p.3 #3 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Ross Martin wrote:
Damn you Scott! My wife is going to kill me
Don’t do it! I haven’t finished waffling over it yet…
Jan 20, 2026 at 12:02 PM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.3 #4 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
60HzShuffle wrote:
I'm thinking about picking one up as today appears to be the last day of the holiday sale. I don't shoot video (or wildlife currently) and I want a mechanical shutter. I shot a friend's Z8 and the electronic shutter felt weird to me, but I did not spend a lot of time with it either (and it is a bigger camera). Would love the new EVF of the Z6iii but think I would prefer more megapixels and saw references to DR compromises.
Curious as to what the thoughts are on the current line up.
I don't use Nikon, but I don't need the speed, really, imo, and haven't heard of iq issues even on 45mp Z7.
p.3 #5 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
60HzShuffle wrote:
I had a "go big or go home" moment and got the Z8 . Thanks all!
Let us know your impressions after you get it. Mine I received a few days ago keeps worming its way into my heart, I can’t quit holding it and looking at it lol.
p.3 #6 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
zi464 wrote:
Other than wildlife shooting experience I love my Z7II.
The AF experience isn't top-of-the-line by any means but if you spend some time to figure out what works and what doesn't you can come up with some pretty good results. Helps to have slow moving subjects too
NIKON Z 7_2NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens400mmf/5.61/400s125 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 7_2NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens400mmf/5.61/400s450 ISO-2.3 EV
NIKON Z 7_2NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens180mmf/4.81/250s200 ISO-2.0 EV
NIKON Z 7_2NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens85mmf/5.61/250s250 ISO-0.3 EV
NIKON Z 7_2NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens220mmf/6.31/400s160 ISO-0.3 EV
p.3 #7 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
novalaker wrote:
The AF experience isn't top-of-the-line by any means but if you spend some time to figure out what works and what doesn't you can come up with some pretty good results. Helps to have slow moving subjects too
Yes, the AF isn't Z8/Z9 level but it's certainly good enough for many types of wildlife. I used my Z7ii for two weeks in the Galapagos and came away with many keepers.
p.3 #8 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Ripolini wrote:
Great pictures Marcelo & Ross!
Thank you, Ricardo!
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novalaker wrote:
The AF experience isn't top-of-the-line by any means but if you spend some time to figure out what works and what doesn't you can come up with some pretty good results. Helps to have slow moving subjects too
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Wezre wrote:
Yes, the AF isn't Z8/Z9 level but it's certainly good enough for many types of wildlife. I used my Z7ii for two weeks in the Galapagos and came away with many keepers.
Great looking images, @novalaker and @Wezre. I did use my original Z7 for sandhill cranes a few times and while I wouldn’t say my keeper rate was super high I still was able to get some shots I liked of these bigger slower birds.
NIKON Z 7150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3 lens600mmf/9.01/2000s640 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 7150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3 lens600mmf/8.01/2000s640 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 7150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3 lens600mmf/8.01/2000s450 ISO0.0 EV
p.3 #9 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
novalaker wrote:
The AF experience isn't top-of-the-line by any means but if you spend some time to figure out what works and what doesn't you can come up with some pretty good results. Helps to have slow moving subjects too
I was trying to photograph the hummingbirds last two summer.
Yes, I was still able to capture some good moments with the Z7II but I need something better to make the work easier.
For any mid/large size birds, the Z7II is not a problem.
p.3 #10 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
zi464 wrote:
I was trying to photograph the hummingbirds last two summer.
Yes, I was still able to capture some good moments with the Z7II but I need something better to make the work easier.
For any mid/large size birds, the Z7II is not a problem.
