Nikon Z6III preliminary evaluation: Digital Pictures Assessment


Product Photographs by Richard Butler
The Nikon Z6III is the corporate’s third-generation full-frame mirrorless digicam, bringing a sooner 24MP sensor that reinforces the autofocus and video capabilities of this stills/video hybrid.
Key specs

24MP “Partially Stacked” CMOS sensor
14fps with mech shutter, 20fps e-shutter as much as 1000 Uncooked information
As much as 60fps JPEG in full decision, 120fps with APS-C crop
In-body picture stabilization rated at as much as 8.0 stops
5.76M dot EVF with excessive brightness and vast shade gamut
Totally articulated 3.2″ 2.1M dot rear display screen
6K/60p N-Uncooked video, 6K/30p ProRes Uncooked
5.4K/60p H.265 video
Pre-burst seize, pixel-shift high-res mode

The Nikon Z6III might be out there from late June at a worth of $2500. It is a $500 enhance over the earlier Z6 fashions however brings it into line with the likes of Canon’s EOS R6 II and Sony’s a7 IV, with which it immediately competes.

Index:

What’s new
24MP “Partially Stacked” CMOS sensor

Nikon’s picture of the Z6III’s sensor, exhibiting the in depth readout circuitry above and under the sensor.
Picture: Nikon

The sensor on the coronary heart of the Z6III is answerable for a lot of what the brand new digicam brings. Nikon makes use of the time period “Partially Stacked” to recommend it has a number of the efficiency advantages of the Stacked CMOS chips it makes use of in its Z8 and Z9 fashions, however with out the related value.
Nikon hasn’t given us exact element but it surely seems the readout and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry across the fringe of the chip is built-up, permitting it to be each extra refined and nearer to the pixels themselves, delivering sooner readout. But it surely’s not clear whether or not any a part of the chip is stacked within the sensor of a number of layers of silicon circuits being mixed, so we’re not going to make any assumptions about picture high quality.
The result’s that the digicam can learn out its sensor quick sufficient to ship full-width 6K video at as much as 60p in N-Uncooked mode and a flash sync pace of 1/60 sec. This implies it should have the ability to learn the whole sensor in lower than 1/60 sec. That is across the identical pace because the Canon EOS R6 II, however in 14-bit sensor readout mode, reasonably than 12-bit. It will possibly shoot full-res JPEGs (presumably from 12-bit readout) at as much as 50fps.
Nonetheless, that most sync pace of 1/sixtieth is round 1 / 4 of the pace of true Stacked CMOS sensors and never an enormous leap ahead from the earlier era of sensors. It ought to enhance AF efficiency and video capabilities however will not ship the blisteringly quick efficiency of the likes of the Z8.
Improved AF
Together with the sooner sensor, the Z6III additionally positive aspects the autofocus enhancements seen in Nikon’s latest fashions, together with 3D Monitoring and topic recognition. The corporate says AF is as much as 20% sooner than it was within the Z6 II, and that the efficiency is comparable with the Z8 and Z9.
On prime of this, the digicam can focus at all the way down to –10EV with out you having to have interaction the Starlight AF mode (although it is value noting that this determine is based on an F1.2 lens being hooked up). It additionally positive aspects most the topic recognition modes from the Zf, although lacks the devoted fowl detection mode that the Z8 and Z9 have just lately gained.

Topic detection modes

Folks
Animals
Autos
Airplanes
Auto

(Canines, cats, birds)(Automobiles, motorbikes, trains, airplanes, bicycles)

These all replicate a big enchancment over the Z6 II. The 3D Monitoring system resembles these on Nikon’s DSLRs: decide an AF level and the digicam will comply with no matter’s beneath that time while you maintain the shutter half depressed or the AF-On button. As quickly as you launch it reverts to your beforehand chosen place. In contrast to the Z6 II’s system you need not press a button to cancel monitoring and it does not revert to the middle.
However in addition to this elevated ease-of-use, the interface controls a way more efficient and dependable monitoring system that is a lot much less more likely to lock onto the improper factor or simply lose it utterly (which was not unusual, particularly in film mode, on the earlier era of cameras). Add to this the digicam’s capacity to acknowledge a sequence of topics close to your chosen AF level and the Z6 III ought to be a lot faster and simpler to work with than earlier mid-level Nikons.
Video

The sooner sensor sees the Z6III’s video capabilities achieve a big improve, in contrast with its predecessor. It is too quickly for Nikon’s buy of cinema digicam maker RED to have performed into this digicam’s growth, but it surely relieves any uncertainty across the inclusion of onboard seize of each N-Uncooked and ProRes Uncooked video codecs.
The entire codecs provide each UHD 4K and a higher-resolution seize mode, all of which use the total width of the sensor. The Uncooked modes provide 6K or 4K seize, whereas the gamma-encoded modes (ProRes 422, H.265, H.264) provide 5.4K or 4K recording.

