Nikon Z7ii: A Wildlife Camera? One Month Ownership Overview

After a year of saving up and grinding through my sales I finally purchased my new Nikon Z7ii camera. This is a huge step for me in the video world of photo and video wildlife.
Through this video you will hear my views of my first month of ownership with this camera with dozens of sample images and clips using it. If I miss anything that you were interested in hearing about, please drop me a line in the comments section.
I did not photo anything in silent shooting for this overview. I did not want to risk rolling shutter for moving subjects such as birds in flight. I have personally shot in silent mode for stationary subjects and it does work great. I would only suggest this if you're trying to be stealthy shooting shore animals and you dont want any noise at all.
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Timestamps:
Photo Section
0:00 Intro
2:38 Arrived At The Lake
3:28 How To Change Focus Types (Programed Function Buttons)
3:45 Ring Neck Ducks In Flight (using AF-C, Wide, Large)
4:19 Auto Area Tracking (Photo, works ok great larger subjects)
5:00 AF-C Dynamic AF (works great for stationary subjects)
5:20 IBIS/VR On Long Lenses
6:00 Camera Hibernation
6:47 Continuous High vs High Plus Muses
8:01 Exterior parts of camera. Likes/Dislikes
12:45 Nikon glass vs Third Party glass
14:17 (Video) Nikon 24-70 f/4 S Line Z mount
15:10 (Video) FTZ’d Nikon 70-200 VRii F mount
15:19 (Video) FTZ’d Sigma 150-600 C F mount (Auto Area - Tracking Mode)
15:30 (Video) FTZ’d Sigma 150-600 C F mount (Manual Focused)
16:02 (Video) FTZ’d Sigma 150-600 C F mount (Auto Area - Tracking Mode)
16:26 (Slow Motion) Flag (Auto Area)
16:52 (Slow Motion) Woodpecker (Wide, Small)
17:35 (Slow Motion) Birds in Flight (Manual Focused, Peaking)
18:07 Buffer Capacity / Speed
19:14 Snapbridge Image Transfers, GPS
21:28 Battery Life (Photo)
21:56 Focus Shift, Macro Shooters Best Friend
24:31 Bonus Photography Shots
30:20 Final Thoughts On The Nikon Z7ii Camera
#NikonZ7ii #Z7ii #z7iislowmotion #Z7iiwildlife #nikonwildlife

[@ajhwhalen]

Love this video. Great content and very informative. I just purchased a Nikon Z7II and am trying to get used to the different auto focus modes compared to my D500 and Nikon 200-500mm F5.6 lens combo. So far so good. I like it. You have a new subscriber.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thank you! Welcome. It's certainly a capable camera when you keep it in Dynamic Area.

[@CJGaP]

Great video thanks for taking the time to make it, I have a d500 and the sigma too, but have been looking at the d850 and z7ii, but after watching your video I'll be getting the z7ii, thank you

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

You're welcome 😀 If you're looking to do video on it, check out my recent video from the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Most of it was shot on a tripod with some hand held.

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

How are you liking the z7 II…??

[@NikCan66]

Very interesting review

[@woodybear8298]

I love the card cover.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Nothing as regal as geese in flight!

[@tomcruz7620]

Great review, very informative, thorough, and nicely put together. On a tangential note, you mentioned the Geneva Swamp... have you considered a putting together a video documenting a visit to that site? I've been there but just watched from the side roads, I wonder what you could find from a boat. Thanks!

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thank you! Surprised people still find this video. Yeah, I'd love to head up there and do a little kayak trip with it. I've gone through a few times with my dad, we've seen muskrat, blue wing teals, mallards, woodies, eagles, whooping cranes ect. I'm hoping to maybe do it early spring. Around mid to late April when the birds are flying in and the weeds aren't yet to thick for the motor.

[@tomcruz7620]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thanks! I am also considering a trip soon to explore the Swamp a bit further. I appreciate the list of potential species to find there. On a different note, I just recently discovered your channel, so I subscribed and started to watch your collection. That's why I came across this older video.

[@Walkinginthewoods]

Nice review. Like you I use the D500 but I also use the Z6. Both great cameras. Am keen to try a larger sensor. Don't know whether to get a Z7 or save and save for a Z9.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

The Z9 would have to hit the ball out of the park within Nikon "expectations" in regards to AF tracking that beats on DSLR 3D tracking to make that 7,000$ price tolerable. And then there is Nikon Rumors saying the Z7ii will get some sort of trickle down firmware update that improves its tracking similar to DSLR 3D tracking. If that occurs, be on the look out for a firmware video on it from myself.

