Product shots: Dan Bracaglia

Mastering the Nikon Z6 II / Z7 II is a new book in the NikoniansPress/RockyNook series by Darrell Young ( digitaldarrell ) , providing a wealth of experience-based information and insights for owners of the new Z6 II or Z7 II camera.

It boasts more processing power than its predecessor, but how much does this add to Nikon’s enthusiast all-rounder?

Great all-round performer, Good build and weatherproofing, Rapid 14fps continuous shooting, Large, sharp viewfinder, 4K 60p video coming in future, Impressive low-light autofocus

Only minor updates over predecessor, Lacks full screen articulation

A little over two years ago, Nikon jumped out of the gate with its first Z mirrorless cameras, launching the 24MP Z 6 and 45MP Z 7 side by side. They were well received, delivering strong, albeit not class-leading, performance. Nikon is refreshing the line for 2021, with the Z 6 II ($1,999.95, body only), which we're reviewing here, and the Z 7 II ($2,999.95) leading the way. They offer similar upgrades, including a second memory card slot, snappier overall response, and more capable vertical shooting grips as an add-on option. The upgrades are welcome for event photographers, as well as Nikon SLR owners looking to make the mirrorless jump, but don't offer quite as much to customers without a closet full of Nikkor lenses. The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 or Sony a7 III both bring a bit more for the same price, and remain our Editors' Choice award winners.Body and Handling The Z 6 II looks and feels a lot like its predecessor—there are some changes inside to accommodate an extra memory ca...

The mirrorless Nikon Z 6 II offers small yet tangible updates to its predecessor, but it doesn't match the improvements in autofocus we've seen from competing systems.

24MP full-frame image sensor; 5-axis in-body stabilization; Phase detection autofocus; Up to 14fps continuous drive; Dual memory card slots; Strong 4K video toolkit

Raw video requires paid firmware upgrade; Limited third-party lens support; Full-frame 4K limited to 30fps

Introduction; Sample Photos; Dual Card Slots; Image Quality; Screen Articulation; Interface; Displays; Autofocus; Battery Performance; Video Performance; Who is it for?;

Introduction; Sample Photos; Dual Card Slots; Image Quality; Screen Articulation; Interface; Displays; Autofocus; Battery Performance; Video Performance; Who is it for?;

The Nikon Z6 IIserious will appeal to photo enthusiasts as well as photojournalists, street photographers and wedding photo/videographers. It’s also light enough to appeal to travellers.

Nikon won over a lot of fans with its original Z6. A nicely designed body, a good all-rounder which is well-suited to a variety of subjects, and an affordable price. Nikon sticks closely to that idea for the Z6’s successor, with the Z 6II including a number of welcome upgrades for a refresh that is...

Double card slots, Great value, Great handling

Screen doesn’t articulate, Better tracking focus available elsewhere, Only a light refresh of the original Z6

What's The Best puts the Nikon Z6ii to the test to see if it's worth parting with your hard-earned cash. Keep reading to find out more.

As crowded as the mirrorless market is today, the Nikon Z6 II still holds its own and stands out as one of the best all-around cameras available. It wouldn’t be our first choice for wildlife and action photography, but it’s capable enough that you can still get great wildlife shots with it if you...

Excellent image quality in every respect, particularly at high ISOs, Exceptional Nikon Z lenses and future-proof Z System lens mount, Well-designed button layout and intuitive menu design, High-magnification EVF with no lag or headache-inducing flickering issues, Fast, highly accurate single servo...

Z lens lineup still lacks many telephoto options, AF-C for tracking fast-moving subjects like birds still has room for improvement, LCD is tilt only, not tilt-flip or dual-axis tilt, No sensor shift mode for ultra-high resolution photos, Clutter-free live view display only works if assigned to one...

The Nikon Z 6II is great for sports and wildlife photography. It has an excellent shooting speed that makes it well-suited to capturing fast-moving people or wildlife, though it doesn't have the largest image buffer.

Good autofocus system., Excellent continuous shooting speed., Excellent overall image quality., Well-built and comfortable to use.

Quite heavy., Disappointing face tracking for photos.