Codec
Resolutions and max body charges

N-Uncooked
6K/60pUHD 4K/60p

ProRes RAW
6K/30pUHD 4K/60p

ProRes 422
5.4K/60pUHD 4K/60p

H.265
5.4K/60pUHD 4K/60p

H.264
UHD 4K/30p

Just like the Z8, the Z6III contains taking pictures aids corresponding to waveforms, zebras and focus peaking.
The Z6III additionally turns into the primary Nikon to just accept a line-level enter over its mic socket. It is also suitable with Atomos’ AirGlu, a Bluetooth-based Timecode sync system.
Extra features
The Z6III additionally positive aspects all the opposite features which were added to Nikon cameras for the reason that launch of the Z6 II, together with pre-burst capabilities and multi-shot excessive decision modes.
It additionally has the picture stabilization system that facilities its correction in your chosen AF level. That is significantly worthwhile in case you’re centered within the corners of wide-angle pictures, the place the required pitch and yaw correction is considerably completely different from that wanted on the heart of the picture.
As well as, just like the Zf, the Z6III can use its topic recognition system even in case you’re in guide focus mode. Which means participating magnified dwell view will punch in in your topic’s eye, as you test focus, reasonably than you having to navigate across the scene to seek out it.
Lastly, the Z6III might be suitable with a “Versatile Shade” instrument that might be added to Nikon’s NX Studio software program, which supplies an enhanced set of shade instruments for creating customized Image Management shade modes to put in on the digicam.
Cloud entry
The Z6III would be the first Nikon digicam to make use of the Nikon Imaging Cloud service. It will fulfill a sequence of features. At its most elementary it’s going to be a service to which photographs might be uploaded after which despatched on to different storage and social media companies (reasonably than the digicam itself having to understand how to hook up with a number of companies).
It will even be a supply for “Imaging Recipes,” that are digicam settings supposed for taking particular sorts of picture, created with the assistance of Nikon’s sponsored creators. There may even be “Cloud Image Controls” presets that may be downloaded. This service is not out there but, so we cannot have the ability to assess its usefulness till it’s.

The way it compares
The $500 worth hike brings the Nikon immediately into line with the MSRPs of its two most comparable rivals: Sony’s a7 IV and Canon’s EOS R6 II. All three cameras are extremely succesful stills and video machines with robust AF programs. We have included the costlier of Panasonic’s DC-S5II fashions right here as a result of the ‘X’ model’s video capabilities and worth are nearer to these of the Nikon.

Nikon Z6III
Canon EOS R6 II
Sony a7 IV
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5II X
Nikon Z6 II

MSRP
$2500
$2500
$2500
$2200
$2000

Sensor sort
“Semi-stacked” BSI CMOS
Twin Pixel AF FSI CMOS
BSI CMOS
BSI CMOS
BSI CMOS

Decision
24MP
24MP
33MP
24MP
24MP

Most taking pictures price
20fps (Uncooked)60fps (JPEG)
40fps (12-bit Uncooked or JPEG)
10 fps (lossy Uncooked)
30fps (e-shutter)
14fps10fps (14-bit Uncooked)

Rolling shutter price (ms)
∼14.6ms(14-bit)
∼14.7ms(12-bit)
∼67.6ms (14-bit)
∼51.3ms (14-bit)
∼50.8ms (14-bit)

Video resolutions

6K (Uncooked)5.4KUHD 4K

6K (Uncooked over HDMI)DCI 4KUHD 4K
UHD 4K

6K5.9K5.9K (Uncooked over HDMI)DCI 4KUHD 4K

UHD 4K

Uncompressed video
N-RawProRes RAW
Over HDMI
Over HDMI
Over HDMI

Viewfinder res/ magnification/ eye-point
5.76M dot OLED/ 0.8x/21mm

3.69M dot OLED/0.76x/23mm

3.68M dot OLED/ 0.78x/23mm
3.68M dot OLED/0.78x/21mm
3.69M dot OLED/ 0.8x/ 21mm

Rear display screen
3.2″ fully-articulated 2.1M dot
3.0″ totally articulated1.62M dot
3.0″ totally articulated1.04M dot
3.0″ totally articulated1.84M dot
3.2″ tilting 2.1M dot

