Nikon Z7 Field Test

Nikon is at a crossroads. Hot off the heels of their centennial celebration, the Japanese camera giant has been facing increasing pressure from not only its competition in the photo industry, but also from their own customers, to produce a full-frame mirrorless camera system. DSLR cameras have long reigned supreme in every market segment, from beginner and enthusiast photographers all the way up to full-time professionals. However, in recent years, more and more photographers have opted for mirrorless cameras as the technology has improved and the more compact cameras have become more capable, efficient and full-featured. DSLR sales have, relatively speaking, weakened. People are certainly still buying DSLR cameras, but Nikon can no longer ignore high-end mirrorless cameras because they're certainly the future of photography.

Enter the Nikon Z7. Nikon has pulled out all the stops with this camera. It features a 45.7-megapixel sensor, like the excellent Nikon D850 DSLR camera, nearly 500 phase-detect autofocus points, fast continuous shooting, 4K/30p video recording and much more. In nearly every measure, it's a professional-grade camera. Let's look at how the Nikon Z7 performs in the field and see if Nikon has started its new full-frame camera system off on the right foot.

Recap of Field Test Part I
In my first Nikon Z7 Field Test, I evaluated the camera's design and handling, JPEG image quality and discussed autofocus and performance. In this Field Test, I will be looking closer at the camera's features, discuss video quality and look closer at the Z7's raw files before giving my last word on the Nikon Z7.

Image stabilization
The Nikon Z7 features 5-axis in-body image stabilization. Nikon states that the system delivers up to 5 stops of vibration reduction. Nothing about my experience contradicts Nikon's claims. In my own use, the system seemed capable of not only delivering sharper handheld images, but also -- and perhaps even more importantly -- it did an excellent job of stabilizing the live view image in the viewfinder and on the display. Overall, the IBIS system works well and is an excellent inclusion.