Nikon Z 7 Body (VOA010AE)

The Nikon Z7 is an extremely well-rounded digital camera and suitable for a wide range of photographic and video needs. It packs outstanding image quality and very good 4K video in a lightweight, well-built package with in-body image stabilization. Autofocus is slightly less reliable than the competition and the buffer can be limiting for fast action, but overall, the Z7 is a pleasure to shoot with.

The Nikon Z7 is a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera that jointly launches the Z-system alongside its more affordable, faster but lower resolution sibling, the Z6. The Z7 enters an established and fiercely competitive market, aiming squarely at the Sony Alpha A7r Mark III and essentially matching many of its features as you'd expect: the Z7 gives you a 45 Megapixel sensor with 493 embedded phase-detect AF points, built-in stabilisation, a large high resolution electronic viewfinder, 4k video at 30p, 1080p video at 120p, a tilting touchscreen, 9fps burst shooting and Wifi with Bluetooth. It's an impressive specification to launch with, but one that Sony essentially has offered for the best part of a year. The Z7 fights back with a potentially faster XQD slot (albeit unforgiveably lacking twin slots), interval timer and timelapse video features, broader AF coverage, has arguably slightly better sealing, ergonomics, and menus, and the potential of the wider diameter lens mount (although the first lens to really exploit it won't arrive until 2019). But there's no 4k above 30p, no backlit buttons, no twin card slots, no pixel shift composite modes, and only three lenses at launch, although an adapter does allow you to mount F-mount lenses. I'd say the Nikon faithful will be happy as they essentially now have a Nikon version of the A7r III with decent F-mount compatibility and the potential for some exciting lenses in the future. But for anyone building a new system from scratch, the Sony A7r III remains a very compelling alternative at a slightly lower price.