It’s been a very long time coming and the rumor mill has been at fever pitch for a yr or extra, however Nikon has lastly unveiled the most recent in its Z 6 line of ‘fanatic’ full-frame mirrorless cameras. With a decrease 24.5Mp depend than its extra upmarket (and costly) professional fashions, which boast twice the decision at 45.7Mp. It’s just a little bit larger than its predecessors (the Z 6 and Z 6II shared virtually equivalent dimensions), however a good bit smaller than the bigger-bodied Z 8.
Certainly, at a look, it appears very a lot consistent with its forebears, with a near-identical management structure. There’s a brand new button atop the digital camera to light up the top-plate LCD (which is just a little larger than in earlier fashions), the Playback and Launch Mode buttons have swapped locations, and the rear LCD swings out to the facet somewhat than merely flipping up and down, and could be reversed for viewfinder-only taking pictures. On the within, nevertheless, issues are dramatically completely different.
Nikon Z6 III: Specs
| Lens mount | Nikon Z mount (FX) |
| Sensor | 24.5 MP CMOS |
| ISO | 100 to 64,000 (204,800 expanded) |
| IBIS | 5-Axis, as much as 8.0 stops |
| Viewfinder | 0.5-in, approx. 5760k-dot UXGA OLED digital viewfinder, approx. 0.8x |
| Display screen | Approx. 2100 k-dot, Vari-angle TFT touch-sensitive LCD |
| Max focus factors | 299 |
| Max shutter | 1/8000 (mechanical), 1/16000 (digital) |
| Burst velocity | 120fps (DX format) |
| Video | 6K60p, 4K oversampled, FHD 240p |
| Video codecs | N-RAW (12 bit), Apple ProRes RAW HQ (12 bit), Apple ProRes 422 HQ (10 bit), H.265/HEVC (8 bit/10 bit), H.264/AVC (8 bit) |
| Reminiscence | CFexpress (Sort B), XQD, SD (UHS-II) |
| Battery | EN‑EL15c |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 138.5 x 101.5 x 74 mm ( 5.5 x 4 x 3 in.) |
| Weight | Approx. 760 g ( 1 lb. 10.9 oz. ) |
Nikon Z6 III: Key Options
We’ll begin with what stays the identical, because it’s a shorter listing. As beforehand talked about, the sensor decision is similar, at 24.5Mp, It has two reminiscence card slots; one CFexpress (backward-compatible with XQD) and one SDXC USH-II. It takes the identical EN‑EL15c battery that slots into the protruding grip on the backside of the digital camera, and a pair of rubber flaps on the facet reveals a mic, headphone, USB-C, HDMI, and ‘Accent Terminal’ (specifically used to attach distant shutter releases) sockets.
However very like the Nikon Zf was no mere ‘reskinned’ Z 6II, the Z 6III takes some tech from the Z f, but in addition some from the flagship Z 8 and Z 9, and likewise provides some improvements of its personal.
Whereas the sensor has the identical megapixel depend as earlier fashions, it’s an all-new ‘partially stacked’ sensor, which permits a lot sooner readout speeds than previous-generation sensors. Whereas this isn’t as speedy because the totally stacked sensor within the Z8 and Z9, it’s about 3.5x sooner than the readout of Nikon’s earlier 24.5MP sensors.
The upshot is that whereas the digital camera has a mechanical shutter, for many images you gained’t want to make use of and may as a substitute use an digital shutter, enabling blistering taking pictures speeds of as much as 120 frames per second (the caveat right here is that pictures are restricted to utilizing DX crop mode, round 10Mp in dimension. Dropping to 60fps permits full FX 24.5MP pictures. If you happen to do interact the mechanical shutter, then the body charge drops to a still-impressive 20fps for JPEG pictures and 14fps for Uncooked pictures.
If taking pictures with flash, then you will want to make use of the mechanical shutter, as though the readout utilizing the digital shutter is quick, it’s not fairly quick sufficient to match the flash sync velocity. But it surely’s greater than able to maintaining with the motion for sports activities and wildlife images, together with panning, with out exhibiting indicators of ‘shutter lag’ that may in any other case trigger pictures to shear. Nikon’s choice to develop a ‘partially’ somewhat than totally stacked sensor is right down to price; it’s just a little little bit of a design compromise.
The utmost shutter velocity has been upped from 1/8000 sec to 1/16,000 sec, although it doesn’t match the 1/32,000 sec of the Z8 and Z9.