[@usafromad1]

Loved your review of this camera in action. I'm using the same setup as you with only a few differences. If the light is good, I use a 1.4 TC on with the Sigma 150-600C. I mapped the Z7II Function 1 button as a shift key to toggle between FX / DX. I haven't been really impressed with the Tracking feature personally. It will work well without a busy background or large depth of field but that has seldom been the case for shooting wildlife for myself. Maybe with BIF. I'm also using CF Express type B with an aftermarket grip which has worked well for me. Liked and subbed. Thanks for sharing.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Honestly i was debating on putting the FX/DX on one of the front FN buttons, and I think you convinced me to give it a go. Outside of video I haven't really found a use for the tracking feature. What aftermarket grip did you go with? Do you have an IG/Portfolio to check out some of your work? Thanks for the sub and enjoying the video!

[@usafromad1]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective My main camera body is the D850 and I don't find DX image area near as useful as the Z system primarily because the Z system shows the crop utilizing the full EVF where as the D850 just grays out the area. In the end the effect is the same but on the Z system, it's nice to see the full crop. Um, aftermarket grip was MCOplus. It's cheap and some purists won't put it on a body at that price point but it's served me well for what I want. You've seen my insta: tb_imagery 😉 I just didn't realize you had this YT channel even though it has been in your bio all this time. I've just started shooting at state gamelands 284 (black swamp) lately. Cool spot you should check out if you haven't already. Higher count of bird species for this area.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@usafromad1 I'm in the Ellwood area so 284 isn't to far away, very cool. I'll have to get some video up there. I didn't put tb_imagry together with your screen name here, my bad 😂

[@usafromad1]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective yeah I wouldn't expect you to. Love your channel though. Very useful into especially in this video that's a mark above the standard Z7II 1 month reviews. Wish I had seen the Tundras on Moraine. 😧

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@usafromad1 Mark your calendar for last week of Feb to middle of March and keep an eye on Friends of Moraine State Park FB group. When the ice starts breaking up you'll find them arriving. I really appreciate your kind words about my channel, trying to get my hard learned experience to others so they dont make the same mistakes I do and can grow faster as a shooter. As soon as I get my new lav mic I have a few more gear review videos lined up, specifically the Sigma 150-600C.

[@NikCan66]

I used the Z mount z6 and z7 with Z mount lenses 24-70 & 70-200mm f2.8 at international soccer ⚽️games in Europe this week against my 2 D5 and 2 x D6 cameras as a comparison using f mount 24-70 & 70-200mm f2.8 , 120-300mm f2.8 & 400mmf2.8 f mount lenses. I found the tracking on the Z6 & z7 wasn't as good as my D5 and D6 cameras with a buffer on the Z mount was less useful than on my D5 and D6 cameras. Interesting to see what happens with the Z9 as a comparison to see if it's worthwhile moving to Z mount going forwards.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Keep in mind, you're comparing two different classes of cameras as well. I'm definitely looking forward to what z9 can do. Are your Zs first or second Gen? Even with aviation or birds, the z7iis 40-50 frame buffer is plenty and clears fast. I definitely never emptied the D500 buffer.

[@NikCan66]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective used both first and second generation Z6 and Z7 cameras. Z9 as I work in areas and climates from Antarctica, Desserts,Jungles and Humid conditions my Pro DSLRs can handle the harsh conditions. Another equally important is the long battery life of DSLRs compared to mirrorless battery is so short lived utterly unacceptable for my work where I may not have a cess to charge my batteries for a few days. Also the robustness of DSLRs is way ahead of the toy like build of Mirrorless cameras. Z9 from Nikon or the R1 from Canon have to be better than the DSLRs in the areas discussed. I have used Sony A9 and A1 but feel like a toy in comparison in regards build quality and the type A cards are not on a par with the Xqd or CF express cards in speed or robustness.

[@davidcross9394]

the 500Pf works really well, with the 7ii. a very light set up.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

I'm hoping they can create a similar lens for the Z mount at some point. I always wanted the 500pf. Im sold on Nikon F glass working great on FTZ and the third party glass on FTZ is a smidge slower. Still plenty usable though.

[@brucegallagher4904]

I use the 500PF on the Z7, does the job and more. Cheers from Australia.

[@SolamenteVees]

Current D500 bird/nature photog, using Nikon 200-500. Anxious to see the results...

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

It's a sweet combo. You wolnt be disappointed!

[@tectorama]

This is the camera I am looking at probably getting. Like you I am a D500 user at present. I do mostly sports and Wildlife, and I'm wondering that apart from the EVF, what advantage would the Z7ii give me..... I rarely do video.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

I'd consider a D850 if you don't want video but want the 45MP. On the used market it's not that expensive. The z7ii doesn't really have a used market yet. The base iso of 64 would be great in outdoor sports and it has a ton of dynamic range. The z7ii has the most DR of any FF body I believe. The z7ii also gives you eye and face AF for sports. I don't know how well that works though as I haven't had the chance to try it and Nikon doesn't have a native Z 100-400 / 200-600 yet.

