Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsNice incremental upgrade to the Z7-1 at an attractive lower initial base price...
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021
Been a Z-7 owner since first release. Also own Canon 5DS-R, 5DMKII.
Generally Why Z7-line?
- A+ still image quality (I shoot RAW and edit in Photoshop)
- A+ ergonomics & best menus in business (not perfect, but pretty great)
- Assignable buttons = fantastic
- View finder and rear screen are A+
- Silent/stealth operation is perfect.
- Z lenses and N-Z adapter = phenomenal optics. Currently using all favorite Z, G, Zeiss, Sony E, Canon EOS, SIRUI anamorphic lenses no problem. Cannon lenses via slightly temperamental/flawed Techart EF>Z adapter (will not work in pure MF mode!).
Why to upgrade to Z7-II?
- Faster in-camera computing (2nd processor), generally snappier operation, faster, more accurate auto focus.
- Better video (up to 4k 60p 10 bit in cam)
- Slightly longer lasting batteries (but will NOT work with Z7-1 batteries), even though the new batts will charge in the old charger.
- 2 card slots - but not 2 slots of the same kind...a slightly annoying, but also interesting pair of XQD/CFEx & SD. So if using CFEx, second card will always be much slower...This design choice was a compromise...give new shooters option to run faster CFEx cards for high end video and raw bursts, retain XQD compatibility, provide SD option as primary or backup because it's smaller and fits. Future will be two CFEx/XQD slots or two of some new smaller version of the CFEx.
Negatives:
- Still no Z pancake 24mm 1.4 that would make this the ultimate "beyond film Leica M" stealth travel cam. BTW: the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Ultra-Compact is fantastic at 16mm...and no-brainer inexpensive...but only DX rez. If you need stealth, that is the way to get it currently. Just carry the Z 24mm 1.8 in your pocket/pack for high rez full frame shots.
- Wish all Z lenses had an assignable ring controller (like the kit 24-70) that can be mapped to F stop. F-stop control should ALWAYS be on the lens, PERIOD!!!
- Why are all the native Z lenses about the same length as the G's + FTZ adapter? Seems like there are actually ZERO native Z lenses yet. They should be 1" shorter.
