Nikon Z6 and Z7 - The mirrorless full-frame system
23. August 2018 Much has been speculated, some has been announced by Nikon, now it's official. After nearly 60 years of the Nikon F era, Nikon officially unveiled the new Z System this morning. With it, Photokina 2018 has its first really big news. After the major manufacturers let Sony with the Alpha 7/9 series the last few years, Nikon is now taking the long overdue step. And apparently with bravura. We were allowed to take a look at the two Z cameras in advance and find them very successful. When we tried them out for the first time, they whetted our appetite for more photography. The two variants will be called Nikon Z6 and Z7. Both models are reminiscent of the classic Nikon design, but are much slimmer and fit very well in the hand.
Nikon Z5 + Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/...
The new Z System
The Nikon Z models now do without a mirror and are therefore system cameras. This allows the cameras to be significantly lighter and more compact. Compared to the D850 the Z models, for example, weigh only 585 instead of 915 grams and are about 2.5 cm flatter. The centerpiece is the new bayonet. It has a significantly larger diameter (55 mm instead of 44 mm) and thus enables the construction of completely different lenses. Thus, the previous FX bayonet reached its limits and no lenses with a better speed than f:1.4 could be built, which is now possible. Thus, an f:0.95 lens is already being planned - Nikon's fastest lens ever. The larger bayonet diameter allows more light to enter, and the lenses deliver superior sharpness even to the edges. The flange focal distance has been reduced to 16 mm, which additionally allows for better lens builds.
The two Nikon Z cameras
As already mentioned, there will be a Z6 and a Z7. Both do not differ visually. However, the Z7 offers a 45.7 megapixel full-frame sensor and 493 autofocus points, while the Z6 brings 24.5 megapixels and 273 autofocus points. In return, the Z6 has the advantage of capturing continuous images at twelve frames per second, while the Z7 "only" manages nine. In addition, the ISO range is slightly different with 100-51,200 instead of 64-25,600, which is due to the resolution. Both cameras have a 5-axis image stabilizer integrated with the moving sensor, which stabilizes the shots regardless of the lens. This is another clear advantage over Nikon's full-frame SLR cameras. The movable touch display has a pleasant size of 3.2 inches (8.1 cm). In addition, an electronic viewfinder with a size of 1.27 cm is available with a very clear display (approx. 3.69 million pixels). The image processor is called EXPEED 6 and is said to enable faster image processing. The cameras support 10-bit N-Log for professional color matching. In terms of video performance, they offer 4K video at 30p and again, the 8K time-lapse movies (in-camera via third-party software). However, the Full HD recordings with 120p could become especially interesting. The housing is sealed against dust and moisture. The Z7 should be available as early as September, with the Z6 following a bit later. About the Nikon Z cameras
The Z Lenses
Nikon is launching three Nikkor Z lenses at the start. There will be two fixed focal lengths with a speed of f:1.8 35 mm , and 50 mm. Also available is a 24-70 mm zoom lens, which has a continuous f:4 aperture. According to Nikon, the lenses are even more powerful than faster FX lenses thanks to the larger bayonet diameter. Thus, the f:1.8 lenses arguably outperform the previous f:1.4s. Also in planning is a NIKKOR Z 58 mm f/0.95 S, the fastest Nikon lens ever. The line of new lenses is called S, and it's supposed to underpin the new optical performance as well as the fancy new design.
That's not a lot of lenses so far, but Nikon will be expanding the system gradually. Still, that's not a problem for now, since there's an adapter for the FX lenses is available. About the Nikon Z lenses Click on the photos to go directly to the respective lens:
The FTZ adapter
The new adapter is really successful. It is uncomplicated and amazingly flat. With it, all previous Lenses with Nikon FX mount can be used on the new Z cameras. This means that there is an almost endless range of lenses available. About the adapter
Conclusion
We liked the new models very much and Nikon has managed to bring a real alternative to the Sony full-frame system cameras. They offer top performance, are fast, easy to handle and come with all the important features for professional demands. The new bayonet is definitely the highlight and offers completely new possibilities in terms of camera build and lens optical performance. In our opinion, they will get a firm place in the market and not only inspire loyal Nikon users for the new system. DK/JJ | 08-18
New: Canon EOS R full format - new bayonet, new possibilities
Get a discount voucher!
The Photokina 2018
The most important photokina innovations