The sensor is mounted onto an in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) machine that provides as much as eight stops of stabilization (up from 5 on the Z6 II), so that you following the ‘one over’ rule that claims it is best to shoot at a shutter velocity of the reciprocal of the focal size (1/200 sec at 200mm), you’d theoretically be capable of get sharp photographs on the identical 200mm focal size with shutter speeds as gradual as 1 sec – supplied your topic is static, after all.
What’s extra, the IBIS is designed to pivot across the lively focus level, somewhat than shifting your complete sensor, for even higher finesse in preserving the supposed topic sharp, somewhat than the entire sensor. It’s the identical system that debuted within the Zf, and like that digital camera, can be utilized for a trick ‘sensor-shift taking pictures’ mode, the place the sensor is shifted by minute quantities and a sequence of pictures taken that may then be merged in Nikon’s NX Studio software program for super-detailed high-resolution photographs equal to 96 megapixels. Each the topic and digital camera must be completely nonetheless for this to work, so that you’ll want to make use of a tripod.
As in frequent with all Z-series cameras, the AF factors are unfold throughout the size and breadth of the imaging sensor, giving edge-to-edge autofocus regardless of the place within the body your topic is. This time round it has 299 AF factors unfold throughout your complete sensor, just like the Zf (and a not-insignificant improve over the 273 factors of earlier Z6-line cameras).
Autofocus works as much as -10EV, which successfully means it may possibly give attention to topics which are too darkish for the bare eye to see and can make this the favored digital camera for astrophotographers – a mantle beforehand held by the Z6 II.
The digital camera is powered by the most recent technology of EXPEED 7 processors, as used within the Z8, Z9, and Zf – compared, the Z6 had an EXPEED 6 and the Z6 II used a pair of EXPEED 6 chips. Nikon says that this processing grunt permits highly effective autofocus efficiency that matches that of the Z8 and Z9, and there’s a raft of topic detection modes for folks, animals, and autos. In our hands-on time with the digital camera taking pictures basketball, we discovered this to trace the fast-moving gamers with unerring accuracy.
The vari-angle touchscreen rear LCD has a decision of two.1Mp – that’s no less than double the decision of all earlier Nikon cameras, the Z 8 and Z 9 included – most Z-series cameras have a 1.04Mp decision. And in contrast to the tilt-only design for taking pictures excessive or low of the earlier Z6-line cameras, this time round it’s a full vari-angle display screen that flips out to the facet and could be rotated 180 levels up and down for front-facing selfies or reversed so the display screen is tucked away for defense when taking pictures with the viewfinder. When taking pictures in a vertical orientation, the knowledge overlay robotically rotates too, as first debuted within the Z9.
As in different Z-series cameras, the knowledge within the digital viewfinder (EVF) is mirrored from the rear LCD and displays the publicity settings dialed in, in addition to the flexibility to overlay important info reminiscent of a histogram, in-camera degree, and grid show.
Nevertheless, that is the brightest and highest-resolution EVF that Nikon has ever made. Whereas earlier Z-system cameras’ EVFs high out at 3.69 million dots, this one has seen a major improve within the pixel depend to five.76Mp. The EVF refresh charge is a super-smooth 60fps, to a realistic-looking show, and it’s extremely vibrant, measured at 4000 nits, which auto-adjusts in keeping with the ambient gentle.
This elevated brightness shall be significantly useful for sports activities and wildlife photographers who’ve perfected the flexibility to shoot with one eye trying via the viewfinder, whereas the opposite appears for the topic itself in the true world, offering a extra pure steadiness when taking pictures in vibrant gentle.
The EVF additionally has a DCI-P3 shade gamut, for a wider vary of extra lifelike colours than beforehand, and naturally, it’s fronted by Nikkor glass, to make sure the projected picture is crisp and sharp proper to the corners of the show.
Nikon Z6 III: Worth
The brand new Nikon Z6 III is obtainable standalone and likewise is available in three package choices, providing a modest low cost in comparison with shopping for the digital camera and lenses individually. The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S, priced at $3,099 / £3249, is thought for its very good optical high quality all through the zoom vary, making it one of many sharpest package lenses ever made. If you happen to want extra attain, the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S, priced at £3539, offers an additional 50mm of attain and covers short-telephoto focal lengths. The Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR, priced at £3439, though not an S-line lens, is famous for its beautiful optical high quality contemplating its zoom vary and consists of built-in VR for tremendous telephoto photographs.
The Nikon Z6, launched in November 2018 at $1,999 / £2099, was adopted by the Nikon Z6 II in December 2020, priced at $1,999 / £1999. The Z6 II addressed criticisms of the unique mannequin by including a second SD card slot and twin processors, providing a quick burst charge of 14fps and improved buffer capability.