I would not try to shoot hummingbirds with the Z7ii. Even the Z8 struggles with them at times if the vegetation around the bird is too dense or similar color to the bird.
p.3 #11 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
I almost always grab my z7ii over my z6ii. I frequently consider trading in my z6ii, but I fear i’d still just grab the z7ii. That would make the second camera a waste of money. I’m not sure i’ll ever get rid of my z7ii. The sensor is fantastic and 45mp is more than I need. I prefer the tilt screen over the flip screen. I wish it tilted like the z8. The AF is good enough for most of what i shoot. When a photo is ruined, it’s typically my fault. Every time i go to sell my z6ii i start wringing my hands, I can’t do it for some reason.
If i could get a z7ii with the z8 screen, an expeed 7 and a little less blackout i think it would squash any desire for something else. I just don’t like the compromise of the z8 and z6iii. I often consider the z6iii, but i still love my z7ii.
Right now my 2nd camera is actually my GR IV. So far I’m ok with the GR IV compromises. Its like a z30 that fits in your jeans. The AF is pretty crappy, but it is good for casual candid and landscape photos without lugging a “real” camera around.
p.3 #13 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
60HzShuffle wrote:
I just got the Z6II refurb to complement the Z8 I just bought. It was $999!
That’s a great complimentary set 😎 That Z6/II (and 7/II) body style is a favorite of many, I personally liked it better than the feel of slightly bigger/heavier Z5II and Z6III.
p.3 #14 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Wezre wrote:
I would not try to shoot hummingbirds with the Z7ii. Even the Z8 struggles with them at times if the vegetation around the bird is too dense or similar color to the bird.
p.3 #15 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
IMO the 45MP sensor will hold up for years to come. I think Nikon made a great move to put it in the D850 as that's one of the reasons that camera is so great.
That being said, IMO the Z7 is a great hiking camera. Pair it with the 24-200 and 14-30 and you have a great combo.
NIKON Z 7NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens15mmf/10.01/4s64 ISO-1.0 EV
NIKON Z 7NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens105mmf/9.01/2000s800 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 7NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens200mmf/9.01/200s64 ISO0.0 EV
p.3 #16 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Harold Carlson wrote:
IMO the 45MP sensor will hold up for years to come. I think Nikon made a great move to put it in the D850 as that's one of the reasons that camera is so great.
That being said, IMO the Z7 is a great hiking camera. Pair it with the 24-200 and 14-30 and you have a great combo.
Beautiful, Harold, I always enjoy seeing your images.
p.3 #17 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
TestPup with the new Z8 and Viltrox 135 1.8 Lab lens with a heavy crop from the other side of my basement, fitting lens for this photo . We are waiting for Ice-Mageddon here in ATL. I think I am getting used to the electronic shutter, but the camera feels good ergonomically and I like this big honking lens. Noticed the weirdness in the wall in the exported jpeg, must be from reducing the image in the LRC export maybe??
NIKON Z 8Viltrox AF 135/1.8 LAB Z lens135mmf/1.81/160s1250 ISO0.0 EV
p.3 #19 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Love mine. Mostly shoot med RAW (~26mp) but go to large when it's something really special.
I also shoot baseball with it (I know, the horror) in apsc mode large RAW (~20mp).
Super versatile. The complaints about the AF are WAY overstated IMO. I rarely miss focus, even with an old 400mm f2.8 f mount lens.
The camera is amazing. The files are gorgeous. I'm not looking to upgrade for at least 3 more years. Probably more.
p.3 #20 · Anyone still shooting the Z7ii? Would you buy one today?
Right now I'm shooting a D850 and a D500. 2 years ago I was shooting a Z50 and a Z5. 1 year ago I was shooting the Z5/Z50 and a D850. I have no qualms with the IQ of the Z cameras/lenses whatsoever. But, a few months ago I traded the Z5/Z50 and Z lenses for a D500 with 16-80 f/2.8-4. Why? 1) OVF vs EVF and the overall shooting experience. I've been shooting SLR/dSLRs since the mid 70's starting with a Minolta SRT 201. I just don't find the mirrorless shooting experience satisfying. But, that is not to say I won't try to go mirrorless again in the future.
This post was meant for another thread. I have never used a z7ii but, given my experience with the Z5, I doubt if I would like it.
