Comparison Nikon Z7 II body vs Nikon Z6 II body

The result shown by the camera in the DxOMark ranking.

DxOMark is one of the most popular and respected resources for expert camera testing. According to the test results, the camera receives a certain number of points; The more points, the higher the final score.

— CCD (CCD). Abbreviation for Charge-Coupled Device. In such sensors, information is read from the photosensitive element according to the “line at a time” principle — an electronic signal is output to the image processor in the form of separate lines (there is also a “frame at a time” variant). In general, such matrices have good characteristics, but they are more expensive than CMOS. In addition, they are poorly suited for some specific conditions — for example, shooting with point light sources in the frame — which is why you have to use various additional technologies in the camera, which also affect the cost.

— CMOS (CMOS). The main advantages of CMOS matrices are ease of manufacture, low cost and power consumption, more compact dimensions than those of CCDs, and the ability to transfer a number of functions (focus, exposure metering, etc.) directly to the sensor, thus reducing the dimensions of the camera. In addition, the camera processor can read the entire image from such a matrix at once (rather than line by line, as in CCD); this avoids distortion when shooting fast-moving objects. The main disadvantage of CMOS is the increased possibility of noise, especially at high ISO values.

— CMOS (CMOS) BSI. BSI is an abbreviation for the English phrase "Backside Illumination". This is the name of "inverted" CMOS sensors, the light on which does not penetrate from the side of the photodiodes, but from the back of the matrix (from the side of the subst...rate). With this implementation, the photodiodes receive more light, since it is not blocked by other elements of the image sensor. As a result, back-illuminated sensors boast high light sensitivity, which allows you to create images of better quality with less noise when shooting in low light conditions. BSI CMOS sensors require less light to properly expose a photo. In production, back-illuminated sensors are more expensive than traditional CMOS sensors.

— LiveMOS. A variety of matrices made using the technology of metal oxide semiconductors (MOS, MOS — Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). Compared to CMOS sensors, it has a simplified design, which provides less tendency to overheat and, as a result, a lower noise level. It is well suited for the "live" viewing mode (viewing in real time) of the image from the matrix on the screen or in the camera's viewfinder, which is why it received the word "Live" in the title. They also feature high data transfer rates.

The total number of individual light sensitive dots (pixels) provided in the camera's sensor. Denoted in megapixels - millions of pixels.

The total number of MPs, as a rule, is greater than the number of megapixels from which the frame is directly built (for more details, see "Effective number of MPs"). This is due to the presence of service areas on the matrix. In general, this parameter is more of a reference than practically significant: a larger total number of MPs with the same size and effective resolution means a slightly smaller size of each pixel, and, accordingly, an increased likelihood of noise (especially at high ISO values).

The number of pixels (megapixels) of the matrix directly involved in the construction of the image, in fact — the number of points from which the captured image is built. Some manufacturers, in addition to this parameter, also indicate the total number of MPs, taking into account the service areas of the matrix. However, it is the effective number of MPs that is considered the main indicator — it is this that directly affects the maximum resolution of the resulting image (see “Maximum image size”).

A megapixel is 1 million pixels. Numerous megapixels ensures high resolution of the captured photos, but is not a guarantee of high-quality images — much also depends on the size of the sensor, its light sensitivity (see the relevant glossary items), as well as hardware and software image processing tools used in the camera. Note that for small matrices, high resolution can sometimes be more of an evil than a blessing — such sensors are very prone to the appearance of noise in the image.

The maximum size of photos taken by the camera in normal (non-panoramic) mode. In fact, this paragraph indicates the highest resolution of photography — in pixels vertically and horizontally, for example, 3000x4000. This indicator directly depends on the resolution of the matrix: the number of dots in the image cannot exceed the effective number of megapixels (see above). For example, for the same 3000x4000, the matrix must have an effective resolution of at least 3000*4000 = 12 million dots, that is, 12 MP.

Theoretically, the larger the size of the photo, the more detailed the image, the more small details can be conveyed on it. At the same time, the overall image quality (including the visibility of fine details) depends not only on resolution, but also on a number of other technical and software factors; see "Effective MP number" for more details.

