Thanks for this fair informative review! No Nikon bashing but the points that are not good are clearly mentioned. Such videos are needed! I think Nikon also benefits from such honest videos because you see where the users have their problems with the camera. I have the Z7ii myself and I love it! In my opinion, there is nothing better for landscape. Said a Nikon fan ...Please keep it up and thanks for the great videos!
Hi Steve, great, well balanced review. I have been using a D850 for ages and also have a Sony A9 (original version) - I have recently brought a Z7ii and a 70-200mm - what a fabulous combination and superb, super high image quality. I personally find that the Z7ii is quite a bit better then the D850 with its autofocus now I have worked out how to select the right autofocus modes for the subject I am shooting. The areas where it lacks for me are evf blackout and frame rate (as compared with the A9). The difficulty for me is that there isn't really a camera that does it all. Personally, I think that once there is more Z mount glass available and maybe a firmware upgrade or two I am going to use a mixture of the Sony's and Nikon's depending upon the assignment - however.....if Nikon ever produce a replacement for the D850 with a mixture of Sony's speed and evf and Nikons colour science - I will then drop Sony altogether and stick with Nikon. In short the Z7ii has had a lot of bad press, 90% of which I think is actually completely unfounded - yes room for improvement but for the price, build quality and the resulting image quality - I think it is a very good and very useable camera.
The closest thing to a mirrorless D850 right now is the R5 - shame that's made by Canon. Nikon on the other hand marketed the original Z7 as a D850 replacement, which to me is simply false advertisement. I'd love to find a reason to stay with them and keep all my F-mount glass, but I'm not very confident anymore that they'll ever figure out mirrorless focusing. They are two generations behind the competition in that departement.
Good fair and balanced review. I primairly shoot wildlife and have found the d850 and the z6ii to be the perfect combination of bodies. For fast moving subjects and good light I use the d850. For low light, slower subjects, when I need to be utterly silent or when using the LCD rather than the viewfinder gives more flexibility I use the Z6. For me, an upgrade would need to do the job of both these in one body. The Canon R5 or the new Sony A1 would fit the bill but I love Nikon ergonomics and have too many lenses to switch! I'm hoping their next mirrorless gets closer to the A1/R5 specs. Then it may be time to switch
I did not upgrade my Z as the Zii is not enough of an upgrade in autofocus to get the job done but before anybody thinks l hating on Nikon, l am a bit of a Nikon fanboy. It is great for stationary wildlife as you know but anything beyond that will drive you crazy. I do like the menu and ergos but! After using the R6 l find it not only the autofocus but just the ability to customize and the ability to put pretty well everything into "my menu" is for me a god sent. The custom control ring on the RF lenses can be assigned to just about anything as can the custom control ring on the adapter available to adapt EF glass and unlike my Nikon lenses it is not the manual focus ring but a separate actual custom control ring and is beyond handy and the grip is the best l have used, the manual focus guide is awesome, way better than focus peaking which it also has. I honestly feel it makes my Z seem like a camera from 5 years ago. I look forward to Nikons future offerings but for the moment they are not innovative enough though their prices match the performance. I have to use what works and for the moment at least the Z system is not working for me. Will l stay with Nikon? The fact that we are still waiting for a focal length beyond 200mm is disappointing and no l will not spend money on adapted F glass. l will keep my Z lenses and wait see what they bring out but for the moment l am selling up the Z body and moving to Canon, l sure hope l can come back to Nikon but it is up to them to provide the tools needed, longer focal lengths and better autofocus for wildlife.
I shoot Nikon D7000 and quite happy with it. But I was saving up to buy D850. And now all the hype about the mirrorless system. Thanks for your honest review.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen so far! Thank you! I've just purchased the Z7ii and will be photographing Dolphins from a boat so this has helped me learn which auto focus to use to maximise chances of sharp focus images. I was torn between that and the R5 and the one reason I chose Nikon is because I am a petite person with very small hands. I saw the R5 and the camera itself is slightly larger but its the lenses that changed my mind. The guy at the camera store said Canon have made the RF lenses bigger and bulkier and that was the decision maker for me because they will be just a little too heavy. I hope it will do well in the field! 🙏🏻 Thanks again!
Excellent "rambling" review Steve. I think you like the Z7II, but you have issues with the auto focus in certain of the modes. Hopefully Nikon will address those issues in upcoming software upgrades. I do not have the ability to just switch camera systems and move to Canon or Sony. I'd take a big financial hit selling my years of Nikon lenses. However, your review gives me hope enough that this camera will be excellent for different subjects, and projects. I am confident I will find a way to make it work well for me. You do an excellent job of listing the pros and cons of the camera. Your honesty and forthright approach is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your production and your hard work in preparing this valuable review of the Nikon Z7II. 🙏 🤩 👍 👏
Thanks for the honest review Steve, I purchased the z7ii a couple weeks ago and my experience is much the same as yours, but I am more disappointed with birds in flight than you, clouds and trees in the background auto focus falls apart a lot of the time, but when it nails it nikon image quality is the best out there, , for slow moving wildlife and landscapes it is great, all the z cameras are a joy to use, you just have to know there limitations, also for others reading this the ibis is pretty good, looking forward to more content Steve, stay safe and warm...
Steve, a fantastic open and honest review. You mentioned in your review something I've been mentioning in other discussions but hardly anybody has mentioned it - misplacement of the joy pad button so you can have the option of an AF On + AF Area Mode adjacent to the AF On button as on the D5, D500 & D850 (it should be where the Display button is located so surely they could be swapped around). I didn't even know until I read your comment further down that none of the front buttons provide AF+AF Area Modes. I'm a D500 shooter and for my style of shooting, having AF Area Modes available at the press of a button/s all without having to take your eye away from the view finder was a game changer for me after setting up my D500. Back in October 2020, DP Review posted an article called Best Cameras for Sports and Action. The camera that came out top was the Nikon D5 and in second place was the D500 - yes ahead of the Canon 1DX Mkiii and R5. It wasn't just the AF performance that put them on top, it was also their amazing ergonomics and customisation (and probably price when it came to the D500 as I'm sure the R5 is better than the D500). Article: www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-cameras-for-sports-and-action So my question is, why did Nikon move away from a winning formula in supplying awesome customisation and ergonomics when they designed the Z6 / Z7 series? It's as if Nikon were blind to what they had created in the D5, D500 and D850. I have just finished reading an article on the Canon R5 / R6 in a photography magazine and the author stated that Canon discarded too much of their DSLR design philosophy in search of new features and user interface ideas when they launched their first mirrorless cameras, the EOS R and EOS RP and they didn't do very well. With the R5 / R6, Canon have returned to the tried and trusted DSLR control layout and they're full of buttons and customisations and they are selling really well and users are over the moon with them. I hope Nikon sit up and take note and combine what was successful in their best DSLRs with the future of mirrorless technology.
This is the first video I've seen of yours. I like the rambling! I also appreciate you showing the photos you took in a series...to witness the odd fails and the great wins! I am discouraged Nikon hasn't resolved the auto focus issues totally. I suspect the Z series comparable with D850 will cost more, and deliver the focus. For Nikons' survival, they need to work this out. Thank you for giving an opinion and backing it up...rather than just bashing the company. I shoot mostly landscape but not solely. Tricky auto focus is a buzz kill. Here's rooting for firmware updates that bring it up to snuff. I also love the feel of the cameras and the palate of the Nikon files. Besides, I have all my gear in Nikon, but still reluctant to go beyond the Z50 I purchased til I see where they go with this. Thanks again for this review.
Thanks for the review. D500 wildlife shooter here. Was leaning towards the Z7 II over the D850, even though the scuttlebutt was the D850 would be better at wildlife, figuring I could live with it. Now I'm second guessing again. With upcoming firmware updates, don't you think the Z7 II is more "future proof" than the older D850? I'm not considering (at least not seriously) Sony or Canon, due to can't afford to swap my glass. Kind of pissed I didn't get the D850 when there was that brief $500 price drop last year. The last factor is: how does one even go about buying a Z7 II these days? There seems to be a huge supply problem, people waiting months for a unit.
