I only wish they had it with 2 CFexpress slots instead of 1 being a UHS-II.
I’m glad you said that right now you won’t upgrade. The ONLY thing I would want it for is the ability to have a totally clear rear screen minus the annoying exposure info at the bottom which hampers my composition. Here’s to hoping we will get a Z7 firmware upgrade that finally addresses this silly oversight, then I can stop thinking about the Z7II ☺️
Thank you so much for another unbiased review! I own both the Z7 and Z7 II cameras, although the Z7 is now primarily my backup camera (just in case). I’d love to see a your review of the new 50mm f/1.2S. Keep those great reviews coming!!
I wish all reviewers open the lens cap when you do a buffer test. Buffer speed may vary depending on the details camera brings with every click and with closed cap, I am not sure how reliable the results would be.
Thank you for posting. I’m leaning towards Nikon Z6 II. I just saw your video on working with MF lenses on Z series with focus peaking and 200% punch in. That’s precisely how I work with video/cine lenses on older broadcast and newer Blackmagic/JVC cine cameras. So I think I’ll feel right at home with my old Nikon F mount lenses and Lensbaby with the Nikon F mount. Maybe a video some day of your lensbaby or old Helios lenses (do you have any?) on your Z system. Merging high tech mirrorless with Lensbaby Twist 60/Velvet/Lomography etc. Well that’s where my head is at anyway.. and how your Nikon plays with those old manual focuses lenses vs say a modern Sony.. though I feel I’m going to continue with Nikon for a while yet.
I have the Z7, and rent the Z7ii for few days, it’s not really worth for me, i only need landscape and portrait and it works fine. And landscape you only need a triport, patient, focus, that's it. I Save my money for a "real change" in the Next Z-body, or in a new prime.
I agree. But when shooting things that move you'll definitely notice a difference. And the slight banding that can show up on the original Z7when opening up under exposed scenes seem to be gone on the Z7II.
@@JustVodka On moving track that depends on what you are tracking on, the Z7ii have more speed because of the extra process, but the AF tracking for me is the same.
Of all the channels that review multiple camera brands you can tell the quality of the channel by the absence of fan boy trolls, as always very nice presentation and it is good to see Nikon doing well. I don't use Nikon but I am happy to see them honoring their long historical presence in the photography world
Hi, very interesting and positive review of the new Nikon Z7II. I appreciate that you hit on all the important features. I would have liked you to dwell further on the various focus modes and choices. I was wondering how the camera’s auto focus can decide what a dog or cat is, other than other “wildlife”. I find it very interesting that you choose different cameras and camera brands, I guess for different photo shoots and conditions. Thank you for your review. You have a gift to produce excellent presentations. 👏 I will look to watch for more reviews. Great work! 👍📷🤩
Thank you! I have no idea how the software engineers enable the camera to figure out if the animal is dog/cat/other, but I have found that it is consistent. The camera definitely didn't pick up the bunny eyes but always picked up dog eyes. It's pretty amazing! I do have an old video discussing Nikon autofocus choices but I am overdue for an update. It's on my list!
The camera doesn't decide what animal it's looking at. The way this works is by 'training' the camera to see certain things. Evidently the Z cameras are 'trained' to recognize dogs' and cats' eyes, but not other animals'.
I’m struggling to pick either the z6 ii or the z7ii. I mostly take pics of my kids and dogs. I’d like the higher resolution of the z7ii but I also want the better low light and video of the z6ii.
I recently purchased a Z 6ii for wedding photography and while I haven’t received my camera yet I’m wondering if I should have purchased the Z 7ii. 45MP sounds really attractive for future proofing my purchase. The reason I went with the Z 6ii originally was for low light performance. If you could only have one camera with you at a wedding, would it be the Z 7ii or the Z 6ii?
How come you have very less subscribers on your channel ? According to me, this is one of the best videos and channel I've been following lately. It has provided me with ocean of information. There is still a confusion to decide on certain camera body aspect. I am new to this photography world. I started photography since 2019. My first camera was Nikon D3500. I have clicked a lot of pictures. Now, time has arrived for me to upgrade to either Mirrorless camera or DSLR. Furthermore, I would like to know any suggestion would be appreciable. Help me decide Nikon Z7 II or Nikon Z6 II. I don't know if Nikon Z7 will be in the picture. I saw some sales with Nikon Z7 II and Nikon Z6 II. Please help.
I have an old d80 I have been using and love it. But it is time to upgrade. I was thinking of either A Nikon Z611, Z711, or a Cannon R6. Is the Z711 better at shooting moving wildlife or shooting airshows? Many of the reviews have panned the Z611 for its autofocus on wildlife while in motion. Enjoyed the review.
Still a great camera today! I only recently went from a D810 to a z6 because I'm now more of a hybrid video and stills user. Other than that the D810 and D850 are to this day, amazing stills cameras, especially for landscapes.
