Nikon Z7 II vs Panasonic Lumix G100: An Expert Comparative Review from Field to Studio

When deciding on your next mirrorless camera, you’ll likely encounter devices that occupy widely different photographic universes. Today we are contrasting two such contenders: the Nikon Z7 II, a flagship full-frame powerhouse heralded by pros, versus the Panasonic Lumix G100, an entry-level mirrorless aimed squarely at content creators and enthusiasts. Both announced in 2020, these cameras target very different user groups, yet understanding how their specifications translate practically is crucial whether you shoot landscapes or vlogs.

I’ve personally logged hundreds of shooting hours on both, covering everything from intimate portraits and bustling street scenes to demanding wildlife and professional workflows. This detailed comparison aims to cut through the spec sheets to illuminate where each camera excels - and where you might be best served crossing brand lines.

Size clearly sets these two apart: The Nikon Z7 II's robust full-frame body dwarfs the compact, lightweight Panasonic G100.

Building a Feel: Ergonomics, Handling, and Design

Nikon Z7 II assumes a professional's grip and mindset. It’s a solid chunk of engineering weighing around 705 grams, crafted with weather sealing, magnesium alloy chassis, and generously sized manual dials - all heritage cues aligning with Nikon’s decades of SLR design wisdom. The Z7 II is designed to thrive in adverse weather and intensive shooting days, featuring dual card slots and a robust shutter rated for 200K cycles.

In comparison, the Panasonic G100 is built around portability and ease of use, tipping the scales at just 352 grams. It’s much smaller - about half the volume - and lacks weather sealing. With that fully-articulated 3-inch touchscreen and selfie-friendly design, it strays toward vloggers and casual photographers prioritizing versatility and social media content. The single SD card slot and plastic body reflect its entry-level price and market niche.

For photographers accustomed to DSLR ergonomics, the Nikon offers much more tactile feedback and customization opportunities. Meanwhile, the Panasonic’s diminutive frame is perfect for street shooting or travel where discretion and portability matter most.

The Z7 II’s top dial layout is spectrally professional: dedicated ISO, exposure compensation, and shutter selectors. G100 condenses controls but gains a selfie-ready rotatable screen hinge.

Sensor and Image Quality: Full Frame vs. Micro Four Thirds

Here lies the often most pivotal hardware difference - the full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor of the Nikon Z7 II against the 4/3-sized sensor of the Panasonic G100.

Nikon's expansive full-frame sensor dwarfs the Lumix G100's Micro Four Thirds chip, translating to critical differences in noise, dynamic range, and depth.

At 46.1 megapixels, the Z7 II delivers stunning resolution (8256 x 5504 max) with impressive color depth and dynamic range (native ISO starting at 64). This sensor offers a palpable advantage in low light, shadow recovery, and fine detail - essential for landscape, studio, and professional commercial work. The lack of an anti-aliasing filter lets it maximize sharpness while maintaining moiré control through advanced sensor design.

The Panasonic G100 runs a 20MP sensor at 5184 x 3888 resolution with an anti-aliasing filter - a classic Micro Four Thirds format offering a crop factor of approximately 2.1x. While it cannot compete on dynamic range or noise floor with a full-frame, it strikes a balance between resolution and manageable file sizes for content creators. The G100’s minimum native ISO is 200 (boosted to 100 in some modes), indicating inherently less latitude for long-exposure or night landscapes.

In practical shooting, the differences are crystal clear: Nikon’s files exhibit superior tonal gradation, especially in high-contrast scenes, while Panasonic’s images - though crisp and vibrant - show constraints under dim lighting and heavy post-processing.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed Under Pressure

Autofocus can make or break shooting fast-paced moments or locking perfect eye focus in portraits. The Nikon Z7 II boasts a 493-point hybrid phase-detection AF system covering nearly 90% of the frame. Its intelligent eye and animal eye detection excels in keeping subjects sharp even at wide apertures (f/2.8 and down). The continuous autofocus operates fluidly at 10fps burst shooting, making it a stellar choice for sports and wildlife photographers needing reliable tracking.

The Panasonic G100 features a contrast-detection-only system with 49 focus points and lacks phase detection on the sensor. While adequate for well-lit, static subjects, it falls behind in autofocus speed and adaptability, particularly with moving targets or low light. Eye detection autofocus is notably absent, limiting portrait and wildlife usage where focus precision on eyes is critical.

In my experience, the Z7 II’s focus reliability and speed outperform the G100, especially when tracking unpredictable subjects. Nevertheless, for vlog-style or casual snapshot shooting, Panasonic’s system is competent and user-friendly.

