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When the Nikon Z6 II was announced, I truly felt that it was quite a small update. When we reviewed it, we mostly thought that they gave it new card slots, and that was all. Much time has passed since 2020, when we reviewed the Z6 II. And with the delivery of the Nikon Z6 III, we’re getting not only some things from the Z8 but a few new additions that we haven’t seen before. Truly, this is a bit more exciting than we thought it would be.
Editor’s Note: This is a review in progress, and it will be updated in time.
Declarations of Journalistic Intentions
The Phoblographer is one of the last standing dedicated photography publications that speaks to both art and tech in our articles. We put declarations up front in our reviews to adhere to journalistic standards that several publications abide by. These help you understand a lot more about what we do:
At the time of publishing this review, Nikon is not a direct advertiser with the Phoblographer. No money was exchanged between us and Nikon for a review. We abide by FTC laws.
We’re initially publishing this review with a pre-production unit. Later, we’ll update it with a production unit, which could even be updated as new firmware comes in.
Nikon doesn’t allow us to post RAW files or pixel peep with the pre-production unit. However, the Phoblographer never pixel peeps anyway or posts RAW files.
This is a continually updated review of the camera. Depending on when you visit the site, you’ll see various changes.
This review, and none of the reviews on the Phoblographer, are sponsored. That’s against FTC laws and we adhere to them just the same way that newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications do.
Nikon loaned the Nikon Z6 III and accessories to the Phoblographer for review. There was no money exchange between Nikon and the Phoblographer for this to happen. Nikon and several other manufacturers trust the Phoblographer’s reviews, as they are incredibly blunt.
Nikon met with the Phoblographer in NYC, where we’re primarily based. The Phoblographer set up our own shooting situation. Nikon paid for breakfast, and the Phoblographer paid for coffee afterward to escape the sun.
Nikon knows that they cannot influence the site’s reviews. If we don’t like something or if we have issues with it, we’ll let folks know.
The Phoblographer’s standards for reviewing products have become much stricter. After having the world’s largest database of real-world lens reviews, we choose not to review anything we don’t find innovative or unique, and in many cases, products that lack weather resistance. We’ve also steered away from Micro Four Thirds and APS-C as they’re dying formats. This is a conclusion that even the other members of TIPA agree on. Unless something is very unique, we probably won’t touch it.
In recent years, brands have withheld NDA information or stopped working with us because they feel they cannot control our coverage. These days, many brands will not give products to the press unless they get favorable coverage. In other situations, we’ve stopped working with several brands for ethical issues. Either way, we report as honestly and rawly as humanity allows. Nikon has always respected the Phoblographer’s opinions and only checks us on facts.
At the time of publishing, the Phoblographer is the only photography publication that is a member of Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. We champion human-made art and are frank with our audience. We are also the only photography publication that labels when an image is edited or not.
More can be found on our Disclaimers page.
The Big Picture: Nikon Z6 III Review Conclusions
We haven’t done sufficient testing with the Z6 III to draw fuller and more informed conclusions yet, but we’ll update this soon.
Check out the Nikon Z6 III on Amazon.
Pros
It feels really nice. If you thought that the Z8 was too big, this is the one you’ll want instead.
Semi-stacked sensor, a world’s first for fast readout speeds.
Autofocus performance that’s almost like that of the Z8
Nice viewfinder
Dual card slots
Weather resistance
Cons
We would’ve liked a megapixel count somewhere in the 30’s range.
The viewfinder brightness isn’t really all that noticeable, even though it’s nice.
Gear Used
The Nikon Z6 III was loaned to the Phoblographer by Nikon. We used it with the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 and Z 35mm f1.8 — both loaned to us by Nikon. We also used a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2, which was loaned to us by Tamron. Further, we used a Profoto B10, which is our own unit.
Innovations
New sensor type
New, bright viewfinder
The biggest innovation with the Z6 III is that there is a brand new sensor type. It’s a semi-stacked sensor; and that means that it’s really designed for fast readout speeds. Additionally, the viewfinder is also perhaps Nikon’s brightest at the time of announcement. It could possibly also be the brightest on the market.
Hardware
It’s a baby Z8, has fewer controls
Weather resistant
Bright viewfinder
The new Nikon Z6 III is kind of a fusion of the Z6 II and the Z8. It’s missing some of the bigger controls, like the focus control button on the bottom left of the Z8. It’s also not as tall, but it’s surely taller than the Z6 II. In the hands, there really isn’t much to say: it feels like a Nikon camera but is designed for someone who wants an offering that’s smaller than the Z8. If you’re a fan of the more DSLR-style cameras on the market, then you’ll like it.
