Nikon
D780
Last great Nikon DSLR — Z6 sensor with DSLR ergonomics and hybrid live view AF.
$2,299
Released Jan 2020
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 1.8 years newer.
Wins
D780
Wins
Z9
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD780 has higher Burst (mechanical) (7 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 12 fps)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AD780 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (2260 shots vs 740 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D780
144 × 116 × 76 mm
755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
D780 is 6mm narrower, 34mm shorter, and 15mm thinner than Z9.
D780 is 585 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 76mm D780 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D780
144 × 116 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D780
144 × 76 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D780
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D780
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
D780
Burst (mechanical)
7 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 143.5, 115.5, 76
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II
Battery life (CIPA)
2260 shots vs 740 shots — higher is better
AA filter
Only D780 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
755 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 12 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D780
Pros
- ✓Z6 sensor in DSLR
- ✓Dual card slots
- ✓4K video
- ✓OVF + EVF hybrid
Cons
- –DSLR end of era
- –Heavy
- –Limited future lenses
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, D780 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for D780 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the D780 and Z9?
D780 is 24.5 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D780 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
D780 does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D780 or the Z9?
D780 reaches 12 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D780 and Z9?
D780 weighs 755 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the D780 is 585 g lighter.
Do the D780 and Z9 record 4K video?
D780: 4K up to 30p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D780 and Z9 weather sealed?
D780: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 2,260 shots (CIPA) for the D780 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the D780 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D780 launched at $2,299 and Z9 at $5,899. The D780 is $3,600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.