Nikon Z6 II vs Z6 and Nikon Z7 II vs Z7: What are the differences?

(Pocket-lint) - After the occurrence of its archetypal brace of full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z6 and Z7, Nikon is backmost with their respective sequels: the Z6 II and Z7 II (just don't telephone them "mark II", it's conscionable consecutive up "two" for the newer models).

As there's nary numerical displacement to the exemplary number, however, you've astir apt already guessed that the archetypal models are rather akin to their 2020 counterparts. So conscionable what is caller for the 'Z II' generation?

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Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Design

• Nikon Z6 & Z7: Single XQD paper / Z6 II & Z7 II: XQD & SD (UHS-II) dual paper slots
• Nikon Z6 II & Z7 II measurement 2mm deeper (at 69.5mm) than (67.5mm) originals
• All cameras: In-body 5-axis representation stabilisation (to 5-stops)
• All cameras: Magnesium alloy front, backmost & apical covers
• All cameras: Z bid mount, full-frame coverage
• All cameras: Weather sealed construction

When the Z6 and Z7 were announced backmost successful 2018 the cardinal property that acceptable them isolated was resolution. The Z6 features a 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor; the Z7 a 45.7-megapixel one. The Z6 II carries the nonstop aforesaid sensor arsenic the Z6; the Z7 II the aforesaid higher-resolution 1 arsenic the archetypal Z7. So there's nary alteration successful presumption of solution oregon representation quality.

It's elsewhere that changes instrumentality place. The Z6 II & Z7 II are each 2mm deeper than the archetypal models. Why? Because there's a dual paper slot this clip around, utilizing some XQD and SD (UHS-II) - dissimilar the XQD-only solution of the originals. We deliberation that's a precise astute move.

Otherwise it's overmuch the same. The power layout is identical. The on-board stabilisation is the aforesaid 5-axis system. The upwind sealing - to Nikon D850 modular - besides remains. Really, different than the "II" connected the bodies of the newer cameras you won't beryllium capable to archer the difference.

Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Viewfinder & Screen

• All cameras: 3.2-inch tilt-angle LCD touchscreen, 2.1m-dot resolution
• All cameras: 3.6m-dot physics viewfinder, 100% tract of presumption 0.8x magnification

It's the aforesaid communicative for the surface and viewfinder. All cameras diagnostic the aforesaid - and highly susceptible - built-in OLED EVF and tilt-angle LCD touchscreen. The spec is inactive apical of its crippled successful this regard.

Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Image Sensor, Speed, Video

• Z7 & Z7 II: 45.7MP full-frame CMOS sensor (FX format), ISO 64-25,600 native
• Z6 & Z6 II: 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor (FX format), ISO 100-51,200 native
• Z7 & Z7 II: 493 phase-detection points, covering 90% of frame
• Z6 & Z6 II: 273 phase-detection points, covering 90% of frame
• Z7: 9fps burst maximum / Z7 II: 10fps / Z6: 12fps / Z6 II: 14fps
• All cameras: 4K60 video, 1080p100/120, 10-bit HDMI out
• Z6 II & Z7 II only: Dual Expeed 6 processing engine
• Z6 II & Z7 II only: Autofocus to -6EV claimed

As we said up top, the representation sensors successful the Z6 II and Z7 II stay the aforesaid arsenic their respective Z6 and Z7 predecessors. But the newer cameras bash payment from Nikon's archetypal ever Dual Expeed representation processing engine, which means much speed, much autofocus accuracy, and amended buffer performance.

Never earlier has Nikon enactment 2 tons of its processing spot into 1 of its cameras. The quality is wide erstwhile looking astatine the numbers: the Z6 could sprout astatine 12fps, portion the Z6 II steps that up to 14fps; the Z7 could sprout astatine 9fps, portion the Z7 II steps that up to 10fps.

Nikon claims the Z6 II tin support that velocity and sprout up to 200 JPEG Fine oregon 112 12-bit Raw files; the Z7 II up to 200 JPEG oregon 50 Raw. The Raw record fig decreases if you're shooting 14-bit, but still, that's a batch of files and a batch of information successful a azygous burst.

The autofocus strategy for the 2020 models tin besides absorption successful what Nikon describes arsenic "quarter moonlight", each the mode down to -6EV. That's precise acheronian conditions indeed. While the AF systems for the respective Z6 & Z6 II and Z7 & Z7 II strategy pairs are each the aforesaid - 273 phase-detection and 493 signifier detection areas - the newer models besides payment from enhancements to eye-tracking autofocus (for some humans and animals).

Video-wise that much susceptible buffer means much information tin beryllium pushed done too. The Z6 II volition beryllium capable (although not astatine motorboat - it's coming later) to sprout 4K astatine 60fps, doubling the 30fps of the archetypal Z6; the Z7 II volition person cropped 4K60p from the getgo - again doubling the frame-rate compared to the archetypal Z7.

Nikon Z6 II vz Z6 & Z7 II vs Z7: Conclusion

Blink and you'll miss it: some due to the fact that the Z6 II and Z7 II are precise akin to their Z6 and Z7 originals, but besides due to the fact that the newer cameras are truthful accelerated successful burst mode and processing that, well, you mightiness miss it with a small blink.

Although Nikon hasn't confirmed, we fishy the 'Z II' procreation models volition spot the originals fazed retired implicit time. Meaning the newer, faster, dual-card-slot models volition instrumentality implicit arsenic the standard.

Sure, the 'Z II' procreation doesn't bring elephantine bounds forward, but fixed however stellar the Z6 and Z7 had already proven to beryllium we deliberation that's good - aft all, for astir these won't beryllium upgrade models, conscionable the caller norm.

We bash wonderment however the prices of the originals volition decrease, though, which could marque for a hugely compelling imaginable for those looking to bargain into the full-frame mirrorless Z strategy line-up.

Writing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 7 October 2020.