Nikon Z7 Review: A Top-Tier Mirrorless That Gets Nearly Everything Right

Nikon Z7 was purchased by us to allow our expert reviewer to thoroughly evaluate and test it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

In the last ten years, still photography has seen a lot of change. Traditionally dominant DSLR brands like Nikon and Canon have been thrown off their feet and lost some ground to mirrorless cameras. This is paired with an even greater rise in smartphone performance for photography, which creates a challenging environment for innovators.

Nikon took a while before they made their debut in mirrorless photography, but now it is all over. Nikon's Z7 and Z6 are clear options and represent a solid start in the mirrorless photography space.

It is a very well-rounded camera, capable of taking stunning, 45.7-megapixel full-frame photographs. The Z7 has the most amazing color rendering we have ever seen on a mirrorless camera. The native lens systems are just as high quality as the highest-end lenses we have tested.

All that being said, there are still some questions and reservations about this platform's maturity that could scare off some potential buyers. But we will make every effort to present all facts so you can decide.

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Design: Strong, thought-provoking construction

Nikon uses the space-savings afforded mirrorless cameras to create their Z7 design. However, it still feels like a professional camera. Many DSLR photographers complain about the lack of more substance when switching to mirrorless cameras. We believe this will not be an issue for many photographers who get the Z7. This camera is definitely worth its cost, thanks to the solid build quality.

This is partly due to Nikon's slightly larger grip than many mirrorless cameras of its category. It measures 5.9 x 4.0x2.7 inches (HWD), which is certainly less than the Nikon D850 (5.75x4.88x3.11), but it's not too small. Nikon seems to not have cared about size but instead focused on the most important details for their target audience.

Starting from the front of the Z7, you will find two function buttons directly to the left side of the lens mount. These are most easily accessed using your middle or ring finger, if the index finger is near the shutter button. These buttons can be assigned white balance or focus area control by default. However, they are customizable in the menus. A sub-command dial controls shutter speed and aperture, depending on which mode is selected. It can be found at the top right of the grip.

On the top is a dial that controls mode, which includes a lock release, video recording button, power switch and shutter buttons. The control panel screen displays the shutter speed, aperture and photos remaining as well as ISO sensitivity, release modes, and battery indicators. It's not something you'll find on every mirrorless camera, so this is definitely an important feature. It takes some getting used to as there is very little difference in the tactile response between full and half presses.

You will find the playback, trash and display AF-ON buttons on the rear. It measures 3.2 inches in diagonal and pivots from the body. The XQD card slot is located on the rear/side of this device behind a large, spring-loaded door. The body's backside has an ergonomic protrusion which gives your thumb rest and helps you to hold the camera in one hand.

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Installation Process: A Few Extra Steps

The Nikon Z7 is easy to set up. The included external charger can be used to charge your included battery. You also have the option of charging the battery with the USB-C connector and wall charger. You can turn on your camera and follow the prompts for the date, time and setting up the location. Then you are ready to begin shooting.

It is difficult to get started with the Nikon because the Z7 has a unique lens mount, which Nikon only just created specifically for the Z7 line of mirrorless cameras. You will need to choose from a limited but growing range of lenses or an adapter such as FTZ mount adapter. Although it works with all F-mount Nikon lenses (both DX and FX), the adapter adds a lot of bulk. It is probably fine for studio photographers but can be a little annoying for photographers on the other side. A lens mount which has been around since 1959 is not only practical but also sad.

The decision to switch from the popular SD format to XQD could cause some delays. XQD memory is larger, more expensive, faster and can be used for longer periods of time than SD cards. This decision is not something we like for several reasons. First, SD cards are far more democratic. SD cards are available in a variety of speeds, and all budgets. The Nikon Z7 simply doesn't take advantage of current-gen XQD card performance of 440MB/s read/400 MB/s writes.

Sony invented the XQD format to be used in next-generation camcorders. Their high resolution and extended recording times make it possible to use such record capacities. It is worth noting that even RED, a high-end camera maker, cannot match an XQD-card's read/write speed. They designed the MINI-MAG media formats to allow for large 8K files to be recorded at very high frames rates.

There are some advantages of course—like being able to shoot at 4fps (down from the maximum of 9fps) even when the buffer becomes full.

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Quality Photo: An excellent first attempt

We are impressed by the Nikon Z7's exceptional photography. It has some of our favorite colors, regardless of whether it is a mirrorless camera or not. The Nikon NIKKOR Z50mm f/1.8 S was the only available lens at that time. It cost approximately $600 to test the Z7. This lens is the most expensive, with a total of 12 elements and nine blades, but it packs quite a punch. The images taken with the lens were sharp enough to rival more costly equivalents by other manufacturers.

It doesn't skimp on ISO performance or detail capture, and the Z7 is at least as good as the Nikon D850. Although the Z7 is a little slower than its closest rival in ISO and detail, the Sony A7R III by a small margin, most users will still find the Z7's photos more attractive. With the 45.7MP sensor you have a ton of photos.