When comparing camera brands, I think for wildlife/sports shooters especially, it is important to compare camera/lense/$$$$ combinations. Canon R5/600f11/$5k Sony A9ii/200-600/$6500 Nikon Z7ii/500Pf/$6700 Canon R5/500f4/$16k Sony A7riv/600f4/$16k Not sure, but I would think the Canon f11 lenses and the Sony 200-600 would hinder the performance in the tougher fast action or lower light situations and provide lower image quality. Otherwise, you need to jump into a $10k plus lens to get the most out of the camera and best image quality. Nikons 500pf keeps me on board for the time being. Am I wrong with this thinking? What lenses did you use on the R5 and A9ii when you tried them out? I would really love the no blackout, low lag viewfinder, but I am not ready to jump into a $13k lens to maintain top image quality.
The question there is why would you get a Z7 II and not a D850 is you're using F-mount glass. The DSLR does everything better in terms of wildlife shooting anyway. At least with the R5 and a1 the user gets an upgrade over a D850.
Nice review Steve. I like the images you presented, good and not so good to make your points and demonstrate performance. Questions for you: 1. In your experience with Nikon (and in general) do you believe the AF issue is something that will be addressed by firmware updates in the coming months? 2. Does the Z7ii have more "room to grow" based on firmware updates because of the dual processors than previous models? 3. While the body is a huge part of the experience, how do the Nikon Z-mount lenses compare to other competitors like Cannon, Sony, Fuji? Thanks again!
Thanks For informative review. I was wondering if you have tried out the new firmware and if it has changed anything. Looking at updating to the Z7ii. thanks for all the content.
Thanks for your review. I was going to purchase Z7ii as my first big buy but after your review and others' review have steered me away from Nikon Z7ii. I even thought about the Z9, however, with such a big price tag it has problems that Canon does not.
Thanks Steve I have the Z7 from the D850 before that ..70 now and the only feature I really like is 900sec instead of 30 for long exposures and the bigger Buffer .. am too old to have D3S Machine gun performance to my Wild Life is Slow Buffalo herds crossing the Truck Track ..AF on this will be fine Single point
Hello Brother Steve , which camera is better especially for wedding videography and wedding photography between Nikon Z 7ii and Fuji Film XT4 ? Thanks Brother 🙏
I got my Nikon Z7ii bundle on last Christmas, excellent images quality...no doubt except the AF system technology is still lagging behind most of the competitors. Hope Nikon will keep improving it by firmware updates in the future. One last nitpicking is the mode dial 😂 personally I hate "PSAM" style mode dial, really wish they would keep the Nikon D850 style mode dial.
I think if Nikon had taken the best from their successful DSLRs (dials and buttons etc) and put them in a mirrorless body, it would have provided more and a better user experience.
probably the most well balanced and fair review I've seen yet for this camera. Thanks Steve. I'd easily pay the extra for the Canon but being a long time Nikon shooter the real price would be 7 or 8 thousand due to buying all new lenses. I've been a Film and DSLR shooter for 40 years but have been messing with video recently. My D500 has to be the worst video camera that has ever been made... The Z7ii does interest me as a hybrid system where I can, at least for a while, use my existing F mount lenses.
It's true that the Canon R5 has better autofocus-tracking. But as a Nikon shooter owing 8 lenses, 3 flash units and many filters I just can't change horses all the time the competition brings out a better performing body. I am sure Nikon will improve the autofocus system by the next generation of the Z6 and Z7, maybe we will get a Z7II or a Z8 with 36MP and super autofocus, time will tell! Best regards from Switzerland.
Steve, I'd be interested to hear what you think about the latest firmware and if 1.10 improved AF performance for wildlife use or if that is still something we need to wait on. Also did the Z7ii get a tougher review because you had a few more weeks of shooting with it over the z6ii? it seems like you actually liked the Z6ii a lot for what it is are you just holding the Z7ii to a higher standard (comparing to D850)? Thanks for the review I'd love to see an update on what you think about the firmware upgrade.
Excellent and honest review. Still learning with my Z6 ii. I find it comparable to my D500 with the exception of D500 3D tracking. With the Z you have to work at it but that part of the fun.
It sounds like you haven't fully utilised the functions of the D500 because as Steve mentioned in his review, the customisation and ergonomics are missing on the Z6ii & Z7ii. If you've never used them on the D500 / D850 you won't miss them but if you have, changing to mirrorless will be a big disappointment.
@@Gazzab6 I’ve used various customizations based on you tubers like Steve Perry and Mark Smith using different function buttons for focus modes but the only one I’m missing for wildlife photography is the 3D tracking. Yes the Z6ii could and I’m sure will be improved but my D500 tends to stay in my bag. I won’t though be selling it any time soon but will sell my Panasonic G7.
@Paul Kirk Do you miss not being able to set up the function buttons to AF+AF Area? Based on the videos you mentioned, I've done the same. I have my PV button set up as Group Area AF, the Joy Pad button set as Dynamic Area 25 points and the Function Button (bottom fronts) changes regularly depending on what shooting I'm doing but normally toggles between 3D Tracking and Highlight Weighted Metering. When the front function buttons are used on the Z's as AF On, is it for Single Point Focus only?
@@Gazzab6 it’s simpler on the D500 but that’s probably due to the wider range of options on the Z6 II. I had back button focus set on 3D tracking so could use manual any time, then Function 1 as group af and Function 2 as single point focus which enabled one press to access the area focused I used the most. It’s not possible to do that with F1/2 on the Z so at the moment Function 2 enables me to uses the command dials to change area modes and focus modes with Function 2 to activate the tracking box when I’m in auto area auto mode while I play around with the different modes to find out what works best. Another very good UA-cam is Hudson Henry photography (Approaching the Scene) who has a setup videos for the Z and one for the different focus modes. He has sold his D500 and D850!!
@Paul Kirk Do you mean the PV button and Function 1 button on the D500? The F2 button on the D500 is at the bottom of the row of left hand buttons. Yes I've watched Hudson Henry quite a few times but I'm finding it's mostly You Tubers that are making the switch. When we were able to visit our local RSPB Nature Reserve, nearly everybody I saw were using DSLRs which were Nikon D7200, D500, D850, D5 and the Canon 7D Mk2 which was quite high in numbers.
Great video Steve..... i was going to get this camera tomorrow!!!! Now tell me...should i get the Canon R 5 ????? i find Canon colors too warm for my taste...your thought...G
Great review - thanks Steve. . . still struggling to see anything out there that I would like to part with some cash for to replace my D750 and D500. Don't really need 45 MP. . . mirrorless ain't going to get me better images. Might change my mind with firmware v 3.0 for the Z6 ii or Z 7 ii?
I really enjoyed your review and you demonstrated the basis for your opinions in the images I'd say the best review on you tube. Your experience echos what a commercial photographer said about the Canon R5 vs 850s he's used for years. He said " it feels like I'm cheating when I use the R5 when it comes to autofocus and action" So I'm deeply in the Nikon ecosystem and my D5 and D500 work great for my high school sports shooting. I am considering the Z7II to replace my D810 but I don't know why as the 810 makes fantastic images for stills/portraits etc.
I see you've got your FTZ adapter on there - how did the IBIS perform with the long lens? Is it reliable at slower shutter speeds, or do you just habitually snap at fast speeds like on the D850? Asking for a friend ;) Thanks for the video, btw - loved the Bison shots!
Nikon is demonstrably good at autofocus so I have no idea why they couldn't get the Z cameras on par (or even better) with their own DSLRs and other mirrorless. I also don't know why they didn't "finish" the autofocus system before release of these cameras. Or maybe the hardware in them just isn't up to the task, but honestly it more looks like a firmware issue. I hope soon they release an update that makes some fundamental changes to it for the better. I have the Z 6II to which I upgraded from a D7200. I definitely felt like the D7200 focused faster and more snappy for example with the 70-200 2.8 VR II than the Z 6II does. The AF isn't as good in the dark either (although I mostly experienced issues with an f/4 lens), even though they both advertise -3 EV AF. The Z 6II has a low light AF mode that does some sort of mirrorless af magic. It's slow and sluggish but it manages to get sharp focus in incredibly dark conditions. Overall the camera is amazing. The D7200 had a fixed screen and the tilting screen is great, for me no need for a flipping screen. Full frame is great compared to APS-C. There is just some sort of different type of sharpness that doesn't exist with APS-C. I was getting fed up with my D7200 and Sigma 18-35mm combo to the point that I didn't want to shoot with them. The Sigma wouldn't focus accurately when using the OVF. I had to use live view to focus and everyone knows how bad Nikon DSLRs live view AF is. Besides how slow it is, I had to hold out the camera in front of me so I couldn't get as good a grip to support the 1.5kg hunk of camera and lens properly, and neither the body or the lens had stabilization so the experience was wholly subpar. Native Nikkor lens with IBIS on the Z 6II is astronomically better, especially weight-wise. Image quality with the 24-70 f/4 S is close to that of the Sigma, of course sharpness a bit lessened thanks to the OLPF in the Z 6II that the D7200 did not have.