Wanting forward, the upcoming Nikon Z6 III, set to launch in July 2024 at $2,499 / £2699, sees a reasonably important value rise from prior fashions however boasts {a partially} stacked sensor and the flexibility to shoot as much as 120fps, amongst different refinements. Nevertheless, the absence of a Z7 III implies that Nikon’s first Z-series digital camera could have reached the top of its line, suggesting that the Z6 III is a mini Z8.
Nikon Z6 III: Design & Dealing with
In the case of the bodily construct of the digital camera, it’s very a lot evolution somewhat than revolution, with the near-identical button structure, apart from the aforementioned Playback and Launch Mode button swap. It took just a little getting used to, coming from a previous-generation Z6, however it is sensible as it’s possible you’ll properly want to change from Steady to Single Shot taking pictures mid-shoot, and the button placement makes it simpler to do that with out taking your eye off the viewfinder.
Our fundamental grumble with the Z 6/7 line was the dearth of direct entry buttons for oft-used options, the obvious of which is the flexibility to alter the main target mode between Single (AF-S), Steady Drive (AF-C), and Handbook focus (MF), though that is set to one of many pair of programmable Perform buttons on the entrance of the digital camera. Nevertheless, whereas these Perform buttons are person definable, we reckon most will go away them to the defaults as they’re set to such important capabilities.
That stated, a jab of the ‘i’ button does carry up a fast menu of generally used settings, which turns into second nature to entry, however extra superior capabilities, reminiscent of bracketing (which has its personal devoted button on the Z 8/9 and DSLRs just like the D850) require delving into the menu system.
The highest-plate LCD illumination button is a welcome addition, enabling you to see your settings when taking pictures in darkish environments because the OLED show isn’t significantly vibrant.
The digital camera has related pro-level building and climate sealing because the flagship cameras, and Nikon says is able to working right down to -10ºC.
Whereas it appears fairly much like the earlier Z6 line, side-by-side the distinction is extra apparent, and it’s a fraction larger and heavier. The variations could also be slight, however one upshot is that homeowners of the earlier mannequin’s battery grip must put money into the brand new MB-N14, which is purpose-built for the Z6 III. Likewise, custom-fit third-party equipment reminiscent of L-brackets are prone to require reinvesting in in the event you’re upgrading from the earlier mannequin.
Nikon Z6 III: Efficiency
We received to check out the Z6 III on a rooftop basketball court docket in North Greenwich, inside putting distance of the O2 Area. The digital camera feels fully pure within the hand, with the bulbous grip that homes the battery feeling snug to carry whereas providing agency grip.
Choosing the Particular person topic recognition mode and setting the wide-area focus mode, the digital camera unwaveringly locked onto the basketballer’s faces and eyes as they battled one-on-one, taking pictures hoops. It definitely felt like a extra dependable efficiency than when utilizing earlier Z6 cameras, and akin to the Z8 ranges of velocity and accuracy.
The viewfinder does an excellent job of replicating the ambient gentle settings and reveals no signal of lag that plagues some EVFs (not that we had too many complaints concerning the earlier EVFs in Nikon’s different Z-series cameras). You actually do overlook that you just’re not trying via an optical viewfinder.
In regular use, the digital camera defaults to utilizing the digital shutter (robotically switching to mechanical when a flashgun is engaged). To those that’ve not used a purely digital shutter, not feeling the vibration as a mechanical shutter clunks for suggestions is disconcerting at first, with solely the briefest of flashes indicating {that a} shot has been taken, significantly when set to the upper 120fps or 60fps body charges. After all, you possibly can set an digital sound to supply additional suggestions. We tried the digital camera’s mechanical shutter, which gave the reassuring clunk, however really feel that customers will shortly get used to the default digital choice.
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Nikon Z6 III autofocus monitoring in motion as a basketball participant runs immediately on to the digital camera.
Nikon Z6 III autofocus monitoring in motion as a basketball participant runs immediately on to the digital camera.
Nikon Z6 III autofocus monitoring in motion as a basketball participant runs immediately on to the digital camera.
Nikon Z6 III: Verdict
Providing a lot of the performance of the Z 8 in a smaller physique, with a decrease megapixel depend, and at a reasonably enticing price ticket, the Z6 III guarantees to be a really beautiful enthusiast-level digital camera. We will see it being adopted by various professionals too, the place the variety of pixels is much less necessary, and certainly many favor the smaller and easier-to-handle file sizes. With its stellar low-light efficiency, it needs to be the primary selection for astrophotographers too. After all, we solely had restricted time with our pre-production mannequin, and we’ll reserve our full judgment till we are able to get a last mannequin into our labs for thorough testing.
