Nikon Z7 review: A giant leap towards mirrorless photography

With the Z7 and Z6, the Japanese camera maker dives head-on into the mirrorless fullframe camera market

Mirrorless cameras, also called CSCs or compact system cameras, produce a digital preview of images directly from the image sensor without using a mirror. Nikon made a passive try with mirrorless technology by launching the 1-series, which was compact and affordable, but these didn’t fare well compared to mirrorless cameras with larger sensors selling at a higher price point. The Japanese giant has now made a comeback with two full-frame mirrorless cameras — the Nikon G6 and G7. I tried the flagship G7 and it’s a hit.

The full-frame CMOS sensor in Nikon Z7 is similar to the one in D850. The sensor is upgraded with the latest Expeed 6 processor, coupled with a new backlit 45.7 megapixel (MP) full-frame build, more autofocus points and sensor-shift image stabilisation. It does away with the optical low-pass filter, resulting in sharper images. The 493 phase-detection AF points cover most of the image area and works in tandem with a conventional autofocus system. Nikon scores high in this segment and gives good competition to its closest rival, the Sony Alpha series. Another attraction is the in-camera image stabilisation system (IBIS), which works pretty well.

Nikon Z7 comes with a 3.69 million-dot OLED panel viewfinder coupled with a 2.1-million dot tilt-angle touchscreen monitor. Images can be previewed at an impressive 0.8X magnification. Daylight visibility, as well as colour reproduction of preview images, are more or less accurate.

Like the D850, the Z7 handles low-light imaging competently. Nikon Z7's 4K video recording is offered only in 4K UHD (3840x2160 resolution) with footage captured in 24p, 25p and 30p. I would have been happier with more recording options.

In many aspects, the Nikon Z7 is a worthy alternative to the Sony Alpha series, which has ruled the full-frame mirrorless market for a few years now. While the camera is expensive, at Rs 269,950 (without lenses), its weather-resistant magnesium alloy body, crisp output, wide range of lenses and 200,000-shot shutter-life makes it a compelling option for professionals and enthusiasts alike.