The sensitivity range of a digital camera matrix. In digital photography, light sensitivity is expressed in the same ISO units as in film photography; however, unlike film, the light sensitivity of the sensor in a digital camera can be changed, which gives you more options for adjusting shooting parameters. High maximum light sensitivity is important if you have to use a lens with a low aperture (see Aperture), as well as when shooting dimly lit scenes and fast-moving objects; in the latter case, high ISO allows you to use low shutter speeds, which minimizes image blur. However, note that with an increase in the value of the applied ISO, the level of noise in the resulting images also increases.

The presence of two control dials in the design of the camera.

This design feature makes it easier to control the camera and change settings on the fly: additional operating parameters are transferred to the second disk, and turning it to the desired position is easier and faster than “digging” in the on-screen menu items. This feature is found mainly in semi-professional and professional cameras, which involve frequent use of manual shooting mode.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video captured by the camera in the Ultra HD (4K) standard.

UHD 4K refers to resolutions with a frame size of approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels. Specifically, in cameras for video shooting, resolutions of 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 are most often used. Regarding the frame rate, it is worth noting first of all that a normal (not slow-motion) video is shot at a speed of up to 60 fps, and in this case, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the video will be, the less jerks will be noticeable when moving in the frame. If the frame rate is 100 fps or higher, this usually means that the camera has a slow-motion video mode.

— USB-C. A universal USB interface using a Type C connector. USB ports (of all types) are mainly used for connecting the camera to a computer to transfer captured materials, manage settings, update firmware, etc. Specifically, the Type C connector is comparable in size to the earlier miniUSB and microUSB, but it has a reversible design that allows the plug to be inserted either way. Moreover, USB-C often operates at a USB 10Gbps standard, allowing for connection speeds up to 10 Gbps—a useful feature when transferring large amounts of content.

— HDMI. An all-encompassing digital interface that allows video (including high resolution) and audio (up to multichannel) to be transmitted via a single cable. Having such a port allows the use of the camera as a player: it can be directly connected to a TV, monitor, projector, etc., to view captured materials on a big screen. These transmission capabilities may include not only video playback but also displaying captured photos as a slideshow. HDMI inputs are found in most modern video devices, and connection is usually not problematic.
Currently, several versions of the HDMI interface are available on the market:

• v 1.4. The oldest of the current versions, released in 2009. Nevertheless, it supports 3D video, can work with resolutions up to 4096x2160 at 24 fps, and in Full HD resolution, the frame rate can reach up to 120 fps. Besides the original v.1.4, there are also improved modific...ations — v.1.4a and v.1.4b; they are similar in basic capabilities, with improvements primarily focused on 3D content.
• v 2.0. A significant HDMI update, introduced in 2013. In this version, the maximum frame rate at 4K increased to 60 fps, and new features include support for ultra-wide format 21:9. In the v.2.0a update, HDR support was added to the interface's capabilities; in v.2.0b, this feature was enhanced and expanded.
• v 2.1. Despite the similar naming to v.2.0, this version, released in 2017, was a very significant update. It added support for 8K and even 10K at speeds of up to 120 fps, as well as further expanded capabilities for working with HDR. A dedicated cable—HDMI Ultra High Speed—was released for this version, and all v.2.1 capabilities are only available using cables of this standard, although basic functions can be used with simpler cables.

— Headphone Output. An audio output that allows headphones to be connected to the camera. It is typically represented by a classic 3.5mm mini-jack. Such an output provides the ability to monitor sound in real time during video recording. This is especially important when shooting interviews, video blogs, and other similar projects.

— Microphone Input. A specialized input for connecting an external microphone to the camera. External microphones significantly outperform built-in ones in sound quality. Firstly, they are less sensitive to the camera's "own" sounds—from buttons, control wheels, focus motors, etc. (and if the microphone uses a long cable and is not mounted on the body, these sounds will not be audible at all). Secondly, external microphones themselves have more advanced characteristics. On the other hand, their use is mainly justified for professional video recording; therefore, the presence of a microphone input usually corresponds to advanced video shooting capabilities.