Picture stabilization
As much as 8.0EV
As much as 8.0EV
As much as 5.5EV
As much as 5.0EVUp to six.5EV with Twin IS 2 lens
As much as 5.0EV

Media sorts
1x CFe B1x UHS II SD
2x UHS II SD
1x CFe A / UHS II SD1x UHS II SD
2x UHS II SD
1x CFe B1x UHS II SD

Battery life EVF / LCD
360 / 390
320 / 580
520 / 580
370 / 370
360 / 420

Dimensions
139 x 102 x 74mm
138 x 98 x 88mm
131 x 96 x 80 mm
134 x 102 x 90mm
134 x 101 x 70mm

Weight
760g
670g
659g
740g
705g

What the desk cannot seize is the refined variations in efficiency between these fashions, which is more and more what it comes all the way down to, on this best of courses. Our early impressions are that the Z6III matches the Canon and Sony when it comes to autofocus monitoring efficiency and value, wheres the Panasonic lags somewhat and the Z6 II feels prefer it’s left considerably behind.
Likewise the brand new Nikon and the Canon stand forward when it comes to video efficiency, as they provide sooner video seize with much less rolling shutter, particularly in contrast with the reasonably sluggish Sony. We’ll must shoot the Nikon extra to know whether or not it could actually outdo the Canon’s video AF, which is not the most reliable.
The stills stabilization figures do nothing to convey the smoothness of video stabilization, both, with the Panasonic doing significantly effectively on this regard. More and more, alternative and availability of lenses would be the vital deciding issue for lots of people.

Physique and dealing with

The Z6III seems, at first look, loads like the present Z6 and Z7 fashions, with a well-recognized low-height digicam with important hand grip and viewfinder hump extending from it. However in case you put them side-by-side you discover that the Z6III is a really completely different physique, even when it makes use of the identical styling cues.
It is a bigger digicam than its predecessors and heavier. Nonetheless, it is a lot nearer in dimension to them than it’s to the Z8. It is wider and thicker however maintains a stable, snug grip. The button positions are primarily unchanged, in comparison with the earlier cameras, with twin operate buttons on the entrance and an AF joystick on that again.
Viewfinder

The Z6III is a bigger, heavier physique than its predecessor, however the controls are primarily the identical. The Playback and drive mode buttons have been swapped, however that is probably the most important change. There’s additionally a button on the highest plate to light up the settings panel.

The Z6III turns into the primary Z-series digicam to maneuver past the three.69M dot panels used to this point. It sees a bounce to five.76M dots however, extra importantly, additionally positive aspects a big brightness increase. The panel can go as shiny at 4000nits and might cowl the DCI P3 gamut required for HLG.
You may must manually push it to its brightest setting to get this full brightness but it surely means the digicam can symbolize true HDR seize when taking pictures in HEIF mode, and customarily give a viewfinder that differs much less in brightness, relative to the actual world. It may be run at as much as 120fps.
Articulated rear display screen

The Z6III turns into the primary mid-range Nikon to realize a fully-articulated display screen, reasonably than the tilting panels that the earlier fashions have had. It is a 3.2″ LCD panel with 2.1M dots.
The hinge could be very near the digicam’s (full-sized) HDMI port and solely somewhat in entrance of the mic and headphone sockets, so count on it to be somewhat awkward to make use of in case you’ve received a variety of issues plugged into the aspect of the physique.
Battery

The Z6III makes use of the identical EN-EL15c battery as its predecessor, and is rated as delivering the same variety of photographs. In commonplace mode it’s rated to present 390 pictures per cost if used by way of the rear LCD, and 360 pictures by the viewfinder. Transfer into energy saving mode and these numbers enhance to 410 and 380 pictures per cost, respectively.
As all the time, these numbers are inclined to considerably under-represent the variety of pictures most individuals will obtain. Getting twice the rated determine is not uncommon, and extra in case you shoot a variety of photographs as bursts.
A battery grip with vertical controls and house for 2, hot-swappable, batteries has been created. The MB-N14, which might be out there in summer season 2024, has been designed in order that it is backward suitable with the Z6 II and Z7 II. This grip displaces the inner battery, which means you find yourself with two batteries in complete. It has its personal USB-C socket for charging the batteries even with the grip indifferent.

