Nikon Z 7II and Z 6II

Nikon has released the Z 7II and Z 6II, the second generation of its first full-frame (FX-format) mirrorless cameras that made an impactful debut in 2018. One of the most prominent upgrades are the dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines that enable faster response, contributing to improved continuous shooting, video, and AF performance. Learn more about these and other updates from the previous models in this article. (Report by: Koji Ueda)

At first glance, the Z 7II and Z 6II look visually the same as their predecessors, the Z 7 and Z 6. However, the bodies are cast from a different metal mode, with various refinements made to the feel of the grip in the hand and other details. Dual card slots have been adopted, supporting CFexpress Type B, XQD, and SD (UHS-II) SD memory cards. An optional Power Battery Pack (vertical battery grip) is also available, made in response to popular demand, providing a more comfortable hold for those who take many vertical-oriented images, such as portrait photographers, and users of large, heavy lenses.

Controls and operations are the same as the Z 7 and Z 6, giving users a complete sense of familiarity when they shoot. Apart from the addition of new features, the menus are almost the same. Improvements to the EVF display refresh rate increases ease of viewing. Altogether, it is surprising just how much the ease of use seems to have improved.

The cameras are equipped with not one but two highly acclaimed EXPEED 6 image-processing engine chips, significantly improving the camera’s responsiveness. You can experience the overwhelming increase in processing power for yourself with a faster burst shooting rate, swifter card writing speed, and other advancements*.

The USB Type-C terminal supports USB power delivery [1] from mobile battery [2], laptop or AC adapter, and is useful for interval shooting or long outdoor shoots.

Charging is supported on all EN-EL15 series batteries. USB power delivery is only possible with EN-EL15b/15c batteries.

While the EVF resolution remains the same, interpolated live view frames are inserted into the EVF display when the camera is moved from side to side, ensuring a seamless EVF view during action shots.

MB-N11 not only enhances your vertical shooting experience, it also improves stability when shooting with large lenses. It takes up to two batteries, prolonging battery life for extended shooting when you are out in the field. It also supports hot swapping, letting you change the batteries even when powered on, reducing downtime during fast-paced shoots. Charging is possible via the USB Type-C terminal.

Opening the battery cover reveals two switches. Pushing down the white switch lets you slide out the battery tray, which can take up to two batteries.

Pushing down the orange switch lets you take out just the outermost battery, allowing you to swap in a new one while leaving the camera powered on.

From my experience using the Z 7II and Z 6II, the AF finds and locks onto subjects very well. There seems to be improvements to the algorithm that have made the AF more accurate. AF reacquisition is seamless, and the excellent response can be felt even in Eye-Detection/Animal-Detection AF, which seem to track the subject’s eyes in real time.

The dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines have not only sped up the burst shooting rate but also shortened the cooling time so that you can embark on your next series of burst shots almost immediately, making the entire shoot seamless and stress-free.

In the two years since the debut of the Nikon Z mirrorless camera system, the NIKKOR Z lens lineup has expanded tremendously, adding to the system’s sense of reliability. One of the strengths of the Z mount is its large 55mm mount diameter, which allows light to circulate to all corners of the image plane, ensuring that even fine details are well-rendered. Enhanced video capabilities increase the expressive possibilities available.

In manual exposure mode, you can set the shutter as slow as up to 900 seconds (15 minutes), simply by enabling the extended shutter speed function:

Step 1: Go to the Custom Setting menu.
Step 2: Select ‘d Shooting/display’.
Step 3: Select ‘d6 Extended shutter speeds (M)’.
Step 4: Select ‘On’.

Also found on the D780, this extended shutter speed setting is useful for astrophotographers and those who want to take long exposures. A countdown timer will indicate the remaining exposure time during the exposure.

Two neutral density (ND) filters (one ND1000 filter and one graduated ND filter) were used to significantly reduce the light in this 120-second long exposure. This provides an easy way to create a surreal image that you can never see with the naked eye.

Enable this setting by going to Custom setting menu → d6 Extended shutter speeds (M) → On.

This lets you set an exposure time of up to 900 seconds on the main command dial.

The Z 7II and Z 6II feature a new energy saving mode. Nikon cameras feature a Standby Timer: by default, after 30 seconds of inactivity, the Standby Timer will go off and put the camera to “sleep” unless the shutter button is half-pressed. However, if the energy saving mode is turned on, the shooting displays will dim and the camera will go into battery saving mode 15 seconds before the Standby Timer turns off and puts the camera to sleep. This reduces the energy consumed by the EVF and rear monitor, prolonging battery life.

I shot from day to night on just 1 battery pack. Usually, you can get approximately 410 shots on one battery, but in energy saving mode, this number increased to around 450 shots (on the Z 6II, using the rear monitor).

In the Setup menu, go to ‘Energy saving (photo mode) and select ‘Enable’.

Improvements have been made to the user experience and accuracy of both Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF. Selecting these two modes previously required users to venture into the Custom Setting menu, but they now can be quickly and easily enabled/disabled via the i menu. Eye-Detection AF is now also supported in the Wide-area AF (L) modes, which allows users to limit the AF detection area.

I snapped this picture of my pet dog while out on a walk. Being able to limit the AF area using Wide-area AF (L) while being supported by Animal-Detection AF helped me to achieve focus faster and more accurately.

The Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF modes have been added to the Auto-area AF and Wide-area AF (L) modes.

If you assign the Fn1 button, located near the lens mount, to change the AF area mode, you can switch between Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF by turning the sub-command dial as you hold down the Fn1 button.

Some subjects such as landscapes might require the photographer to set up, fix the composition and focus, and then sit and wait for the perfect timing, powering off the camera to conserve battery power. However, on many mirrorless cameras, turning the camera off will cause the focus position to reset, and the photographer would have to adjust it back. Turning on the “Save focus position” function ensures that the focus position will stay where it was before the camera was powered off, allowing photographers to respond to the scene without wasting precious moments.

For this shot, I fixed the composition first and then waited for the boat to enter the frame, pre-focusing on the tree on the right side of the image. Although the camera was powered off until the boat appeared, the focus position stayed on the tree where I had placed it, allowing me to capture the perfect moment.

In the Setup menu, go to ‘Save focus position’ and select ‘On’.

I own two Z 6 cameras and one Z 7, using them for a wide variety of purposes that include work as well as my own personal projects. They are sufficient, but I also do feel that an upgrade would be more than worthwhile considering the improved performance and reliability of the Z 7II and Z 6II, found in features such as the dual card slots and dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines.

If you are an existing Z series user wondering if you should upgrade, I would advise you to consider how much the improvements and new features on these second-generation Z series cameras appeals to your personal shooting style. For example, if high-speed continuous shooting is important to you, the burst shooting rate and response on the Z 7II and Z 6II are significantly better than on their predecessors, so an upgrade would certainly be beneficial.

Existing users of DSLR cameras such as the D750 and D850 should also be sufficiently satisfied with the Z 7II and Z 6II, which are more complete than their predecessors were. There are more Z mount lenses than there were two years ago, and it is delightful to experience the excellent image quality possible because of the Z mount’s larger mount diameter. Existing lens assets can still be used via the Mount Adapter FTZ. With all these in mind, the improved Z series is definitely worth a try.