Great review! The D850 seems more and more tempting every time I watch or hear something about the Z line.. got to borrow it for 4 hours to photograph snipes, ended up photograph grass instead 😝😝
I'm tempted to buy another D500 to go with my current one because for the type of photography I do, small birds and fast action, the Zs won't meet my needs
@Andy Gustavsson I also have a D7100 and have another lens on that (Sigma 50-500mm) for closer stuff. On my D500 I have my 500mm PF. I'd also like another before they are only available as used and for my type of photography, the Nikon Mirrorless isn't quite there yet.
Nice review...keeping the D850! Your kids certainly have you beat on good looks! Once Nikon perfects the auto focus issues, I may be sold on mirrorless.
Wouldn't you like more customisation and better ergonomics? The buttons on the D850 and D500 that enable you to select various AF areas is a must for the next Z high end cameras
Hi Steve, great videos I watched both the Z6 &7. I am planning to upgrade from D810 and I shoot Landscape and Wildlife mainly. Photography is just my hobby and I am just struggling to decide which I should get the Z6 or &. As like you I have been a Nikon shooter for many years and want to stick with it as I can use my lenses too. Any final thoughts would help me to decide on one. Thanks.
Just not there yet. I’m guessing there are some pissed off Z6 and Z7 owners who are annoyed with the improved Z6 II and Z7 II release so shortly after the release of the original Nikon mirrorless camera offering. Hope 2021 will provide us with an improved Z7 II or new iteration that most of the D850 owners will be comfortable with. Not going to take a bath selling my F Mount and wondering how the adaptor plus a teleconverter plus my 600 will handle and balance with a lighter Z attached. For now I’ll hang onto my DSLR. Thanks for the great review.
I was a Nikon user for over 25 years and my last Nikon I owned was the Z7. I totally agree with your sentiments about the auto focus and it being hit or miss. I recently sold all of my Nikon cameras and lenses and purchased the Canon R5 and have to admit the auto focus is near perfection and could not be happier with my transition to Canon... just saying 😉
I’ve subscribed for your honesty. Refreshingly different from the dynamic duo, the hairdo, or the __guy formerly know as the Nikon guy, and you’re an actual excellent photographer too!
I visit your site often and enjoy what you shoot. I love wildlife photography and use Nikon D850. Did I just hear you say you would get the R5 ? I'll be honest I am kind of on the fence about getting one.
Nice thorough review, thanks! 🙏🏻 Yes I’d love to see another AF mode assignable to the sub-selector button in a firmware update. Also I feel Subject Tracking needs its OWN mode (not just part of Auto-Area). Is the battery door about the same as the original models, or any worse? (pop-opens)
Hey Steve, thank you for keeping it real and always giving us an honest review There so many inaccurate reviews from not real photographers If you had the power to go back in time would you invest in other camera brand?
No, Nikon had been the top dog (in my opinion) for quite a while, I actually felt bad for Canon users for years... So I'm happy to have been shooting Nikon.
Im looking into getting the exact setup you have there with the 500 PF. Is the performance of the 500 the same between the D850 and the 7ii? Nikon obviously promotes the adapter as no loss in quality but im curious of your real world opinion, thanks.
my goodness - you had better stick with Nikon, because if the focus on the new 7ii is not quite up there for you - don't dare try a Fuji. My two X-H1's seem to struggle with many situations (depending on the lens). I just bought the older but very good 16mm 1.4 and the H-1's could not cope with moving subjects. Disappointingly, I had to rush out and buy the X-t3, just so I could use that lens. It's better but still not ground breaking and still behind all the competition I believe.
Steve, me and my D850 were just in the Tetons, and was hoping to run into you. Great place if you have to live far from an ocean. So you say here that you spoke to a Nikon rep and also heard AF may improve with Firmware updates. I hope you are right. I’ve had a 7ii on back order for a couple months. If you honestly heard the Firmware will improve the AF I will stick with my order.
Excellent video! Informative and insightful!! If for landscapes only is there a reason to upgrade to z7ii would z7 suffice?, having just purchased a z6ii for all around shooting?
When the AF hits accurately the images are fantastic! Very fair minded review! The coyote in the snow is a fantastic composition! So was the bunny rabbit!
thanks for the honest review. I feel that focusing system is probably the most important thing on a camera system these days, as all of these sensors are so close together regardless of what something like DXO, etc, might say. You mentioned the a7RIV as the competitor, but what about the a7Riii? Older camera, but still seems like the AF would still be a bit better?
I wasn't particularly impressed with the A7riii AF so I would need to spend more time with it again to make that call but I don't think it would be better.
One thing that Nikon hasn't seemed to do for AF on the Z cameras is a true CSP in some of the AF modes where it would be expected. It's gotten better than it was, but still not exactly like the D500/D850/D5. I also feel like Nikon wanted the Z7 to not be quite be the mirrorless version of the D850. So I expect them to have a mirrorless version of the D850 is a year or two that have a higher MP sensor.
Hi Steve, do you think the FTZ adapter may contribute to some of the issue with AF? Also I heard you say several times throughout the video, that you would pay the extra $900 dollars to get the excellent AF on the Cannon R5, are you thinking of changing to the R5?
Hi Steve, thanks for your review. I honestly understand your frustration. I have a Z6 II which seems to be less inconsistent, even though they still have some glitches to figure out here and there. I would like to get a Z7 II but missing all the bells and whistles of the autofocus that the competition has, plus the occasional autofocus quirks make the decision really tough. Even though it's cheaper than the competition it's still 3.000 $...
I think the Z7 ll is not priced competitively. I have the original, Z7. I think the R5 offers a lot more than the 900 USD price difference. The video features alone would justify the difference, not to mention the focus. I hope Nikon catches up soon..
Thanks for your review and giving feedback to Nikon. I have the Z6II and mostly love it but agree the focus menu could do with some simplification. Having said this I also hope for firmware improvements gained from the extra processor. You failed to mention the Z lenses which I find amazing, but I’m guessing you use mainly excellent F mount telephoto’s which may gain less than wider focal lengths from the Z mount. I hope you stick with the Z mount and continue to help development of a system that will inevitably only get better and better.
Hi Steve, I’m curious if you were shooting the Z7ii with and E mount lens or using an f mount lens and the FTZ adaptor? Does autofocus suffer any with the FTZ?
@Dave Littman according to Matt Granger's review and the UK Nikon store in London from the Technical Director, the AF is approximately half as slow when using an F Mount lens via the FTZ adapter compared to the D850 / D500
It’s been about 3 months since your utube on the Z7ii . I need to buy a new camera for birding and wildlife. My D500:crashed. Sitting on the fence over the D850 or the Z7ii. So just wondering has there been any improvements with the Z over the last tree months. Thanks ken
Sony A1 uk price £7,000 what a price tag think I will stick to my Nikons, just changed back to a Nikon D3 but them that like the Z series enjoy your camera..
Gotta ask. Do you ever worry about Cougars while out on a shoot? I ask because: a) you have some amazing cougar footage, and b) I hike/shoot by myself in my home mountain range (Cascades). Haven't seen a cougar in the wild since I was a kid. But I always wonder if I'm being stalked.
Nice practical review. Hopefully nikon pushes autofocus updates and is able to take advantage of those dual processors. I still like the feel of these bodies over the sony bodies for field use.
Thank you Steve! My take from this excellent review is that apart from fast action photography this camera performs according to expectations and price point, right? It also sounds like you managed to nail most shots using single point AF tracking, right? If that is a fair summary of this camera I wouldn’t hesitate buying it since it then ticks all the boxes in my use-case. I’m still using D810 and have never learned to rely on any fanciers tracking modes than single point AF anyway. That flippn’ card slot door looks annoying though, ha ha. That reminds me of the inbuilt flash flapping open at odd moments on my beloved D810, ha ha! Thank for a great and honest review Steve!
im shooting mostly older lenses such as afs version 2 ..600 f4 and 300 2.8 plus others on my d850 and d5.. i shoot landscapes and wildlife .. really hoping nikon can come up with a flagship mirrorless.. one... have you heard any late breaking imfo on that and also.. is this mirrorless worth upgrading to... i really hate to leave nikon but feel im missing out
A useful review. Thanks. But you have two, or more?, custom buttons for AF on the front of the Z, which the Sonys don't. And btw you don't need AF fine-tuning when the PD sensors are on the focal plane.