Preliminary impressions
By Richard Butler

The Z6III intently resembles the Z6 II (and Z7 II, pictured), however is barely deeper, and has a bigger top-plate settings panel.

The dullest doable response to the Z6III could be to take a fast look and conclude it is all about video. As a result of, whereas there are many video enhancements, the Z6III can be a a lot better stills digicam than we have seen from the corporate at this stage. After the reasonably refined refresh of the Z6 II, the III represents a way more important step ahead.
Admittedly, the video enhancements are simpler to identify. Inside Uncooked video, a full-sized HDMI socket, that fully-articulating LCD, waveforms, full-sensor 4K and 6K/60p: these collectively transfer Nikon from citing the rear of this class to arguably main it. It is placing that this mainstream class of cameras now gives the sorts of capabilities you’d beforehand have discovered solely in devoted video cameras like Panasonic’s GH sequence.
A part of this function set has trickled down from capabilities developed for the Z9 however a variety of it comes from the brand new, sooner sensor. And that sooner sensor is a profit to stills shooters, too.

The sooner taking pictures charges are the obvious signal of this, however the autofocus can be improved. The addition of 3D Monitoring and Topic Recognition make the system extra highly effective and faster to make use of, however in line with Nikon the sooner readout additionally means the Z6III will outperform the Zf, which has the identical processor and interface.
However the enhancements for photographers transcend the efficiency increase: the higher-resolution viewfinder that may extra intently match the brightness of the actual world, and might higher preview HDR taking pictures is a serious profit for photographers. Then there’s the addition of choices corresponding to pre-burst seize and the multi-shot high-res mode, for many who discover them helpful.

The Z6III does not (at launch, anyway), have the standalone ‘Fowl’ detection mode that has been added to the Z8 and Z9, however it could actually detect them in its Animal mode.
Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S with Z TC-1.4 | ISO 1250 | F7.1 | 1/640Photo: Richard Butler

And for each photographer dissatisfied concerning the transfer to a completely articulating rear display screen, there could also be one other who appreciates this as being the one digicam on this class to have a top-plate settings show. Nikon has made the digicam somewhat bigger but it surely hasn’t spoiled the ergonomics that we have all the time reasonably preferred.
It is fascinating to look again ten years to the launch of Nikon’s D750 DSLR, a digicam that appeared to supply the whole lot a eager fanatic photographer would need. Picture high quality hasn’t improved radically since that time: we might count on the Z6III’s excessive ISO efficiency to be somewhat higher, because the D750 pre-dates dual-gain chips, but it surely will not be a radical distinction. However the whole lot else is unrecognizably higher. Trendy lenses are sharper and extra constant, autofocus is faster, extra exact and simpler to get probably the most out of, the Z6III is extra compact but will merrily outperform the D750’s pro-sports modern, the D4S, in pace and AF whereas exhibiting much less viewfinder blackout. And that is earlier than we even take into account what occurs while you press the pink REC button.

It could completely be doable to take this picture utilizing a Nikon D750, with sufficient apply and persistence, however the Z6III makes it considerably simpler.
Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S with Z TC-1.4 | ISO 450 | F8.0 | 1/500Photo: Richard Butler

I will admit that, having seen how a lot Nikon had squeezed out of the present sensor with the Zf, I believed the Z6 III may merely be a repackaged model of that digicam, particularly as Panasonic’s S5 II twins additionally proceed to depend on that very same chip. However the Z6III is rather more bold, and one thing that brings Nikon into severe rivalry when it comes to each specs and efficiency, in what’s in all probability probably the most aggressive sector of the market.

Pre-production pattern gallery
Please don’t reproduce any of those photographs on a web site or any e-newsletter/journal with out prior permission (see our copyright web page). We make the originals out there for personal customers to obtain to their very own machines for private examination or printing (together with this evaluation); we achieve this in good religion, so please do not abuse it.
All photographs taken utilizing a pre-production Z6III, from which we are able to solely publish the out-of-camera JPEGs.

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