Dynamic range (EV)02468101214100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400 12800 25600
Nikon Z 7II Canon EOS R5
Panasonic Lumix S1R Sony Alpha 7R IVSignal to noise ratio (decibels)0102030405060100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400 12800 25600
Nikon Z 7II Canon EOS R5
Panasonic Lumix S1R Sony Alpha 7R IVResolution (line widths/picture height)01020304050100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400 12800 25600
Nikon Z 7II Canon EOS R5
Panasonic Lumix S1R Sony Alpha 7R IVDigital Camera verdict
The S1R is out in front, producing measurably higher
dynamic range across the ISO range. The Z 7II and the
EOS R5 are close together in second place, although
the Z 7II establishes a gap at higher ISO settings.The Z 7II feels a little like a stopgap before we see
Nikon introduce an all-new model. However, it still
has a lot going for it – and at a more affordable
price than key rivals, it shouldn’t be ignored.4.5 Outstanding
Lab tests
Not surprisingly, the 60MP Sony Alpha 7R wins for
resolution, with a clear advantage over the rest. The
Lumix S1R is in second place, despite having a similar
sensor resolution to the EOS R5 and the Z 7II.The winner here is the S1R, with the Alpha 7R IV and
the EOS R5 close together in second place. The Z 7II
trails a disappointing fourth here, although it gains
a slim advantage at higher ISO settings.Performance
Even though the Z 7II is now able to
max out at 10 frames per second, that
still leaves it lagging behind the likes of
the Canon EOS R5, which can shoot at
up to 12fps with its mechanical shutter
and 20fps if you choose the electronic
shutter. That said, it’s identical in
speed to the Alpha 7R IV, although that
camera is handling large 60MP files.
While it could be argued that this puts
it behind its rivals (especially when it’s
limited to Single Point AF), 10fps might
still be enough for most disciplines.
The 493-point hybrid AF system
inside the Z 7II is a solid performer.
Using both phase and contrast-detect
AF, the Z 7II finds focus very quickly,
and human/animal face and eye
detect modes work very well. Train the
Z 7II on your subject, even against a
busy background, and it’ll lock on and
automatically switch between faces
or individual eyes. Predictive focus
tracking is also good on the Z 7II,
enabling you to maintain focus on your
subject as it moves round the frame.
Viewed in isolation, the AF system on
the Z 7II is very impressive, but against
the likes of the EOS R5’s incredibly
sophisticated AF, it’s not quite there.
Nikon aficionados photographing
action are probably still best served by
the company’s D850 and D6 DSLRs –
while they can’t match the 90%
coverage of the Z II, their advanced
tracking AF certainly has the edge.
There are no nasty surprises when
it comes to image quality, having seen
variations of this sensor used in both
the Z 7 and D850. The level of detail
achievable is impressive, while the
wide dynamic range means there’s
plenty of flexibility in the raw files.
It’s possible to recover good amounts
of shadow detail, while the Z 7II’s
Matrix metering does a good job
of preserving the highlights.
The lab results weren’t quite
what we were expecting, as the Z 7II
appears slightly down against some
older rivals in noise and dynamic
range. Real-world results were
very impressive, however.
The Z 7II’s in-body image
stabilisation system is a strong
performer, delivering five stops of
compensation. This means that
shooting at slow shutter speeds and
still coming away with a sharp shot is
very much a reality when shooting with
the Z 7II. IBIS is not just a benefit for
stills, though, as it can be harnessed
when shooting video, too. Provided
you keep movement down to a
minimum where possible, you can
come away with some incredibly
smooth 4K footage. Phil HallFeatures Build &
handlingPerformance Value5.0 4.0The Z 7II now includes human or animal eye/face detection in Wide Area AF mode, which
proves to very accurate in real-world shooting, and improved focusing in low light.
5.0http://www.digitalcameraworld.com MARCH 2021 DIGITAL CAMERA^117
Nikon Z 7II Mirrorless
4.0
“ The Z 7II’s IBISsystem is
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