The buttons on the front don't allow you to program AF+Area Mode. You can make then an AF-On button but not with a different area mode. And according to Nikon, you might need fine tuning even though the phase detect sensors are on the sensor. Which is why they have that option in the menus.
@@SteveMattheis I thought the customisation was poor on the Zs compared to the D500, D850 and D5 but after what you have just mentioned about not being able to have AF+Area Modes, they sound even more inferior if there's a requirement for shooting fast moving subjects. The AF+Area Modes are a key feature for me when using my D500 because as you'll know, the Area Modes can be changed without taking your eye away from the viewfinder - a missed opportunity is a missed shot in my opinion.
great video. I recently got the Z6 II and sold my d850. the auto focus is unfortunately really not that good for birds in flight. I think there will be an update because of the autofocus. the two processors would otherwise make no sense, as the Z6II is not much better at tracking than the Z6.
Putting two processors in has nothing to do with upgradeability. That's a marketing myth. From an engineering standpoint it's fairly obvious that Nikon lacks the necessary r&d to make mirrorless focusing work at this point, so they throw around buzzwords in the hope that customers latch onto that.
I tested the Olympus E-M1x with the 300mm f4... hell yeah. Thats a Beast! Just overwhelmed of the Bird Tracking function out of the hand. Super lightweight and easy to use... i am just curious of the performance. Normally I am using the z6 with the 500mm 4.0 VR... but I am just blown away of the Olympus... sadly it’s m4/3 but Jesus! Why the other companies can’t do similar stuff with the software? It’s just amazing how the Olympus is Tracking subject specially birds in flight just point and just and focus on the compensation... you should try it 😂
Thanks very much for sharing this Steve. I have the z50 (understand it is a very different beast to the z7II) and have experienced the same autofocus issues that you have described, especially with regards to the dog. If our dog is moving at any speed, the AF can not keep up. I have NO keepers from situations with the dog moving towards me, either with or without the FTZ adapter. Stationary dog (not too distant), the eye AF works ok (not perfect), but then again we have a black dog with brown eyes so perhaps this arrangement is a challenge. I can not see myself transitioning to a Nikon FF mirrorless setup at this time - the AF issues are too frustrating and I would be quite upset if I paid as much as you have for a FF Nikon mirrorless camera and have the same AF issues.
Nice intro and good point, let's just hope firmware updates improve autofocus, think the two professor have some extra juice the software developers can use to improve the autofocus performance
@@SteveMattheis I really like my D850, but would love to make switch to mirrorless but with the autofocus still not 100% and the lack of native big glass still holds me back, would love to see a 600mm z-mount maybe 600mm 5.6 PF? And price to drop a little bit the teleconverters are allready very expensive. Will be exciting year to see what Nikon can do in this market
What about the EVF blackout when shooting action? I am currently using a D850 and thinking of going mirrorless. Is it worth dumping my D850 in favor of this body?
Bone Hunter, it's extremely unlikely that Nikon will go away. Worst case scenario is that Nikon sells their camera business to someone else (maybe Fuji?!) To restructure.
I'm at a bit of a loss here; you say the image quality is "excellent" but no better than the D850 which is also "excellent". What exactly do you want? Either the image quality is "excellent", which to me means 'great/brilliant/outstanding, etc' or it isn't. Confusing to say the least, and yes I do have a Z7 II.
@@SteveMattheis I's just that when you say it's no better than the D850 (given they're both using the same sensor) it suggests, to me at least, that you were expecting the Z7 IIs image quality to be better.
It will be interesting know under which situations canon r5 is better than z7ii or is it all the scenarios? If it is behind how far behind just a ball park
Auto Focus & a Flippy Screen. Might not be heavy into video but, when you need the flippy , you need it. Vested in Nikons lens & need a flippy, = external monitor,=close to or at or above $3900. Just saying.
Wish Nikon could come up with a camera like the R5 with maybe 34mp at a cheaper price point. For the most of us that don't want to spend 10-13,000 dollars. I got the 500pf and really don't want to give it up, but they just can't seem to get it together. Then you have Canon that if you go out on a limb and buy a R5 you can't afford a 500mm prime lens unless you buy old and then you are still at a price point of the 500PF. Frustrating wish I would have stayed with Canon years ago. For wildlife and BIF the autofocus is what counts and Nikon just don't get it..... Sorry about the rant but I am in the market to upgrade my D500 with over 120,000 clicks.
Nikon really needs to throw some money behind the AF development. It is all we hear about how far behind Sony and Canon they are. Hopefully the Z8 will make that happen
Are you a millionaire or are you a Nikon ambassador? I understand that as a professional photographer, you need to have the best equipment, but I have been following you for quite some time now and during this time you have been using the D850, and maybe more of the DSLR´s. And now the Z6, Z7, first generation coming up with the two cameras with /II. For myself it would be more interesting in comparing the mirrorless cameras performance with the D-cameras. Don´t take this as critics. I really enjoy your videos.
I'm fully expecting an AF update in the next couple months. They DRASTICALLY improved the original z6/z7 AF and with the dual processors even more wiggle room now. And when that is the case this camera will be even more of a bargain at this price point. Big IFs of course but the possibility of bankruptcy I would think is good motivation.
Thanks for this fair informative review! No Nikon bashing but the points that are not good are clearly mentioned. Such videos are needed! I think Nikon also benefits from such honest videos because you see where the users have their problems with the camera. I have the Z7ii myself and I love it! In my opinion, there is nothing better for landscape. Said a Nikon fan ...Please keep it up and thanks for the great videos!
Yes thanks for the review...I dont merit this camera..so am security on a fence of somewhat
Think that sums up what every Nikon Z camera user also experiences, nice honest review.
Hi Steve, great, well balanced review. I have been using a D850 for ages and also have a Sony A9 (original version) - I have recently brought a Z7ii and a 70-200mm - what a fabulous combination and superb, super high image quality. I personally find that the Z7ii is quite a bit better then the D850 with its autofocus now I have worked out how to select the right autofocus modes for the subject I am shooting. The areas where it lacks for me are evf blackout and frame rate (as compared with the A9). The difficulty for me is that there isn't really a camera that does it all. Personally, I think that once there is more Z mount glass available and maybe a firmware upgrade or two I am going to use a mixture of the Sony's and Nikon's depending upon the assignment - however.....if Nikon ever produce a replacement for the D850 with a mixture of Sony's speed and evf and Nikons colour science - I will then drop Sony altogether and stick with Nikon. In short the Z7ii has had a lot of bad press, 90% of which I think is actually completely unfounded - yes room for improvement but for the price, build quality and the resulting image quality - I think it is a very good and very useable camera.
The closest thing to a mirrorless D850 right now is the R5 - shame that's made by Canon. Nikon on the other hand marketed the original Z7 as a D850 replacement, which to me is simply false advertisement. I'd love to find a reason to stay with them and keep all my F-mount glass, but I'm not very confident anymore that they'll ever figure out mirrorless focusing. They are two generations behind the competition in that departement.
Good fair and balanced review. I primairly shoot wildlife and have found the d850 and the z6ii to be the perfect combination of bodies. For fast moving subjects and good light I use the d850. For low light, slower subjects, when I need to be utterly silent or when using the LCD rather than the viewfinder gives more flexibility I use the Z6. For me, an upgrade would need to do the job of both these in one body. The Canon R5 or the new Sony A1 would fit the bill but I love Nikon ergonomics and have too many lenses to switch! I'm hoping their next mirrorless gets closer to the A1/R5 specs. Then it may be time to switch
I did not upgrade my Z as the Zii is not enough of an upgrade in autofocus to get the job done but before anybody thinks l hating on Nikon, l am a bit of a Nikon fanboy. It is great for stationary wildlife as you know but anything beyond that will drive you crazy. I do like the menu and ergos but! After using the R6 l find it not only the autofocus but just the ability to customize and the ability to put pretty well everything into "my menu" is for me a god sent. The custom control ring on the RF lenses can be assigned to just about anything as can the custom control ring on the adapter available to adapt EF glass and unlike my Nikon lenses it is not the manual focus ring but a separate actual custom control ring and is beyond handy and the grip is the best l have used, the manual focus guide is awesome, way better than focus peaking which it also has. I honestly feel it makes my Z seem like a camera from 5 years ago. I look forward to Nikons future offerings but for the moment they are not innovative enough though their prices match the performance. I have to use what works and for the moment at least the Z system is not working for me. Will l stay with Nikon? The fact that we are still waiting for a focal length beyond 200mm is disappointing and no l will not spend money on adapted F glass. l will keep my Z lenses and wait see what they bring out but for the moment l am selling up the Z body and moving to Canon, l sure hope l can come back to Nikon but it is up to them to provide the tools needed, longer focal lengths and better autofocus for wildlife.
