(Pocket-lint) – After the good fortune of its first pair of full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z6 and Z7, Nikon is again with their respective sequels: the Z6 II and Z7 II (simply do not name them “mark II”, it is simply instantly up “two” for the more moderen fashions).
As there is not any numerical shift to the fashion quantity, then again, you’ve got almost certainly already guessed that the unique fashions are slightly very similar to their 2020 opposite numbers. So simply what’s new for the ‘Z II’ technology?
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Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Design
- Nikon Z6 & Z7: Unmarried XQD card / Z6 II & Z7 II: XQD & SD (UHS-II) twin card slots
- Nikon Z6 II & Z7 II measure 2mm deeper (at 69.5mm) than (67.5mm) originals
- All cameras: In-body 5-axis symbol stabilisation (to 5-stops)
- All cameras: Magnesium alloy entrance, again & most sensible covers
- All cameras: Z collection mount, full-frame protection
- All cameras: Climate sealed development
When the Z6 and Z7 had been introduced again in 2018 the important thing characteristic that set them aside was once decision. The Z6 includes a 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor; the Z7 a forty five.7-megapixel one. The Z6 II carries the very same sensor because the Z6; the Z7 II the similar higher-resolution one as the unique Z7. So there is not any trade when it comes to decision or symbol high quality.
It is in different places that adjustments happen. The Z6 II & Z7 II are each and every 2mm deeper than the unique fashions. Why? As a result of there is a twin card slot this time round, the use of each XQD and SD (UHS-II) – in contrast to the XQD-only answer of the originals. We predict that is an excessively good move.
In a different way it is a lot the similar. The keep watch over format is similar. The on-board stabilisation is similar 5-axis machine. The elements sealing – to Nikon D850 usual – additionally stays. Truly, as opposed to the “II” at the our bodies of the more moderen cameras you will not be able to inform the variation.
Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Viewfinder & Display
- All cameras: 3.2-inch tilt-angle LCD touchscreen, 2.1m-dot decision
- All cameras: 3.6m-dot digital viewfinder, 100% box of view 0.8x magnification
It is the identical tale for the display screen and viewfinder. All cameras characteristic the similar – and extremely succesful – integrated OLED EVF and tilt-angle LCD touchscreen. The spec remains to be most sensible of its sport on this regard.
Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Symbol Sensor, Velocity, Video
- Z7 & Z7 II: 45.7MP full-frame CMOS sensor (FX layout), ISO 64-25,600 local
- Z6 & Z6 II: 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor (FX layout), ISO 100-51,200 local
- Z7 & Z7 II: 493 phase-detection issues, overlaying 90% of body
- Z6 & Z6 II: 273 phase-detection issues, overlaying 90% of body
- Z7: 9fps burst most / Z7 II: 10fps / Z6: 12fps / Z6 II: 14fps
- All cameras: 4K60 video, 1080p100/120, 10-bit HDMI out
- Z6 II & Z7 II solely: Twin Expeed 6 processing engine
- Z6 II & Z7 II solely: Autofocus to -6EV claimed
As we mentioned up most sensible, the picture sensors within the Z6 II and Z7 II stay the similar as their respective Z6 and Z7 predecessors. However the more moderen cameras do take pleasure in Nikon’s first ever Twin Expeed symbol processing engine, this means that extra pace, extra autofocus accuracy, and higher buffer efficiency.
By no means earlier than has Nikon put two quite a lot of its processing chip into one in every of its cameras. The variation is apparent when having a look on the numbers: the Z6 may just shoot at 12fps, whilst the Z6 II steps that as much as 14fps; the Z7 may just shoot at 9fps, whilst the Z7 II steps that as much as 10fps.
Nikon claims the Z6 II can care for that pace and shoot as much as 200 JPEG Superb or 112 12-bit Uncooked recordsdata; the Z7 II as much as 200 JPEG or 50 Uncooked. The Uncooked record quantity decreases in case you are taking pictures 14-bit, however nonetheless, that is a large number of recordsdata and a large number of information in one burst.
The autofocus machine for the 2020 fashions too can focal point in what Nikon describes as “quarter moonlight”, all of the approach right down to -6EV. That is very darkish prerequisites certainly. Whilst the AF programs for the respective Z6 & Z6 II and Z7 & Z7 II machine pairs are each and every the similar – 273 phase-detection and 493 part detection spaces – the more moderen fashions additionally take pleasure in improvements to eye-tracking autofocus (for each people and animals).
Video-wise that extra succesful buffer manner extra information can also be driven thru too. The Z6 II might be ready (even supposing no longer at release – it is coming later) to shoot 4K at 60fps, doubling the 30fps of the unique Z6; the Z7 II could have cropped 4K60p from the getgo – once more doubling the frame-rate in comparison to the unique Z7.
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Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Conclusion
Blink and you’ll be able to leave out it: each since the Z6 II and Z7 II are similar to their Z6 and Z7 originals, but additionally since the more moderen cameras are so speedy in burst mode and processing that, smartly, it’s possible you’ll leave out it with just a little blink.
Even supposing Nikon hasn’t showed, we suspect the ‘Z II’ technology fashions will see the originals fazed out through the years. That means the more moderen, sooner, dual-card-slot fashions will take over as the usual.
Certain, the ‘Z II’ technology does not convey massive bounds ahead, however given how stellar the Z6 and Z7 had already confirmed to be we predict that is high quality – finally, for many those may not be improve fashions, simply the brand new norm.
We do surprise how the costs of the originals will lower, even though, which might make for a vastly compelling prospect for the ones having a look to shop for into the full-frame mirrorless Z machine line-up.
Writing via Mike Lowe.