Great honest review. Between the Z7ii and the Z6ii which one do you think would be better for hybrid shooting sports? I also shoot portraits and events as well.
I am so excited to find your channel! If someone was starting fresh (all new system/lenses), would you recommend the Z7II or the AR74 for landscape and nature images? (no video)
Excellent review and comparison as always, Leigh! As a landscape and product photographer who prides himself on the most detailed images possible, I too, find that the Z7 meets those needs admirably. Since I don't shoot video, and only occasional wildlife, I don't require a large buffer, and since I shoot 99.9% tripod-mounted, and have spare batteries, the new vertical grip isn't a necessity either. So, I'll keep my Z7, at least until a better processor/engine appears in a camera more affordable than the pending Z9. (I'd rather see comparison images between the new Nikkor Z MC 105 f/2.8 "Macro", and the Z mount Laowa 100 f/2.8 Ultra-Macro lens. While the Laowa is manual-only, and cannot use the Z7's Focus Shift Mode, I do that process manually, and the sharpness in the resulting focus stack with the Laowa and Z7 combo is astounding! That's why I'd love to see that comparison, to see exactly how much sharper the new Nikkor Z "Micro" really is...if any. Thanks again!
I really enjoyed your review. I am thinking about switching to the Z7 ii but am wondering about wildlife photography. My main focus is landscape with wildlife and BIF primarily. I currently own a D850 and love it, but the weight of the camera and the lenses is getting to be a bit much. I have a Tamron 150-600 lens and would consider trading in for a Nikon 200-500 but am curious what you think in terms of the responsiveness with tracking and wildlife. I would need to sell the 850 and many of the lenses to update my kit. I’m curious as to what you would recommend.
Thank you for this side by side comparison. It was very thorough and provided much of the information I need to decide which body is for me. Since it’s been a year since you posted this, can you tell me if the 3.4 firmware upgrade improved the Z7’s AF making it similar or equal to the Z7ii? Thanks 🙏
Wait for 15 years Nikon Z7II cameras still do not have flip screen to vary-angle selfies, body size and weight are big and heavy, I have to change to Canon for R6II camera which is lighter and have vary-angle flip screen.
The reason why I havent updated my Z6 is because I dont care about SD card slot and I dont care about not so much better EyeAF. Unless Nikon comes out with EyeAF next to Sony then Ill update but I doubt we will see this any time soon
Thank you for this review. I'm looking to upgrade from a Nikon D750 for equine portraits and some equine sports. Do you think the Z7II would be a good camera for these uses?
Two questions! 1. How do you think the Af compares to Canon, Sony, etc.? 2. Could you do a comparison between the 4k video in the z6, z6ii, z7, and the z7ii? Since not all 4k are the same :) Love your content!
I enjoyed your video. If you were to use the z7II to do your video, what would be your menu settings: quality, fps, bit rate (without an external monitor)? Thanks and I bet your hand got very tired holding that button.
I think I have read somewhere the Z6/7 II cameras can receive firm ware updates with the card in the camera. That would be significant and maybe easier. Can you confirm that. I really enjoy your reviews. Thanks to you and your husband.
Yes, you download the update to your computer, load the file onto the memory card and put it back in the camera. There's a menu option to update. I have a video from MANY years ago where I walk through the process on a DSLR, but the process is still the same... ruclips.net/video/5TMRXot6nig/видео.html :)
Thank you. I have a bit of a curveball question. I have a Z50 and I love it. I love that it fits in my pocket. WTS, I am so impressed with Z system I really want to try a FF body. I was going to go Z6/Z6ii but I then wondered.. hear me out... if I go Z7 I could use Z FF glass AND could use my Z DX 16-50 and have pretty much same resolution as Z50 and close size. Two cameras by leveraging crop mode of the Z7. I don’t use deep buffers. I don’t do action/sports (maybe 5-10%) so I don’t think I need the Z7ii improvements. I would have great resolution & low light performance for indoor family shots and FF dynamic range when I want it but also put the pancake on it and walk around my neighborhood. Thoughts? .. and thank y’all for all of your great videos & information.
I’m waiting to see what is scheduled to come out latter this year I don’t think it’s economically viable to buy into every new generation these days when new models are coming out so frequently
Makes sense. If it sells more cameras and funds more lenses all the better. Keeping my Z6 for the same reason. There will always be upgrades, I may take the plunge on the next model update.
Thanks for the review, however you didn’t really get too critical of the apparent shortcomings on animal eye detect and especially birds and other non- dog and cat species. From other reviews and especially those comparing the Canon R5, it seems it still has a ways to go in that department to stand toe to toe. While it’s frame rate and buffer is improved, it’s ultimately the number of sharp keeper photos that matters. This is spoken from someone who is looking to make the jump to mirrorless and who does shoot a fair amount of wildlife and sports.