The Nikon Z7's true strength is its ability to capture color, which makes it one of the most appealing cameras. Nikon is a well-known brand that excels at handling color, as the Z7 proves. Where this becomes particularly evident is when capturing skin tones—an area that is quite frustrating for your camera to come up short.

Although it might appear subtle, capturing a bit too much pink or green in the skin of a subject may seem obvious. However, people can pick up this even when they don't know what to do. Because there isn't a quick way for manufacturers to show buyers how many megapixels they have, color can be one of the most difficult aspects to boast about.

Autofocus performance is one area where we cannot praise the Z7. The Z7 was not able to focus even in ideal conditions. It struggled to find the right settings and maintain focus. Low-light situations were particularly problematic. We observed the camera searching for focus, but it never found it. It meant that the camera had to do a lot more manual focus in situations you don't want it to. This is not a good thing if you are looking for a high-end camera.

Video Quality - Nothing to See Here

4K footage can be captured at 30/25/24 FPS and 1080p at 60/30/25/24 FPS. The camera's in-body record 8-bit color. However, if you use an HDMI cable, it can record 10-bit log. The Z7 has microphone and headphones jacks. Nikon's in-body image stabilizer system provides excellent support when shooting handheld in stationary environments.

What does this all mean? This means Nikon has made significant progress in video performance. A field where the manufacturer was noticeably lacking. We wouldn't put any of these features in the class-leading category though—all of these things should be table stakes for a mirrorless camera manufactured today. Although there aren't many features that can make video-focused buyers switch camera platforms, it does mean that owners who value photography will be able capture amazing footage when the situation calls for.

Nikon's continuous autofocus while video recording is a wonderful surprise. It was actually quite impressive in keeping moving subject in focus when we chose a subject beforehand (by tapping the screen). It's an area where digital cameras excel, which is why it's especially useful for amateur videographers.

Software: Very extensive

Nikon provides a variety of connectivity options that allow you to upload photos and control your camera via a smartphone. SnapBridge is the app you should be familiarizing yourself with when you are on your smartphone. It may not be the best app, but it is one of our favorite apps.

You can adjust the shutter speed, shutter speed and ISO to control remote shooting. The app displays a live preview on your phone's screen. You can tap on the subject or zoom in to adjust focus. The app supports both Bluetooth Low Energy as well as Wi-Fi for photo transfers. You can use Bluetooth to send 2MB copies of photos to the app, or you can use Wi-Fi to transfer up to 25MB.

You can download three different apps to your desktop or laptop. Each app performs different functions but all work well together. Although we are happy with the functionality of the apps, it would be nice to see them all rolled into one app to reduce the hassle. ViewNXi is the first, which can be used to browse, search, and then transfer images to your computer. The next is Nikon Transfer 2. This is also used to transfer images to your computer. ViewNXi allows you to create movies with Movie Editor. You can also adjust white balance or exposure and convert files to other file types.

Picture Control Utility 2 allows you to create customized picture profiles, name them and then save them so that they can be used when taking pictures. This camera, along with many others, comes pre-set with standard picture profiles such as 'Standard,' 'Neutral, or 'Vivid. Many also have additional profiles you can customize. You can go one step further.

Prices: A bit expensive

The Z7 costs $3,000 and is a significant investment in a body camera. We don't think it is unreasonable or unfair to charge for this feature set and the current position of the camera in the landscape photography, but we won't pretend that it's small.

However, we wish there were a few more things at this price. Our top pick is the autofocus performance. This is especially disappointing as Nikon has been the best in autofocus. Although it is not a major problem, this can make the buying process more difficult.

Another reason why the price is a bit high is that this Nikon Z lens ecosystem has just begun and there aren't many options. It would make it easier to buy the platform if there were more advanced native lenses options. You'll have all of your shooting needs covered.

Nikon Z7 Vs. Nikon D850

Nikon D850 owners are likely to be either pleased or disappointed by the Nikon Z7's very comparable performance to their DSLR counterpart. It's not necessarily an upgrade path but it is a pleasant surprise that Nikon has managed to create a mirrorless camera with such solid performance and a comparable quality to an existing very well-established model.

Although the Z7 feels smaller and moderner, it doesn't have as good autofocus performance as D850. It's not an easy decision to make for shoppers.

Specifications

• Produkt Name Z7
• Nikon Product Brand
• UPC Code B07KXC1JYT
• Prices from $3,399.95
• Date of Release September 2018.
• Dimensions of the product: 5.3x4x2.7in
• Limited Warranty of 1 Year
• Compatibility Windows and macOS
• Maximum Photo Resolution: 45.7 MP
• Video Recording Resolution 3840x2160 / 30 fps
• Options for connectivity USB, WiFi and Bluetooth

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