Nikon Z6
Launched in the shadow of the mighty Z7, can the cheaper Nikon Z6 make a splash in its own right? Rod Lawton finds out
The long-awaited smaller sibling of the Z7, the Z6 is finally here to try and impress us…
We’ve already reviewed the amazing Nikon Z7, with its super-high resolution 45.7-megapixel sensor, sophisticated phase-detection autofocus, high-speed continuous shooting and 4K video. However, we’ve also been itching to get our hands on the much cheaper and more enthusiast-orientated Nikon Z6.
This camera offers a lower 24.5-megapixel resolution and not quite as many AF points as the Z7, but it’s less than two-thirds of the price, offers a wider ISO range, it has full-frame (no crop) 4K video and an even faster 12fps frame rate.
The Nikon Z cameras use a new lens mount, but Nikon is also selling an FTZ mount adaptor that enables you to use any existing Nikon lens without restriction. It currently adds around £100/$150 to the cost of the camera when bought as a kit.
We tested the Z6 with the brandnew Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S kit lens and Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S prime lens, but there’s also a Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S prime, which we’ve used previously with the Z7. There is also a showcase ultra-fast Noct 58mm f/0.95 coming very soon.
The Z6 might be a cheaper alternative to the Z7, but it stills has a magnesium alloy body with extensive weather sealing and a 200,000-shot shutter life. You get roughly half the number of AF points of the Z7 – 273 versus 493 – but they are spread across 90 per cent of the width and
Specifications
Sensor: 24.5MP full-frame backilluminated CMOS, 35.9x23.9mm Image processor: EXPEED 6
AF points: 273-point phase detection AF, 90% coverage horizontal and vertical ISO range: 100 to 51,200 (50-204,800 exp) Max image size: 6048x4024px
Metering zones: N/A Video: 3840x2160 at 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder: EVF, 3690k dots OLED, 100% coverage, 0.8x magnification Memory card: XQD
LCD: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2100k dots
Max burst: 12fps (focus locked on first frame) Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-fi Size: 134x100.5x67.5mm (body only) Weight: 675g (body only, with battery and memory card)
height of the image area, so the coverage is very broad (much wider than you get with a DSLR).
Like the Z7, the Z6 has in-body image stabilization. It’s the first time Nikon has used this in an interchangeable lens camera, and the company claims up to five stops of shake compensation.
The continuous shooting mode is pretty amazing too, with speeds of up to 12fps for both JPEGS and Raws – though if you shoot Raw you are limited to 12-bit files at that speed, and if you want 14-bit files instead, the speed drops to 9fps.
However good the burst shooting rate might be, the buffer capacity
averages at 37 Raw files in a 12fps burst, or 44 Large Fine JPEGS. That’s mildly disappointing given that Nikon has deliberately selected the new and very fast XQD memory card format for the Z6 (and Z7). Users will need to invest a bit of money in some new cards to go with their state-of-the-art mirrorless camera. There’s also only a single card slot.
The Z6 brings good news for videographers, though. First, it offers full-frame uncropped 4K video downsampled from oversampled 6K. Second, it’s possible to capture 10-bit video to an external recorder with Nikon N-log for extended dynamic range when grading your video later.
Build and handling
The Z6 is very slim but still slightly larger than Sony’s competing A7 series. That’s no bad thing. The Z6 body is easier to grip, especially with larger lenses. You might still want to think about the optional Nikon MB-N10 grip if you’re going to be spending a lot of time shooting with big telephoto lenses.
Nikon has been quite clever with its Z-mount lenses. Rival mirrorless makers have produced lenses every bit as big and heavy as their DSLR counterparts, even though that can leave the camera unbalanced, Nikon’s first three lenses are much more svelte. The 24-70mm f/4 is particularly neat, with a simple retracting mechanism to shorten the barrel when it’s not in use.
The smaller body (compared to a Nikon DSLR) means you don’t get an external drive mode dial, metering mode or AF mode control, but there is an Af-on button and a ‘thumbstick’ for moving the focus point around the image area.
Otherwise, you’re reliant on an interactive ‘i’ screen for many everyday camera settings like white balance and ISO. But this is no great hardship since the touch control works wonderfully and the icon layout and controls are very clear.
The ability to set the focus point and fire the shutter by tapping on the screen comes in incredibly useful
when the camera’s being used at a low-angle or on a tripod.
Performance
The Z6’s autofocus performance is hard to fault, especially when using its Z mount lenses. These lenses are so fast and quiet that you need the autofocus ‘beep’ to reassure you that something has actually happened.
It’s fast and responsive in Continuous autofocus mode too, even holding sharp focus on objects moving quickly towards the camera. The modest buffer capacity means you need to time your bursts quite carefully, but otherwise the Z6 is a very effective camera for sports and action photography.
There’s no viewfinder blackout during burst shooting, but there is still some lag and ‘jumpiness’ between frames which could make it harder to pan with a fast-moving subject. This is one area where Nikon’s DSLRS still have an advantage over the Z system.
The Z6 is more effective at 4K video, however. It proved to be very impressive at stabilizing static handheld shots, though not so much at ‘run-and-gun’ style videography. It smoothed out smaller, jerky movements, but unfortunately produced some awkward framing shifts with the larger movements – you’re still going to need a stabilizing rig for this kind of work.
Where the Z6 excels exceptionally is in its low-light shooting capabilities. Its lower resolution means that it has a one-stop ISO advantage over the Z7 – offering up to ISO51,200 even without using its expanded mode. Its two prime lenses (so far) have a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture. Pair the lens with in-body stabilization that gives you more latitude when shooting in dim conditions and, with this combo, you’ll never be left shooting in the dark.
When shooting in low light you often need to shoot quietly too, so the Z6’s silent shooting mode is a major advantage in museums, theatres, social events and many sports.
Some of our test shots were taken in conditions so dark that it wasn’t very easy to make out the subject even with the naked eye, and yet the images captured were bright, saturated and remarkably detailed. Yes, the smoothing increases and detail decreases at the highest ISO
settings but this is a camera you could push up to ISO6400 or 12,800 without a second thought in dim lighting conditions.
The Nikon Z6 is always going to be somewhat overshadowed by the higher-resolution Z7, but actually this is a much more versatile camera, as well as being more affordable. On paper it could easily come across as being a little dull but worthy; in practice its finesse, performance and image quality are awesome. Every camera has its flaws and weaknesses, but the Z6 almost squeezes them out of existence.