[@tectorama]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective I don't think the D850 would be a great advantage over the D500 for me anyway (?) I'm in no particular rush to change cameras yet, but am still leaning towards the Z7ii. The Z8 looks appealing, but I think the cost and file sizes might push me away from that. The FTZ seems to work seamlessly with existing lenses, especially my 200-500. I assume it will work well with Tamron and any other Nikon compatible lenses ?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@tectorama From my experience, third party lenses are slower on FTZ, so you're better off buying Z lenses. There's hardly any real info on the z8 currently. And I wouldn't worry a ton about file sizes. Terabyte+ hard drives are very cheap.

[@tectorama]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective I was thinking more on processing times as far as file sizes were concerned. If I do go down the Z7ii route, the Z mount lenses will come as funds permit :)

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@tectorama yeah at I'm at the same spot with lenses, just gotta save up. But from my experience, the Z files just take longer to import, that's about it. It's fine once in your editor. Hopefully I'll have a card reader to fix the import times

[@fpeachm]

One other thing, about GPS. Phones do GPS even without a cell signal so you shouldn't have to worry about being out of cell coverage area for geotagging your photos. Of course it will drain your cell phone battery faster since it's constantly seeking the non-existent cell signal.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Growing up around the Kinzua Reservoir I'm very hesitant about using phone linked GPS tagging due to draining your phone battery from all day use. It's really not a huge gripe though, just disappointing most cameras now are going that way. No one wants to be stuck in the middle of the Nat Forest with a dead phone.

[@fpeachm]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Bring a power brick or use a "retired" (used) phone. I've done that.

[@wikedwhich1]

Did you have 2 Z6es ..one to shoot and one to video?

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

I only have a single Z7ii. The video portion of me in the kayak was shot on my GoPro Hero 7 Black on a RAM arm mount bolted to the kayak.

[@divijsharma2094]

Thank you so much sir ❤️ love from India 🇮🇳

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

Thank you!

[@kaak4737]

What will happen if You use the contious High + on a slower fps , like 8fps? will the EVF stutter less?? or is this other setting in fps not even possible with the z7ii? 8fps is great... 5 to slow, 20 far to much it will fill the memory card 90% of all the chances unnessesarily...

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

For the z7ii, you can shoot High + at 9fps in 14 bit raw. To get 10 fps (max) you need to drop down to 12 bit raw. Which isn't a huge deal as long as your exposure is accurate. You can program in what speed Continous Low (1-5fps) shoots at under the custom settings (d1 menu) or use the frame rate button (lower right) on the camera body. You cannot program High or High+ fps. When you shoot High+ in 14 bit you'll receive the desired 8/9fps you would prefer. Nikon suggests this works best at single point for AF tracking accuracy. I'm on the fence if I notice any AF speed losses in High+. The bigger issue for me is my Sigma lens just being slow. I have used Auto Area AF with tracking on, in High+ 14 bit, on small song birds and the whole bird is tack sharp as it hops around. Shooting in 12/14 bit (10fps vs 9fps) doesn't personally seem to have an affect on the EVF studder. I am confident they'll get the camera some decent firmware updates to push it a bit further.

[@kaak4737]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Thanks for the info

[@thomastuorto9929]

I seen a vid where the guy records the shutter lag in the EVF. The faster the shutter , the less black out it had. The slower the shutter was , it would show a longer black out period between shots. Personally I would not by any of the Nikon Z models for wildlife photography & I shoot Nikon so it hurts to say so.

[@MannsWoodlandPerspective]

@@thomastuorto9929 I never had a moment yet where I said to myself 'Boy I would have gotten the shot if I had my D500'. If you're missing the shot on either camera it's probably not the gears fault. Hopefully in 2021 I'll get some jets hitting close to Mach 1 and that will be the ultimate test.

[@thomastuorto9929]

@@MannsWoodlandPerspective Are you saying if someone is buying a new camera in todays market, the Nikon auto focus system is on par to the other camera manufactures out there{Canon, Sony). Just saying. I shoot with the D810. If I was going to stay with Nikon, the D500, or 850 would be my first choice & if my pockets were deeper a D6. Just saying. If you don't care about 8k video, the Canon R5 is the best bag for the buck as a High resolution all around camera IMHO. Take this with a grain of salt considering I only have a spec sheet & the reviews to go by & have not experienced using any of the other cameras. D810 does pretty good in good light. Add in a cloudy overcast day in a tree covered scenario for small birds & it can sometimes focus hunt like crazy. I also max out my ISO at 3200. To be able to go higher with a cleaner image would be nice also. Thanks for replying to me.