Nikon
D780
Last great Nikon DSLR — Z6 sensor with DSLR ergonomics and hybrid live view AF.
$2,299
Released Jan 2020
Nikon
ZR
Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.
$2,199
Released Sep 2025
ZR is 5.7 years newer.
Wins
D780
Wins
ZR
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD780 has higher Burst (mechanical) (7 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZR has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 12 fps)
- BZR has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BZR has lower Weight (630 g vs 755 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D780
144 × 116 × 76 mm
755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
ZR
134 × 81 × 49 mm
630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)
D780 is 10mm wider, 35mm taller, and 27mm thicker than ZR.
D780 is 125 g heavier than ZR.
Depth (front-to-back): 76mm D780 · 49mm ZR
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D780
144 × 116 mm
ZR
134 × 81 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D780
144 × 76 mm
ZR
134 × 49 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D780
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
ZR
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D780
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
ZR
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
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 143.5, 115.5, 76
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II
Reasons to choose
ZR
Codecs
Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…
IBIS effectiveness
7.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 80.5, 49
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 12 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only ZR supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Resolution — Both 24.5 MP
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
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
ZR
Pros
- ✓6K/60p R3D NE RAW
- ✓32-bit float audio
- ✓7.5-stop stabilization
- ✓Compact 535g cinema body
Cons
- –No built-in EVF
- –Cinema-first ergonomics
- –Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, D780 or ZR?
ZR scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for D780 — 6K video for oversampled 4K.
What's the resolution difference between the D780 and ZR?
Both cameras share the same 24.5 MP resolution.
Do the D780 and ZR have in-body image stabilization?
D780 does not have IBIS, while zR has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D780 or the ZR?
D780 reaches 12 fps electronic. ZR reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D780 and ZR?
D780 weighs 755 g and ZR weighs 630 g, so the ZR is 125 g lighter.
Do the D780 and ZR record 4K video?
D780: 4K up to 30p. ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D780 and ZR weather sealed?
D780: Yes. ZR: Yes.
How much does each cost?
D780 launched at $2,299 and ZR at $2,199. The ZR is $100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.