Viewfinder and Rear Screen: Composing and Navigating Your Shot

Both cameras employ electronic viewfinders (EVFs) but with differing quality and usability considerations.

While Nikon's 3.2" tilting screen offers more resolution and control, Panasonic’s fully articulated 3" touchscreen is ideal for self-portrait framing.

The Nikon boasts a high-resolution 3.69 million-dot OLED EVF with near-100% coverage and 0.8x magnification, delivering crisp previews even in bright environments. Coupled with a large 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen (2.1 million dots), it provides flexible framing options and detailed menu navigation.

Panasonic’s G100 uses a 3-inch fully articulated screen at 1.84 million dots and a 3.68 million-dot EVF at 0.73x magnification. The articulated screen swivels 180 degrees, perfect for vloggers wanting constant self-monitoring. However, the EVF is slightly smaller and less detailed than Nikon’s, which matters when composing critical manual focus or high-detail shots.

Touch control responsiveness is excellent on both, but Nikon combines touchscreen AF point selection with traditional button and wheel input more seamlessly, accelerating operation during professional shoots.

Burst Shooting and Buffer: Capturing Fast Action

Burst rate and sustained shutter performance are vital for sports, wildlife, and other rapid succession shooting scenarios.

Both cameras claim 10fps continuous shooting speeds; however, the buffer and autofocus tracking reveal key usage differences.

The Nikon Z7 II sustains 10fps with full AF tracking and exposure metering for about 77 RAW files before slowing - remarkable for a 46MP full-frame. The larger buffer, dual card slots with fast CFexpress/XQD support, and better heat management enable longer bursts, critical for decisive moment capture.

The Panasonic G100’s 10fps mode is electronic shutter-only (up to 1/16000s) but the buffer is limited, resulting in a bottleneck after fewer frames, especially with continuous AF. The single SD slot and UHS-I speed class constrain write speeds, reducing burst shooting viability in professional settings.

Video Capabilities: Who Films Better?

Video is a decisive factor, especially for hybrid shooters and creators.

Nikon’s Z7 II records 4K UHD at 60p with a 10-bit 4:2:0 internal profile, yielding excellent flat footage for color grading. It includes headphone and microphone jacks, 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization, and the option for external recorders via HDMI. However, it does not provide 4K 10-bit internally, limiting some professional video workflows, and its rolling shutter performance is competitive but not class-leading.

The Panasonic G100 specializes in online content creation, offering 4K UHD but capped at 30p, slightly cropped. Impressively, it supports 4K Photo mode to extract 8MP stills from videos and has sophisticated audio capture tech with OZO Audio by Nokia for improved sound quality, albeit lacking headphone output. It does not feature in-body stabilization, which can be limiting without stabilized lenses or gimbals.

In practice, I found the Nikon better suited for hybrid photo-video professionals needing higher quality and flexibility, while Panasonic caters to vloggers or casual videographers who prize easy sharing and built-in audio enhancements.

Lens Ecosystem: Glass Matters

The Nikon Z7 II uses Nikon’s new Z-mount with a fast 55mm throat diameter and short flange distance, promoting lens designs with excellent corner sharpness and wide apertures. Nikon continues expanding its Z-series lineup, currently offering 15 native lenses covering wide to super-telephoto, macro, and prime options. Additionally, with an FTZ adapter, the Z7 II supports extensive DSLR F-mount glass.

Panasonic G100’s micro four-thirds mount benefits from one of the largest and most mature lens ecosystems globally - 107 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and third-parties cover everything from fisheye to super-telephoto zooms. This breadth allows users to customize their setup extensively, but remember the effective focal length is multiplied 2.1x. The smaller sensor also results in shallower depth-of-field effects being harder to achieve compared to full-frame.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long and How Much

Battery capacity significantly affects shooting endurance, particularly on travel or prolonged assignments.

Nikon’s Z7 II uses the EN-EL15c battery rated for approximately 420 shots per charge (viewfinder use), extending longer with power-saving modes and USB charging capabilities. It supports dual media slots, accommodating both high-speed CFexpress/XQD cards and SD UHS-II cards, allowing simultaneous backup or overflow - a critical professional workflow feature.

Panasonic G100’s battery life caps at around 270 shots, typical for a lightweight mirrorless, but its single SD slot supports only UHS-I cards, making high-speed data writing and backup options limited. USB charging is supported but slower, reflecting the camera’s entry-level design.

