Nikon Z 7
The late summer of 2018 has seen a complete transformation of the full-frame mirrorless market. In a sector that was until recently Sony's near-exclusive playground, the big guns of Canon and Nikon have both muscled in on the action, introducing brand new systems and lens mounts.
In many respects, the two firms have done very similar things, making large-diameter, short back-focus mounts that are touted to allow extra lens-design flexibility compared to the narrower Sony E mount. Their cameras are also SLR-style models with chunky handgrips, plenty of external controls, large high-resolution viewfinders and articulated touchscreens.
The first camera in this upstart generation to reach our hands is the Nikon Z 7. This top-end, 45.7MP model is designed to go head-to-head with Sony's highly regarded Alpha 7R III, with a remarkably similar configuration and specification. As a first-generation product, you might think it would struggle to match Sony's design and technology, but you'd be wrong. Not only is the Z 7 a match for the Alpha 7R III, in many respects it equals or surpasses the D850, Nikon's best-ever DSLR. Indeed after using it extensively for a couple of weeks, I think it's not too much of a stretch to suggest that the Nikon Z 7 is one of the very best stills cameras ever made.
Before we find out why, though, let's address the Z 7's most controversial feature: its single XQD memory card slot. Some commenters are adamant that no serious photographer
