Nikon Z7 II1656 2020

A 45.7MP studio beast with a top-tier EVF, but it weighs a ton and can't handle rain. Buy it for the sensor, not the adventure.

The autofocus surprised us. 493 AF points with Eye AF and Animal AF puts it in the 90th percentile, which means it's keeping up with cameras that cost way more. The EVF is the real star here, 3.7M dots at the 94th percentile. You'll see every eyelash before you press the shutter. Burst shooting at 10fps mechanical is solid but not spectacular, sitting at the 69th percentile. For a 45.7MP sensor, that's respectable. The 5-stop IBIS is a standout too, landing in the 87th percentile. But video is where this thing stumbles, 47th percentile. It shoots 4K and RAW video, sure, but it's clearly not the priority.

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is the obvious rival here. It's lighter, weather sealed, and shoots better video. The Sony a1 II absolutely destroys the Z7 II in burst speed and video, but you'll pay for that privilege. The Fujifilm X-H2S is a different beast entirely, smaller sensor but way faster and more portable. If you're comparing the Z7 II to the R5 Mark II, the Canon wins for all-around use. The Nikon wins if you're pixel-peeping stills in a controlled environment.

At $2,740 USD, this is a tough sell. You're getting a phenomenal stills camera with a killer EVF and solid autofocus, but you're also getting a camera that weighs as much as a small dog and can't handle a light drizzle. If you're a studio photographer who never leaves the building, it's worth every penny. If you want to shoot outdoors, you'll be babying this thing constantly.

The Nikon Z7 II is a weird one. It's a 45.7MP full-frame monster with a viewfinder that's basically top of the charts, but it weighs 4314g and somehow isn't weather sealed. That's like buying a luxury SUV with no roof. The sensor is gorgeous for stills, the autofocus is genuinely strong, and the EVF is one of the best we've tested. But this thing is a studio camera pretending it wants to go outside.

If you're a travel photographer, a wildlife shooter, or anyone who spends time outdoors, skip this. The weight and lack of weather sealing will drive you nuts. Get a Fujifilm X-H2S or an OM System OM-1 Mark II instead. If you need full-frame, the Canon R5 Mark II is the better all-rounder.

The Nikon Z7 II is a fantastic studio camera and a frustrating everything-else camera. If you shoot portraits, products, or landscapes from a tripod, you'll love the detail and the viewfinder. If you want a camera you can throw in a bag and take anywhere, this isn't it. The lack of weather sealing at this price point is genuinely baffling.