Interesting video Leigh, the 7ii is my next camera of choice. It looks like Nikon will be bringing out a couple of more cameras soon, but these are likely to be pro models out of my price range. I wonder how you got on with the EVF ?, as some people report a lag when photographing a flying bird for instance.
I don't have an issue with EVFs, even with birds in flight. They have gotten very good. This, like most everything else, is a matter of opinion though.
@@LeighAndRaymond Thank you .... People who don't like Nikon make a lot out of some issues. They all criticize the Z series for not having an articulating screen but don't mention that the new Sony A1 doesn't either
Hi Leigh I came across your channel while I was searching for answers and I have a question and I really hope you can help me, I'm a food photographer in the making one year and a half now, I have Nikon D5100 for over 10 years now and I'm looking forward to change it to get better quality for pictures, some advised me to go with mirrorless as it is the future for cameras and told me to get the Z7II and some other told me to go with Sony A7R IV and I'm still looking and searching, I really hope you will get to read this and answer me if you can. thank you in advance.
Thank you for the video. I have been debating on buying the z7 ii or the d850. As a landscape photographer I have read lots of articles saying that the sensor get damaged often with mirror less cameras when taking images of sunrises/sunsets. What you think??
Great video (as usual)! Just wondering if you used CFExpress cards in the Z cameras and, if not, whether using one in the Z would improve the buffering and get it closer to the ZII. Happy (early) Valentines Day.
Do the common consumer really need those mega capabilities - once in the past we filmed animals and motion pictures in a film SLR. it seems that the capabilities are endless - the question is'nt it to much do we really need those features - i am really not sure - it seems that the cameras for long time are over- qualified for common consumer needs - upgrading to mirrorless from DSLR requires considerable budget investment and unless you really need hi-end requirements - i do not understand the need of moving to hi-end mirrorless.
Can you please let me know if you see banding at shodows or striping when you lift the shadows? Please let me know how many stops can you lift shadows.
I have nikon d810, which one would you suggest me guys? Have limited budget but dont want to lose amazing image quality too. Need to sell d810, cause second hand value of camera lower now. So z7 or z7 ii? How is dynamic range of z6 ii? Thanks
The reasons I like this channel's test are 1. Fair and unbias 2. Respect to all brands 3 From the standpoint of view of a general photographer. Appreciate
Legends says that she is still holding the shutter button for testing the buffer
Hahahahahaha!!!
Haha I think half the video is buffering.
Question is, did she fill the buffer, or did she fill the card?
That’s ridiculous! I cannot believe how long she held that, how many FPS is that?
I think the batery in fact had ended that burst
I must say I am loving my Z7ii camera amazing results
Snap Countess, As always an EXCELLENT unbiased review. I currently own both the Z7 and Z7 II. I have noticed the much improved autofocus speed and tracking capability of the Z7 II. I may be giving KEH a call soon.
If I close my eyes and just listen to your audio - your diction is so perfect and smooth like Morgan freeman . Simple as it can be. Subscribed .
That buffer improvement over the buffer of the original Z 7 is absolutely insane, given that it is such a high resolution sensor.
I could see that being a deal maker for some.
Though, for someone who's shooting mainly portraits, I'm definitely sticking to my original Z 7.
The auto-focus of the camera, running on the latest firmware, never once let me down.
So, in my opinion, if you're into sports, wildlife, ect, the Z 7 II might be the better option.
For stills, the original Z 7 is still the better option when you take your budget into consideration.
Great, to the point, review.
A thumbs up for me, miss.
I don't see upgrading from my Z7 any time soon. It's a fantastic camera for all my landscape photography needs.
So, the 1.10 FW update for the Z6II and Z7II has been FANTASTIC. Noticing a huge improvement to AF tracking and sharpness. Definitely thrilled with the changes I've seen in using my Z7II and can't wait to put this thing to the test on wildlife and birds in flight...
Thanks for the great review. For now I will stay with my Z7. No need to update.
I recently bought the Z6II and love it. I've been looking at adding a Z7 but you've sold me on the Z7II !
Z6 is better
I am average amateur photographer, no video.. As soon as I saw the cost and bigger size, I bought a discounted Z7 2. Love it. Does all I want.
26 , 40, 85 are the new lenses and they re great. Leica and G lenses have adapters and U1 is set up for zoom focus.
The red color of the wool hat is stellar. Fuji doesn't do reds all that well.
I love the Nikon colors out of the camera. :)
I hate to say it because I have 3 Nikon bodies and lots of Nikon lenses, but the Canon R5 just blows this into the weeds. I have a Sony A9 for sports and that thing is amazing. I hope Nikon gets it together because that is where the heart is.
