Nikon Z full frame mirrorless system

Introduction

announced August 2018
thankfully, this system has been designed with a much wider lens mount diameter than the Sony or the Nikon F - 55mm inner diameter and a 16mm flange focal distance which means that theoretically it can accept lens down to f/0.65 (the Nikon F mount could only do AF lenses down to f/1.4, in reality, it is unlikely Nikon will be releasing a f/0.65 lens and if it did it would be very large and very expensive)
optional Nikon FTZ Z-to-F mount lens adapter which costs $US250
- Nikkor F lenses without VR will get 3 axis sensor based IS
- Nikkor F lenses with VR will get 3 axis DUAL IS with the sensor providing the 3rd axis
- Nikon mount Sigma lenses should function EXCEPT some interchangeable lenses shipped out before November 2013 that are not compatible with the latest DSLR cameras will not operate¹⁾
- lenses that do not incorporate an AF drive motor will operate only in manual focus

Comparison

see full frame mirrorless camera systems

Cameras

Nikon Z9
- announced Oct 2021
- 45.7MP Stacked CMOS sensor NO mechanical shutter but sensor shield for changing lenses - electronic shutter read out rated at 1/270th sec minimal rolling shutter (similar to Sony a1 and marginally better than Canon R3)
- dual Synchro VR with certain OIS VR lenses
- burst 20fps RAW, 30fps jpeg (120fps 11mp jpegs)
- excellent auto select AF tracking - animals (dogs/cats/birds), human (eye/face/torso), vehicles (planes, trains, bikes) or traditional Nikon 3D target tracking
- -5EV AF (-7EV in starlight AF mode)
- video:
  - 8K/30p capture and 4K-from-8K, with ProRes 422 HQ option
  - 8K/60p, 12-bit 8K N-Raw and 4K ProRes RAW to be added with firmware
  - 4K 120/60p subsampled; 2hr 4K 30/24p oversampled from 8K
  - 10-bit N-Log and HLG capture
- 3.69M dot OLED EVF with reduced lag and greater brightness but refresh is only 60fps
- new multi-directional dual tilt rear 3.2“ 2.1mdot LCD
- Twin CFexpress Type B card slots
- large pro 700-740 shot EN-EL18d battery and portrait grip built in
- much heavier at 1340g than Canon/Sony equivalents - Canon R3 is 1015g, Sony a1 is 737g!
- $US5500
NikonZ7II
- announced Oct 2020
- 45.7mp
- 5EV IBIS
- 493-point hybrid AF system cover 90% frame and works down to -3 EV
- 10fps burst with 3.3x larger buffer than the Z6
- 30 sec to 1/8000 sec mechanical & electronic shutter
- 3.69M dot EVF, 0.8x magnification
- 3.2”, 2.1M-dot touchscreen
- 4K 60p
- Dual card slots, dual EXPEED 6 Processors, better autofocus with improved eye detection, improved video performance, faster FPS with a larger buffer to go with it, and an improved viewfinder “experience“ but physically identical to their predecessor
- first Nikon cameras to support Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF with video recording
- EN-EL15c rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 410-shot rating
- USB-PD direct camera power
- 134x101x70mm (5.28×3.98×2.76 in.)
- 705 g (1.55 lb / 24.87 oz)
- opt. Nikon MB-N11 grip
- opt. WR-R11a and WR-R11b new wireless transceivers for remote triggering and radio-controlled lighting
- optional 12-bit ProRes RAW upgrade
- $US2995
NikonZ6II
- announced Oct 2020
- 24.5mp
- 5EV IBIS
- 273-point hybrid AF system and works down to -4.5 EV
- 14fps burst with 3.5x larger buffer than the Z6
- 900 sec to 1/8000 sec mechanical & electronic shutter
- 3.69M dot EVF, 0.8x magnification
- 3.2”, 2.1M-dot touchscreen
- 4K 30p (60p coming 2021)
- 1080 120p
- Dual card slots, dual EXPEED 6 Processors, better autofocus with improved eye detection, improved video performance, faster FPS with a larger buffer to go with it, and an improved viewfinder “experience“ but physically identical to their predecessor
- first Nikon cameras to support Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF with video recording
- EN-EL15c rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 410-shot rating
- USB-PD direct camera power
- 134x101x70mm (5.28×3.98×2.76 in.)
- 705 g (1.55 lb / 24.87 oz)
- opt. Nikon MB-N11 grip
- optional 12-bit ProRes RAW upgrade
- $US1995
Nikon Z5
- announced July 2020
- budget version of the Z6 but with:
  - dual-SD memory card slots both UHS-II
  - lower resolution rear panel
  - much reduced burst rate of 4.5fps instead of 12fps
  - but no top LCD panel
- 24mp, 273pt hybrid AF and Eye-Detection AF
- 4.5fps burst
- weathersealed
- Expeed 6 CPU
- 5EV IBIS
- 3.7M-dot EVF 0.8x magnification
- 1.1mdot articulated LCD
- 4K 30p video but with 1.7x crop
- 1080HD 60p
- webcam via USB-C
- Focus Shift Shooting and multiple exposure mode; interval timer; Time-Lapse Movie mode;
- 675g
- USB-C chargeable
- new EN-EL15c battery,
- opt. Nikon MB-N10 battery grip
- $US1399
Nikon Z7
- see also Nikon Z7
- announced Aug 2018
- 45.7-mp full-frame CMOS sensor and no AA filter
- 9fps continuous shooting
- 5EV 5-axis sensor based image stabiliser plus Dual IS capability
- 493 AF points that cover 90% of the viewfinder area
- 3.69 million dots EVF with 0.8x magnification, and a 37-degree diagonal viewing angle and flourine coating to repel dirt
- top LCD status
- 3.2-inch, 2.1-million-dot touchscreen tiltable LCD
- 3 user modes on the PASM dial
- rear switch fro movie vs stills mode
- two front custom buttons
- durable, dust- and drip-resistant builds
- silent, electronic shutter mode
- 20 Creative Picture Control options (with adjustable effect levels from 0 to 100), an intervalometer for shooting time-lapses, and built-in Wi-Fi
- 4K Ultra HD footage. Other video features include 10-bit N-Log HDMI output, Active D-Lighting, electronic vibration reduction, focus peaking, timecode sync support, and 120fps slow-motion recording at 1080 resolution
- compatible with existing Nikon DSLR accessories such as EN-EL15/a/b batteries, WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter, and radio/optical Advanced Wireless Lighting
- 8K timelapse
- USB charging via USB-C port with the new style batteries
- BUT ONLY ONE XQD memory card slot and no Eye AF (coming in firmware)
- ~600g w battery.
- $US3400