Personally to me, it doesn’t feel as solid as the Zf. The Zf is a love letter to a tactile experience and being completely intentional with your camera. The Nikon Z6 III is instead designed for work, but in a much different way than the Z8 is.
One of the biggest things to note is that the Nikon Z6 III has a mechanical shutter, unlike the Z8. That also means that the sensor shield isn’t coming with this camera.
Buying the Nikon Z6 III? Protect Your Camera
For years, here at The Phoblographer we’ve done tests on cameras, lenses, bags, computers, lights, and more. And we know that your warranty doesn’t always cover the damage. Plus, accidents can happen on set. Yes, that even means that the Nikon Z6 III, with its weather resistance, won’t really be covered by your warranty when it starts to weather away.
This is why we’ve created a Photography Care Program in partnership with Full-Frame Insurance. Now, photographers across the United States looking for extra security can get various protections to cover their craft. The Photography Care Program provides peace of mind; now you’ll know you can bounce back from a photoshoot gone awry, on-site or inside. We’re making it super easy to get it done, too! Better yet, there is coverage outside of the US and Canada when the photographer is traveling for short periods of time for business.
We’re able to do this through our partnership with Full-Frame Insurance, a company specializing in Small Business Insurance. Are you a Freelance Photographer? We’ll cover you. What about a freelance multi-media journalist? We’ve got you. The Photography Care Program will protect you.
Transform your focus from worry to creativity with the Photography Care Program. Whether it’s a light stand tumbling down, a telephoto lens shattering, or an unforeseen mishap, you don’t have to face the financial burden alone. Experience the freedom to capture stunning shots, knowing you’re protected. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, secure your peace of mind – and protect your photography gear – with our affordable Photography Care Program today.
Focusing
Effective tracking in low light
All the scene modes
The best autofocus on the market is found in the Nikon Z9. That camera does a far batter job of tracking people of color moving quickly in low light — which is something so many brands don’t even test for. The Nikon Z8 doesn’t have that level of focusing performance. Following the chain, the Nikon Z6 III doesn’t have quite the Z8’s focusing performance. However, even if you dilute the best focusing on the market, you’re still getting good results.
We set up a shoot with James over at Amazing Grace Cafe, located at 70-06 Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights. While he was cooking some of the cafe’s breakfast, we were able to track him, his hands, and the food with relative ease. We surely need to do more testing though, and we’ll update this section later on.
When it came to scene detection for stuff like photographing a dog, it simply just worked. Truly, we’re in a time where you can’t really say anything bad about the autofocus in good lighting and in the middle of the day.
The most important thing here though is that the Z6 III didn’t get in the way of my trying to be creative. Combined with the image stabilization in the camera, I was able to shoot photos that I was very proud of. The best cameras make it easier for you to get the shot while not getting in the way of your creativity.
Ease of Use
Technically speaking, the new viewfinder is cool.
Perhaps the biggest change to the Nikon Z6 III is the new semi-stacked sensor. That allows for faster readout speeds. And while Nikon states that the new viewfinder is the brightest on the market, that’s probably more of a technical thing than anything. At the moment of writing this article, I’ve got a z8 in my office. I also regularly use a Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R3, Leica SL2s, and Panasonic S5 II. To be honest with you, I can’t really tell the difference between the viewfinders all that much.
Being a low-vision man, something like this would be very important. But the truth is that all of the companies make very good viewfinders — with perhaps Sony’s very pixel-dense viewfinders being my favorite.
So, does the Nikon Z6 III have a bright viewfinder? Yes, but it’s just a technical specification that doesn’t really impact real-life shooting situations. To be clear about this, I wasn’t using my eyeglasses with transition lenses in them, and I truly didn’t experience a major difference.
Image Quality
Note that in June 2024, when we tested the camera, we used a pre-production unit. Finalized images will be shown later.
Pretty good low-light abilities
We’ll update this section more later. Our initial tests gave us JPEG files from the Z6 III. Those JPEGs are nice, but we really want to see how the RAW files perform with this new sensor.
Extra Image Samples
The Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience since day one. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, many folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. They’re not showing what the lens can do. So, we have a section in our Extra Image Samples area to show edited and unedited photos. From this, you can decide for yourself.
Unedited
Edited
Tech Specs
Nikon Z6 III Review: They Did it Right This Time
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