• APS-C 337.5mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • 35mm 858.0mm2
  • 24.5 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Canon 7D Mark II advantages over Nikon Z6

  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.5 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 670 vs 380 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    103 vs 47 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Nikon Z6 advantages over Canon 7D Mark II

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.94 vs 4.11 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    25.3 vs 22.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,299 vs 1,082 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.3 vs 11.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Newer
    5 years vs 9 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    2100k vs 1040k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.80x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.5 vs 20.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    12.0 fps vs 9.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    12.0 fps vs 9.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 51200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Both provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 7D Mark II

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon Z6

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality; High ISO performance improved over predecessor; Excellent burst speeds (up to 10fps); Significantly improved buffer depths; 65-pt AF system; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Can focus down to f/8 (great for teleconverters); 1080/60p video; Headphone and mic jacks; Rugged build quality.

  • Autofocus speed (AF shutter lag) slower than 7D and 70D; Mediocre battery life for a pro DSLR; Dynamic range at low to moderate ISOs not as good as competitors; Phase-detect AF did not perform as well as expected in our low-light AF tests; No built-in Wi-Fi; No autofocus for 1080/60p video.

  • Great image quality; Terrific high ISO performance; Fast AF speeds; Eye AF; Swift 12fps burst shooting; In-body image stabilization; High-quality 4K video; Robust build quality; Familiar Nikon design.

  • Single XQD card slot; Default high ISO NR a bit strong; No 4K 60p; 1/200s x-sync speed; Limited native lens selection (at this time).

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 7D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
Nikon Z6
Canon 7D
  • $1797
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 6D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon Z6
Canon 6D
  • $1797
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Canon 70D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 70D
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon Z6
Canon 70D
  • $1797
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II
Sony A77 II
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon Z6
Sony A77 II
  • $1797
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon D7200

Canon 7D Mark II
Nikon D7200
  • $1647
  • APS-C
  • Built-in GPS
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Nikon Z6
Nikon D7200
  • $1797
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1043
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
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