Nikon Z6 vs. Z7

The Z6 is 99% the same as the Z7, but runs 33% faster for 41% less money.

Z9   Z8   Z7 II   Z6 II   Zf   Z7   Z6   Z5   Z fc   Z50   Z30

Z System   Z Lenses   All Nikon Lenses   Flash

April 2019   Nikon   Mirrorless   Mirrorless Lenses   All Nikon Lenses   Flash   All Reviews

Nikon vs Canon vs Sony Full Frame Mirrorless Compared.

 

The Nikon Z6 and Z7 are the same camera, except for excessive resolution in the Z7 (you can't see it due to Pixel Dumping) and more speed (both ISO and frames per second) in the Z6. Other than that, the only two differences are that the Z7 offers a 4:5 crop option in addition to the 1:1 and 16:9 crops in both, and that the Z7 includes a redundant EH-7P Charging AC Adapter.

The real difference is that the Z6 only costs $1,997 and the Z7 costs $3,397 for otherwise the same camera.

Hint: This page will expand to fit any size browser window to make the resolution comparison more obvious.

 

Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7

 
ISO

100 ~ 51,200

Expands to 50 ~ 204,800

64 ~ 25,600.

Expands to 32 ~ 102,400

ISO in Silent mode

50 ~ 51,200

32 ~ 25,600.

FPS, locked exposure 12 FPS 9 FPS
FPS with tracking exposure 5.5 FPS same
1:1 and 16:9 crops yes same
4:5 crop? no Yes
AF areas 273 (more than enough for anything) 493
Horizontal Resolution 6,048 pixels 8,256 pixels (37% more)
Vertical Resolution 4,024 pixels 5,504 pixels (37% more)
Resolution, horizontal × vertical 24 MP (more than enough for anything) 45 MP
Complete Sample Picture (click either for full-resolution*)

Nikon Z6 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

Nikon Z7 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

14.5%-width crop** from about 30 × 40" print (click either for full-resolution*)

Nikon Z6 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

Nikon Z7 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

7.3%-width crop*** from about 60 × 80" print (click either for full-resolution*)

Nikon Z6 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

Nikon Z7 Sample Image

bigger or full-resolution file.

Shots per charge Not specified Expect fewer because twice as many pixels per shot require more processing power
Included chargers Just a USB-C cord to charge in-camera from any regular USB socket. EH-7P Charging AC Adapter, MH-25A external Battery Charger and a USB-C cord: three ways to charge.
Size, weight, AF modes, battery, controls, LCD, video formats, buttons and all other features same same
Announced 23 August 2018 same
Available since Late November 2018 27 September 2018
Price, 8/2018 $1,997 $3,397
Price, 3/2019 $1,997 $3,397

* The 24MP Nikon Z6 image was resized to the same 45MP size of the Z7 to allow an even comparison when cropped. In other words, I simply resized the Z6 JPG to 8,256 × 5,493 pixels in Photoshop and compared that the the image straight out of the Z7 to see if there's any visible difference for my $1,400.

** These 1,200 × 900 pixel crops will vary in size to fit your browser window. If they are about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a big 13 × 21″ (35 × 53 cm) at this same high magnification. If they are about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a jumbo 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification. If they are about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a huge 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!

*** These 600 × 450 pixel crops will vary in size to fit your browser window. If they are about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a jumbo 27½ × 41¼″ (2½ x 3½ feet or 70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification. If they are about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a huge 55 × 82½″ (5 x 7 feet or 1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same high magnification. If they are about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at a mammoth 110 × 165″ (9 × 14 feet or 2.8 × 4.2 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!

 

Given an infinite amount of someone else's free money I'd get the Z7 as I actually use the Z7's 4:3 crop that's absent in the Z6; but for $1,400 I certainly don't see any more than $1.40 worth of resolution difference.

On a practical note, the Z6 has a higher default ISO which leads to sharper pictures from shorter shutter speeds and/or more depth-of-field and it's faster. 24MP is more than enough for anything. The Z7 has more specified pixels, but seeing how there is no electronic display available with more than 15MP, there is no way to show more than 15MP resolution unless you're actually printing on paper more than 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide. When was the last time you made a real print even four feet (1 meter) wide? 45 MP is simply wasted; the number is for marketing purposes to up the price on the Z7.

Please help KenRockwell.com

This junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

 

Help Me Help You

I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.

The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.

If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.

If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!

If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.

As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

 

 

07, 09 April 2019, 16 March 2019, 23-27 August 2018