All the hallmarks of a Nikon DSLR are present; a power button located around the shutter release, a square prism protruding from the top plate, a mode dial on the top left of the camera, and let's not forget the distinctive red flash around the grip. As a result, the Z6 II should feel familiar to Nikon users, while for users of other brands the button layout is typical of the current camera.
Without wasting time and words describing the details in detail, there are a few small features worth noting. First, is the top LCD display. In my opinion, this is such a key feature of enthusiasts and professional DSLRs that it's great that Nikon has carried it over to the Z6 and Z7 series, as it helps differentiate these cameras from the Z5 and APS-C Z50, which sit below it. on the Nikon rankings.
However, despite my delight at being able to use this top display, I don't actually remember looking at it, such is the advantage of having all the information on the back screen and in the viewfinder. anyway.
We also have both the familiar directional control pad and a small joystick. Both provide quick ways to scroll through the menus and make it easy to move the AF point. However, I found that the fastest way to move the AF point is to use the touch screen.
Finally a grip. As someone who has owned a Nikon F50, F80, D70,, and D300, you get used to the type of camera grip and, at least for me, it's something that Nikon always gets right. The Z6 II is no exception, with a large, high-profile, rubberized grip that will make any Nikon DSLR user feel right at home.
Another welcome carryover from the company's high-end DSLRs is two function buttons on the front of the camera that are easy to press when you hold the camera to your eye.
All ports on the side of the camera are hidden behind rubberized covers. They are not collapsible, but self-supporting. With a firm push, the rubber cover snaps comfortably back into place, ensuring the camera is weatherproof. Combined with a solid magnesium alloy body, this should give photographers the confidence they need to shoot with the camera regardless of the conditions.
Operationally, there is little to write home about. The well-managed menu system is the latest version of what Nikon's digital SLRs have seen for years. Everything is logically laid out, with clear labels and few attempts at color coding, making it easy to find what you need. Combine that with a customizable My Menu, a top LCD display and a quick menu that can be displayed while shooting, and you have all the tools you need to quickly change settings.
I found the large 3.2in 2.1m dot tilting touchscreen to be very sharp and bright, with menus and text looking particularly crisp. Some users will surely be pleased by the absence of full articulation, the most common being "we don't want to take pictures or videos" and "having the screen tilted to the side is not as natural as having it in the middle". common refrains.
With off-center placement, they have a point; a centrally located flip-up screen like the one on the Z6 II makes editing a composition a more natural experience. However, in 2020 and with an increasingly younger audience, there are many people who want to document their travels and experiences, and a fully articulated screen could have been a key selling point over the existing Z6. Nikon may have missed a trick here, especially with a camera that has some interesting video capabilities.
More purist photographers will be pleased that the electronic viewfinder has a decent 0.8x magnification and 3.69m dot resolution, surpassing the Sony A7 III and equaling the Canon EOS R6. As with the rear screen, I found the EVF to be bright and clear and had no problem with any lag or capturing what I wanted. That said, it clearly fell short of the finesse of today's top-of-the-line EVF, with nearly twice the numerical resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate.
DOWNLOAD ALL WITHOUT EDITING RAW CLIPS
( COPYRIGHTS FREE)