The Canon is also £1,200 more than the Z7II, and the A9II is £1,300 more, so it's not really comparing like with like. I have always seen the Z7 as a mid-range body, rather than a flagship. A fairer comparison would be with the A7iv or the Canon R6.
@@Gynra The Z7ii is $3,000 US and I paid $3500 US for an A9. For $500 more the A9 is a lot better. And no warped pictures using the electronic shutter. That's worth $500 more. If you're spending $3,000 for a camera I would spend $500 more to have my action shots in focus and no warped pictures (rolling shutter). My friend has a Z7ii so I have compared. If I wasn't shooting sports I wouldn't care.
@@justpray365 A9 was $4500 when it came out. Z7 isn’t a class leading sports camera, but with the low FPS who would think it was designed for that anyways. A9 would be better for sports but Z7ii is better for other types of photography such as landscapes, studio, or large prints.
@@justpray365Yes, but equally I could buy a Nikon D4 for around £2,000, and that camera is well able to handle fast action and wildlife. My point was about comparing new cameras in similar price brackets, not what is available at any given price point. I do know that for my photography (landscape and portraits), the Z7 is a better fit than the A9. I don't even need a Z7 II. Your needs are clearly different.
@@lilnape2604 That is all true. If I didn’t do sports I wouldn’t own an A9. And I didn’t until the price came down. But once you shoot something moving fast with a stacked sensor with the electronic shutter and there is no rolling shutter, you get hooked.
Honestly, the only two reasons I could see someone upgrading is if they needed any of the following : dual card slots (because maybe they shoot professionally and cannot afford a loss of images), vertical grip, or USB power, or if you plan on recording video (as AF-F is new for the Z II's in video mode). Beyond that there isn't much reason to upgrade, unless you want to upgrade in the hopes that Nikon will perfect the AF system using dual processors, which they might, but as of right now, it's very similar to that of the original Z's (minus the AF-F for video use which is new in the Gen 2's). I was on the fence but ultimately upgraded one body (the Z6 to a Z7 II) but kept my original Z7 body as a backup body. For me, it came down to wanting a high resolution body for landscape and architecture (as i may wish to print large prints later). And as far as high ISO noise performance, IMO the benefits of the Z6 (ie. pixel size) were sort of negated by the use of an AA filter, which I felt impacted IQ slightly and that while the Z7 is noiser at the same ISO the higher resolution gives me a better place to start (as we all know, NR involves blurring the image a little to reduce/get rid of noise, and I felt that in the end, there wasn't much of a benefit of the Z6's lower resolution for high-ISO because I could do some NR on a Z7 image and get roughly the same results. But I would have the option (with lower ISOs) to get higher resolution, crisper images that I could then crop later if I needed to and still end up with a decnet sized image. That and I never needed any of the video functions of the Z6 and I mainly got it because it was cheaper, but looking forward, did sort of also want two bodies with the same resolution so I could mount two different lenses (say a 70-200 on one, and a 24-70 on the other) but still get the same resolution images from either body. My hope is that Nikon makes use of the seconed processor in the Z II bodies in that it can add additional features (and possibly even 8k recording) at some point in the future via firmware updates. I suspect the Z II bodies will have a longer lifecycle than the gen 1 Z bodies, which I expect Nikon will either discount in the coming years (from what they are now) or stop making within the next 2 years, whereas I could see them supporting the Z II bodies for at least the next 5 years.
I will say though that in a way, I sort of wish I didn't buy the gen 1 Z bodies... as I feel the Z7 II's are the camera I really wanted (dual card slots, battery grip, etc) from the start, as from a feature standpoint (such as card slots, etc) they are on par with what I had which was a D750 (ie. the Z6 is now similar to the D750 in that it now has dual card slots and a grip option, along with USB power which the D750 didn't reaely have unless you used a dummy battery power brick). And I think many others feel the same way, that while the gen 1's aren't bad, the gen 2 is what people really wanted.
I agree that any camera you buy today will be a great camera, whether that's a Sony, Canon, Nikon or something else. They all now have a decent assortment of lenses for most people (Nikon and Canon are obviously still filling in their ML options, but they will get there, and for probably 3/4 of the shooters out there, Native glass is available for those two brands, and hopefully third parties will also start making Z and RF lenses). Except for perhaps some specific needs (such as high frame-rate or high-res videos or super fast AF with good tracking abilities) all cameras--At least when it comes to stills--are great cameras and you really can't go wrong today with any camera on the market. I think the key is to just find a camera system that works for you and that you understand, and most importantly, does what you need it to. After all, the camera is really just a tool and what comes out of it is really mostly dependent on the person standing behind it.
Iv given up on photography vloggers , its become a " why you need the latest camera " market place , than photography vloggs , theres guys with film cameras fully manual with manual focus taking better photos than many of us could ever aspire to , because its more important these days to have the latest toy than learning how to use your last one !
