DXOMark compares Dynamic Range between Nikon Z7 II, Sony A7R IV and Canon EOS R5

DXOMark has just published the results for the Nikon Z7 II and compared them with the Canon EOS R5 and the Sony A7R IV, which are all fine cameras with excellent image quality.

Most readers will be interested in the dynamic range, as it has a more meaningful effect on image quality at all ISOs than noise levels, especially low ISOs.

However, as DR is reported at the measured ISO by DXOMark it can be difficult to decipher from the graphs what it is at the manufacturer settings – they are after all what you set on the camera.

That said, using the measured ISO to present the sensor data helps ‘level the field’ by taking into account the manufacturers’ tendency to ‘underexpose’ and mitigate clipping.

In addition, the use of faux ISO settings below the native base by the manufacturers makes it slightly confusing when browsing casually.

As a visual aid, therefore, I’ve used DXOMark data at the manufacturers’ settings to make the comparison a little easier to see. I’ve highlighted the Canon EOS R5 in this graph against the Nikon Z7 II and Sony A7R IV. [Affiliate sales links]

One important takeaway is that if you’re using the Canon EOS R5, you may as well use ISO 100 and skip ISO 200 by going straight to ISO 400.

While the Nikon Z7 II has the widest maximum DR of the three, helped by the genuinely lower base of ISO 64, you’ll see from the graph above that the difference isn’t quite so pronounced at the manufacturers’ settings.

In addition, the Sony is practically on par with the Nikon at ISO 64 when its genuine base ISO 100. The Sony even offers slightly better DR than the Nikon Z 7 II when set to ISO 100.

Admittedly, the Canon EOS R5 has slightly lower DR at ISO 100 than the Sony at ISO 100 and the Nikon at ISO 64, but you may as well set the EOS R5 at ISO 100 and be done. At ISO 100, the Canon has slightly improved DR over the Nikon, and has a far better response than both at ISO 400.