Nikon Z6
TAKING FULL-FRAME MIRRORLESS PHOTOGRAPHY TO AFFORDABLE NEW HEIGHTS.
WHILE SONY WENT through an evolutionary process to perfect its full-frame mirrorless cameras, Nikon struck gold in the first go, as we saw with the Z7 (see TechLife 82, page 14). However, it was the second alternative to this premium snapper that had us excited, and Nikon has delivered again with the Z6.
The two new Z series cameras share the same design and have similar spec sheets, what sets them apart are resolution, the autofocus (AF) system, and the burst speed. To cut a long story short, the Z6 is the high-speed, low-light performer that’s cheaper than its premium sibling, making it the more versatile of the pair.
CUT THE PIXELS
With both camera sharing identical bodies, it’s what’s under the hood that’s making all the difference. Instead of using the densely populated 45.7MP sensor we saw in the Z7, Nikon has opted for a 24.5MP backilluminated sensor for the Z6. So, unless you’re printing images to fill a billboard, that’s more than enough image data for most photographers with plenty of details captured and enough cropping power.
The less-dense sensor also ups the ante when it comes to continuous shooting – you get 12fps with the Z6 as opposed to just 9fps with the Z7. While there’s no viewfinder blackout during burst shooting, there is a bit of lag between frames which could make it harder to pan when shooting a fastmoving subject.
Good though the burst shooting rate might be, the Z6’s buffer capacity is slightly disappointing. It can capture no more than 37 raw files at 12fps, or 44 Large Fine JPEGs. If you need to shoot bursts that last a few seconds each, you’ll have to use a lower frame rate.
The sensor also broadens the native ISO range, running from 100 to 51,200 (the Z7’s native ISO range is 64-25,600), which can be expanded to 50-204,800.
And, for the videographers, you’ll get a full-pixel readout that uses the entire width of the sensor. That means no cropping when shooting 4K footage. In addition, the new Z-series lenses have been designed with silent autofocus and reduced focus ‘breathing’ and
focus shift when zooming, making the new Nikon full-frame kit a worthwhile option for video.
KEEP IT IN FOCUS
The other key area the Z6 differs from its more expensive sibling is the autofocus system. While the Z7 features a 493-point phase-detect hybrid AF system, the Z6 has a slightly more modest – yet impressive – 273-point phasedetect hybrid system. That gives 90% frame coverage, and also loses out on the Sony Alpha A7 III’s expansive 693-point option with 93% coverage.
The Z6’s Single AF mode features a choice of Auto-area, Wide-area (with either small or large focusing areas), Single-point modes, or Pin-point if you want to be really precise with your focusing.
For general shooting, the Z6’s Single AF (AF-S) mode does an excellent job, but if you’re on the move and want to take a quick shot, the Z6’s Wide-area mode is a versatile option.
That said, focusing is very quick, only slowing a touch when light levels drop. This is when the AF assist beam springs into action if you need help focusing, although this can be turned of if desired. Focusing using the joystick is, well, a joy, as is the touch focus on the rear display. As with the Z7, if you aren’t used to the speed of the autofocus system on the camera, you’ll end up shooting a few duds before you get used to the touch autofocus.
SEE IN THE DARK
You might be forgiven for thinking that a 24MP sensor is hardly headline material, however Nikon has made up for that by using larger pixels to capture more light. And that’s where the Z6 truly shines – in low-light conditions.
The lower resolution offers the Z6 a one-stop ISO advantage over the Z7. Add to that the five-axis in-body stabilisation and the large aperture Z-series prime lenses currently available and you get a winning combination when shooting in dim light.
Even at high ISOs (approx 20,000) there’s excellent sharpness throughout the image, great dynamic range that renders colours well without over-saturating, excellent noise performance and barely any distortion or chromatic aberration.
SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME
While the Z6 certainly has some advantages over the Z7, practically everything else is identical. Like the Z7, the Z6 also features the new Z mount and ships with the new F-to-Z (FTZ) adaptor in the box.
The two cameras also share the same impressive electronic viewfinder (EVF) that offers magnification of 0.80x (the highest magnification in the industry to date) and a refresh rate of 60fps. The EVF is supported by a 3.2-inch tilt-angle touchscreen rear display that boasts a 2.1 million dot resolution. More importantly, the top-plate LCD is also available on the Z6.
If you expected Nikon to add a couple of SD slots to the Z6, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Like the Z7, there’s only a single XQD slot here. That might be a brave move on Nikon’s part; despite this being the better format, there’s currently limited availability with Sony the sole manufacturer at the moment.
The Z6 also gets a new rechargeable battery that supports USB charging and gives up to 310 shots per charge. That’s less than half of what Sony’s Alpha A7 III gives you. However, in real-world use we found its possible to push the battery to well beyond the quoted limit.
SMILE FOR THE SAVINGS
All this in a very neat and compact body that’s comfortable to use and easy to handle makes the Nikon Z6 one of the best full-frame mirrorless options currently on the market. While its spec sheet doesn’t look like much on paper, the reality is completely different. It’s versatility and excellent performance at an affordable price point – it’s nearly a third cheaper than its more expensive sibling – earns it top marks from us. A colleague put it succinctly, “Every camera has flaws and weaknesses, but the Z6 almost squeezes them out of existence.”
THE EVF IS SUPPORTED BY A 3.2-INCH TILT-ANGLE TOUCHSCREEN REAR DISPLAY THAT BOASTS A 2.1 MILLION DOT RESOLUTION