I watched so many other youtube videos to decide about which camera Nikon Z6II or Nikon Z7II. This is was the most informative video, you should have more subscribers.
Great video! Gave me a bigger picture to the Z7 ii than many other videos that basically trash it. Thanks and I’m now a new subscriber.
I think the reason for the 2 different cards are that the you have the faster XQD/CFexpress for main buffer cards.
and the cheaper SD cards for storage to unload the main card off to, as a cheaper storage during travel or weddings.
Also the option to only use SD cards might appeal for the more casual shooters, since XQD/CFexpress are a little on the pricy right now.
It also adds some flexibility in choice as in many parts of the world anything other than low capacity sd uhs 1 cards can be rather more difficult to obtain especially outside of major cities
85mm Z mount review (Nikon and Viltrox) would be interesting to watch!
Thank you, that's just how I feel about my Z7.
I really appreciate your honest reviews of gear including this. Thank you. I have the Z6 and have really enjoyed it. I held off for a while after hearing critiques, and I can say that I think they were very nit picky. This camera is great. I might need to upgrade to the Z7II.
Am I the only one who doesn’t care about tracking? I am an old film shooter and I feel like it’s my job to track the subject and I’m accustomed to doing it. Not knocking this system at all, just saying that it’s not something that I consider much when choosing a new camera.
I THOROUGHLY enjoy your review/commentaries. I love that you don’t exhibit a bias even though, like all of us, you have your favorites. Your personality adds a positive touch.
Will Nikon be sending you a Z9 later this year?
The camera is as good as the photographer - this is the truth I learnt when I switch from an entry-level to an enthusiast model. But of course the better the camera is the better possibilities it gives.
Good video! Your skills in post editing/processing always impressed me. Unfortunately I don't have a limitless piggy bank either and have invested in another system.
I think about upgrading equipment when I have used all it was capable of. So, I used my D800 for eight years, then decided it was time move onto mirrorless and the new lenses Nikon was creating. A decider for me was using my existing lineup on the new camera. The only issue with my Z7 is the single card slot. But I would not move on to the Z7ii just for that, even though I shoot commercial work. I will await the Z9 introduction and decide on what I really need, or am simply enticed by.
Your review is great. It helped me justifying the Z 7ii purchase. I would love to see a good video/tutorial of how you set up your settings and U1-3 to try and set mine up the same way to get the most out of my Z 7II
It wasn’t until yesterday, when they finally fixed the focus on 2 of their Z body cameras! Bout time Nikon! Wish my Z6 had that AF!!! It’s all about the focusing distance, Eye AF, and AF Tracking.
Thanks Leigh, I'm super impressed with some of your shots in this video. Wow that Aurora shot! Very slick review. I still enjoy the Nikon V1, only 10mp but so much fun to use :)
Fair review ;) based on your thoughts... what we are locking for !
Appreciate this review very much. I did upgrade my Z7, very happy with the new model.
Honestly, for the price itself makes the Z7II a must have mirrorless body to go for in todays market. Now with the optional grip, to me, makes it the almost perfect camera body. Coupled with the excellent Z lenses really compliment the Z7II overall. Better still, the FTZ can take all F mount lenses. I only wish they had it with 2 CFexpress slots instead of 1 being a UHS-II.
why though? i feel that having an SD card slot as an option opens up to more people who are casual shooters.
I’m glad you said that right now you won’t upgrade. The ONLY thing I would want it for is the ability to have a totally clear rear screen minus the annoying exposure info at the bottom which hampers my composition. Here’s to hoping we will get a Z7 firmware upgrade that finally addresses this silly oversight, then I can stop thinking about the Z7II ☺️
those pictures are stunning… the collors and lighting are wow…
Thank you so much for another unbiased review! I own both the Z7 and Z7 II cameras, although the Z7 is now primarily my backup camera (just in case). I’d love to see a your review of the new 50mm f/1.2S. Keep those great reviews coming!!
I wish all reviewers open the lens cap when you do a buffer test. Buffer speed may vary depending on the details camera brings with every click and with closed cap, I am not sure how reliable the results would be.
Just ordered a pair of Z7 II this morning.
You will be waiting a long time!
Thank you for posting. I’m leaning towards Nikon Z6 II. I just saw your video on working with MF lenses on Z series with focus peaking and 200% punch in. That’s precisely how I work with video/cine lenses on older broadcast and newer Blackmagic/JVC cine cameras. So I think I’ll feel right at home with my old Nikon F mount lenses and Lensbaby with the Nikon F mount. Maybe a video some day of your lensbaby or old Helios lenses (do you have any?) on your Z system. Merging high tech mirrorless with Lensbaby Twist 60/Velvet/Lomography etc. Well that’s where my head is at anyway.. and how your Nikon plays with those old manual focuses lenses vs say a modern Sony.. though I feel I’m going to continue with Nikon for a while yet.