Cool.
I shoot Nikon D7000 and quite happy with it. But I was saving up to buy D850. And now all the hype about the mirrorless system. Thanks for your honest review.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen so far! Thank you! I've just purchased the Z7ii and will be photographing Dolphins from a boat so this has helped me learn which auto focus to use to maximise chances of sharp focus images. I was torn between that and the R5 and the one reason I chose Nikon is because I am a petite person with very small hands. I saw the R5 and the camera itself is slightly larger but its the lenses that changed my mind. The guy at the camera store said Canon have made the RF lenses bigger and bulkier and that was the decision maker for me because they will be just a little too heavy. I hope it will do well in the field! 🙏🏻 Thanks again!
It's been a while since this post, but I am now considering the Z7ii. What are your thoughts after a year and all the updates? Any regrets?
Let's hope the firmware continues to evolve and address some of there shortcomings. For now I see little reason to part with my D850.
Yep...
Why would you need to anyway? If you have good glass you'd have no reason to change anyway unless weight was an issue.
I haven't used D850 but it seems D850 is still superb for wildlife and bird photography
I switched from D850 to Z7 and haven't regret it for a second. Later I've invested in a Z6 too. Considering a Z6 II soon.
@@kjetilsimonsen7180 Do you use Z7 for bird photography? I am planning to upgrade my D7500.
Excellent "rambling" review Steve. I think you like the Z7II, but you have issues with the auto focus in certain of the modes. Hopefully Nikon will address those issues in upcoming software upgrades. I do not have the ability to just switch camera systems and move to Canon or Sony. I'd take a big financial hit selling my years of Nikon lenses. However, your review gives me hope enough that this camera will be excellent for different subjects, and projects. I am confident I will find a way to make it work well for me. You do an excellent job of listing the pros and cons of the camera. Your honesty and forthright approach is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your production and your hard work in preparing this valuable review of the Nikon Z7II. 🙏 🤩 👍 👏
Thanks for watching👍
Thanks for the honest review Steve, I purchased the z7ii a couple weeks ago and my experience is much the same as yours, but I am more disappointed with birds in flight than you, clouds and trees in the background auto focus falls apart a lot of the time, but when it nails it nikon image quality is the best out there, , for slow moving wildlife and landscapes it is great, all the z cameras are a joy to use, you just have to know there limitations, also for others reading this the ibis is pretty good,
looking forward to more content Steve, stay safe and warm...
Thanks for watching Blake
@@SteveMattheis your very welcome! always enjoy your vids and pics! and bumping into you in Wyoming, glad you bought an awesome shirt in Hawaii lol
Thanks Steve, really enjoy your videos. I’m holding out on my d850 in the meantime.
D850 rocks 🤘
Thx for the great video and as a Nikon user hopefully firmware updates will solve the focus problems. 👍
Steve, a fantastic open and honest review. You mentioned in your review something I've been mentioning in other discussions but hardly anybody has mentioned it - misplacement of the joy pad button so you can have the option of an AF On + AF Area Mode adjacent to the AF On button as on the D5, D500 & D850 (it should be where the Display button is located so surely they could be swapped around). I didn't even know until I read your comment further down that none of the front buttons provide AF+AF Area Modes. I'm a D500 shooter and for my style of shooting, having AF Area Modes available at the press of a button/s all without having to take your eye away from the view finder was a game changer for me after setting up my D500.
Back in October 2020, DP Review posted an article called Best Cameras for Sports and Action. The camera that came out top was the Nikon D5 and in second place was the D500 - yes ahead of the Canon 1DX Mkiii and R5. It wasn't just the AF performance that put them on top, it was also their amazing ergonomics and customisation (and probably price when it came to the D500 as I'm sure the R5 is better than the D500).
Article: www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-cameras-for-sports-and-action
So my question is, why did Nikon move away from a winning formula in supplying awesome customisation and ergonomics when they designed the Z6 / Z7 series? It's as if Nikon were blind to what they had created in the D5, D500 and D850.
I have just finished reading an article on the Canon R5 / R6 in a photography magazine and the author stated that Canon discarded too much of their DSLR design philosophy in search of new features and user interface ideas when they launched their first mirrorless cameras, the EOS R and EOS RP and they didn't do very well. With the R5 / R6, Canon have returned to the tried and trusted DSLR control layout and they're full of buttons and customisations and they are selling really well and users are over the moon with them. I hope Nikon sit up and take note and combine what was successful in their best DSLRs with the future of mirrorless technology.
This is the first video I've seen of yours. I like the rambling! I also appreciate you showing the photos you took in a series...to witness the odd fails and the great wins! I am discouraged Nikon hasn't resolved the auto focus issues totally. I suspect the Z series comparable with D850 will cost more, and deliver the focus. For Nikons' survival, they need to work this out. Thank you for giving an opinion and backing it up...rather than just bashing the company. I shoot mostly landscape but not solely. Tricky auto focus is a buzz kill. Here's rooting for firmware updates that bring it up to snuff. I also love the feel of the cameras and the palate of the Nikon files. Besides, I have all my gear in Nikon, but still reluctant to go beyond the Z50 I purchased til I see where they go with this. Thanks again for this review.
Cool, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review. D500 wildlife shooter here. Was leaning towards the Z7 II over the D850, even though the scuttlebutt was the D850 would be better at wildlife, figuring I could live with it. Now I'm second guessing again. With upcoming firmware updates, don't you think the Z7 II is more "future proof" than the older D850?
I'm not considering (at least not seriously) Sony or Canon, due to can't afford to swap my glass.
Kind of pissed I didn't get the D850 when there was that brief $500 price drop last year.
The last factor is: how does one even go about buying a Z7 II these days? There seems to be a huge supply problem, people waiting months for a unit.
Well maybe by the time they are readily available, there will be a firmware update that fixes the AF! 😜
@@SteveMattheis I guess I'll slow roll the GAS, sigh.
When comparing camera brands, I think for wildlife/sports shooters especially, it is important to compare camera/lense/$$$$ combinations.
Canon R5/600f11/$5k
Sony A9ii/200-600/$6500
Nikon Z7ii/500Pf/$6700
Canon R5/500f4/$16k
Sony A7riv/600f4/$16k
Not sure, but I would think the Canon f11 lenses and the Sony 200-600 would hinder the performance in the tougher fast action or lower light situations and provide lower image quality. Otherwise, you need to jump into a $10k plus lens to get the most out of the camera and best image quality. Nikons 500pf keeps me on board for the time being. Am I wrong with this thinking? What lenses did you use on the R5 and A9ii when you tried them out? I would really love the no blackout, low lag viewfinder, but I am not ready to jump into a $13k lens to maintain top image quality.
Stuff like this is always overlooked in camera reviews. This is way more important than the already way overrated autofocus performance.
The question there is why would you get a Z7 II and not a D850 is you're using F-mount glass. The DSLR does everything better in terms of wildlife shooting anyway. At least with the R5 and a1 the user gets an upgrade over a D850.
Nice review Steve. I like the images you presented, good and not so good to make your points and demonstrate performance.
Questions for you:
1. In your experience with Nikon (and in general) do you believe the AF issue is something that will be addressed by firmware updates in the coming months?
2. Does the Z7ii have more "room to grow" based on firmware updates because of the dual processors than previous models?
3. While the body is a huge part of the experience, how do the Nikon Z-mount lenses compare to other competitors like Cannon, Sony, Fuji?
Thanks again!
Yes. Yes. They are excellent. All of them.
Great, honest review. Thanks again Steve. This is very informative and helpful. Dave in Minnesota
Thanks For informative review. I was wondering if you have tried out the new firmware and if it has changed anything. Looking at updating to the Z7ii. thanks for all the content.
Thanks for your review. I was going to purchase Z7ii as my first big buy but after your review and others' review have steered me away from Nikon Z7ii. I even thought about the Z9, however, with such a big price tag it has problems that Canon does not.
