Nikon Z; A Transformation in the Renowned Camera Manufacturing Company

While Sony has managed to secure the title of the best-selling manufacturer of full-frame mirrorless cameras in the world with its four cameras, Nikon has begun its commercial battle against this company with the introduction of the Z series. Mirrorless cameras are smaller and lighter, and due to the absence of a mirror, they allow for easier use of many old lenses. Additionally, these cameras can utilize either mechanical or electronic shutters. The use of an electronic shutter allows photographers to shoot discreetly when needed, a feature not available in mirror cameras. These factors have led to a growing popularity of this class among both professional and amateur photographers in recent years. Some experts believe that the future of photography belongs to mirrorless cameras, and companies that do not move in this direction are doomed to failure, similar to companies that remained loyal to film. Nikon and Canon, however, have resisted this new wave in the photography world for several years, but with the rise of other companies in this market segment like Sony, Nikon has finally taken action and introduced the Z series. This series currently includes two models, the Z6 and Z7, with the former competing against Sony's A7 III and the latter against Sony's A7R III. Both new Nikon models are full-frame. The Z7 model features a sensor similar to the very successful Nikon D850 and has a 45-megapixel sensor with the ability to focus on 493 points (three times that of the Nikon D850). The sensor sensitivity of this camera ranges from 64 to 25,600 ISO, allowing for excellent performance even in low-light conditions and delivering a very clear image to the photographer in well-lit situations. The Z6 camera is cheaper and has a 24-megapixel sensor, but due to its equal area compared to the lower megapixels, it produces less noise in low-light conditions. The sensitivity range of this camera varies from 100 to 51,200, providing an extraordinary opportunity for photographers. This camera has the ability to focus on 273 points. With the introduction of these two cameras, Nikon has also unveiled a new series of lenses compatible with the Z mount. Currently, three lenses have been introduced for Nikon's new mirrorless camera series: a 24-70mm f/4, a 35mm f/1.8, and a 50mm f/1.8. The lack of lenses in this new class is certainly a weakness of these cameras compared to Sony's products; however, Nikon has stated that it will introduce six new lenses for this product in 2019, including an interesting 58mm f/0.95 lens. Additionally, with a special adapter, all Nikon F series lenses can be used on these cameras, which includes over 350 lenses, and autofocus will be possible with about 90 lenses. The weight of the Z7 camera is approximately 670 grams, while the Nikon D850 weighs over one kilogram. Both new Nikon cameras are equipped with in-sensor stabilization. The Z7 can shoot at a speed of 9 frames per second, while the Z6 can shoot at 12 frames per second. However, in terms of video recording, these cameras do not compete with Sony's Alpha 7 and S series. These two cameras can record 4K video at a not-so-high bitrate of up to 30 frames per second. This factor means that in the realm of mirrorless cameras and photography, the Panasonic GH5 remains unrivaled in video recording. The battery life of these two cameras is not particularly impressive compared to Sony. Both cameras can take 330 frames on a single battery charge, while similar products from Sony can take 650 frames. The global price of the Z7 is about $3,300, and the price of the Z6 is around $2,000.