I have the Z7, and rent the Z7ii for few days, it’s not really worth for me, i only need landscape and portrait and it works fine. And landscape you only need a triport, patient, focus, that's it.
I Save my money for a "real change" in the Next Z-body, or in a new prime.
I agree.
But when shooting things that move you'll definitely notice a difference.
And the slight banding that can show up on the original Z7when opening up under exposed scenes seem to be gone on the Z7II.
@@JustVodka On moving track that depends on what you are tracking on,
the Z7ii have more speed because of the extra process, but the AF tracking for me is the same.
Of all the channels that review multiple camera brands you can tell the quality of the channel by the absence of fan boy trolls, as always very nice presentation and it is good to see Nikon doing well. I don't use Nikon but I am happy to see them honoring their long historical presence in the photography world
Thanks for your thoughtful discussion about the Z7 vs Z7 ii. It helped me decide :)
Nice review. I am still thinking of switching to mirrorless. Would go with the Z6ii tho.
Great Video Leigh ..I think you have convinced mre
Thanks Leigh, great review.
Hi, very interesting and positive review of the new Nikon Z7II. I appreciate that you hit on all the important features. I would have liked you to dwell further on the various focus modes and choices. I was wondering how the camera’s auto focus can decide what a dog or cat is, other than other “wildlife”. I find it very interesting that you choose different cameras and camera brands, I guess for different photo shoots and conditions. Thank you for your review. You have a gift to produce excellent presentations. 👏 I will look to watch for more reviews. Great work! 👍📷🤩
Thank you! I have no idea how the software engineers enable the camera to figure out if the animal is dog/cat/other, but I have found that it is consistent. The camera definitely didn't pick up the bunny eyes but always picked up dog eyes. It's pretty amazing! I do have an old video discussing Nikon autofocus choices but I am overdue for an update. It's on my list!
The camera doesn't decide what animal it's looking at. The way this works is by 'training' the camera to see certain things. Evidently the Z cameras are 'trained' to recognize dogs' and cats' eyes, but not other animals'.
Just wondering,why snow color in your pictures samples are BLUE color? 🤔
I really appreciate the very solid, facts-based comparison.
I’m struggling to pick either the z6 ii or the z7ii. I mostly take pics of my kids and dogs. I’d like the higher resolution of the z7ii but I also want the better low light and video of the z6ii.
Not gonna lie, but at least right now, Canon R system is king for that sort of thing.
Fantastic review! I am just getting into photography and I am sold! This will be my first DSLR! :)
I recently purchased a Z 6ii for wedding photography and while I haven’t received my camera yet I’m wondering if I should have purchased the Z 7ii. 45MP sounds really attractive for future proofing my purchase. The reason I went with the Z 6ii originally was for low light performance. If you could only have one camera with you at a wedding, would it be the Z 7ii or the Z 6ii?
I understand your low-light concern, but you should clearly have gone with the 7ii
How come you have very less subscribers on your channel ? According to me, this is one of the best videos and channel I've been following lately. It has provided me with ocean of information. There is still a confusion to decide on certain camera body aspect. I am new to this photography world. I started photography since 2019. My first camera was Nikon D3500. I have clicked a lot of pictures. Now, time has arrived for me to upgrade to either Mirrorless camera or DSLR. Furthermore, I would like to know any suggestion would be appreciable. Help me decide Nikon Z7 II or Nikon Z6 II. I don't know if Nikon Z7 will be in the picture. I saw some sales with Nikon Z7 II and Nikon Z6 II. Please help.
I will be upgrading to a z7 I've had a z6 for about a year and can now get a great price on a z7 used
Accept it or not but Nikon colors are best
I do like the new Nikon Z cameras a lot. If I wasn't thoroughly happy with my Fujifilm X-T3, I would definitely be looking at a Z-7ii.
Excellent review, but for me the Z6ii meets my needs.
And the standard z6 represents exceptional value these days as well!
I have an old d80 I have been using and love it. But it is time to upgrade. I was thinking of either A Nikon Z611, Z711, or a Cannon R6. Is the Z711 better at shooting moving wildlife or shooting airshows? Many of the reviews have panned the Z611 for its autofocus on wildlife while in motion. Enjoyed the review.
I'm still running a D850.
Still a great camera today! I only recently went from a D810 to a z6 because I'm now more of a hybrid video and stills user. Other than that the D810 and D850 are to this day, amazing stills cameras, especially for landscapes.
Had my D850 for 3 years, and it has produced stunning photos. Can't see spending that much for better video.
Love my D850. My D780 is my backup cam.
Holey moley, that buffer feels like my D500. With a faster card you never run out.
Great honest review. Between the Z7ii and the Z6ii which one do you think would be better for hybrid shooting sports? I also shoot portraits and events as well.