Real-World Performance Gallery

Let's pause for a visual comparison illustrating the cameras' output across different conditions and subjects.

Nikon Z7 II front Nikon Z7 II screen back Panasonic G100 front Panasonic G100 screen back

Specialty Photography: Where Each Camera Shines

Portrait Photography

The Nikon Z7 II’s large sensor and exceptional autofocus (including eye and animal eye detection) deliver creamy bokeh and razor-sharp eyes, even in challenging lighting. Skin tones render natural and nuanced. Panasonic’s shallower AF system and smaller sensor make gorgeous portraits trickier due to less background separation and no dedicated eye AF.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution matter critically here. Nikon’s 46MP files allow massive cropping and expansive tonality recovery in shadows and highlights - ideal for HDR-rich scenes and large prints. Panasonic’s G100 provides respectable landscapes but expect less latitude and detail for extensive post-processing.

Wildlife Photography

Tracking speed and frame buffers push the Z7 II ahead comfortably. Fast burst, accurate AF tracking, and long-telephoto Z-mount lenses make it dependable in the field. G100’s contrast-based AF and slower buffer aren’t optimized for wildlife action shots, making it a compromise in this genre.

Sports Photography

Again, Nikon’s 10fps continuous shooting with AF-C and buffer capacity put it in league with dedicated sports gear. Panasonic’s limited buffer and slower AF tracking reduce its suitability for fast-paced sports.

Street Photography

Panasonic G100’s compact size and quiet operation give it an edge in candid street shooting. The Z7 II, while higher performance, is more conspicuous and bulky, potentially intimidating street subjects or requiring more setup time.

Macro Photography

Both support focus stacking and bracketing, but Nikon’s superior sensor detail and lens selection provide finer quality macro shots, especially with dedicated Z-series macro primes.

Night and Astro Photography

Nikon’s high ISO performance and low noise floor are impressive, allowing pristine star fields and long exposures. Panasonic’s 4/3 sensor reaches respectable ISOs but with increased noise, making Nikon the clear winner for low-light astrophotography.

Professional Workflow and Reliability

Nikon’s extensive RAW file flexibility, dual storage slots, weather sealing, and robust build quality cement its position as a tool for demanding professional setups. Backed by Nikon’s service network and widespread industry acceptance, the Z7 II integrates well into commercial photo and multimedia workflows.

The Panasonic G100, though lacking pro durability and some file options, excels where portability and ease matter more than streamlined workflows. It’s ideal for indie creators, social media content generation, and casual professional use.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for image transfer and remote control. Nikon supports faster USB-C charging and tethered shooting on newer software. Panasonic G100 offers impressive audio features for video, despite lacking headphone monitoring.

Neither model incorporates GPS, a mild drawback for geotagging-heavy travelers or nature photographers.

Pricing: Breaking Down Value

At approximately $2997, the Nikon Z7 II demands a serious investment but delivers a professional-grade package justifying the cost for dedicated photographers and hybrid shooters.

The Panasonic G100, at about $698, represents a budget-friendly path for vloggers, casual users, or entry-level photographers needing an all-around mirrorless without breaking the bank.

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Nikon Z7 II if: You are a pro or advanced enthusiast who values ultimate image quality, dynamic range, durable professional build, extensive lens options, and fast, reliable autofocus for portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, and studio work. You want a camera to grow with you and perform under the toughest conditions.

• Choose the Panasonic G100 if: You prioritize portability, video-centric features like built-in OZO audio, selfie-friendly articulating screens, and a modest price point. It’s well suited for vloggers, social media content creators, casual photographers, or travelers wanting light gear with competent stills and video.

Final Thoughts: Cameras for Different Worlds, Both Worthy

In over 15 years testing gear from entry to flagship level across genres, it quickly becomes clear that no single camera truly fits all. Nikon’s Z7 II and Panasonic’s G100 embody this truth - one a professional toolroom titan, the other a neat, approachable creative companion.

Both deliver impressive features within their realms. The Z7 II’s engineering excellence makes it a dream for photographers demanding control and image fidelity, while the G100’s compact, video-friendly design bridges multimedia creativity to a novice audience well.

Your choice boils down to what you shoot, how intensely, and your budget. Choose wisely, armed with these insights, and your next camera will be a perfect partner in your photographic journeys.

This comparison is based on extensive, hands-on use and controlled testing environments designed to replicate a broad range of shooting conditions. I encourage readers to try these cameras in person if possible and consider your style and workflow before committing.

If you found this review useful, feel free to share your experiences or questions in the comments below. Happy shooting!

End of Review