Thanks Steve I have the Z7 from the D850 before that ..70 now and the only feature I really like is 900sec instead of 30 for long exposures and the bigger Buffer .. am too old to have D3S Machine gun performance to my Wild Life is Slow Buffalo herds crossing the Truck Track ..AF on this will be fine Single point
I agree that the longer exposures are a great feature👍
Hello Brother Steve , which camera is better especially for wedding videography and wedding photography between Nikon Z 7ii and Fuji Film XT4 ? Thanks Brother 🙏
Looking to upgrade my D750, this video sealed the deal, I am not ready to move to mirrorless yet, d850 here I come.
D850 rocks 🤘
I got my Nikon Z7ii bundle on last Christmas, excellent images quality...no doubt except the AF system technology is still lagging behind most of the competitors.
Hope Nikon will keep improving it by firmware updates in the future. One last nitpicking is the mode dial 😂 personally I hate "PSAM" style mode dial, really wish they would keep the Nikon D850 style mode dial.
I think if Nikon had taken the best from their successful DSLRs (dials and buttons etc) and put them in a mirrorless body, it would have provided more and a better user experience.
probably the most well balanced and fair review I've seen yet for this camera. Thanks Steve. I'd easily pay the extra for the Canon but being a long time Nikon shooter the real price would be 7 or 8 thousand due to buying all new lenses. I've been a Film and DSLR shooter for 40 years but have been messing with video recently. My D500 has to be the worst video camera that has ever been made... The Z7ii does interest me as a hybrid system where I can, at least for a while, use my existing F mount lenses.
Yep. Yep. Yep.
It's true that the Canon R5 has better autofocus-tracking. But as a Nikon shooter owing 8 lenses, 3 flash units and many filters I just can't change horses all the time the competition brings out a better performing body. I am sure Nikon will improve the autofocus system by the next generation of the Z6 and Z7, maybe we will get a Z7II or a Z8 with 36MP and super autofocus, time will tell! Best regards from Switzerland.
Steve, I'd be interested to hear what you think about the latest firmware and if 1.10 improved AF performance for wildlife use or if that is still something we need to wait on. Also did the Z7ii get a tougher review because you had a few more weeks of shooting with it over the z6ii? it seems like you actually liked the Z6ii a lot for what it is are you just holding the Z7ii to a higher standard (comparing to D850)? Thanks for the review I'd love to see an update on what you think about the firmware upgrade.
Excellent and honest review. Still learning with my Z6 ii. I find it comparable to my D500 with the exception of D500 3D tracking. With the Z you have to work at it but that part of the fun.
It sounds like you haven't fully utilised the functions of the D500 because as Steve mentioned in his review, the customisation and ergonomics are missing on the Z6ii & Z7ii. If you've never used them on the D500 / D850 you won't miss them but if you have, changing to mirrorless will be a big disappointment.
@@Gazzab6 I’ve used various customizations based on you tubers like Steve Perry and Mark Smith using different function buttons for focus modes but the only one I’m missing for wildlife photography is the 3D tracking. Yes the Z6ii could and I’m sure will be improved but my D500 tends to stay in my bag. I won’t though be selling it any time soon but will sell my Panasonic G7.
@Paul Kirk Do you miss not being able to set up the function buttons to AF+AF Area? Based on the videos you mentioned, I've done the same. I have my PV button set up as Group Area AF, the Joy Pad button set as Dynamic Area 25 points and the Function Button (bottom fronts) changes regularly depending on what shooting I'm doing but normally toggles between 3D Tracking and Highlight Weighted Metering. When the front function buttons are used on the Z's as AF On, is it for Single Point Focus only?
@@Gazzab6 it’s simpler on the D500 but that’s probably due to the wider range of options on the Z6 II. I had back button focus set on 3D tracking so could use manual any time, then Function 1 as group af and Function 2 as single point focus which enabled one press to access the area focused I used the most. It’s not possible to do that with F1/2 on the Z so at the moment Function 2 enables me to uses the command dials to change area modes and focus modes with Function 2 to activate the tracking box when I’m in auto area auto mode while I play around with the different modes to find out what works best. Another very good UA-cam is Hudson Henry photography (Approaching the Scene) who has a setup videos for the Z and one for the different focus modes. He has sold his D500 and D850!!
@Paul Kirk Do you mean the PV button and Function 1 button on the D500? The F2 button on the D500 is at the bottom of the row of left hand buttons. Yes I've watched Hudson Henry quite a few times but I'm finding it's mostly You Tubers that are making the switch. When we were able to visit our local RSPB Nature Reserve, nearly everybody I saw were using DSLRs which were Nikon D7200, D500, D850, D5 and the Canon 7D Mk2 which was quite high in numbers.
Great video Steve..... i was going to get this camera tomorrow!!!! Now tell me...should i get the Canon R 5 ????? i find Canon colors too warm for my taste...your thought...G
Great review - thanks Steve. . . still struggling to see anything out there that I would like to part with some cash for to replace my D750 and D500. Don't really need 45 MP. . . mirrorless ain't going to get me better images. Might change my mind with firmware v 3.0 for the Z6 ii or Z 7 ii?
The glass is better though
I really enjoyed your review and you demonstrated the basis for your opinions in the images I'd say the best review on you tube. Your experience echos what a commercial photographer said about the Canon R5 vs 850s he's used for years. He said " it feels like I'm cheating when I use the R5 when it comes to autofocus and action"
So I'm deeply in the Nikon ecosystem and my D5 and D500 work great for my high school sports shooting. I am considering the Z7II to replace my D810 but I don't know why as the 810 makes fantastic images for stills/portraits etc.
I see you've got your FTZ adapter on there - how did the IBIS perform with the long lens? Is it reliable at slower shutter speeds, or do you just habitually snap at fast speeds like on the D850? Asking for a friend ;) Thanks for the video, btw - loved the Bison shots!
Ibis works great.
@@SteveMattheis Thanks! I wasn't sure if it still worked with non-Z lenses - glad to hear it does :)
Great review, Steve! Much better than by those Squarespace advertizers who talk about spec sheets. You actually use these cameras.
Thanks! And if Squarespace reads this, I would sure love a sponsor😬
Nikon is demonstrably good at autofocus so I have no idea why they couldn't get the Z cameras on par (or even better) with their own DSLRs and other mirrorless. I also don't know why they didn't "finish" the autofocus system before release of these cameras. Or maybe the hardware in them just isn't up to the task, but honestly it more looks like a firmware issue. I hope soon they release an update that makes some fundamental changes to it for the better.
I have the Z 6II to which I upgraded from a D7200. I definitely felt like the D7200 focused faster and more snappy for example with the 70-200 2.8 VR II than the Z 6II does. The AF isn't as good in the dark either (although I mostly experienced issues with an f/4 lens), even though they both advertise -3 EV AF. The Z 6II has a low light AF mode that does some sort of mirrorless af magic. It's slow and sluggish but it manages to get sharp focus in incredibly dark conditions.
Overall the camera is amazing. The D7200 had a fixed screen and the tilting screen is great, for me no need for a flipping screen. Full frame is great compared to APS-C. There is just some sort of different type of sharpness that doesn't exist with APS-C.
I was getting fed up with my D7200 and Sigma 18-35mm combo to the point that I didn't want to shoot with them. The Sigma wouldn't focus accurately when using the OVF. I had to use live view to focus and everyone knows how bad Nikon DSLRs live view AF is. Besides how slow it is, I had to hold out the camera in front of me so I couldn't get as good a grip to support the 1.5kg hunk of camera and lens properly, and neither the body or the lens had stabilization so the experience was wholly subpar. Native Nikkor lens with IBIS on the Z 6II is astronomically better, especially weight-wise. Image quality with the 24-70 f/4 S is close to that of the Sigma, of course sharpness a bit lessened thanks to the OLPF in the Z 6II that the D7200 did not have.
Great review!
The D850 seems more and more tempting every time I watch or hear something about the Z line.. got to borrow it for 4 hours to photograph snipes, ended up photograph grass instead 😝😝
D850 is such a great camera👍
I'm tempted to buy another D500 to go with my current one because for the type of photography I do, small birds and fast action, the Zs won't meet my needs
@@Gazzab6why do you need 2 d500? Just curious, I own d500 myself and z6 for the fullframe, low light performance to compliment the d500 😊👍
@Andy Gustavsson I also have a D7100 and have another lens on that (Sigma 50-500mm) for closer stuff. On my D500 I have my 500mm PF. I'd also like another before they are only available as used and for my type of photography, the Nikon Mirrorless isn't quite there yet.
Can't argue with that. Great review!