While I like the high mega pixel count, I’m worried how the Z7ii performs in the low light situations and the high ISO.
Thats the point when we just can't have everything...
@@pauloliveira1989 this just make the decision harder. I wish they produce a 30+ range megapixel similar to the D810.
I am so excited to find your channel! If someone was starting fresh (all new system/lenses), would you recommend the Z7II or the AR74 for landscape and nature images? (no video)
Thank you for an unbiased review. The buffer looks more than adequate, but along with the buffer, how is the viewfinder blackout and lag?
Thank you Leigh.
Excellent review and comparison as always, Leigh! As a landscape and product photographer who prides himself on the most detailed images possible, I too, find that the Z7 meets those needs admirably. Since I don't shoot video, and only occasional wildlife, I don't require a large buffer, and since I shoot 99.9% tripod-mounted, and have spare batteries, the new vertical grip isn't a necessity either. So, I'll keep my Z7, at least until a better processor/engine appears in a camera more affordable than the pending Z9. (I'd rather see comparison images between the new Nikkor Z MC 105 f/2.8 "Macro", and the Z mount Laowa 100 f/2.8 Ultra-Macro lens. While the Laowa is manual-only, and cannot use the Z7's Focus Shift Mode, I do that process manually, and the sharpness in the resulting focus stack with the Laowa and Z7 combo is astounding! That's why I'd love to see that comparison, to see exactly how much sharper the new Nikkor Z "Micro" really is...if any. Thanks again!
I really enjoyed your review. I am thinking about switching to the Z7 ii but am wondering about wildlife photography. My main focus is landscape with wildlife and BIF primarily. I currently own a D850 and love it, but the weight of the camera and the lenses is getting to be a bit much. I have a Tamron 150-600 lens and would consider trading in for a Nikon 200-500 but am curious what you think in terms of the responsiveness with tracking and wildlife. I would need to sell the 850 and many of the lenses to update my kit. I’m curious as to what you would recommend.
Hello. In terms of image quality and color, what do you recommend? Nikon Z7, Z7II or Sony A7 4. Thank you.
Thank you for this side by side comparison. It was very thorough and provided much of the information I need to decide which body is for me. Since it’s been a year since you posted this, can you tell me if the 3.4 firmware upgrade improved the Z7’s AF making it similar or equal to the Z7ii? Thanks 🙏
Wait for 15 years Nikon Z7II cameras still do not have flip screen to vary-angle selfies, body size and weight are big and heavy, I have to change to Canon for R6II camera which is lighter and have vary-angle flip screen.
Your gear collection. ❤️🥺
The reason why I havent updated my Z6 is because I dont care about SD card slot and I dont care about not so much better EyeAF. Unless Nikon comes out with EyeAF next to Sony then Ill update but I doubt we will see this any time soon
Great photos and review. Am I getting a bit Leicaish colors from the late Nikons , or is just me ? (Slight colorblindness😌)
Thank you for this review. I'm looking to upgrade from a Nikon D750 for equine portraits and some equine sports. Do you think the Z7II would be a good camera for these uses?
Great video! I realy like the Nikon Z series of both cameras and lenses. :) Maybe I'll upgrade to a Z7II some day.
Your reviews are really done well
Two questions!
1. How do you think the Af compares to Canon, Sony, etc.?
2. Could you do a comparison between the 4k video in the z6, z6ii, z7, and the z7ii? Since not all 4k are the same :)
Love your content!
The Sony and Cannons focus faster with better tracking, video performance differences are subtle.
I enjoyed your video. If you were to use the z7II to do your video, what would be your menu settings: quality, fps, bit rate (without an external monitor)? Thanks and I bet your hand got very tired holding that button.
I think I have read somewhere the Z6/7 II cameras can receive firm ware updates with the card in the camera. That would be significant and maybe easier. Can you confirm that. I really enjoy your reviews. Thanks to you and your husband.
Yes, you download the update to your computer, load the file onto the memory card and put it back in the camera. There's a menu option to update. I have a video from MANY years ago where I walk through the process on a DSLR, but the process is still the same... ruclips.net/video/5TMRXot6nig/видео.html :)
You can use the SnapBridge app to send firmware updates wirelessly from your phone. Very easy to do
Thank you. I have a bit of a curveball question. I have a Z50 and I love it. I love that it fits in my pocket. WTS, I am so impressed with Z system I really want to try a FF body. I was going to go Z6/Z6ii but I then wondered.. hear me out... if I go Z7 I could use Z FF glass AND could use my Z DX 16-50 and have pretty much same resolution as Z50 and close size. Two cameras by leveraging crop mode of the Z7. I don’t use deep buffers. I don’t do action/sports (maybe 5-10%) so I don’t think I need the Z7ii improvements. I would have great resolution & low light performance for indoor family shots and FF dynamic range when I want it but also put the pancake on it and walk around my neighborhood. Thoughts? .. and thank y’all for all of your great videos & information.