Nikon Z6
- see also Nikon Z6
- announced Aug 2018
- 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor with AA filter
- 12fps continuous shooting
- 5EV 5-axis sensor based image stabiliser plus Dual IS capability
- 273-point on-sensor phase-detect autofocus system
- 3.69 million dots EVF with 0.8x magnification, and a 37-degree diagonal viewing angle and flourine coating to repel dirt
- top LCD status
- 3.2-inch, 2.1-million-dot touchscreen tiltable LCD
- 3 user modes on the PASM dial
- rear switch fro movie vs stills mode
- two front custom buttons
- durable, dust- and drip-resistant builds
- silent, electronic shutter mode
- 20 Creative Picture Control options (with adjustable effect levels from 0 to 100), an intervalometer for shooting time-lapses, and built-in Wi-Fi
- 4K Ultra HD footage. Other video features include 10-bit N-Log HDMI output, Active D-Lighting, electronic vibration reduction, focus peaking, timecode sync support, and 120fps slow-motion recording at 1080 resolution
- compatible with existing Nikon DSLR accessories such as EN-EL15/a/b batteries, WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter, and radio/optical Advanced Wireless Lighting
- USB charging via USB-C port with the new style batteries
- BUT ONLY ONE XQD memory card slot and no Eye AF (coming in firmware)
- $US1999

Nikkor S Z mount lenses

see Nikon Z mount lenses
Nikkor S lenses are weathersealed and have Nano coatings, quieter AF drives with stepping motors and reduced focus breathing

¹⁾

https://www.dpreview.com/news/7219656533/sigma-confirms-that-its-current-lenses-are-fully-operational-on-the-nikon-z7-with-ftz-adapter

Table of Contents

Nikon Z full frame mirrorless system

Introduction

Comparison

Cameras

Nikkor S Z mount lenses