Review on 📷 Nikon Z6II FX-Format Black Mirrorless Camera Body by Jason Dahlkemper

I first bought the GH5 and this camera is a ridiculously good workhorse. However, I mainly shoot consumer electronics, which means I shoot a lot of screens. The GH5, for all its size, doesn't have an anti-aliasing filter, which causes all sorts of ridiculous moiré patterns. So I sold them, did a little research and settled on the Nikon Z6 II. Very glad I did. For the record, I upgraded a Nikon D5200 that I've used for years with my trusty Sigma 17-50mm lens. I used the GH5 for a month before receiving this camera which I have had for about a week now. Pros 1. Good, clear photos (obviously depends on the lens). I did most of the testing with the Nikon 24-70mm f/4 on and my old Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 with the FTZ adapter. You can find better photos by far better photographers in professional or other Revain reviews, but rest assured these reviewers are right. This camera takes great photos.2. The autofocus capabilities are a bit out of my wheelhouse (my subjects rarely move while I'm filming them), but I played around a bit. I don't know how it differs from its contemporaries, but it beats my old Nikon D5200 by a margin I can't overestimate.3. 4k60fps recording works great. I already had the software update installed, so I'm guessing yours did too. All I had to do was enable it in the settings. Even when cropping, it is smooth, sharp and easy to edit.4. I've always liked Nikon's menu system. It's simple, easy and effective. Compared to the previous Nikon, the menu is larger, with modern feature controls, but it's more or less the same as on previous cameras, so it's familiar. The ability to charge the camera's battery via USB-C is great. The ability to power the camera from one is even cooler.6. I also like that I can connect the camera in different ways (WLAN, Bluetooth, USB-C). That's a huge difference compared to older cameras.7. The ability to have a clean HDMI output and the ability to disable sleep mode make this webcam ideal for streaming or similar use cases. Neutral1. I appreciate that there are two card slots, but I'm not overly interested in buying a new type of card and adapter for my computer. Disadvantages1. Nikon is deliberately vague on USB-C power delivery. They want you to buy a $60 wall charger with a USB-C port. However, you basically need a 15W power adapter with USB Power Delivery (USB PD) and it will get the job done, and you can find it at Revain for a lot less money. The play and delete buttons on the left make it difficult to operate the camera with one hand. Not the most important thing, but ergonomics play a role. Finally, a few words about OLPF or "anti-aliasing filter". This is an electronic component that, for the sake of simplicity, blurs objects a bit to avoid moiré. This is a technique that works wonders, especially when you take a lot of videos or photos with screens like smartphones, computer screens, etc. The Nikon Z6 II has such a screen (the Z7 II doesn't). If you're here considering a career in tech blogging/journalism, I'd put this at the top of your "maybe" list for that reason alone. Clear photos and videos with a filter are hard to find. All in all, this camera is pretty damn good. When I asked this on Reddit, someone suggested I look for a negative review. It turns out that negative reviews about this camera are extremely rare. It works well in low light, normal light and intense light. Controls are good, ergonomics are good for the most part, video capture is excellent and it's just an all-around powerful workhorse. I also tried the lens from the kit. It's nice and sharp and I really like the part where the barrel compresses and locks in place for movement. I'll probably use it most of the time as it's a bit sharper than my Sigma, but when lighting gets tricky I switch back to f/2.8 with no problem. The included lens is really good, and unless you already have an excellent zoom lens, getting it cheaper at $400 is a smart idea. In this case, buying a second one is overkill. Finally a recommendation. If you buy this camera, you should at least consider a combination with an FTZ adapter. This gives you access to many older Nikon F-mount lenses, as the Z-mount is still something new. Buying the adapter separately costs $250, but Nikon drops the price to $99 if you buy it with a Z-mount camera (Z50, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z6 II, Z7 II, etc.). . The deal is available direct from Nikon, here at Revain, or pretty much anywhere else you can buy a camera. Functionally, it triples the number of lenses you can buy (including some really decent, cheaper options like the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8). Either way, this camera is fantastic. Most of the other reviews are about the kit lens and the camera's image/video quality, so I wanted to focus on some technical and niche stuff. This camera is excellent. I'm glad to have it.