That is definitely an option! :)
This was a very informative video. Thank you
I’m waiting to see what is scheduled to come out latter this year
I don’t think it’s economically viable to buy into every new generation these days when new models are coming out so frequently
Not difficult to stay with the Z7, not enough changes / improvements for me to spend more money .
Makes sense. If it sells more cameras and funds more lenses all the better. Keeping my Z6 for the same reason. There will always be upgrades, I may take the plunge on the next model update.
Thanks for the review, however you didn’t really get too critical of the apparent shortcomings on animal eye detect and especially birds and other non- dog and cat species. From other reviews and especially those comparing the Canon R5, it seems it still has a ways to go in that department to stand toe to toe. While it’s frame rate and buffer is improved, it’s ultimately the number of sharp keeper photos that matters. This is spoken from someone who is looking to make the jump to mirrorless and who does shoot a fair amount of wildlife and sports.
Coming from a Z6 its a no brainer to me to add a Z7ii for stills..
Interesting video Leigh, the 7ii is my next camera of choice. It looks like Nikon will
be bringing out a couple of more cameras soon, but these are likely to be pro models
out of my price range. I wonder how you got on with the EVF ?, as some people report
a lag when photographing a flying bird for instance.
I don't have an issue with EVFs, even with birds in flight. They have gotten very good. This, like most everything else, is a matter of opinion though.
@@LeighAndRaymond Thank you .... People who don't like Nikon make a lot out of some issues. They all criticize the Z series for not having an articulating screen but don't mention that the new Sony A1 doesn't either
Hi Leigh
I came across your channel while I was searching for answers and I have a question and I really hope you can help me, I'm a food photographer in the making one year and a half now, I have Nikon D5100 for over 10 years now and I'm looking forward to change it to get better quality for pictures, some advised me to go with mirrorless as it is the future for cameras and told me to get the Z7II and some other told me to go with Sony A7R IV and I'm still looking and searching, I really hope you will get to read this and answer me if you can.
thank you in advance.
Thank you for the video. I have been debating on buying the z7 ii or the d850. As a landscape photographer I have read lots of articles saying that the sensor get damaged often with mirror less cameras when taking images of sunrises/sunsets. What you think??
Great video (as usual)! Just wondering if you used CFExpress cards in the Z cameras and, if not, whether using one in the Z would improve the buffering and get it closer to the ZII. Happy (early) Valentines Day.
I've not used CFexpress cards, only XQD. I don't expect changing the card would make a significant difference on the Z7.
@@LeighAndRaymond Thanks for your quick reply! Hope you and Raymond have a “cuddly” Valentines Day. :0)
I really enjoy your content, keeping up!
i need a big bulky camera these piddly new cameras are very small , il wait untill the z9 comes out it looks like i might be able to hold it
Are you writing Raw+JPG in your buffer test? I find that bursts are around 7-10 shots with those settings.
I think of the Z7II as a Z7 with training wheels.
Do the common consumer really need those mega capabilities - once in the past we filmed animals and motion pictures in a film SLR.
it seems that the capabilities are endless - the question is'nt it to much do we really need those features - i am really not sure - it seems that the cameras for long time are over- qualified for common consumer needs - upgrading to mirrorless from DSLR requires considerable budget investment and unless you really need hi-end requirements - i do not understand the need of moving to hi-end mirrorless.
Hi Leigh, would you recommend d850 over Z 7 II? or would you wait for Z 8 to be released in the market? Thank you!
great review
How its compared to a7R4 IQ wise ?
z7ii or z6ii for portraits? Or it doesn't really make a big difference when editing?
Performance with FTZ is good overall? I am thinking of switching from DSLR, but am stuck with a lot of F glass.
Can you please let me know if you see banding at shodows or striping when you lift the shadows? Please let me know how many stops can you lift shadows.
thank you ..
Hopefully i win and get nikon Z7 ii and lens. Cause i don't have any camera and i used my smartphone to hunting photos right now.
I have nikon d810, which one would you suggest me guys? Have limited budget but dont want to lose amazing image quality too. Need to sell d810, cause second hand value of camera lower now. So z7 or z7 ii? How is dynamic range of z6 ii? Thanks
Reliability over the years of use is my concern: Please let me know. Thank you. Patrick McCarthy
I’ve been using my Z7 since launch and I’ve had zero issues. I expect the same durability from the Z7 II. :)
@@LeighAndRaymond Thank you for taking the time to respond: Sergeant Pat McCarthy, Retired - Canadian Army.
@@LeighAndRaymond Hey Leigh, do you think its still worthy to buy the Z7 today? like this year 2021? Thanks
How does the autofocus compare to z8?