Nice review...keeping the D850! Your kids certainly have you beat on good looks! Once Nikon perfects the auto focus issues, I may be sold on mirrorless.
You can't go wrong with the D850👍
Wouldn't you like more customisation and better ergonomics? The buttons on the D850 and D500 that enable you to select various AF areas is a must for the next Z high end cameras
Hi Steve, great videos I watched both the Z6 &7. I am planning to upgrade from D810 and I shoot Landscape and Wildlife mainly. Photography is just my hobby and I am just struggling to decide which I should get the Z6 or &. As like you I have been a Nikon shooter for many years and want to stick with it as I can use my lenses too. Any final thoughts would help me to decide on one. Thanks.
Just not there yet. I’m guessing there are some pissed off Z6 and Z7 owners who are annoyed with the improved Z6 II and Z7 II release so shortly after the release of the original Nikon mirrorless camera offering. Hope 2021 will provide us with an improved Z7 II or new iteration that most of the D850 owners will be comfortable with. Not going to take a bath selling my F Mount and wondering how the adaptor plus a teleconverter plus my 600 will handle and balance with a lighter Z attached. For now I’ll hang onto my DSLR. Thanks for the great review.
I was a Nikon user for over 25 years and my last Nikon I owned was the Z7. I totally agree with your sentiments about the auto focus and it being hit or miss. I recently sold all of my Nikon cameras and lenses and purchased the Canon R5 and have to admit the auto focus is near perfection and could not be happier with my transition to Canon... just saying 😉
Yep, there's magic in that R5 af.
The R5 has also incorporated the buttons and customisation of their successful DSLRs - are you listening Nikon?
I’ve subscribed for your honesty. Refreshingly different from the dynamic duo, the hairdo, or the __guy formerly know as the Nikon guy, and you’re an actual excellent photographer too!
Cool thanks for following along👍
Interesting hearing your thoughts. Thanks for being thorough!
Thanks for watching
Hi! Steve.. Excellent review. Very balance reviews. Gives me a good idea of a Nikon 7II camera can do. Nice pictures. Thank you. Stay safe.
I visit your site often and enjoy what you shoot. I love wildlife photography and use Nikon D850. Did I just hear you say you would get the R5 ? I'll be honest I am kind of on the fence about getting one.
Nice thorough review, thanks! 🙏🏻
Yes I’d love to see another AF mode assignable to the sub-selector button in a firmware update. Also I feel Subject Tracking needs its OWN mode (not just part of Auto-Area). Is the battery door about the same as the original models, or any worse? (pop-opens)
Battery door is worse than the original. In my experience...
Hey Steve, thank you for keeping it real and always giving us an honest review
There so many inaccurate reviews from not real photographers
If you had the power to go back in time would you invest in other camera brand?
No, Nikon had been the top dog (in my opinion) for quite a while, I actually felt bad for Canon users for years... So I'm happy to have been shooting Nikon.
Im looking into getting the exact setup you have there with the 500 PF. Is the performance of the 500 the same between the D850 and the 7ii? Nikon obviously promotes the adapter as no loss in quality but im curious of your real world opinion, thanks.
Great as usual Steve. Any difference in the AF between the Z6ii and the Z7ii? Low light performance between the two?
I've found the z6ii to be better at tracking and in low light.
my goodness - you had better stick with Nikon, because if the focus on the new 7ii is not quite up there for you - don't dare try a Fuji. My two X-H1's seem to struggle with many situations (depending on the lens). I just bought the older but very good 16mm 1.4 and the H-1's could not cope with moving subjects. Disappointingly, I had to rush out and buy the X-t3, just so I could use that lens. It's better but still not ground breaking and still behind all the competition I believe.
Steve, me and my D850 were just in the Tetons, and was hoping to run into you. Great place if you have to live far from an ocean.
So you say here that you spoke to a Nikon rep and also heard AF may improve with Firmware updates. I hope you are right. I’ve had a 7ii on back order for a couple months. If you honestly heard the Firmware will improve the AF I will stick with my order.
Nikon also needs to improve the customisation and ergonomics as with the magic 3 (D500, D850, D5) on their future mirrorless cameras.
Excellent video! Informative and insightful!! If for landscapes only is there a reason to upgrade to z7ii would z7 suffice?, having just purchased a z6ii for all around shooting?
For landscape I would stay with the Z7.
Great and honest review!
When the AF hits accurately the images are fantastic! Very fair minded review! The coyote in the snow is a fantastic composition! So was the bunny rabbit!
Thanks Vaughn👍
thanks for the honest review. I feel that focusing system is probably the most important thing on a camera system these days, as all of these sensors are so close together regardless of what something like DXO, etc, might say. You mentioned the a7RIV as the competitor, but what about the a7Riii? Older camera, but still seems like the AF would still be a bit better?
I wasn't particularly impressed with the A7riii AF so I would need to spend more time with it again to make that call but I don't think it would be better.
One thing that Nikon hasn't seemed to do for AF on the Z cameras is a true CSP in some of the AF modes where it would be expected. It's gotten better than it was, but still not exactly like the D500/D850/D5. I also feel like Nikon wanted the Z7 to not be quite be the mirrorless version of the D850. So I expect them to have a mirrorless version of the D850 is a year or two that have a higher MP sensor.
Hi Steve, do you think the FTZ adapter may contribute to some of the issue with AF? Also I heard you say several times throughout the video, that you would pay the extra $900 dollars to get the excellent AF on the Cannon R5, are you thinking of changing to the R5?
I don't know but the ftz sure seems to work great.
That setup looks sweet!
A lot is made of the 7ii not having a fully articulating screen. It doesn't seem to be an issue
in reviews of Sony's A1. I wonder why not ?
Hi Steve, thanks for your review. I honestly understand your frustration. I have a Z6 II which seems to be less inconsistent, even though they still have some glitches to figure out here and there. I would like to get a Z7 II but missing all the bells and whistles of the autofocus that the competition has, plus the occasional autofocus quirks make the decision really tough. Even though it's cheaper than the competition it's still 3.000 $...
Yep...
I think the Z7 ll is not priced competitively. I have the original, Z7. I think the R5 offers a lot more than the 900 USD price difference. The video features alone would justify the difference, not to mention the focus. I hope Nikon catches up soon..
Thanks for your review and giving feedback to Nikon. I have the Z6II and mostly love it but agree the focus menu could do with some simplification. Having said this I also hope for firmware improvements gained from the extra processor.
You failed to mention the Z lenses which I find amazing, but I’m guessing you use mainly excellent F mount telephoto’s which may gain less than wider focal lengths from the Z mount.
I hope you stick with the Z mount and continue to help development of a system that will inevitably only get better and better.
Yes the z lenses are all excellent. One excellent reason to use the z system.
Hi Steve, I’m curious if you were shooting the Z7ii with and E mount lens or using an f mount lens and the FTZ adaptor? Does autofocus suffer any with the FTZ?
@Dave Littman according to Matt Granger's review and the UK Nikon store in London from the Technical Director, the AF is approximately half as slow when using an F Mount lens via the FTZ adapter compared to the D850 / D500
It’s been about 3 months since your utube on the Z7ii . I need to buy a new camera for birding and wildlife. My D500:crashed. Sitting on the fence over the D850 or the Z7ii. So just wondering has there been any improvements with the Z over the last tree months. Thanks ken
Sony A1 uk price £7,000 what a price tag think I will stick to my Nikons, just changed back to a Nikon D3 but them that like the Z series enjoy your camera..
Cool thanks for watching
Gotta ask. Do you ever worry about Cougars while out on a shoot? I ask because: a) you have some amazing cougar footage, and b) I hike/shoot by myself in my home mountain range (Cascades). Haven't seen a cougar in the wild since I was a kid. But I always wonder if I'm being stalked.
Not worried. But I carry bear spray. I'm sure they see us all the time but when they don't want to be seen, they won't be seen.
Nice practical review. Hopefully nikon pushes autofocus updates and is able to take advantage of those dual processors. I still like the feel of these bodies over the sony bodies for field use.
Yep...
Thank you Steve! My take from this excellent review is that apart from fast action photography this camera performs according to expectations and price point, right? It also sounds like you managed to nail most shots using single point AF tracking, right? If that is a fair summary of this camera I wouldn’t hesitate buying it since it then ticks all the boxes in my use-case. I’m still using D810 and have never learned to rely on any fanciers tracking modes than single point AF anyway. That flippn’ card slot door looks annoying though, ha ha. That reminds me of the inbuilt flash flapping open at odd moments on my beloved D810, ha ha! Thank for a great and honest review Steve!
