Z 6II Essential Movie Kit
£2909/$3600 Nikon’s Z 6II is already the best mirrorless for enthusiasts and the Essential Movie Kit bundle makes it the best choice for videographers too
Does this make the Z 6II the ultimate for video?
An ever-increasing user base of enthusiasts and freelance content creators has demanded that the current generation of mirrorless devices be as comfortable producing a run-and-gun music video or travel documentary as they are a landscape still or portrait. It’s with these users in mind that Nikon launched the Z 6 in 2018, a well-rounded and well-received device that was the brand’s most serious foray yet into the world of video-making, but one not without some areas of weakness. Building on that foundation, the Z 6II answers some of its forebear’s criticisms and builds on its successes, and like the Z 6, is available in the guise of the Essential Movie Kit.
This set comprises of the Z 6II, the FTZ Mount Adaptor, an Atomos Ninja V monitor/ recorder, Smallrig quick-release cage and accessories, along with extra batteries. It’s a kit that Nikon promises to make the most of the Z 6II’S capabilities and provide the perfect base for aspiring videographers to begin their journey with.
Key features
The Z 6II is built around a full-frame CMOS that carries a 24.5Mp effective resolution. But this time that sensor has been paired with an arrangement of dual Expeed 6 processors. This processor boost has most notably seen the camera’s continuous shooting rate jump from the 12fps possible with the Z 6 to 14fps.
Many core video specs remain the same from the Z 6; it still shoots 30fps UHD 4K with no crop and Full HD at up to 120fps, but 60fps UHD has now been pleasingly made possible for 2x slow motion via a firmware update, albeit it with a 1.5x sensor crop.
One more improvement comes in the shape of a new SD card slot that sits alongside the Cfexpress/xqd slot.
Build and handling
The Z 6II is near-identical in form to its forebear, utilizing exactly the same control layout that provides easy access to all major controls, a deep, comfortable grip that makes use with longer lenses feel more balanced than on some mirrorless devices, and a top reference display.
The rear 2.1 million-dot LCD is detail rich and responds well to touch inputs, but the fact it is only a tilt screen will frustrate some. With that said, as part of this Essential Movie kit, the lack of articulation of the rear monitor becomes less of an issue thanks to the ability to configure the Atmos Ninja V monitor/recorder at just about any angle you’d care for using the Smallrig Magic Arm.
The presence of in-body stabilization means shake-free stills and video capture are made easier, with five axis of stabilization providing a highly effective five stops of shake compensation. In terms of
connectivity, the Z 6II provides Wi-fi 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ and Bluetooth 4.2 for remote control and file transfer, USB-C and mini HDMI for input/output to external devices, GPS for location recording, and mic and headphone inputs for improved audio quality capture and monitoring.
Included in the Essential Movie Kit is the Smallrig quick-release half cage. Designed specifically for the Nikon Z line of mirrorless cameras, it maintains unrestricted access to all of the Z 6II’S ports when fitted, allowing batteries and cards to be switched out or the FTZ adaptor attached, while providing plenty of mounting point options with lots of 1/4”-20 and 3/8”-16 threads. For videographers looking to use external monitors, matte boxes and various support systems, this makes the Z 6II a much more flexible base for their setup. Meanwhile, thanks to the Manfrotto 501 compatible quick-release plate that slides the camera into the cage, the Z 6II can be speedily rigged and de-rigged or moved onto a tripod.
The included grip handle also makes support of the setup easier, particularly when used at low angles, while the Magic Arm clamp means angle-adjustment of the Atomos Ninja V is a breeze while safely holding it in place.
Performance
While at 24.5Mp it may have a lower resolution than the 45.7Mp Z 7II, there are very few occasions when the average shooter will need that kind of pixel count, and instead the benefits of having a lower resolution, such as smaller file sizes and stunning noise control will be welcomed.
While many videographers will focus manually when shooting video, autofocus performance has been noticeably improved with FX lenses when using the FTZ adaptor over the original Z 6.
Video
When it comes to video performance the Z 6II is definitely a story of two halves. It’s not that its inbuilt recording of 8-bit 4:2:0 4K footage is bad, far from it in fact – it’s smooth, crisp and clear and will match for quality many mirrorless devices at this price point, but it doesn’t have the colour range provided by 4:2:2 10-bit recording.
Hook it up to the Atomos Ninja V included in the Essential Movie kit, though, and the Z 6II really comes into its own as a videography contender. With the Ninja V attached you’ll now have access to 10-bit 4:2:2 recording via HDMI with N-log and HLG, or even 12-bit Prores Raw, or Blackmagic Raw capture. (This is an additional upgrade option on Z 6II models that are not included as part of the Z 6II Essential Movie Kit priced at £200/$200.)
With these options, users have true flexibility when it comes to their footage capture and grading during post on a level that’s truly professional, and matched by few other devices at less than the total price for this kit. The Ninja V with its 5in IPS LCD screen illuminated by a bright 1000 cd/m² LED backlight also provides plenty of advanced options for monitoring your video recording with features such as Focus Peaking, Zoom, Vectorscopes and False Colour through to Safe Areas, Cine Guides and real-time LOG>PQ/HLG previewing, all building on the range of options already found in the Z 6II and making operation once more feel a professional process.
No hard drive comes as part of the kit, meaning out of the box the Ninja V can only operate as an external monitor, but you can record from it to SSD drives or compact Atomx Ssdmini drives, which offer up to 2TB of storage when brought separately and fitted using the bay on its rear. Combined, the Ninja V and Z 6II become a force that can deliver aplomb for any aspiring filmmaker and really do feel a step up from videography options provided by many mirrorless cameras.
N-photo verdict
A highly capable camera matched with some excellent external accessories, the Z 6II Essential Movie Kit would form a fantastic core for the setup of any aspiring videographer or stills shooter. With the included Atomos Ninja V, the Z 6II’S filmmaking functionality really comes into its own, while notable improvements over the original Z 6 make it an upgrade well worth considering. Frustration remains in the shape of 60fps 4K shooting being cropped, but this kit overall represents solid value for money.