K i t Z o n e
its reliance on a single XQD card slot,
but the Z 7II now benefits from dual
card slots with the welcome addition
of a UHS-II SD card slot alongside the
XQD/CFexpress Type B socket.
Rather than developing a new
autofocus system, the Z 7II employs
the same 493-point AF system that
was enjoyed by the Z 7, but the extra
Expeed 6 processor has allowed Nikon
to make some improvements here as
well. In addition to sharpening up the
overall performance of autofocus,
the Z 7II now includes human or
animal eye/face detection in Wide
Area AF mode and improved focusing
in low light, which sees the Z 7IIno bad thing that Nikon has felt no
need to tinker here. The deep grip
makes the Z 7II incredibly comfortable
to hold, and the control layout makes it
one of the most satisfying mirrorless
cameras to shoot with. Key controls
fall to the hand easily, and it’s great
to see that face/eye detection is now
accessed along with all the other
area AF modes. A dedicated drive
mode would be good to have on the
Z 7II (perhaps around the collar of
the mode dial), but this is relatively
straightforward to get to via the menu.
Just like the Z 7, the Nikon Z 7II
enjoys magnesium alloy top, front
and back covers to deliver ample
rigidity, and the body is weather-
sealed to Nikon’s professional
specifications. This all combines to
deliver a camera that’s very well-
made and that can happily be used
in a number of environments.
One area we’d liked to have seen
Nikon overhaul is the electronic
viewfinder (EVF) and rear display.
While the 3.69m-dot EVF in the
original Z 7 impressed at the time,
it’s since been overshadowed by
5.76m-dot EVFs in key rivals, and it’s
disappointing not to see Nikon equip
the Z 7II with something similar. As
it is, it uses the same 3.69m-dot
EVF as its predecessor; while it’s
very good, it’s not a match for
the higher-resolution EVFs on
the competition like the Canon
EOS R5 and the Sony Alpha 7R IV.
Another curiosity is Nikon sticking
with the Z 7’s tilting rear touchscreen
LCD in the Z 7II. While this method
has a range of uses and applications,
a vari-angle mechanism would
have made it a more appealing
proposition for videographers
and portrait shooters.Rival cameras
Like its predecessor, the Z 7II is a well-sorted
camera that’s compact in design, but with
a good ‘grip’ and well laid-out controls.Nikon’s Matrix metering system does a good job of preserving highlights, but for extra-high-contrast
scenes, the Z 7II’s raw files offer useful additional dynamic range.Panasonic Lumix S1R
£2,799/$3,698
The Lumix S1R is built
like a tank and has some
beautiful lenses in a
growing selection, but
it’s pricey and heavy.
Reviewed: issue 216Sony Alpha 7R IV
£3,199/$3,498
The Alpha 7R IV still
leads the full-frame
mirrorless field for
resolution and autofocus
performance.
Reviewed: issue 223Canon EOS R5
£4,199/$3,899
The EOS R5 is
technically more
advanced than the
Z 7II, but it’s much
more expensive, too.
Reviewed: issue 233now able to focus down to -3EV
(compared with the Z 7’s -2EV).Build and handling
Despite the extra card slot, the design
of the Z 7II is identical to the Z 7 – and
to the Z 6 and Z 6II for that matter.
(The more affordable Nikon Z 5 is very
similar, too. Apart from the Z 7II badge,
the only other difference is that it’s
a couple of millimetres thicker
and a gramme or two heavier.
While sticking with an unchanged
design might appear to be playing it
incredibly safe, the original Z 7 was
a pretty well-sorted camera when it
came to handling, so it’s perhaps116 DIGITAL CAMERA^ MARCH 2021 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comMirrorless Nikon Z 7II