Decision tools · Compare

Nikon D780 vs Z9

Quick take: The Z9 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the Nikon D780 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

Z9 — Professional Sports & Wildlife: The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.

Who should buy what
Z9 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
  • Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
  • Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
  • Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification Nikon D780Nikon · 2020Z9Nikon · 2021
Price £1,999Best£4,639
Sensor 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS
Resolution 25.0MP45.7MPBest
Video 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW
Autofocus 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video)Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect
Stabilisation No stabilisation6-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 7fps20fps RAW / 120fps JPEGBest
Battery Life 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder)740 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 840g (with battery and card)Best1340g (body only)
Dimensions —149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps
Screen Tilting touchscreen3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Nikon F-mountNikon Z-mount
Memory Cards Dual SD (UHS-II)Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD
Connectivity USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi, BluetoothUSB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Nikon D780
Z9
Portrait
6.7/10
8.2/10
Street
5.4/10
5.0/10
Travel
5.6/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
7.3/10
8.4/10
Filmmaking
6.2/10
7.9/10
Documentary
6.5/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
6.3/10
9.2/10
Landscape
6.2/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
6.2/10
8.9/10
Casual
4.2/10
4.0/10
Food
5.8/10
6.9/10
Macro
5.4/10
6.6/10
Architecture
5.9/10
6.8/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
7.2/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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