Almost exactly two years after the launch of Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless system, it’s time for an update:
The Z6 II and the Z7 II, officially launching on October 14th.
If you want to know precisely when the new models will be announced, you can view a countdown on the Nikon USA website, here.
Unfortunately, Nikon didn’t release any product specifications or extra information to go along with the announcement, other than the title, “The Next Chapter.” But Nikon Rumors has been publishing on Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II specifications for months, which is why we know a lot more about these two cameras than you might expect.
First, as is now clear from the titles, the Z6 II and the Z7 II will offer enhancements on the existing Z6 and Z7 models, Nikon’s first two mirrorless cameras. Both the Z6 and Z7 debuted back in late 2018 to general praise, which means that the Z6 II and the Z7 II, regardless of any major upgrades or innovations, should be formidable cameras.
In fact, it’s looking like Nikon will take a relatively laid-back approach to these successor models.
Nikon Rumors reports that the new cameras will be an “incremental update to the current Z6/Z7 models;” they’ll feature the same sensors as their predecessors (24 MP and 45.7 MP, respectively), the same electronic viewfinder resolution (3.69M-dot), and similar designs.
On the other hand, the Z6 II and the Z7 II should come with plenty of useful upgrades, including:
- Dual card slots
- 4K/60p video capabilities
- Next-level autofocus
- Enhanced continuous shooting capabilities (with a larger buffer and speedier shooting)
Interestingly, Nikon Rumors also claims that the Z6 II will be “the last Nikon camera with a 24 MP sensor.” Assuming this rumor is correct, it begs the question: Where does Nikon plan to go after this? Perhaps we’ll see a shift to 26 MP sensors, 30 MP sensors, or even a drop back to 20 MP sensors, but I have a hard time believing the change will be any more drastic.
After all, there are several reasons that camera manufacturers stick with lower megapixel counts on some of their cameras (despite their ability to manufacturer 50+ megapixel sensors). For instance, a 45 MP camera will struggle to go toe-to-toe with a 24 MP camera in low light, which is why we’re still getting a 12 MP sensor on the Sony a7S III and a 20 MP sensor on the Canon 1D X Mark III.
Like the Nikon Z6 and Z7, you can expect that the Z6 II and Z7 II will cater to professionals and other experienced photographers. So if you’re interested in a top-notch full-frame camera, one with dual card slots and plenty of other great features, then take a look at these new models!
Now over to you:
What do you think of the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II? Were you hoping for more significant upgrades? Or are you looking forward to these new models? Share your thoughts in the comments!
