Nikon Z7

Mirrorless cameras

The mirrorless camera arena is relatively new, with Sony leading the pack and Canon following behind closely; Nikon has also entered this segment. This new technology has all the features of the DSLR packed into it with an edge over them, an edge of speed. The fact that it does not have moving parts means it can shoot a lot faster in comparison. With lesser internal wear and tear. The Nikon Z7 was launched alongside the Nikon Z6. Both have a new lens mount and are a full-frame format, something a lot of photographers wanted.

The Nikon Z7

Built with a 45.7MP (effective) pixel count, similar to the D850 DSLR. Both their sensors have a back-illuminated (BSI) design to have better light capture, along with a no anti-aliasing filter for better details. The Nikon Z7's sensor is a little different, it has 493 phase-detect AF pixels to help with focusing. Images shot with this camera have a maximum resolution of 8256x5504 pixels and the file size can be anywhere from 17 to 31MB. The difference in file size depends on what one is shooting and the settings. The Z7 has the ability to capture 14-bit RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed formats; one can have images in TIFFs straight away too. The body itself is built making use of a magnesium alloy in its top, front and back covers. It doesn't feel as sturdy as their top range DSLRs but is solid enough for rigorous use. The viewfinder on the Z7 is a 3.69 million dot OLED panel. 

Autofocus and vibration reduction

Nikon Z7's autofocus system can be switched between single focus and continuous focus options. During video shooting one can choose the full-time autofocus. The system makes use of both phase and contrast detection methods. In low light conditions, it deploys green autofocus assist light. The Z7 has an option for predictive focus tracking as well, one can make use of the touchscreen and specify where they want the Z7 to keep focus. The yellow square then stays with the subject, a function that it performs well. 

The Vibration Reduction (VR) feature is something new, native to mirrorless cameras. The ability to reduce shakes and blurs are a part of the camera body instead of it being built into the lenses. This also means that older lenses without stabilisation will benefit from VR. 

Video recording

Offering 4K UHD at 3840x2160 pixels. Nikon claims the video is recorded at 5K and ten downsamples, making for more crisp imagery. Mirrorless cameras perform better when it comes to video in comparison to DSLRs, especially with the advanced focusing systems. One can hook up a mic and headphones for audio monitoring while they shoot.

Burst shooting and other features

If the camera is set to the heavier file formats such as 14-bit RAW it can shoot only 8 frames in a second. The 12-bit RAW it can shoot 9 frames in a second. With the Z7, Nikon has debuted its own log-shooting function, called N-Log. This feature is helped along with zebra patterning, focus peaking and timecode. 

The storage is a single XQD card slot, which is somewhat odd as the most common has been an SD card. Nikon has stated that this card has advantages over SD cards, with plans to introduce CFExpress successor. That will enable the Z systems to handle the heavier video recording formats ahead of 4K. The Nikon Z7 also incorporates WiFi and Bluetooth. One can use SnapBridge to transfer files, with a low energy Bluetooth that sends low-resolution images or the standard Bluetooth for full-resolution images and videos. Also, remote operation is possible through a smart device.

The Nikon Z7's battery is slated for 330 frames, this is significantly lower than rival mirrorless cameras. There is a plus on the Z7 that the battery can be charged through the camera's built-in USB-C port.

Comments

Generally, mirrorless cameras take a little bit more time to start up than DSLRs so this is somewhat of a disadvantage. Nikon has stated that their modern NIKKOR lenses will be able to work with the Z system's autofocus and auto-exposure. The Nikon Z7 is a high-end device, with a price point that is just as high.