Nikon simply introduced the Z6 III, constructing upon the sooner Z6 II considerably. A number of the Z6 III’s options aren’t discovered wherever else in Nikon’s lineup, just like the partially stacked CMOS sensor. This text breaks down the highest 5 issues it’s essential know concerning the Z6 III that aren’t apparent from the specs alone.
1. Extra Concerning the Partially Stacked Sensor
The most important elephant within the room is the “partially stacked” CMOS sensor discovered on the Nikon Z6 III. As a refresher, the one two Nikon Z cameras with a stacked sensor up to now are the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9. Stacked sensors enable for quicker readout speeds, which is why the Z8 and Z9 are capable of eschew the mechanical shutter and depend on their digital shutters alone. In principle, there could be a small noise and dynamic vary penalty to stacked sensors, however the Z8 and Z9 don’t have meaningfully worse picture high quality than their non-stacked counterparts just like the Z7 / Z7 II.
The digital shutters on the Nikon Z8 and Z9 are extraordinarily usable as a result of their readout velocity is so quick – about 1/270th to 1/280th of a second (roughly 3.6 milliseconds). This negates virtually all of the potential drawbacks of digital shutters, similar to rolling shutter results with fast-moving topics. It wouldn’t be doable with a quick sensor design like a stacked sensor.
The Nikon Z6 III’s partially stacked sensor has some of those advantages when utilizing the digital shutter, however not all. The flash sync velocity with the digital shutter is 1/sixtieth of a second (it’s 1/2 hundredth second on the Z8 and Z9), which implies that the readout velocity is 16 milliseconds or quicker. Most definitely, to construct in some cushion, the readout velocity on the Z6 III is roughly 1/eightieth second or 12.5 milliseconds – I’ll replace this with a precise determine as soon as I’ve one.
That is nonetheless a lot quicker than the readout velocity of earlier Z6-series cameras. The Nikon Z6 II has roughly a 1/twentieth second readout velocity (50 milliseconds), so the brand new partially stacked design represents a significant enchancment. The digital shutter on the Z6 II would generally result in vital rolling shutter with fast-moving motion, whereas the Z6 III ought to hardly ever have that drawback. Which means its 20 FPS digital shutter mode goes to be genuinely helpful and never a gimmick in any respect.
2. The Buffer Capability
I’ll by no means know why Nikon generally hides buffer numbers from their official specs lists, particularly for cameras just like the Z6 III that has a whopper of a buffer. However Nikon does at the very least point out it elsewhere of their announcement of the Z6 III should you go searching.
The Nikon Z6 III has a “most buffer of 1000+ pictures” in 20 FPS steady excessive mode, together with when taking pictures RAW. In case you have a quick card (the Z6 III helps CFExpress Sort B and UHS-II SD), you shouldn’t have any concern photographing fast-moving motion with this digital camera.
3. Barely Higher Pre-Launch Seize
As anticipated, the Nikon Z6 III has a pre-release burst mode, the place the digital camera can buffer photos as much as 1 second earlier than you absolutely depress the shutter button. The same function is discovered within the Nikon Zf, Z8, and Z9.
Like these three cameras, the pre-release mode on the Nikon Z6 III is JPEG-only, which is somewhat disappointing; the competing Canon EOS R6 II can shoot RAW pre-burst. Nonetheless, the Nikon Z6 III’s implementation of pre-release does function a bonus over Nikon’s earlier implementation. Particularly, the Nikon Z6 III can attain 60 FPS at full decision!
By comparability, the Nikon Zf’s pre-release burst maxes out at 30 FPS. The Nikon Z8 and Z9 can each shoot 60 FPS in pre-release mode, however solely with 19 megapixel JPEGs from the DX space of the body. Whereas this may be helpful for getting extra attain, it harms the picture high quality and noise efficiency. With the Z6 III capable of seize full-resolution 60 FPS photos on this mode, it’s arguably essentially the most helpful Nikon digital camera but should you discover pre-release necessary to your work.
4. The Promising New Digital Viewfinder
The present implementation of Nikon’s digital viewfinder has all the time impressed me – it doesn’t have the kind of flickering or delay that provides me a headache, which is greater than I may say about loads of mirrorless cameras on the market. Even so, Nikon has been utilizing the identical 3.69 million dot EVF because the unique Z6 and Z7, together with of their Zf / Z8 / Z9 cameras. I didn’t anticipate that the Nikon Z6 III could be the digital camera to vary that, however I’m fairly excited that it’s.
The brand new EVF has a 5.76 million dot show, however that’s not the largest enchancment. One thing that received’t present up in each spec sheet (although Nikon hasn’t shied away from promoting it) is that the Z6 III’s viewfinder can attain the next brightness than another full-frame mirrorless digital camera as we speak, reaching 4000 nits. It additionally has an prolonged coloration gamut of DCI-P3, which is about the identical measurement as Adobe RGB though a special form.
Furthermore, the brand new EVF has a refresh charge of 120 Hz! This matches the Nikon Z9’s refresh charge; in any other case, all Nikon Z cameras up to now have had a 60 FPS refresh charge. For fast panning and high-speed pictures, I’m excited to see an enchancment.
Viewfinder high quality is one space that instantly impacts crucial a part of pictures – composition – and the Z6 III appears to be like like it should simply have Nikon’s finest EVF but.
5. Uncooked Video Past the Headlines
One of many headlining specs of the Nikon Z6 III is that it could possibly shoot 6K Uncooked video. And it could possibly, however there’s extra to it than that. The Z6 III can shoot Uncooked video in the entire following methods:
- 6K Uncooked at 60/50/30/25/24p
- 4032 x 2268 (4K) Uncooked at 60/50/30/25/24p
- 3984 x 2240 (4K) Uncooked at 120/60/50/30/25/24p
Everybody has been making essentially the most noise about inside 6K/60p Uncooked – and for good motive – however this digital camera may shoot 4K Uncooked video at 120 FPS! That might be simply as helpful, if no more so, for lots of tasks.
Nikon doesn’t state whether or not the 4K Uncooked video is cropped or not. On the Nikon Z8 and Z9, it’s (a couple of 2.3x crop to achieve the 4K space of the sensor). I’ll replace this text after I be taught for positive if the Z6 III’s 4K Uncooked capabilities the identical approach.
Conclusion
We’re nonetheless studying extra concerning the Nikon Z6 III each minute, and I’ll replace this text if any main options come to gentle that we didn’t learn about! However it’s clear that Nikon went past simply the specs with the Z6 III – it has loads of capabilities that might not be apparent at first look, however may have vital impacts on real-world pictures.
In case you intend to pre-order the Nikon Z6 III, you may assist Images Life by doing so via our associates B&H or Adorama. Let me know within the feedback when you’ve got any questions or ideas about this new digital camera!