Disassembly of Nikon’s Flagship Mirrorless Camera Z7 II
Recently, there have been rampant rumors about theNikon Z8/Z6 III being released in August. Some may ask, why not the Z7 III? Because this new model is likely to be positioned as a competitor to the Z7 series,the specifications circulating online for the new camera are: equipped with a 45.7-megapixel FX format stacked CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7 image processor. At first glance, it looks quite similar to the Z9, but it does not have the vertical grip design of the Z9.Since there is still some time before the new camera is released, let’s first study its potential “competitor” – the Nikon Z7 II.In 2013, Sony released the α7 and α7R full-frame cameras, becoming the first brand to have full-frame mirrorless cameras. Nikon did not release its first full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z6 and Z7, until 2018. Although they entered the market late, Nikon has made rapid progress, and the Z7 II is a great representative of that.
What’s Different from the Nikon Z7?
The Nikon Z7 II is equipped with a 45.7-megapixel back-illuminated (BSI) sensor, with the image processor upgraded to dual EXPEED 6 compared to the first generation. It features dual card slots and excellent image quality, being one of the few cameras on the market that provides a native low ISO of 64, maximizing the dynamic range in high-contrast scenes. The launch price of the Z7 II body is 19,799 yuan.The camera’s appearance has basically not changed, making it easy for Nikon users to get started. The top has a standard lockable mode dial, an LCD control panel displaying settings, an ISO button, an exposure compensation button, and a video recording button.
The ports also inherit the design from the previous generation, including headphone, microphone, USB-C, mini HDMI ports, and a port for a wired remote control.
The back is similar, equipped with a 3.6 million-dot resolution viewfinder and a 2.1 million-dot resolution LCD display.
There is one difference, the Z7 II supports dual card slots, one for CFExpress (Type B) and XQD cards, while the other is a UHS-II compatible SD slot. This is significant for many photographers as it helps avoid data loss incidents, and SD cards are more affordable.
Let’s Start Disassembling!
First, unscrew the screws at the bottom of the camera and remove the bottom plate.
When disassembling the battery compartment, be careful as there is a yellow battery lock here that can pop out easily if not careful.
Next, unscrew the screws on the card slot side.
Next, unscrew the screws on the viewfinder.
There are also some sealed screws hidden inside the grip leather, unscrew all of them.
Now, you can lift the back panel.
Inside, you can see the new SD card reader, and a large metal plate covering the circuit board. Remove it to see the motherboard underneath.
Once you remove this metal plate, you will see the dual EXPEED 6 image sensor.
Some cables have become wider and larger for easier information transmission and processing, reducing the risk of breakage.
Next, remove the viewfinder. Note that there are several screws under the viewfinder, so it can only be removed with the cable attached.
Then, flip the cable on the motherboard, unscrew it, and slowly take out the motherboard.
Here, there is a very obvious white cable for wireless connection.
At this point, it seems a bit difficult to continue, as the sensor is firmly locked inside. Unfortunately, we can only work from the bottom of the body and continue disassembling.
Place it on a foam pad, then return to the front to remove the logo, lens mount, and grip.
Now what remains is the most core part of the camera.
The Z7 II uses springs to calibrate the sensor position, with the height of the screws fixing the springs measured in 1/1000 inches to keep the focus of the entire image correct and uniform.
The sensor has built-in image stabilization (IBIS), and its overall size is quite large, but compared to the Z9 sensor, it is truly small.
Although the Z7 II shares many similarities with the first generation Z7 and the design is somewhat “lazy,” its performance is not compromised. Compared to other full-frame cameras on the market, such as the Canon EOS R5 and Sony α7R IV, the Z7 II is competitive in almost all aspects, and most importantly, the price is very appealing.