Yes and yes 👍
Has the auto focus system got better since this video was made?
I prefer the open minded reviews, not the fanboyish reviews.
Thank you, Steve!
im shooting mostly older lenses such as afs version 2 ..600 f4 and 300 2.8 plus others on my d850 and d5.. i shoot landscapes and wildlife .. really hoping nikon can come up with a flagship mirrorless.. one... have you heard any late breaking imfo on that and also.. is this mirrorless worth upgrading to... i really hate to leave nikon but feel im missing out
A useful review. Thanks.
But you have two, or more?, custom buttons for AF on the front of the Z, which the Sonys don't.
And btw you don't need AF fine-tuning when the PD sensors are on the focal plane.
The buttons on the front don't allow you to program AF+Area Mode. You can make then an AF-On button but not with a different area mode. And according to Nikon, you might need fine tuning even though the phase detect sensors are on the sensor. Which is why they have that option in the menus.
@@SteveMattheis I thought the customisation was poor on the Zs compared to the D500, D850 and D5 but after what you have just mentioned about not being able to have AF+Area Modes, they sound even more inferior if there's a requirement for shooting fast moving subjects. The AF+Area Modes are a key feature for me when using my D500 because as you'll know, the Area Modes can be changed without taking your eye away from the viewfinder - a missed opportunity is a missed shot in my opinion.
Good review told me what I wanted to know, Cheers Steve.
Thanks for watching
great video. I recently got the Z6 II and sold my d850. the auto focus is unfortunately really not that good for birds in flight. I think there will be an update because of the autofocus. the two processors would otherwise make no sense, as the Z6II is not much better at tracking than the Z6.
Putting two processors in has nothing to do with upgradeability. That's a marketing myth. From an engineering standpoint it's fairly obvious that Nikon lacks the necessary r&d to make mirrorless focusing work at this point, so they throw around buzzwords in the hope that customers latch onto that.
I tested the Olympus E-M1x with the 300mm f4... hell yeah. Thats a Beast! Just overwhelmed of the Bird Tracking function out of the hand. Super lightweight and easy to use... i am just curious of the performance. Normally I am using the z6 with the 500mm 4.0 VR... but I am just blown away of the Olympus... sadly it’s m4/3 but Jesus! Why the other companies can’t do similar stuff with the software? It’s just amazing how the Olympus is Tracking subject specially birds in flight just point and just and focus on the compensation... you should try it 😂
Try the Canon R5. It's significantly better than the E-M1x in virtually every way - and it's full frame.
Thanks very much for sharing this Steve. I have the z50 (understand it is a very different beast to the z7II) and have experienced the same autofocus issues that you have described, especially with regards to the dog. If our dog is moving at any speed, the AF can not keep up. I have NO keepers from situations with the dog moving towards me, either with or without the FTZ adapter. Stationary dog (not too distant), the eye AF works ok (not perfect), but then again we have a black dog with brown eyes so perhaps this arrangement is a challenge. I can not see myself transitioning to a Nikon FF mirrorless setup at this time - the AF issues are too frustrating and I would be quite upset if I paid as much as you have for a FF Nikon mirrorless camera and have the same AF issues.
👍
Get yourself a used D500 ;-) - you won't regret it.
Nice intro and good point, let's just hope firmware updates improve autofocus, think the two professor have some extra juice the software developers can use to improve the autofocus performance
Let's hope...
@@SteveMattheis I really like my D850, but would love to make switch to mirrorless but with the autofocus still not 100% and the lack of native big glass still holds me back, would love to see a 600mm z-mount maybe 600mm 5.6 PF? And price to drop a little bit the teleconverters are allready very expensive. Will be exciting year to see what Nikon can do in this market
Excellent Steve.... but I am particularly interested in knowing the frame rate in different autofocus modes.
It's in the manual you can download
@@SteveMattheis I meant onfield frame rate, not Nikon claimed fps....
Great interesting video, I’ll stick with my 850 for the time being
Can't go wrong with a D850👍
What about the EVF blackout when shooting action? I am currently using a D850 and thinking of going mirrorless. Is it worth dumping my D850 in favor of this body?
You get mirror blackout with a DSLR so why worry about evf blackout? And you can shoot in silent mode and extended high to get no blackout...
Which camera to go with Nikon D850 or Z6ii or Z7ii ?
thoughts on Sony A1? Are you worried about Nikons future? Love your content.
Nikon is going to be fine
@@Mr09260 you have any reasoning behind this? You can only hemorrhage money for so long as a company.
A1 looks amazing and it's a totally different class of camera at $6500. I'd love to use one.
Peter, I agree.
Bone Hunter, it's extremely unlikely that Nikon will go away. Worst case scenario is that Nikon sells their camera business to someone else (maybe Fuji?!) To restructure.
I'm at a bit of a loss here; you say the image quality is "excellent" but no better than the D850 which is also "excellent". What exactly do you want? Either the image quality is "excellent", which to me means 'great/brilliant/outstanding, etc' or it isn't. Confusing to say the least, and yes I do have a Z7 II.
Ummmm, because they both produce excellent image quality. Not sure why that's confusing.
@@SteveMattheis I's just that when you say it's no better than the D850 (given they're both using the same sensor) it suggests, to me at least, that you were expecting the Z7 IIs image quality to be better.
Any updates to your opinion since the more recent firmware updates and such?
Nope.
Agree with previous comment. Nikon needs to get better autofocus.
Yep...
What honesty looks like well said :-)
🙏
That's the best rabbit shot I've seen in a long time....
Ha! Thanks👍
It will be interesting know under which situations canon r5 is better than z7ii or is it all the scenarios? If it is behind how far behind just a ball park
Animal eye tracking. Put them both in single point or human eye tracking and I don't think you'd notice anything different
@@SteveMattheis thanks Steve
The R5 body is also more like their DSLRs, unlike the Z cameras that have less buttons as Steve mentioned in his review.
Auto Focus & a Flippy Screen. Might not be heavy into video but, when you need the flippy , you need it. Vested in Nikons lens & need a flippy, = external monitor,=close to or at or above $3900. Just saying.
I hear you
good day ,Steve like your video stay safe
Is the single point AF with the 500 mm 5.6 PF any slower than on the D850?
No. I’d say quicker. (Not 500PF user but 200-500 is for me so I’d assume the same for PF)
Definitely not any slower
Mostly coincides with my assessment. Hope for firmware updates. Cheers
Thanks for watching 👍
Wish Nikon could come up with a camera like the R5 with maybe 34mp at a cheaper price point. For the most of us that don't want to spend 10-13,000 dollars. I got the 500pf and really don't want to give it up, but they just can't seem to get it together. Then you have Canon that if you go out on a limb and buy a R5 you can't afford a 500mm prime lens unless you buy old and then you are still at a price point of the 500PF. Frustrating wish I would have stayed with Canon years ago. For wildlife and BIF the autofocus is what counts and Nikon just don't get it..... Sorry about the rant but I am in the market to upgrade my D500 with over 120,000 clicks.
Nikon really needs to throw some money behind the AF development. It is all we hear about how far behind Sony and Canon they are. Hopefully the Z8 will make that happen
Yep
Tnx for this
Thanks for watching
More videos with the Tamron 100-400mm :)
Steve, do you ever see yourself moving to Sony?
No plans to but I'm always on the lookout for equipment that works better for me.
@@SteveMattheis I think that the Sony a1 is the one for you
It seems like this camera should have been compared to the Sony 7r3 which is about the same price and the same amount of megapixels.
Only used the 500mm pf to test the birds?
No, I used the 600f4, 300pf, and Tamron 100-400 also. With and without 1.4 teleconverter.
Are you a millionaire or are you a Nikon ambassador? I understand that as a professional photographer, you need to have the best equipment, but I have been following you for quite some time now and during this time you have been using the D850, and maybe more of the DSLR´s. And now the Z6, Z7, first generation coming up with the two cameras with /II. For myself it would be more interesting in comparing the mirrorless cameras performance with the D-cameras. Don´t take this as critics. I really enjoy your videos.
I'm neither.
Steve turned into ObiWan Kenobi with the beard :)
It's a work in progress...
I'm fully expecting an AF update in the next couple months. They DRASTICALLY improved the original z6/z7 AF and with the dual processors even more wiggle room now. And when that is the case this camera will be even more of a bargain at this price point. Big IFs of course but the possibility of bankruptcy I would think is good motivation.
Yep I hope so too