Rangefinder is a member of the Technical Image Press Association, which has contracted with Image Engineering for detailed lab tests of cameras. Here, we digest the test results for you on the Nikon Z 7II.

Nikon’s refreshed Z-series of full-frame mirrorless cameras has a little something for everyone—from the entry-level Z 50 to the new pro powerhouse, the Z 7II. The follow-up to 2018’s Z 7, the Z 7II isn’t a wholesale reinvention, but does include some notable improvements, such as a second memory card slot and a second image processor. Can it measure up to its well-regarded predecessor?

Nikon Z 7II’s Top Features: EXPEED Image Processors

While you’ll have the same 45 megapixels to play with as you did with the Nikon Z 7, the Z 7II is now powered by a pair of EXPEED image processors. The result? More aggressive autofocusing and improved low-light performance, according to Nikon. With 493 on-sensor phase-detect autofocus points covering 90 percent of the frame and dual image processors, the Z 7II can track eyes and faces even when the autofocusing mode is set to wide area. Low-light focusing has also been upgraded since the Z 7, with the Z 7II capable of focusing in low light down to -3 EV. You’ll enjoy an ISO range of 64 to 25,600 (expandable to 32 and 102,400).

[Read: Five Great Portrait Lenses for Nikon Cameras]

As for video, the camera can capture 4K (UHD) video at 60p with eye-detect autofocusing, plus full HD recording at a motion-slowing 120p. There’s an option to output a 10-bit N-Log and HDR video file when you need to coax more dynamic range and contrast from the camera. Serious filmmakers can have their Z 7II upgraded by Nikon (for a fee) to output a 12-bit ProRes RAW file for even greater flexibility in post processing.

Aside from its pair of card slots (one for CFexpress, one for SD cards), the
Z 7II retains the ergonomics, compact design and menu structure of its predecessor.

Learn more about the Nikon Z 7II’s features here.

[Read: Nikon Z 6II Review: In-Depth Lab Tests]

The Z 7II’s Resolving Power Underperforms the Z 7

According to Image Engineering, the Z 7II is capable of reproducing 99 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum resolution at ISO 64. That’s not quite as good as the Z 7, which resolved 103 percent of its theoretical maximum, or Canon’s EOS R5 (104 percent). The Z 7II fares better when compared to Panasonic’s Lumix S1R (94 percent) and the Sony a7R Mark IV, which could resolve 93 percent of its sensor (although the Sony sensor packs considerably more pixels to resolve).

However, the Z 7II maintains fairly consistent resolution through ISO 800, resolving 94 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum. By the time you reach ISO 6400, the camera is resolving 80 percent of its sensor. That’s a poorer performance than many of the camera’s key rivals. By comparison, Canon’s EOS R5 is resolving 100 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum through ISO 6400. Panasonic’s S1R hits 89 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum by ISO 6400 while the Sony a7R IV was able to resolve 85 percent at ISO 12,800.

Image Engineering found that the Z 7II applies less sharpening to JPEG images than the Z 7. Sharpening is consistent through ISO 6400.

Visual Noise is Top of Class

If you were viewing the Z 7II’s output on a display, you wouldn’t find any visible image noise in JPEGs through ISO 3200. This is considerably better than the Z 7, which was showing observable noise at base ISO in this viewing condition. When viewing Canon EOS R5 image files at 100 percent enlargement, noise is barely visible at ISO 400 or 800, but Image Engineering found it slightly more noticeable at ISOs up to and including ISO 3200.

The Nikon Z 7II’s noise control also fared well against Sony’s a7R IV, which begins to show noise at just ISO 400 when viewed at 100 percent, and registers a “disturbing” level of noise by ISO 3200. The Lumix S1R similarly struggled in the noise department when looking at 100 percent enlargements: Image Engineering reported that noise is “somewhat disruptive” even at ISO 100.

Still Image Dynamic Range & Color Repro: Consistent Through ISO 3200

The Z 7II delivered 10 stops of dynamic range at ISO 64 and was capable of delivering 8.9 stops of dynamic range at ISO 1600. That’s not quite as wide a dynamic range as Canon’s R5, which Image Engineering recorded at 11.7 stops at ISO 100, but it does best both the Sony a7R IV (10.2 stops) and the Panasonic S1R (9.4 stops).

As far as color reproduction goes, the Z 7II performed well, with only six colors deviating strongly from their reference target—four in the blue/purple family and two in the red family. The Nikon lags the EOS R5 (only three strong deviations) and Sony a7R IV (also three strong deviations) but does deliver similar performance as the Panasonic S1R.

Image Engineering found color reproduction consistent through ISO 3200, and noted that automatic white balance was “excellent” at ISO 64.

Video Dynamic Range: Nikon’s Z 7II Delivers the Goods

The Z 7II is capable of resolving 102 percent of its theoretical resolution at ISO 100 and 93 percent at ISO 1600. IE noted that texture reproduction was also very good. Sharpening is moderately applied in video recording and very similar to the sharpening applied by the Z 7.

If you isolated a still frame from the Z 7II’s video, visual noise would not be visible in any of the viewing conditions that Image Engineering tests for. This holds for videos shot at both low and high ISO.

Image Engineering measured 10 stops of dynamic range in video and excellent white balance. That’s excellent dynamic range relative to the camera’s similarly priced competitors; only the Sony a7R IV delivered comparable performance. However, the firm describes the Z 7II’s video color reproduction as merely “decent.”

Nikon Z 7II’s Overall Performance Results and Final Score

The Z 7II starts up a bit faster than the Z7 did, in less than a second. Autofocus in bright light (300lx) takes a fifth of a second. Adding the shutter lag of less than a tenth of a second, the total focus-and-shoot time clocked in at a fifth of a second. Autofocus speed in low light (30x) was measured at a third of a second, and the total shooting time with shutter lag is two-fifths of a second.

With the mechanical shutter, the Z 7II captures 9.8 JPEG frames per second (fps) for a total of 101 images before slowing down. That’s just a shade below the advertised 10 fps and similar to the performance recorded by the Panasonic S1R. In RAW mode, shooting speed drops to 8.8 fps, with the buffer tapping out at 42 frames before the camera slows down. When Image Engineering switched to the electronic shutter, the Z 7II slowed to 7.8 fps for JPEG images and 6.3 fps for RAW images. At this pace, the Z 7II lags behind its zippier competitors, including the Canon EOS R5.

Price: The Z 7II retails for $3,000 (body).

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